I've never been to the track, but i hope to go soon. Just out of curiosity, are tracks generally a lot more slippery than the street? If so, how come?
Why are tracks so slick compared to the street?
- Thread starter sunil6784
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jaymac
New Member
If you have street tires, you'll have better traction on the street. If you have racing tires (slicks, drag radials), you'll have better traction on the track. The reason is the way it's prepped. The soft compound of a racing tire, especially when warm, will adhere to the slick surface of the traction, while the harder compound (and not as much surface area contact) will just spin on the slick track surface.
Conversely, on a bare street, the opposite will be the same. On a cold, untreated surface (the street, it will be harder to make a slick bite, and the surface is more porous and not as smooth and sticky (no VHT).
Conversely, on a bare street, the opposite will be the same. On a cold, untreated surface (the street, it will be harder to make a slick bite, and the surface is more porous and not as smooth and sticky (no VHT).
25thmustang
Mustang Master
Take my word for it. I was told the track is slipperier than the street so I decided to try a few launches on the street right before my first street tire runs at the track. The car just spun and spun through 2nd. I hit the track, nailed 2.0 60's all day and didnt spin into 2nd all that much.
The track was a LOT stickier than the street and I was on 245/45/17 Falken radials!
The track was a LOT stickier than the street and I was on 245/45/17 Falken radials!
jaymac
New Member
I guess what you can learn from this is that no two people will have the same answer.25thmustang said:
Before I ever went to the track, I could nail it on the street, it woul d spin for a second, then catch and take off.
My first trip down the 1320, i nailed it just like I would on the street, and ended up w/ a 2.8 60', and was SIDEWAYS halfway down the track. Yes this was on street tires. No I had no traction at all. The track was/is ALOT more slippery then the street. That first run was a 17.7.
After learing that the track is slippery, i was able to get a 2.3 out of the night (still crap). Another outing, I was able to cut 2.0's w/ the same street tires, but more power. Either way, judge for yourself, cuz 100 people will say it's slippery on street tires, 100 other people will say it's sticky.
MAybe their track is prepped better.
Who knows
bubba-dough
Active Member
Before I got DR's - I was told on street tires not to drive through the burnout box and not to do a burnout-just turn them over a bit to clean them not heat them up. Anyway I had to do both ways to find out for myself and I found that what I was told got me way better 60' and 1/4 mile times.
jaymac
New Member
yeah, you def. don't want to drive thru the water box w/ radials.
And I hate A-holes who drive straight thru the water and drag it up to the line and leave water there.
dicks.
And I hate A-holes who drive straight thru the water and drag it up to the line and leave water there.
dicks.
Next time you're at the track, if you can, walk up to the starting line. More than likely, you'll have a hard time keeping your feet inside your sneakers. They tend to stick to the track when you walk. It's kind of funny to watch sometimes.
jaymac
New Member
Well, when you apply more than 250 lb./ft TQ (depending, obviously) to a hard cold street rubber compound w/ no bias ply, they just don't stick quite like Nike's! 
393Bird
Founding Member
If you want to see what the strip surface is like, do not go to one of the street car low cost events, or a test and tune night, since they do not prep the track nearly as well as a regular race night.
EMW150
Founding Member
393Bird said:
The track I go to never preps unless someone blows oil or coolant all over the track. Even on regular race days you never see them spraying it unless they have a major cleanup.
Thanks, from what i gather it differs from track to track. I guess I'll have to go up to New England Dragway and see for myself.
Btw...I thought I put it in talk.
Btw...I thought I put it in talk.
The smooth surface allows more rubber to surface contact. Imagine a suction cup effect. I've noticed the best runs is when you follow a all out funny car or dragster that really burns them and lays it down, although it may be your best run, you look like a slug compared to what you were following. Nothing worse than having to follow a FWD car that just tracks water with its rear tires. The track I go to, there is no room to go around the water which sucks because you always track water.
Nothing worse than having to follow a FWD car that just tracks water with its rear tires. The track I go to, there is no room to go around the water which sucks because you always track water.
vikingpower
New Member
I experienced the same problem, traction was horrible out of the hole when I went to the strip, alot slippier than launching at a stoplight
maverick0716
Founding Member
jaymac said:
At my track, on street legal nights they make you drive through the water....although, they prep it well enough that it's not a puddle you drive through, just wet pavement.
fox racer
Member
jaymac
New Member
FWIW, I'm at NED, too. So, you can take my track condition report as a good account of what you'll be dealing with...sunil6784 said:
25thmustang
Mustang Master
jaymac
New Member
ah crap...Similar threads
