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Street traction

beanhead

beanhead

May I Land My Kinky Machine
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440-powered '68 Satellite(auto trans) needs a little help. Not trying to be too much of a race car but dangit the ease at which the tires spin is getting old. Now, they're just plain ol' coopers on a snubber and xhd springs, with a 373 gear..and I know better than to expect too much on road surfaces but what would you all think is the better addition--something like a set of cal-tracs, different springs, or simply some better tires? It's a nice running engine making an estimated 475-500hp in a 3500lb car, and honestly the tires didn't go up in smoke as eagerly before I got deep into the tuning aspects (de-tuning is not an option lol!) Thanks
 
I have to vote for drag radials(?) or what I'd call "cheater slicks" with only two grooves in a "street slick" & you might consider hardened axles if they start sticking well. Slicks break axles. And FORGET about driving in the rain.
 
Nitto 555r's work great on the street!

I try to spin tire and it spins for like 2 seconds, hooks and goes. At full street PSI! and 3:91 gears
 
threewood said:
This thread is relevant to my interests!! Does anyone have experience with Hoosier DOT drag radials? Looking at a set in 275/60 15 ......https://www.summitracing.com/parts/hoo-17317/overview/
Click to expand...
I have them, unfortunately no road experience with them yet....


C8AA1403-1BDA-4790-90F3-CB31BD2F6538.jpeg
2C7A9182-C145-4BAA-B0E5-5A0EE5343C30.jpeg
 
PurpleBeeper said:
I have to vote for drag radials(?) or what I'd call "cheater slicks" with only two grooves in a "street slick" & you might consider hardened axles if they start sticking well. Slicks break axles. And FORGET about driving in the rain.
Click to expand...
Thanks! I already don't drive the car in the rain, I'm too scared it will catch car cancer... (which is funny considering we only get like 6 inches of rain a year..)
 
I've reconciled that there is no compromise. Road miles to LA, Reno, Vegas you will encounter rain or wet somewhere. Gotta run street tires and no room to take mounted tires along.
Launch in second and back pedal is what I do.
 
I'm running the M/T Radial Pro and I love them, on a trans brake leaving at 3000 on the street almost zero spinning @ 16 PSI .
mt-et-street-radial-pro-face-300dpi-shadow-clipped-700x700-q70.png
 
I think I would start with the tires before doing anything else. If you drive in the rain on occasion you may have to compromise a little or just know to slow down. What size are you currently running?
 
If you have a tire that works on the street you just don't have enough power.
Doug
 
As has been said, tires will make for a noticeable difference and would be the first thing to address. The Coopers are great street tires (better than BFGoodrich in my opinion) but performance is not one of their strong suits.

There are already some good recommendations here, but I would ask how many miles do you drive per year? If you want something that is a little more "street" and a little less "track" but still provides good hook, I'd take a look at these from M&H or these from Mickey Thompson. I'm a little bias toward M&H because they always given me good performance and the guys over there are awesome. Shoot them a call or e-mail they can help you get it dialed in how you'd like. Having said that...a lot of my buddies swear by MT and I don't have anything bad to say about them.
 
dvw said:
If you have a tire that works on the street you just don't have enough power.
Doug
Click to expand...
-----------THIS !!!!!!!!!!!! I RUN 295 65 15 DRAG RADIALS, CAR TURNS SIDEWAYS ON THE STREET WHEN I GET IN IT, W/ CALTRAC SYSTEM TOO. NEEDS A WELL PREPPED TRACK.
 
I'm running the 315/61/15 radial pro on the street and this bitch hooks nice !! Trans break & 700 horse power to the ground straight as an arrow, with little tire spin !! street race this car almost every weekend !
 
Mickey Thompson ET Street S/S work great for me on the street.

20170331_134731.jpg
 
Last edited:
Thanks guys. I will look at better tires first, I just want a noticeable improvement over what I have now..it's only been back on the road a year and my odometer doesn't work, but I drove it all year with mostly around-town driving and a couple of 80 mile journeys..guessing about 1500 miles.
275-60-15s on 8" rims..
 
10 inch rims might help as well.
 
I notice that the more gas I have in the tank, the more traction I have. Mounting your battery in the trunk will help.
 
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