Ordered a new set of Mickey Thompson drag tires, noted on Summit Racing’s web site that tubes are not required, but after mounting the tires I saw on the sidewall the words “Tube Type”. Should I order tubes for them or run as is? Plan on drag racing my car occasionally with limited street cruising.
You can use liquid dish soap on the inside of the tire b4 putting on the rims. Put lots and lots and use a dry rag to rub it in. Get the sidewall and tread area very liberally. When it dries it helps it not leak. Mounted hundreds of drag tires this way. About 75% of time no leaks 20% very slight leak 5% just doesn't work. Tubest add weight, but also add some support if your car wrinkles them alot
I've run tubes and run without. One time the car spun the rim inside the tire and ripped the valve stem off when it launched. She wanted to go hard right immediately. When it was without tubes I'd have to air up the tires every week. Run the tubes now but have bead lock screws in the wheels.
Spoke to a Mickey Thompson tire tech guy today, he agreed that I should be fine if I keep an eye on the pressure more than I usually would. Going to skip the tubes, thanks for the good advice guys.
I have the et street r bias Mickey's and they say the same thing. MT told me recommended but by no means required. They do have a much higher tendency to lose pressure due to the construction. I did the dishes soap trick on a set I had some years ago, didn't work for me, they leaked like a siv, but that was just one example and I've heard many guys say that works, so I'd say there's something to it. I didn't do it on these and so far one drops maybe 1 psi a week, the other 2 psi per week. It's no biggie, just as you said, gotta watch them a little closer. These won't be on all the time anyway.
I haven't ran Bias slicks in forever, but I have ran several different sets, imo the car is much more stable on the big end with the tubes, and if you screw the rims you will need them
I haven't run tubes for 25 years and tires are screwed on one and not on the other. The one without screws has only 28 spline axles and I attribute them living in a low 10sec GS to the tires turning slightly on the rim on a good hit rather than hurting the axles......
I ran mine screwed on with no leaks, I only had 5 screws in the rear, and they were not long screws, when I would swap slicks I always broke a few off taking them out. I only add tubes to try to get more support to the tire. this dish soap needed to have an extreme amount used and rubbed in with a dry paper rag, have really work it in several directions, then install and air up with the soap wet.......this will help push it into the pores of the tire
