Background: On the '57, I've been running BFG Radial TA 265R50x15's most of last year and this year. Since August, only when DOT tires are required (picked up some non-DOT slicks in early August). To say the least, traction has been marginal, especially since the gears went in in June. I've followed the "just turn them over to clean them off" routine all year.

Last weekend at Topeka, I saw an El Camino from Nebraska with the same exact tires (13-sec car). I asked him if he could get any traction with them - "If I do a big burnout, I can," was his response. Water? Yes, water.

So tonight, last DOT-required race of season. Decide I'll try it 1st time trial, go back to old method of it didn't work.

It didn't work. I don't have line lock yet (just hold it so it doesn't bounce with the brake pedal), so perhaps it would work better w/LL, but the 60' was terrible. For 2nd time trial, did a dry but still some smoke burnout, 60' much improved (but nowhere near what the M/T ET Drags will do).

As the night went on, I tried more smoke. A good 5 seconds of smoke produced the best and most consistent 60' times.

Come to think of it, I didn't see that El Camino after the 1st round last weekend.

Perhaps that muddies the waters a little, but seems to me more than a quick cleaning turn is required - with these tires, at least.

 

I agree with you totally, when I started the season with my 305 I was running brand new 245/60-15 at all four corners, just your everyday, year round street tire. Everyone in our group that I raced with told me to do a big burn out, in the back of my head I remembered reading about radials getting "greasy" when you do that. First TT went through the water did a so-so burn-out and spun coming out of the hole with wheel hop and a 2.2something short time, gradually I increased the burn out duration (did have a line lock though) to what John Force himself would bow down to. When I did those exsecive burns outs is when I had consistent 1.99-2.0 shorts without wheel hop, whenever the rear end would bounce I knew I didn't get them hot enough. Maybe me and you had the "need heat treat" street radials that no one else can get their hands on hence the girlish dry hops before they stage and the idiotic, how far can I spin down the track before I realize that I look like an ***. Thankfully it wan't long before I stepped up to the Hoosier Quick Time Pro's DOT slick and now I have the consistent 1.82 shorties, I just hope to *** next season with the 4.11's and new 28" tall slicks I can get into the 1.7's at least.

 

I was hoping to have a pair of Drag TA's for this race, but apparently nobody in the country has them right now. Expected delivery: October 20. I think I'll cancel that order and go for M/T Street ET's. Either way, the days of the Radial TA's are numbered.

 

I run a set of Futura's when I'm in between sets of drag radials and have noticed that they hook best with a big burnout as well.

 

Well fellas, we're 3 for 3 so I'd say big burn outs on radials is the way to get some hook.

 

I think I should give that a shot next time. 2.08 has been my best shortie w/a light cleaning spin. Next timel, I'm gonna make some smoke.

 

You betcha. Street tires need MORE of a burnout than Drag Radials or Slicks because the compounds are harder and need more friction to heat them up.

I have since switched to Nitto's, but when I raced my Futuras, I would shift into 2nd..rev to 4000 and brake stand them through first... second... and then hold until your rpm starts to go down (when they start to stick), then release the brake and coast up to the line. If you burnout this way, you will get better 60ft's.

 

In all my "testing" I have noticed my Firestone SS20's do spin with anything more that just cleaning them off. I know they are not great tires, but I'm on a tight buget. Anyways, street tires are made with speaciel chemicals and oils in them to prolong tread life and prevent dry rought. When you do big smokey burn out on normal street tires these chemicals and oils come to the surface and actualy make the tire slicker. Yes it makes for more fun, but not for good 60' times.

 

Well, I guess the old advice still holds - "See what works for you." Apparently, your tires don't respond to a warming up. My TA's do (as long as there isn't any water on them).

 

i need better tires, even when i heated them up at the track they still spun some..

 

<b>concrete and VHT</b>
Just carry a nice clean slab wherever you go, then wet it down with some VHT. oh, and pouring gasoline on it works too.
I launch with consistant 1.2 60' times off my slab, and I can even get 1.0 60' with the gasoline cause your tires catch fire and it makes the car go faster.

 

Yokahomas 245/50 16's = no traction with big burnout/dounuts in parking lot. No traction until ~50 mph (feathering it in 2nd) this wasn't at a track, you guys have me considering a small burnout next time i go to the track. I run 245/50/16s GS-C now, after a run they pick up gravel so I know they're getting soft at some point.

 

Interesting. I was just given a set of those this weekend in exchange for helping a fellow 3rd gen'r move out of state. Two sets, actually, a used set mounted on 4th gen rims, and a new set still in the box. I was wondering if they would make acceptable substitutes (the 1/2 worn ones) for DOT-class drag racing next year. Gotta be better than the TA's, I'd think (220 treadwear vs. 400). Or, should I sell the lot and buy some Drag Radials?

 

I noticed a big difference between the GS-Cs and the yokahomas, like no more tire spin from a roll or 2nd gear, the yokahoma's would light up at WOT in 1st(from any speed) and about 10ft in 2nd, while the GS-Cs just get a chirp( ~260 hp car low 14s @ 97+ mph). However, in my other 3rd gen with all stock susp. they don't impress me as much. For a reg. raced car I would get some DRs. I would consider buying that new set of tires from you if the price is right and they are 50 series or 45? I meant to say the GS-Cs I have are 245/45/16s ( a little smaller than stock)

 

With regular street tires, I pull through the water...and then do a burnout until I begin to see smoke, or when my car starts to bog a little. I normally don't have any wheel spin, and pull consistent 1.9s in 60'. Different tracks I pull anywhere from 1.9s to 2.2s. It really depends on track prep for me. I do have a Vette TC and pull consistent 8.9s in 1/8th.