Drag Radials

[FastHorse]

Looking to buy a new set of Drag radials and wondering who has used what. I have Mickey T's ET Streets 26x11.50R17 a275nd have had pretty good luck. Usually consistant 1.6 60ft times. I heard it was equivilant to a 275 40r17.

How good are M&H Racemasters Drag Radials. They have a size that sounds pretty interesting. 275 50R17 alittle more sidewall, wonder if it would give me better sixty foot times with alittle more meat on the sidewall for wrinkle action.

Any advice would help. Should I get M and H. ET streets, or ET Street Radials.

Oh I also still have 3.55 gears because of the kenne bell. I dont plan on changing em out any time soon. so I know I cant get too much tire cause it'll kill the gear ratio.

I am not ready to buy slicks since i have to buy rims and all.

 

[UrbanRedneck]

ET Streets aren't drag radials, they are a bias ply tire just like a slick. If you are comfortable with them. I'd stick with them, because you can get awesome traction with those tires. I don't see any radial doing better. If you want to use a drag radial, I have a set of ET Street radials to run on my Mustang, but have yet to try them. On other cars though, I've tried those as well as Nitto555Rs, and the MTs are WAY better. Once they start to get bald to where you only see the side treads, they get real sticky. On my brother's LS1 Camaro with 360 +/- RWHP, he could spin Nitto DRs like they were regular tires. With His ET Streets (and now suspension mods) it barely even chirps them on the street. Never tried the MT radials on that car though.

 

[TGJ]

I have read on a few S197 forums:

Mickey Thompson( MT ) Slicks > M&H Slicks
M&H Drag Radials > MT Drag Radials
Slicks > Radials

The MT 26/11.5/17 ET Street is a DOT approved Bias Ply Slick. It is not a street tire I would drive on. If you are looking for a good hooking street tire and do not want to buy new rims, go with the M&H Drag Radial. If you are looking for just a track tire, the MT you have now is good.

 

[DarkFireGT]

BTW, UrbanRedneck, they make the ET Street in a radial and a bias ply. The radials are designated with an R. Like 3743R.

Well, we have a member on here cutting 1.4 60's with the M&H radials. That's better than most people that run the MT Bias Plys. The M&H Radials are stickier than the MT radials. I wouldn't recommend them without forced induction, though, as they are tall. But since you are FI, I would definitely give them a try. I'm taking mine off, actually, because they're too tall for 3.31's & NA. They stick great, I just bog too much. But you would have no problems.

And the above is exactly right.

Bias Ply:
M/T > M&H

Radial:
M&H > M/T (if you have the power for a 28" tire)

 

[FastHorse]

BTW, UrbanRedneck, they make the ET Street in a radial and a bias ply. The radials are designated with an R. Like 3743R.

Well, we have a member on here cutting 1.4 60's with the M&H radials. That's better than most people that run the MT Bias Plys. The M&H Radials are stickier than the MT radials. I wouldn't recommend them without forced induction, though, as they are tall. But since you are FI, I would definitely give them a try. I'm taking mine off, actually, because they're too tall for 3.31's & NA. They stick great, I just bog too much. But you would have no problems.

And the above is exactly right.

Bias Ply:
M/T > M&H

Radial:
M&H > M/T (if you have the power for a 28" tire)

I have the power, but not sure if I have enough gear. I only have the 3.55's but wasnt planning on changing em out cause as it is it rev's super fast with them and the KB 2.6...

Would they work still with that tall of a tire and 3.55's. I really dont want to bog. or change the stock clutch yet.

 

[DarkFireGT]

With the KB, you should be fine. Just get the RPMs up. With those power levels, no matter what you do, you'll be needing a new clutch soon if you plan on doing any racing.

 

[FastHorse]

With the KB, you should be fine. Just get the RPMs up. With those power levels, no matter what you do, you'll be needing a new clutch soon if you plan on doing any racing.

Theres quite a few guys that have said a bunch of good things about the ET Street drag radials in 275 40 R17. They all seem to like them better than the ET Streets... for both traction and better ride. A friend wants me to buy those and if I dont like them he said he'll buy them from me.

What you all think? I kinda would still like to try the M&H but not too sure.

 

[TGJ]

Theres quite a few guys that have said a bunch of good things about the ET Street drag radials in 275 40 R17. They all seem to like them better than the ET Streets... for both traction and better ride. A friend wants me to buy those and if I dont like them he said he'll buy them from me.

What you all think? I kinda would still like to try the M&H but not too sure.

I am the opposite, I went from MT ET Street Drag Radials to MT ET Street Bias Ply slick. The reason, I couldn't get those Radials to hook with my car. I only have 2 1/4 miles passes on the ET Slicks and both were Personal Bests. I only use the tires for the track though and as I said earlier, you don't want to use the ET Street slick on the street.

 

[FastHorse]

I am the opposite, I went from MT ET Street Drag Radials to MT ET Street Bias Ply slick. The reason, I couldn't get those Radials to hook with my car. I only have 2 1/4 miles passes on the ET Slicks and both were Personal Bests. I only use the tires for the track though and as I said earlier, you don't want to use the ET Street slick on the street.

I have an extra set of rims that have my et streets right now. I swap em out when I am going to race. I have over two years with them and alot of 1/4 mile runs... but there just not as soft anymore. I have gotten used to the swaying side to side alittle at the track mostly due to only 12psi Launching off the rev limiter naturally aspirated and at about 5000 with the KB. Just not as consistant now cause there old.

How hard you launching with the MT radials? And with the ET streets?

 

[TGJ]

I have an extra set of rims that have my et streets right now. I swap em out when I am going to race. I have over two years with them and alot of 1/4 mile runs... but there just not as soft anymore. I have gotten used to the swaying side to side alittle at the track mostly due to only 12psi Launching off the rev limiter naturally aspirated and at about 5000 with the KB. Just not as consistant now cause there old.

How hard you launching with the MT radials? And with the ET streets?

I have only 2 passes on the ET Street Slicks, both were 4000 RPM launches I think, I will need to go home and check my Track Database.

I have a lot of passes on the Radials. I have tried from idle to 6000 RPM, 30 PSI to 5 PSI in the tires, 2 different sizes( 255/50/16 and 275/40/17 ). I never found anything that worked well with them at the track I go.

 

[FastHorse]

I have only 2 passes on the ET Street Slicks, both were 4000 RPM launches I think, I will need to go home and check my Track Database.

I have a lot of passes on the Radials. I have tried from idle to 6000 RPM, 30 PSI to 5 PSI in the tires, 2 different sizes( 255/50/16 and 275/40/17 ). I never found anything that worked well with them at the track I go.

Oh okay. I may just have to stick to what I know has been working, my ET Streets (bias ply). The good thing is if I wanna try the other ones and dont like em my buddy will buy them from me for His wife's Trans Am.

 

[Maza4ever14]

I know I resurrected this thread from the dead, but I just bought a pair of the MT bias ply street slicks and I had a quick question:

I have 4.10s upper and lower control arms and have the 26/11.5-17 bias plys. What rpm should I launch at? The guy that sold them to me said 4000rpm and just pop the clutch and go. And does the gearing and the height of the tire match up ok?

Any help and input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Five Oh Brian]

I run a similar sized BFG 275/40/17 drag radial. They're just over 26" tall and I have 4.10 gears, as do you. My 07 GT is supercharged and launches at 4,800 rpm's (big stall converter!), and I get awesome traction with no spin (and no bog). Even with the lazy automatic trans, I pull 1.80's for 60' times. I think you'll be fine launching between 4K and 5K rpm's.

 

[Maza4ever14]

Nice, thanks.

Also, what PSI should I run at? I heard 15 psi should be good.

 

[DarkFireGT]

It depends on many things... Power level, track prep, etc... Start at 4k and start at 15 psi and adjust from there.

 

[Five Oh Brian]

For my combination on a cold fall day, I run 18 psi. But, for some reason, on hot summer days, 25 psi works best for me. It's all about trial and error to find out what works best for you.