WOW, so I guess by your rational the 295/35-18's I've been running behind 305's in three different cars for the past decade are 'too much'? Sorry buddy, you're statement is not based on fact... it's an opinion of which we are entitled to have.

As long as the tire is between 25.5”-26.0” inches in diameter which is the range that the factory wheels and tires fall into (regardless of width) a box stock LO3 is more than capable of handling his particular set up through a factory converter. Now, if he were going with a much taller tire 28”-29” you’re statement would start to make sense

 

I was referring to the compound of the BFG drags and not size. My understanding is that they are specifically designed for the drag strip(+ soft sidewalls) in which case they would bog down a 305 on launch w/out a stall at the 1/4 mile. I didn't think these tires would be ideal for road course or autocross?

 

If you were talking about a slick with a wrinkle wall with only 10psi the car MIGHT bog but that depends on how you leave the line. However drag radials have many of the internal construction features usually found in high speed radial tires, the feature that prevents it from being speed rated in the "normal" ways is its unique high-hysteresis tread compound. The energy-absorption characteristics help the drag radial readily conform to the track surface to help launch the car moreover a regular radial. This same tread compound, when subjected to continuous operation at very high speeds, could possibly overheat and blister like slicks that have been used for road racing/autocross.

However there are a couple of people that run drag radials during time attack sessions and do well with them. In my opinion drag radials should not be used in any situation where the car and tires will be exposed to extreme cornering loads and/or sustained high speeds. However for a daily driver like Mike is building, he shouldn’t have any problems other then wearing through them quickly due to the low tread wear count.

 

I was thinking the same thing, I read on a board where a BFG rep posted that the drag radial was designed for max straight line traction and gave up some lateral grip.

Since this was posted under a thread about Time Attack I figured he was going to be using the tires for cornering. If that is the case I believe there are better "purpose tires" available suited for daily driver and occasional Time Attack sessions.

I used BFG 275/50/15 drags when I had the original L69 5.0 motor(quadrajet) through a T5 and it would bog. Too much tire for my 305.

Edit: Just saw that he is going with an LT1 in the near future which will definitely increase his power and tq when compared to the 305.

 

So has a date been set for the next get together at the track?

 

Not tomorrow it's probably going to hit 100* out there.

Right now it's three aces in Pedley right next door.

 

Well the upside of the heat is it would make even the hardest tires sticky, might make for some good lap times.

 

The heat just glazes them and makes them greasy in about one lap. Its like driving on an ice skating rink in hot weather with hard tires.

 

Check out post #35 on the first page of this thread where I respond to his question regarding how his particular combination would fair during a time attack.

Bog, really? That had to be a combination of bad rear end gearing and/or not enough RPM out of the hole...

Dude I’ve been so busy with this manufacturer I’ve been doing some consulting for lately, I haven’t even had a chance to think about it. Let’s see if we can nail something down at the meeting on Saturday.