Getting ready to set up my rear end this winter I'm not sure what size slick to run 26" or 28"? Wondering what every one else is doing, width and height. My car will be getting a mini tub and possible frame narrowing. Thanks Bryon
'Depends on how much horsepower you're going to throw at it. The narrower the tire, the better - as long as you can get traction. There is less drag and less weight going down the track (same concept as running skinny "front runners"). As far as height, it depends on what rear gear you will be running and what length of track you want to run (1/8th mile or 1/4 or both). I run 28" X 9" X 15" M/T ET Slicks and am hoping to get a 1.4XX sixty foot this Sunday. My best is a 1.55 (350 RWHP, 410's with a full spool, leaf springs, QA-1 shocks, Cal-Tracs). I have only run the 1/8th. I'm not real fond of 1/4 mile but will eventually try it (again). The only reason to tub one is to either go with the Pro Street look (with super wide tires - which looks cool in my book) or you simply can't get enough rubber to the track with the amount of horsepower you have and need wider slicks to to keep from spinning. Just my
very well said rick, like he said all depends on what you want to do w/ it , 1/4 or 1/8? and far as tubs how much hp are you throwing at it? eddie
like rick said it depends on how fast and what you really want. i ran 11.81 last week on M/T et drag radials 275/50/15. i think they are just under 26". i run a 9" with 4:33 gears.
Don, are you running mini tubs? That's the size street tires I am running and I get a little rubbing if someone rides with me. I want to go with the drag radials too but want to make sure I go with the right combo.
I have a pair of MT ET Drag slicks - 26/8.5-14 - that I will use on my '73 Grabber when I take it to the strip. It is and will be primarily driven on the street, but will be very stout. The 10.5 Outlaw class boys are running down in the very low 7's (in the 1/4) and 200 mph with just a 10.5" wide slick or a 12" wide drag radial - maximum tread width to sidewall is 12". The maximum height for these racers is 33 inches, but a smaller diameter can be used.
Some tracks run 8.5" Outlaw classes. These guys are running 5.20's in the 1/8th and putting down 1000 hp's. If you've ever seen a True 10.5 Outlaw race, you'll be hooked on 'em. Wild rides from launch to the stripe. I can't wait to see a 8.5" Outlaw!
I use 26x10 MT ET Drags with a 15x10" rim, 4.5" backspacing and rolled wheel wells. Best 60' of 1.53, 4.30 gears w/ C4 trans and trap RPM of 7200mph. No mini-tubs, no narrowed rear. 28x9 or 28x10 works too, especially if you are going to run 10's in the 1/4 or nitrous. Some have gotten the 28x10 to fit without mini-tubs but with mini-tubs you can get 28x10 easy and probably bigger. For bracket racing, the bigger the better (for consistency)...for quickest ET and MPH, the smaller the better, assuming you can get it to hook.
Depends on what you're doing. The rule of thumb is if you're running heads up, you want the narrowest tire you can use (think of a 10.5x31 the biggest tire you can get). Taller is better than wider in most cases. If you're bracket racing, get the biggest tire you can fit under the car whether it means to backhalf it or whatever. Consistent traction=consistent ETs & reaction times. Underpowered & over-tired is a good thing in bracket racing. I ran 28x10.5-15s on mine (stock rear end, stock body & chassis) for years before I backhalfed and went with 32x14s. Ran some respectable ETs but as power levels increased so did inconsistency. There were days that I could run the same ET all day. The next week it'd be all over the place and that was more common. With the bigger meats I sometimes leave the same dial-in on the car for 2-3 race days, sometimes more. It will commonly have a 1.32 60' all day long right down to the thousandth. Best with 60' on 10.5's was a 1.41.
ray, the rear in my car is a 9" out of a mustang. it's a little wider and the tires stick out just a bit. i don't think i could get them in if i was to drive it on the street. i could probably figure something out with the backspacing. but it works for the track and i'm too lazy (and cheap) to play with it.
im running hoosier 26x10.5 15x8.5 having raced yet just bought those tires im praying for sub 2.0 60 footers
I`m running M/T ET Drags 28x9 on 8 " Weld wheels with 4.5 bs They look perfect on the car BUT I wish I had a set of 26" tall tires instead to kick up my final gear ratio.
