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What front tires go with drag radials?

By Andrew Davis

What front tires go with drag radials?

Any of the top brand non-runflat radials should do. For drag racing, I would put the narrowest fronts that are recommended for a 9" wide wheel and select a tire with a higher max pressure rating so that you inflate the fronts to ~40psi or so to cut down on rolling resistance.

In this regard, do front tires matter in drag racing?

As a wide tire increases the total contact area of the tire with the asphalt, you can achieve better traction with a wider tire. When it comes to drag racing however, you don't need front wheel traction (unless you have a front wheel or all wheel drive vehicle), so the increased contact area isn't needed.

Furthermore, are drag radials the same as slicks? The real difference between these two are the direction of the cords inside the tire. A true slick is usually bias ply and it cords form as x pattern all the way around the tire. As far as drag racing goes, the radial will help keep you more stable while a slick will allow you to launch much harder.

Correspondingly, how do I know what size drag tire to get?

For racing tire sizes, try this formula: nominal diameter times tread width times bead diameter. Example: A 32.0 x 14.0 x 15 is a 32-inch tall, 10-inch-wide slick that goes on a 15-inch diameter wheel. Measurements are from an inflated tire under unloaded conditions.

Which drag Radial is best?

With its superior traction and good ride stability, the Mickey Thompson Racing Radial Tire is our top pick as the best racing tire. The Toyo Proxes TQ Drag Tire offers balanced performance at a much more affordable price.

What PSI should my tires be for drag racing?

ET Drag and ET Street
Vehicle WeightTire SizeAir Pressure
Under 2,500 lbs.Over 32" dia.5 psi and up
2,500 - 3,000 lbs.Under 30" dia.10 psi and up
2,500 - 3,000 lbs.30" - 33" dia.8 psi and up
2,500 - 3,000 lbs.Over 33" dia.5.5 psi and up

How much air should be in a drag radial?

ET DRAG PRO DRAG RADIAL AND PRO BRACKET RADIAL
VEHICLE WEIGHTTIRE SIZEAIR PRESSURE
2,500 TO 3,000 LBSUNDER 30" DIA16 P.S.I. AND UP
2,500 TO 3,000 LBSOVER 30" DIA8 P.S.I. AND UP
OVER 3,000 LBSUNDER 30" DIA16 P.S.I. AND UP
OVER 3,000 LBSOVER 30" DIA12 P.S.I. AND UP

Are smaller wheels better for drag racing?

The best practice is to go with a smaller wheel for performance and as much tire as you can fit to get the most traction possible. On average, you will see the best results with wheels for the front that are in the 15×3.75-inch range or larger, and in the rear a set of wheels in the 15×10-inch range is ideal.

What is radial tire drag racing?

Radials have less rolling resistance, allowing them to be quicker and faster relative to the ET Drag. Drivers report a more stable feel at the top end of the track because of the radial design and because they work with more air pressure than a bias-ply tire. Radials are also a little easier to manage.

Do slicks hook on the street?

Slicks Problems:

Slicks can't be used on the street in most places. On high horsepower applications, slicks can go into violent tire shake. Slicks are looked down on by some who run radials(not me). If they break loose, the car usually slides around.

Why do drag cars have big back tires?

Advantages of larger rear wheels in an RWD car? Having a larger diameter rear wheel increases the amount of rubber that contacts the road along the axis of the vehicle which increases your acceleration potential. By comparison, the front wheels don't need as large a contact patch to take care of steering and braking.

Why do drag racers use slick tires?

The first production "slick tyre" was developed by M&H Tires in the early 1950s for use in drag racing. Slick tyres provide far more traction than grooved tyres on dry roads, due to their greater contact area but typically have far less traction than grooved tyres under wet conditions.

Why are drag tires so big?

Wider tires provide more resistance to slippery spots or grit on the road. Race tracks have gravel, dust, rubber beads and oil on them in spots that limit traction. By covering a larger width, the tires can handle small problems like that better.

Is more sidewall better for drag racing?

A taller tire will also have more sidewall which is a good thing for drag racing. When you have them at a lower psi, the sidewall will flex (i.e. "wrinkle") which increases the area of the tire's footprint on the ground (contact patch) which offers more surface area to put power down.

Why are drag racing tires wide and smooth?

Why do racing cars have smooth tires? Racing cars have smooth tires so they can have more grip, making the racer perform better on the race track. Smooth tires mean that more rubber will be in contact with the road. This is because the contact patch, or the oval-shaped area on the tire that touches the road, is wider.

How wide are drag slicks?

And all that power and logic are delivered through a pair of bias-ply drag slicks manufactured in Akron, Ohio. Thirty-six inches tall, 17.5 inches wide, and weighing 48 pounds apiece, they're part number 2747 in the Goodyear Racing catalog, $917 per tire.

What is the biggest drag slick?

Mickey Thompson is well-regarded as the innovator of drag radial race tires, and the new 31-inch ET Street S/S is one of the world's largest.

Are Hoosier drag slicks directional?

Hoosier drag tires can be mounted to rotate in either direction. Hoosier drag tires can also be flipped or reversed to provide even wear.

Are radials faster?

The good thing about radial tires, they don't absorb a lot of power. This makes them quicker and faster. The bad thing about radial tires, they don't absorb a lot of power. This makes them tricky on the starting line and can effect consistency.

How long do drag radials last?

When we asked about the life expectancy of drag radials, Robinson's reply was, “Would that be the first or the third set?†On average, a set of drag radials with a mix of track time and highway miles is between 3,000 and 5,000 miles.

Are radial tires safer than bias ply?

"Radials are about 80 percent more resistant to cuts and penetrations in the tread area," says Mills. This is due to differences in construction between radial and bias-ply tires.

Are race tires radial?

Most racing radial tires are closer to a belted bias ply tire than a passenger car radial tire. This gives the racing radial tire traits from both bias & radial tires (good feedback & higher breakaway traction).
…as the T/A Drag Radial 2 while the more modern tread pattern is simply called the g-Force T/A Drag Radial. Note that while drag racing radials are street legal, the soft…

What's the difference between radial and bias ply tires?

A radial tire allows the sidewall and the tread to function as two independent features of the tire. A bias tire consists of multiple rubber plies over lapping each other. The overlapped plies form a thick layer that is less flexible and more sensitive to overheating.

What does hard tire mean in drag racing?

Discussion Starter · #1 · Sep 12, 2012. Many tracks here in the Southeast are starting to do "hard tire" racing..which basically means NO drag radials/ET streets,etc..just regular ole radial tires.

How do drag radials work?

As indicated by their name, drag radials have a radial carcass designed to maximize off-the-line traction by using a soft compound and a reduced tread depth. Unlike slicks, drag radials maintain a stiff sidewall that ensures stability at high speeds, making them the most streetable of the three types of drag tires.

What is semi slick TYRE?

Semi slick tyres : adapted for the road

There is an alternative to slicks if you are looking after performance driving on the road: semi-slicks. these are based on the design of slicks, except they feature some grooves.As a consequence, grip performance on dry roads is not as good as for slicks.