Radial Drag Slicks or Bias Ply Drag Slicks ?

[Mike Gaines]

Radial Drag Slicks or Bias Ply ?

I notice a lot of guys run Radial Slicks and other guys run regular Bias Ply Slicks.

Let's have some opinions of whether to use Radial or Bias Ply Slicks.

Also, I notice that a lot of guys run the 30X9 Hoosiers, even on 9 second and real low 10 second cars and they must provide lots of "bite"...radial or Bias ply ?

Lets hear it...

 

[theman440]

I like radials, no tubes to deal with, and they last a long time.

 

[HEMI-ITIS]

Never tired anything other than bias-ply.

 

[Longroof]

I like bias plys. Radials are quicker but less forgiving on a marginal track. I am a bracket racer and consistency is more important. Put me in a heads up deal and you bet your a$$ I would run radials. The 9x30 tires have a lot of technology in them, these are stock eliminator tires and are well sorted out.

And you don't need to run tube in your bias ply tires.. I never did, and never had any problems.

 

[383man]

I like radials, no tubes to deal with, and they last a long time.

Same hear as I dont run tubes and dont have to screw tire to the rim. I do use the 30 x 9 Hoosier radial and I really like them. Course I have a radial street tire up front so it handles great on the radial slicks. I never have no problem hooking on any decent track as long as I line up in the grove. Ron

 

[Cornpatch MO]

Good subject. I would like to hear reasons for running bias ply slicks or street tires. A lot of racers use them evidently, as all the slick manufacturers offer bias or radials.............MO

 

[Shorthorse]

Ran bias slicks on my slower bracket car and no complaints. I switched to Hoosier radials on my latest car because of recommendations from some good friends. I love them. I race at different tracks and have never had any issues with traction. I like being able to run higher tire pressure, usually about 18.5 Lbs. The car feels more stable at speed. Mine are 9 inch (10:28, about 128-29 mph). I was told not to use screws on radials, so I don't. I guess it has something to do with the construction.

 

[66Satellite47]

I'm still running bias slicks. Phoenix makes the size tire I want 11.5 x 28.5. Don't see any radials in that size. I also run the bias slicks without tubes. Works just fine, coated with spray adhesive on the inside as suggested by SuperStockRacer, no screws.

 

[badlite]

Ihad BFG radials on my 472 hemi worked really well.

 

[hopper]

I've been debating this subject for awhile, so maybe with all the input, an informed decision can be made. I was led to believe (by manufactures info) if you're running a 4-speed to use ONLY bias-ply drag tires.

 

[Darter6]

I use to run the Phoenix bias.Low horse power car.I now run radials.No better or worse for me. Most of the guys that run Stock and or Super Stock I know have switched in the last several years to radials.

 

[splicer]

I've tried the radials and varied the air pressure all over the place with no luck....car blows em off everytime..

Same hour, same track...car will dead-hook with bias ply slicks

Be nice if they worked for ME......but they don't....my experiences only

John B.

 

[Tex013]

Hopper ,
yes they do not recommend radials for a stickshift .
Splicer ,
did you try any suspension adjustments ?
Oh and yes glue the tyre do not screw it .
My 2 cents .
I have never run a rag slick on my Satellite . I run a 275/60R15 , 28" tall .
Started with MT ET street radials good and reasonably consistant . Then went to Hoosier radials , lighter and better than the MT , definitely more forgiving on a average to poor strip . These wrinkle like a rag slick and I rarely spun . Last time I needed tyres , couple of months ago , the Hoosier was out of stock . I now have the MT Pro Bracket Radial , heavier than the Hoosier but again will wrinkle and so far have been equal to the Hoosier . I am under the impression that I should see a lot more laps with these , averaged 50 or so with Hoosiers .
I even tried an old set of Hoosier 9x30R15's and they hooked fine . A friend uses the 30x9 Hoosier on his 3900lb Chev with a t/brake with no issues .
Normally I run 18.5-19.00psi with an 8" rim , 8 1/2" on Pro Bracket , got 10" rims ordered and these should help the tyres and may need a little more psi . If only Centreline would pull their finger out .
You must set your suspension differently for the radials .
The MT Pro Bracket is designed for bracket racers .
Again your results may vary .

Tex

 

[dvw]

I watched my buddy's 64 AA/SA run back to back passes this Summer. It was.10 quicker on radial slicks. My sons street car has been 1.38@3775 on the old style M/T 275's
Doug

 

[LemonWedge]

Radial technology is moving fast. Most cars will be faster with radials, and if you footbrake with an Automatic they are likely your best bet. I still think if you run a stick or T-Brake, the bias ply is going to react to the shockload you feed the tire better.

I started with a set of Bias Ply 28x9 ET Drags on my Satellite and the car wandered really bad. I run radial street tires up front, so I switched to ET Street Radials and they've worked really well on my relatively slow car. I'm in the market for new tires this year, and am currently debating between the new ET Street R 255/60 or the ProBracket Radial 28x9. The PB Radial is a little taller and I'm worried the car may slow down because of that. But my sense is that they would be more consistent and possibly live a little longer than the soft ET Streets. I don't know which one I'm going with yet, but it will definitely be a radial.

 

[66Satellite47]

I'm pretty sure radial tires are quicker, for the size they fit. I wish they had more sizes available.

 

[Budnicks]

I have never ran a Radial Drag Slick,
but I've run a Drag Radial Street/Strip DOT type tire/Cheater slick so to speak

When the Radial Slicks 1st came out IIRC, we didn't choose to use them
in Top Sportsman or Pro-Gas or even on my altered CE, with no suspension,
all running low 7's & hi-6's 180-200+
IMO the biggest differences were the tire growth down track
{& we also stuck with what we knew worked very well, had data/logs on},
bias ply slicks would grow allot more than a radial slick {at-least back then}
also they didn't use to make a very big {like a 33 x 15}
Radial drag slick back a few years ago...
IMO you get an advantage at higher speeds like 160+ {we were running 190's+}
{but far greater speeds than aver. hi-8's or let alone most 9-10's et's & 110-140mph-ish}
with the tire growth of a bias ply slick vs the radial drag slicks,
we actually wanted the added tire growth of the bias ply slicks,
it aided {it helped to cut gear ratio @ speed}
in not peaking out RPM's before the finish-line stripe,
we were usually on the ragged edge, needed ever bit of gear off the line,
but less gear down track...

IIRC org. Radial design, was to stop excessive tire growth, not sure now thou...

If any of that makes any sense...

I'm sure tire tech. has come leaps & bounds too,
just in the past couple {10} years too

good luck,
I didn't see that issue covered, probably not pertinent/relevant
with the tire sizes/cars/speeds/et's we're talking about on here mostly anyway...

 

[68 Sport Satellite]

Anyone with experience running Nittos? Some friends have 275/60/15 555R drag radials and was considering picking up a set as they do pretty well on the street also, which I would guess the Hoosier drag radials are not that great for...

 

[66Satellite47]

My BFG 325/50 Drag Radials work pretty darn well. I did back to back testing with Hoosier 10.5 x 28.5, no difference. They ran the same. However it looks like BFG discontinued the 325/50 Drag Radials. I'll use my Phoenix slicks & keep the BFG's for the street.

 

[GinoX]

My only experience was with bias ply slicks and only on 9x14 size Goodyears. Well, the Charger had 3.55 in its 8.75 and was taching at 5500rpm in the lights. So that was enough for me.