Stefan's Street Tire Challenge!

[imported_admin]

There's one thing I've been preacing for years... for a street-driven car, the car should be in street trim when you race. Otherwise, if it runs 12.8 at the track but only 14.8 on the street its in the same category as trailer queens--not very impressive in my book. This applies to tires, removing the front sway bar, removing the serpentine belt, etc. Whatever makes your car go faster at the track but is not available on the streets.

But alas, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. One of these days I will end up getting ET streets... but that won't be until I've "maxed out" what my car can do on street tires.

So my challenge to all 12 and 13 second members:

What do you run on street tires? Then, what do you run on track-only tires, and what kind are they? True slicks, ET streets, or drag radials?

I'm curious what the difference really is.

Now, I realize that many of you have never raced on street tires. That's why I'm making this post. Sometime over the next few months, on a day when you're doing really well, put those street tires back on and do a few passes--for posterity. It would be really valuable to the V6 community to know just how big of a difference tires make. Don't get greedy and say "I know I'll break my record on the next run, I have to do every pass on these slicks!" Try a few runs.

My personal goal is eventually to hit 11's... but for now it is to be the first V6 in the 12's on street tires. Then with ET streets I'm aiming for low 12's... then with that "maxed out" I'll add a small shot of nitrous just to be all-time top dog again. One step at a time. ;)

[MustangEater8251]

Nice I like this idea! I never want a car I drive to be trailered. My goal is have a fast car that I can drive to the track, do some minimal stuff and run it, then change it back in less then 10 min. and drive home.

Too bad its not the deal of the street car races at my track. You go through tech ~20 miles away. Then you have to drive to the track and race. Cuz then my belt trick woudl work ;)

but seriously I want to see waht you guys are running.

me... 14.7@93mph n/a by no mean the top dog in this category or any where near it [img]smile.gif[/img]

[DARK SDE '02]

This is what I've been planning to do all along! If you can't drive it on the street in the same shape you race on the track, then it's not the same car at all! I wanna max out my car on street tires first too Stefan, then move to drag radial or even slicks once I get an upgraded rear. I'm up for this though, if I ever make it to the track!!

[Turbo V6 Camaro]

well do to my time home this summer IF it's broke in and i make it to the track the car will be exacly as i drive it down the road system and sll, my goal is 10 sec v6 camaro, but that is EXACLY as my car is everyday i drive not stripped down.

i will post my results

[Clark Griswold]

I drive nittos on the street everyday so they are my street tires. I have no other tires so do they count as street tires?

[BLLDOGG]

^no. i could drive slicks every day and it doesnt make them street tires. it just makes me crazy.

[Turbo V6 Camaro]

Originally posted by BLLDOGG:
^no. i could drive slicks every day and it doesnt make them street tires. it just makes me crazy.

slick's or not street legal the nittos are

[imported_admin]

Legal or not, Nittos are not "street tires". Any drag radial, ET street, or slick is not a "street tire".

[KBeezy]

I believe if its DOT approved its a street tire.

[BLLDOGG]

thanks stefan. what are your times on street tires. last time you ran them.

[imported_admin]

Originally posted by KBeezy:
I believe if its DOT approved its a street tire.

Why is this an issue??? Common sense here people.

We are NOT talking about DOT definitions of what is legal or not on the street. We are talking about drag racers and what tires they use.

When someone says "I ran a such-and-such on street tires" they are referring to a "normal" street-designed tire that did not have drag racing in its design parameters. Goodyear Eagle GA's that come stock, Dunlop SP Sports, Yokohamas, BFG G-Force, Michelin Pilots, etc.

Use your brain... when someone says "street tire" they are not talking about drag radials or slicks. Duh. So stop *****ing about what is a "street tire" and what is not.

Besides, this thread was intended for members who run 12's or 13's and normally run on track tires. If this description does not fit you, do not reply. Nobody cares if a drag radial makes a 15.5 car run 15.3... but people do care if an ET Street makes a 13.2 car run 12.2.

[Shirl]

Nobody cares if a drag radial makes a 15.5 car run 15.3... but people do care if an ET Street makes a 13.2 car run 12.2.

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There ain't no way ET Streets are gonna make a 13.2 car run a 12.2 [img]graemlins/popcorn.gif[/img] When a car gets into the 13's, it becomes wise to put stickier tires on it, so that you get as much traction as possible off of the launch. Honestly, I can't even remember when I switched tires because I've used a few different combinations over a period of time..but even still, I've driven on the street with everything from Eagle GA's, to Michelin Pilots, to BFG Drag Radials to ET Streets...I'd say mid to high 13's would be the time to consider a tire change for the track whether it's drag radials or slicks. The difference between street tires and track tires depends on the driver anyway, so there's no easy answer to that..you might gain .1 or .2 from slicks as opposed to street tires if you're a decent driver.

[imported_admin]

Shirl, I'm not asking the question "how much will ET streets help MY car"--this is not a tech forum. I'm asking people who regularly race on slicks to do one or two passes on regular old street tires.

Sure, everyone says tires don't do all that much... yet I've personally seen cars (not V6 F-Bodies) drop a full second off their ET because of tires, so it does happen. I'm just curious, for example, what YOU would run on regular street tires. Have you done it recently? You run, what, 11.8 on slicks, what do you think you would run on regular Michelins or whatever you normally run when not racing?

I think for the 12-13 second cars tire selection has a much larger impact than people realize... which is why I'm asking people to give it a shot. Hell, James probably does over a hundred track runs per year, at least ONE could be on daily driver tires. Right?

[Shane]

I was curious to see what my car did with street tires......prolly 14's lol

[MustangEater8251]

Originally posted by Shane:
I was curious to see what my car did with street tires......prolly 14's lol

when we I get my car good one day we can swap, you on street tires, me on slicks and skinnies [img]smile.gif[/img]