Question: Which are faster drag radials or cheater slicks/slicks

[prostreeter600]

I made some changes to my truck over the winter. I want to get some runs in on what I currently have but I am contemplating changing my wheel/tire combination. I'm either going to a 16 x 10 with M & H 30 x 14 cheater slicks, 12/16 Nostalgia slicks or 17 x 10 with 315/50/17 MT ET Street R drag radial or the M & H 390/14/17 Drag Radial. I read and hear that Drag Radials are faster due to less distortion. I see a ton of Drag Radials at the race track on cars instead of bias ply slicks. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[GM_Guy]

Radials are a lot more predictable. I don't like the idea of a bias ply on the front of a diesel truck but people have obviously had success with them.

I think the main reason for the bias ply is if you need the tire height because you are limited on a radial.

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[prostreeter600]

For sure on the tire height limitations. That is mainly due to the fact that we can’t use a 15” wheel . The 12/16 M & H Nostalgia slick is 31.5” tall but it is a bias ply.

 

[GM_Guy]

I'm far from a pro. I never left hard enough to need anything more than a nitto 420. I feel some like the look because not every "drag truck" needs radials

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[prostreeter600]

With the 3.73s the current wheel tire combo will dead hook on tune 3 , tune 4 and 5 spin out of the hole, the more power I put to it the more spin. LOL. I am hoping that the 3.42s help me with that, if not I'll sell what I have and change my wheel/tire combo.

 

[GM_Guy]

I think my converter was too loose to spin out of the hole, It would fight for traction a little bit when it would hit lockup. But this is a vastly different setup and I was leaving in 2nd.

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[prostreeter600]

I too leave in 2nd. Only way to go

 

[GM_Guy]

Yeah my converter was hanging on for dear life lol.

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[TROJAN366]

I ran 305/45r18 ET street R radials and they absolutely hooked better than a street tire. I was leaving in 2nd with 3.42s and still had to be careful not to spin. I ended up selling them and picked up another set of 30x14s. I never had any issues with the 30x14s feeling unstable at 130+. I bought my old set from Pat off Casper and sold them to Mike Graves. As far as I know Mike is still running them and his truck flat out hauls the mail.

 

[prostreeter600]

So is Mike running the 30 x 14 Chester Slicks or the ET Street R tires ?

 

[TROJAN366]

So is Mike running the 30 x 14 Chester Slicks or the ET Street R tires ?

he is running the 30x14. I sold them to him a while back then got the bug and bought the ET Street R. There is no comparison.

 

[Evan@InglewoodTrans]

he is running the 30x14. I sold them to him a while back then got the bug and bought the ET Street R. There is no comparison.

He popped one running over someone’s exploded compressor wheel on his 9.55 pass at UCC last year but aside from that they are still the ones you sold him.

 

[zf>allison]

28x10x16s on pyos Hoosier full slicks. Smaller tire but never feel unstable. And I hit the traps at 131 mph last night, taller slick might be more mushy but these smaller ones feel fine and are super light.

 

[prostreeter600]

So Trojan366 you preferred the 30 x 14s over the ET Street Rs ?

 

[MarkBroviak]

I also run the 30x14’s and really like them! 2nd gear start on 3.42’s here and I leave around 50psi on them.

 

[prostreeter600]

So Mark are you still 2 WD ? If so is your truck dead hooking out of the hole on those 30 x 14s ?

 

[TROJAN366]

So Trojan366 you preferred the 30 x 14s over the ET Street Rs ?

I definitely prefer the 30X14. I can launch where I feel comfortable and have some room for error. A little too much boost on the ET Street R and they went up in smoke.

 

[JoshH]

I'm far from an expert on the matter, but from the reading I have done, a slick is a lot more forgiving than a radial. I think radials can be very fast, but it takes a very well prepped track to make them hook where a slick is a lot less picky.

 

[Subman]

I'm assuming all of you running slicks or radials are also running tubes. If you aren't you should be.:woott:

 

[Chevy1925]

I'm far from an expert on the matter, but from the reading I have done, a slick is a lot more forgiving than a radial. I think radials can be very fast, but it takes a very well prepped track to make them hook where a slick is a lot less picky.

i agree. track prep and truck setup becomes very important on a radial over a slick. i feel more sidewall on a radial helps give more wiggle room but not like a slick