Slick size,, Is bigger better?

Posted By: CRT

Slick size,, Is bigger better? - 12/01/11 12:58 AM

I have been racing my 63 on 10.5Ws for years, track prep must be near perfect for the car to hook. I am in the process of building my 68 Coronet, and I now can fit a 16x33 tire under the car, I have yet to buy wheels & tires, So my question to the racers here, is a bigger tire better? I ask cause some say that a large tire can slow a car down. What would be the perfect wheel tire combo?
The car should run high 9s to 10 flat.
and should weigh in at 3300 lbs.

Posted By: Dragula

Re: Slick size,, Is bigger better? - 12/01/11 01:01 AM

Quote:

I have been racing my 63 on 10.5Ws for years, track prep must be near perfect for the car to hook. I am in the process of building my 68 Coronet, and I now can fit a 16x33 tire under the car, I have yet to buy wheels & tires, So my question to the racers here, is a bigger tire better? I ask cause some say that a large tire can slow a car down. What would be the perfect wheel tire combo?
The car should run high 9s to 10 flat.
and should weigh in at 3300 lbs.

I have to say bigger is better. I was running small tire cars for a while and went to a Duster with a 17x33, and it always hooks with the 512RB, even on marginal burnouts. It makes bracket racing that much more consistent, and we took home some money this year and more than a couple of events. I am kinda dreading putting my new engine back in my 72 Cuda due to the 9.5" slicks on it....

Posted By: PlumCrazyCharger

Re: Slick size,, Is bigger better? - 12/01/11 01:10 AM

I have a set of Weld Alumastar rims and slicks for sale. Rims are 15"x16" and have Goodyear 17"x33" slicks. About 35 TS passes, probally 50 to 75 passes left on a Super Pro Car.

Posted By: 572_dup2

Re: Slick size,, Is bigger better? - 12/01/11 01:11 AM

I went from 13x31 to 14x32. I lost nothing. If anything I picked up.

Posted By: CHAPPER

Re: Slick size,, Is bigger better? - 12/01/11 01:22 AM

I found the opposite effect with the opposite change,,

on my old car. Went from 14x32 to 13x31 and got quicker. My opinion/belief is,, the smallest tire that will still get you hooked and going, will probably be your quickest times. Smaller tire, smaller/lighter wheel=less rotating weight,,,rotating weight(1#=4/5# static weight) the motor thinks it is in a lighter car=quicker ET..

Posted By: 440Jim

Re: Slick size,, Is bigger better? - 12/01/11 01:23 AM

Always tub it to fit a little bigger, but IMO a 14x32 should be just fine. And 14 or 15 wide rims.

From what I have seen, the best 10.5 tires are 31" or 33", not the 29.0-29.5. Again use a wide rim.

Posted By: actionange

Re: Slick size,, Is bigger better? - 12/01/11 01:44 AM

Quote:

I found the opposite effect with the opposite change,, on my old car. Went from 14x32 to 13x31 and got quicker. My opinion/belief is,, the smallest tire that will still get you hooked and going, will probably be your quickest times. Smaller tire, smaller/lighter wheel=less rotating weight,,,rotating weight(1#=4/5# static weight) the motor thinks it is in a lighter car=quicker ET..

Posted By: tboomer

Re: Slick size,, Is bigger better? - 12/01/11 01:45 AM

John...What do you 60' at? My M/Ts in a 10.5w x 31" have a best of 1.385 but usually runs about a 1.4x...

Posted By: MR_P_BODY

Re: Slick size,, Is bigger better? - 12/01/11 01:58 AM

I would use a 14 X 32... plenty of choices on that size

Posted By: moparacer

Re: Slick size,, Is bigger better? - 12/01/11 03:38 AM

Quote:

Always tub it to fit a little bigger, but IMO a 14x32 should be just fine. And 14 or 15 wide rims.

From what I have seen, the best 10.5 tires are 31" or 33", not the 29.0-29.5. Again use a wide rim.

Yep I am also starting to think a wider rim is better as it lets you run more air pressure in the tire without pushing the center of the slick up.

Going to experiment with it in the spring when I buy a new set of slicks for my car.

Posted By: rickstershemi

Re: Slick size,, Is bigger better? - 12/01/11 03:45 AM

If you're bracket racing then yes

Rickster

Posted By: Leigh

Re: Slick size,, Is bigger better? - 12/01/11 03:45 AM

If the rules for any class stated any size tire allowed, the 10.5 classes would disappear. It's all manufacturered hype. The biggest tire car, will always be a more consistent winner.

Posted By: sg66mopar

Re: Slick size,, Is bigger better? - 12/01/11 04:24 AM

Do you want your car to repeat or go as fast as possible every once in a while? Cars that repeat win rounds. I run 16x32s and would go bigger if there was room.

Posted By: AndyF

Re: Slick size,, Is bigger better? - 12/01/11 04:43 AM

Call a couple of the tire mfgs and see what the tech reps recommend. Tires are engineered to handle a certain amount of weight so I'd think that if you told them the weight of your car, the weight distribution and the amount of power they could quickly recommend the best size for your car.

Posted By: Cab_Burge

Re: Slick size,, Is bigger better? - 12/01/11 04:58 AM

It probally depends on the type of rear suspension, weight distribution and amount of torque and HP

My Duster hooks well on 13.50x30 x15 M/T ET Streets on 12 inch wide rims, it hooks better on M/T 10.5x31x15W on ten inch rims. 4.10 gears. The car weighs right at 3450 lbs. with me in it,49.6 % on the rear tires, ladder bars and double adjustable Strange coil overs with a 150 lb springs, 1.39 best 60 ft. times, 9,993 ET at 134.45 MPH

Several of the old time SS, gas and modified production record holding racer always said to run the smallest tire possible that would hook the car up to go the fastest possible, including John Diana(SP?)

Posted By: smokinwoody

Re: Slick size,, Is bigger better? - 12/01/11 05:16 AM

John...you remember the Duster...that had 31x13.5x15's...it hooked super hard..

my 63 has 32x14x15's on 15x15 rims w/4" back space...they are Goodyears just like what was on the Duster...these havent been on the track...just ideas..

Im wanting 33x17's ...but as DOT's

Posted By: Labratt

Re: Slick size,, Is bigger better? - 12/01/11 05:34 AM

John,best of Luck finding the right wheel/tire combo for that NICE Coronet!

Could you PLEASE post more pics of it? Thanks!

Randy B.

Posted By: dOoC

Re: Slick size,, Is bigger better? - 12/01/11 10:53 AM

You want to go the fastest and quickest ? ... put the smallest tire you can on it. But if you have consistent hook-issues and you are just going to bracket race it ... the steam-roller tire and look is the plan.

REMINDS me of a customer I had some years back .... 70 Cuda - 10.90 car ...good 440 ... used to get his 9" tires used from a stock-elim guy. He came into some money ... and wanted that steam-roller look ... so he put on some 14x32's and all the expense that goes with that(and "corrected" the gear)... and the car slowed up a BUNCH ... .250 and 3 or 4 mph ... IIRC ..

If you don't need the tire in the first 20 feet ... it is going to HURT YOU in the next 1300 feet ...

Posted By: ram87

Re: Slick size,, Is bigger better? - 12/01/11 03:45 PM

I agree with Doc Fiberglass. I had a set of 33 X 18.5 X 15 M/T's on my truck. Changed to 28 X 11.5 X 15 Hoosiers and picked up .3 in the 1/8 mile. Didn't have a traction problem with either and 60 ft. wasn't that much different but sure picked up the last 1300' with the smaller tire.

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Posted By: CRT

Re: Slick size,, Is bigger better? - 12/01/11 06:02 PM

Quote:

John,best of Luck finding the right wheel/tire combo for that NICE Coronet! Could you PLEASE post more pics of it? Thanks! Randy B.

I bought the car in 1989, painted it in 1991, I raced the car from 1991-2005 when I bought the 63.

It almost ready to go on the rotisary, then finish the new cage, and off for paint. I hope to have it ready by 2013

Thanks for the replys

Posted By: SCDaytona

Re: Slick size,, Is bigger better? - 12/01/11 06:24 PM

Remember, the larger the tire, the less grip as measured in lb. per sq. in. due to the contact patch and putting a narrower tire (same circ.) increases grip for the same reasons. Just some food for thought.

Posted By: MegaDart

Re: Slick size,, Is bigger better? - 12/01/11 06:27 PM

Quote:

Call a couple of the tire mfgs and see what the tech reps recommend. Tires are engineered to handle a certain amount of weight so I'd think that if you told them the weight of your car, the weight distribution and the amount of power they could quickly recommend the best size for your car.

This. Goodyear recommended the tire I just put on and I probably would not have chosen it due to it's size and compound but the new best 1.16 60' doesn't lie!!

Posted By: Dragula

Re: Slick size,, Is bigger better? - 12/01/11 08:46 PM

Quote:

I agree with Doc Fiberglass. I had a set of 33 X 18.5 X 15 M/T's on my truck. Changed to 28 X 11.5 X 15 Hoosiers and picked up .3 in the 1/8 mile. Didn't have a traction problem with either and 60 ft. wasn't that much different but sure picked up the last 1300' with the smaller tire.

You went from a 33" to a 28" slick, did you change your gear ratio to keep your roll out the same?

Posted By: dOoC

Re: Slick size,, Is bigger better? - 12/01/11 10:39 PM

Quote:

Remember, the larger the tire, the less grip as measured in lb. per sq. in. due to the contact patch and putting a narrower tire (same circ.) increases grip for the same reasons. Just some food for thought.

VERY good point ...and VERY true.

I wish I could find some more of those 7" Firestone cheater slicks I got at Greenfield Tire in Detroit many years ago. It did not have the "look" of a 10" tire ... but those tires "worked" !

A touch over stock 440 in my 62 ... cast iron mans and Imperial muffs .... 111 mph. And I credit those tires for a big-part of that.

Posted By: Labratt

Re: Slick size,, Is bigger better? - 12/01/11 11:06 PM

Thanks,John!...REAL NICE!

Hope to see it in 2013!

BTW...will it be red again?

Posted By: Labratt

Re: Slick size,, Is bigger better? - 12/01/11 11:11 PM

John..what size slicks were on the Coronet..in the pics of it on the lift? They look HUGE!

Posted By: ram87

Re: Slick size,, Is bigger better? - 12/01/11 11:54 PM

Dragula - I did not change the gear ratio 4.88's with both. Guess I could change to the 5.14's in my little truck but this was just about tire size. Not sure that I have enough RPM in the big truck for the lower gears and shorter tires.

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Attached picture 6945769-dakpsfrttrlr.jpg

Posted By: Kam*Kuda

Re: Slick size,, Is bigger better? - 12/02/11 01:25 AM

[quote
I have to say bigger is better. I was running small tire cars for a while and went to a Duster with a 17x33, and it always hooks with the 512RB, even on marginal burnouts. It makes bracket racing that much more consistent, and we took home some money this year and more than a couple of events. I am kinda dreading putting my new engine back in my 72 Cuda due to the 9.5" slicks on it....

For those who went to a bigger tire, was there any change at the end of the track. More or less stable??

Posted By: CHAPPER

Re: Slick size,, Is bigger better? - 12/02/11 02:10 AM

Quote:

Remember, the larger the tire, the less grip as measured in lb. per sq. in. due to the contact patch and putting a narrower tire (same circ.) increases grip for the same reasons. Just some food for thought.

This always AMAZED me,,,I know it is Physics 101,,,but,,if it was right and worked like they say it should work,,why don't TF cars run a tire 3" wide....???...more lbs/bite per sq. inch..?? I am not making fun of the OP,,but I have had some interesting discussions/arguments with my kids' friends who were into Physics and thought they knew it all. I didn't have an answer or explanation for them as why the wider/bigger tires worked better,,,just "because that's the way we do it"!!!!

Posted By: AndyF

Re: Slick size,, Is bigger better? - 12/02/11 03:32 AM

They don't cover how a tire works in physics class because it is a specialized topic. A sticky tire works kind of like velcro, especially on a concrete track. In physics class they cover the "classic" friction situation of hard surfaces sliding over each other. With velcro, the more surface area you have then the more friction you have. Tires are not exactly velcro, but it is one way to think about the issue.

Tire design is actually a very complex subject. That is why my advice to the OP was to call the tire company tech line and ask for advice.

Posted By: Bob_Coomer

Re: Slick size,, Is bigger better? - 12/02/11 03:46 AM

Quote:

Remember, the larger the tire, the less grip as measured in lb. per sq. in. due to the contact patch and putting a narrower tire (same circ.) increases grip for the same reasons. Just some food for thought.

Given a perfect world. Of coarse it has to. Everything else is constant.. Say same HP, same weight same compound, it has to "Try" to plant the smaller foot print, of coarse it has to "Hold" more than a larger foot print tire. That's the point of larger tires, less force for a given area, means less likely to spin.
Its more like Cohesion than adhesion as via Velcro.
Fact is you use a good 13x31 or 14x32 tire on the car it will be more consistent in any track condition, you might give up a little e/t due to rotational weight etc, which if your spinning on a marginal track what e/t is there anyways to loose except for the round of coarse.

Posted By: SCDaytona

Re: Slick size,, Is bigger better? - 12/02/11 05:12 AM

Great that some are willing to think about what I posted. Now throw in rim widths and that affects the footprint especially at launch. Now take a look at the ADRL guys and 10.5W X33X16 tires hitting them with way over 1000 Hp and getting them to work with beadlocks. They use a wide rim allowing for a better footprint. My take with all this is you tire the car for the combination. Why buy way oversize tires when you can get away with a smaller tire and still be consistent. Every car is different and my car with 14.5 X 33 is faster and just as consistent than the 16x33 tires I ran before.

Posted By: Irun5snd8th

Re: Slick size,, Is bigger better? - 12/02/11 06:24 AM

I would run Top Fuel tires if they would fit

Posted By: sixpackgut

Re: Slick size,, Is bigger better? - 12/02/11 07:42 AM

I would bet, more money and R&D go into a 10.5 tire than any other racing tire except maybe for nascar

Posted By: blracing

Re: Slick size,, Is bigger better? - 12/03/11 03:28 PM

for bracket racing (consistancy)the biggest tire you can fit is the way to go! it may be slower than a smaller tire, but if your interested in win lights, go big! build the car to take a big tire, you can always put a smaller tire on, not the other way around.