This is just an opinion poll. I'm coming to NTR on August 4th and I'm bringing my 73 Regal with me. I'll be in the car show and I was hoping to run the car down the track a few times since I have never had the chance to do that. So, the question is: Should I just run it with the tires it has on it now (205/75/15 all seasons) or should I try to find some rims to mount my Hoosier drag radials to? The car is nearly completely stock. I added a posi. Since I've never run down the track before should I not worry about the drag radials and just have fun with the all season tires? I currently do not have rims for the Hoosiers. All opinions welcome. MARK
My opinion: Run the all-seasons, and just tell people "I could have picked up 0.3 seconds with my other tires". You will have the same amount of fun either way, and less hassle.
You will quickly become very frustrated trying to launch your Buick on street tires. My vote is for the Drag Radials. You can drive to the track with them, race, and drive home. I love my Mickey Thompsons. I'm buying a taller set for the street.
455 with 205/15's; I bet you would pick up quite a bit more than .3, unless you are really good at feathering the throttle. I would definitely try getting extra wheels to run wider tires.
I'm just running down the track for fun. I'd like to go as fast I can go but since I've never run before, any speed would be fun I think. I guess I'll start junkyarding for some rims. MARK
Why buy drag radials. Get some MT et streets. Very close to a real slick. I ran a 9 second car on them and they qualify for street class. The slick type of tire will make your car much more consistent on the 60ft. Just figure out the tree and make some cash in a slower car. Drag radials are a little hard. but they are better than a street tire. I ran a low 11 second ride on them they were OK. Not great. Good luck :beers2: Scott
I basically got these tires for free so I'm not being too picky. I think their 15x10". What's the thinnest rim I can put these on? I really appreciate the replies so far.
Why buy drag Radials? I know several people who have run back to back tests with slicks and the MT Drag radials, and have identical or better 60' times and E.T.'s. The Drag radials are so much nicer at the top end of the track, and they are compatible with street radials. Mixing tire types on a car can have adverse handling results.
If the tires are free then use them. If you have to pay full price go with the bias slicks. The goodrich website should show what rim size will work for those tires. As far as using bias on the back and radias on the front. Just go to any race track and look at the street classes and you will see many cars doing that. Also the tracks would be stop racers from using two types of tires if it proved to be unsafe as they are very conserned about insurance costs and accidents drive up the price. Bias slicks are just way better. Yes maybe somebody at a track that had so much traction compound at the starting to hook a top fuel car might not see much difference. At the smalller tracks where traction compound is not used (because of costs) on street nights the bias slick has a big advantage being softer and using less air pressure 6 to 12 lbs. If you car is unstable going straight then you got big problems. I don't think you would want to tackle a road course with bias drag tires on the rear. Good luck Scott
Agreed, It's not unsafe, but the handling will be different and could be unsafe in an emergency situation, not that that happens all the time at the track, but it could on the street with all the Bozos we have driving cars.:laugh: Most of the guys in our club are going over to the MT ET Street Drag Radials. They just hook so much better, and more consistently than the BFG's. And they ride great. It's so much easier to just drive them to the track, air them down and go racing. Then air them up and go home. Trying to launch our Buicks on street tires is an exercise in futility. It gets old really fast, and Mark will be wishing for any sticky tire.
I would just drive them to the track but I wanted to have matching tires and rims front and back for the car show.
The 205/75-15 is 27.1" tall. Mickey Thompson makes their Drag Radial in a 255/60-15 which is also 27.1" tall. That will work on a 7" rim. Which is your priority, car show or racing?
That is a very interesting question. The truth is...I don't know. I don't have a race car or a show car. I do have a street car that I like to drive to local cruises, etc. but I've never had it to the track. If I race it, it would be once a year at the BPG nats. I don't have a trailer so I would have to drive it. I drive this car year round so I don't know how the Hoosiers or the Mickeys would do in the rain. I try not to drive when it snows. I guess I could just swap my tires for now and then try to find two more Buick Rally wheels for later.o No:
The Drag Radials are not good in the rain, you want to avoid that. Buick Rally wheels should be available at most boneyards. Have you tried to find them?
I think I was able to get 8,000 miles out of a set of BFG drag radials, ended up getting other rims and using the next set when I hit the track only. They had great side walls and felt like a safe tire even around corners. I tried some MT street ET drag tires which are nothing but a cheeter slick, not good for the street very loose feeling. I now bought some of the MT drag radials that are supposed to be the best and have yet to try them. A good suspension setup can allow for some good times even with street tires, my suspension, converter, and gear ratio allows me to run deep into the 12s with 26" street tires. I expect to maybe gain 3 to 4 tenths with the drag radials. Driver ability has alot to do with launching with street tires, lots of practice helps. Steve
They were on regular Buick 15"x7" rims Get some wheels and mount the tires bring them and switch after the car show at the track. I will see you in Aug. Troy
Hey Troy, I guess you would know! I'm finally getting a chance to use them but the rims I need are in the Niagara Falls area. We posted another thread on the bench asking if anyone was coming through that area if they would pick up the rims on the way. We'll see. MARK
