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Which drag racing tire do you run/prefer and why?

  • E.T. streets

    Votes: 23 25%
  • E.T. street radials

    Votes: 63 69%
  • Other (please post brand and your E.T.)

    Votes: 6 6.6%
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I will be switching to the radials also this year from the ET streets. I run a 28x11.50x15 now, so I would run the 275/60-15, right?
 
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I will be switching to the radials also this year from the ET streets. I run a 28x11.50x15 now, so I would run the 275/60-15, right?
The fit should just about be identical. That was the last size of ET street I ran before switching over to the radials and I maintained the same clearance between the lip and inner wheel well.

Corey
 
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Discussion starter · #45 ·
Nice 68 Chevy II Nova.

I did notice the M/T drag radials were of a different tread pattern as opposed to the BFG drag radials....wasn't sure if the rubber compound was any different or not.

I've heard mixed reviews on the BFG drag radials. Some claim they got theirs to hook, others said they were junk.
 
hey guys. cool site. i live at the camaro brother site. i used to have a chevelle. all fast old chevys are cool right? i just had my 68 camaro out to the track for the 1st time ever last weekend. best run of the day was an 11.15 @ 121mph. i was way off on my suspension tuning (cal-trac bars). i run m/t 275/50/15 et drag radials. i have nothing else to compare them to except the worn out bfg's on the car when i got it. my 1sy few runs, i did a moderate burnout like suggested for radials & left from idle to 2500 rpm & the thing was spinning all through 1st gear & slightly into second. i had to shut it down once because i was headed for the wall. a buddy there suggested that i was not doing a long enough burnout. so i gave her hell with a 6-8 second long burnout (lots of smoke) & it finally started hooking. but only from idle. i would have liked to stall it up on the converter (4000) but it couldn't handle a 2000rpm launch. i'm sure part of it is due to being out of adjustment on my traction bars. our track prep here kinda sucks & i was told that the radials are really sensitive to the track conditions & need a close to perfectly setup car. i have a chance to borrow a set of same size et streets from a buddy so i can do some real world comparisons. they handle like a dream on the street though & i do spend most of my time on the street so that is very important. i'll let ya know. thanks, bill.
 
Thanks guys (for the nice comments:).
Compromises sucks..one pair of real street radials...and a pair of slicks...i think everything in between are compromises.
But yes..on a really fine prepped track and a optimized car setup..a radial slick can be a little little faster because of the stiffer sidewall.
 
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i had hoosier quicktimes and switched to et streets. they were stiffer than the hoosiers and hooked better. the et streets are really bad in wet conditions, i have limped my car home at 30mph on wet pavement but i'm usually less than a few miles from home... i would not use them if you plan on using your car for more than sunday cruises, best to get a set just for the track... the ET streets also catch the grooves or patches on the road and the back end sways around (less than the hoosiers i had)...

i havent used the radials, but they sound great and i only have about 450hp, but with a bone stock suspension, so they will probably be my next tire purchase. i know guys that were dissapointed going from hoosiers or ETs to BFG dragradials, they do not hook as well... thats why i've shied away from the radials...

ak
 
Just my .02. I have done alot of off-roading as well, and have attended some balls-out driving schools in my former life. I was in my Chevelle and got caught in the rain on my MT ET Street Radials on the freeway and the rear end nearly got out from me a few times...no throttle, just holding speed. I held a 45 degree drift at 60mph for at least 300' and it scared the hell out of me. Its just not worth the risk to me, my dear car, or others to drive in the rain on these tires. Again, my .02. As for the track, they hook like hell. I've gone 1.54 60' on stock suspension with the wheels slightly off the gound. On a 3960lb car (with me) that speaks well for them in my book.

And like you, I drive to and from the track 40 miles each way so its all about compromise.

Good luck in finding the right tire!
 
Discussion starter · #53 ·
Yep guess I'm going to have to keep a sharp eye on the weather, then again what's there to say there's not going to be water in the road somewhere from someone doing a car wash or something? ;) Ya just never know....
 
Here's how I "grade" these tires based on my experience -- I have run all 4 tires below on my Camaro on the street, strip, and in the rain.

M/T Drag Radials -- traction "A" driving in the rain "C" (a little scary, just slow down. I have my best 60' times with these tires)

Hoosier QTP -- traction "A-" driving in the rain "D" (anything more then a light rain is real scary. Nearly the same 60' times as the M/T but not as consistent on my car)

BFG Drag Radials -- Traction "B" driving in the rain "C-" (scary, but not quite as bad as the QTP and not as good as the M/T radials. They seem to 60' OK on a 12 second or slower car, kind of inconsistent for me though and sensitive to track prep)

BFG Radial TA -- Traction "D" driving in the rain "A+" (typical street treaded tire, easy to blow the tires off at the track but are great in the rain. I did go high 1.8X in the sixty feathering the gas (235-60-R15's) -- just blew the tires off on the 1-2 shift)
 
Does anyone know about the new MT Sportsman S/R? I have 2 buddies running the ET Radial for street & race. It seems like an expensive tire to drive on the street that is not going to last because of their softness. We also live in Seattle where the roads never dry...:sad:
 
I bought the MT Drag radials and could not get them to hook at all. I called MT tech and they informed me that my application was not good for the stiff sidewall. I have a TREMEC TKO 600 and the shock from the clutch just overpowered them. I have since swapped to the ET Streets and find them so much more forgiving.
With that said, I am an amateur and am still learning how to deal with 500hp Big Block...so take it for what its worth.
 
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I have had both. My ET streets worked well but were unpredictable. Some times they would hook other times not. And if you get out of the groove a bit you end up chasing the car all the way down the track. And they drive poorly on the street even when aired up to the max 20 psi. I have hydroplaned badly and almost wrecked in just a heavy mist. My friend Totaled his 69 SS Chevelle on ET Streeets when he got caught in the rain. As for the ET Street Radial. I love them. I leave at full throttle and they dont spin a bit. Car drives easily down the track and I am not chasing it all over. And they feel like a regular radial when on the street, no wandering around. I have not driven them in the rain and dont plan too. I tried a freinds slicks once and they didnt do as well as the radials do.
 
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Hi All,
I just ran my new MT street radials 275/60/15 for the first time at the track and I am impressed. I initially chose them because I want a decent drivable tire to and from the track and still get some bite.
I could only make 2 passes because got there late, but I managed to run my best et and best 60ft time yet in the same pass. I did this with 20 PSI in the tires.
In the spring I ran,
13.61 with a 2.05 60ft. on Regular BFG Radial T/As'. (best previous 60ft.)
Tonight,
13.36 with a 1.85 60ft.
Thumbs up for the MT Street Radials, good-n-sticky!
Harry
69mali

combo,
69 Chevelle
396 (30 over) 8.8:1 Comp.
Holley 750 DP on Edelbrock Air Gap
Hooker Ceramic Super Comp Headers
TH350 / 2600 Stall
12 Bolt /Auburn Posi/ 3.90 Gears
 
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