should i run tubes or does it matter. they are 28x12.5 15s

Micket Thompson says to run tubes..I have run both ways...I perfer the tubes

The MT ET Streets hold air much better than slicks when used without tubes. I have a set of 28x11.5 ET Streets (no tubes) that I have not added air to since last summer. They still have over 15 psi in them.

The downside to adding tubes is you will need to screw the tire to the rim to avoid ripping the valve stem off.

Hope this Helps,

So, you've already seen that MT says to use tubes - but it probably confuses you when you see or hear of people running without tubes.

Most all tube type tires can be run without tubes as long as the bead gets a good seal and the tire pressure is sufficient.

But there is always more to the story: how much pressure, how heavy a car, how much power.

Most drag tires should be screw locked to the rim when running low inflation pressure. Screw locking the bead ruins the bead seal, making tubes neccessary. If you run low pressure with tubes and no screw bead locks then you risk tearing the tube valve stem open when the tire spins on the rim.

*Some* racers run low pressure, no screw bead lock, and no tubes - seemingly without any harm. That is, until they get sideways at the top end of the track for whatever reason (previous undetected spill from prior car in that lane, etc.) - in that case, a tubeless slick without screw bead locks can "burp" air pressure out when the slick is sliding sideways. The sudden loss of air pressure compounds a bad siutuation, with loss of control the common result. I know of one case in the last year when a 10 second car was destroyed because of this.

That said, I know that plenty of people run slicks tubeless. I'm not sure that tubeless is much of a problem when running 18+ psi, but I do think it is dangerous when the air pressure is in the low teens or lower.

Thomas

well probly high 11s in a 3300 lb car

So what's the air pressure?

Thomas

there not on the wheels yet but probly around 16 psi.

I stay away from tubes when I can... reduced recipicating weight. Coat the insides of the tires with dis soap and they will hold air better. You hac also rough up or dink where the bead sits against the tire.,.. this seems to help hold the tires from spinning on the wheels.

You don't need them.Waste of money.

This guys is running 10.60's with ET streets and no tubes. He does mark the tire to the rim to make sure its not spinning on rim at launch. He checks it after each round. No problems yet.

My dad also doesn't run tubes in his 57 but he is only in the 13's

well i mounted up my tires with no tubes, too bad i allready ordered the tubes :mad: . oh well i got them for pretty cheap(work at les schwabs)

oops I was adding a video but forgot the link heh

The 67 (http://www.chevelles.com/cgi-bin/video/dirwrap.cgi?rt=count&path=video//aarons67.wmv)

At 16 psi you will probably be allright without tubes. I'll stick to my guns that at 12 psi or lower that running tubeless is not a good idea.

Thomas

I run tubes in my Hoosiers. I run about 10psi at the track. I put them in becaus ethey were recommended. I only ran low 13's last year, but I'll feel alot safer this season know I have tubes with the big block.

I run them without tubes. I don't believe there's any need for them. Check your air pressure regularly and you'll be fine. MHO.

Only because tire safety is a subject not left to chance I'm going to comment again.

Low tire pressure (say 12 and below) is NOT safe to run tubeless - and when running tubes in low pressure applications you MUST have rim screws.

The guys running 16-18-20 psi have no great need for tubes or rim screws.

If you have a 13 second car and are running slicks below 18 psi I can GUARANTEE that you are running SLOWER. The low pressure might seem to help you off the line, but slicks at low inflation pressure have a LOT of frictional drag down the rest of the track.

Be safe, Thomas

i have ran slicks in alot of different ways.........i have ran them with cheap 7 bucks apeice co-op tubes in them specially if the tubes leak alot of air thru the side walls.........i have ran them with out tubes.........and when i started to see the slicks spin on the rims from running 10 psi to 13 psi i put black silicone on the beads to help hold the tires to the rims.......this has worked very well to keep the tires from spinning on the rims........most of the time if i didnt use silicone on the beads my tires would rotate on the rim about 1/4" every pass.

the times my slicks would rotate on the rims while out at the race track with inner tubes in there i would flip the tires side to side so the tires would slip back to the white marks i had on them..........

of course alot of the slipping was comming from running low air pressure..........

I ran a best of 10.14 and I don't use them with no problems.