What Size Slicks

I'm going to get a pair of ET Drags for track use only. Trying to decide if the 26x8.5x15 is enough or if going with the 26x10x15 would be better.
I'm running an 88 IROC L98 which so far has run 1370's @ 102 mph. Currently running Nitto's but can't come out of the hole hard without spinning.

Bob

Bob why not go with ET streets,that way when you bracket race you can run in the street tire class,plus they will still let you run in the prepped lane.

Won't a 26" tire lower your overall ratio? A 3:73 would be about the same as a 4:10:eek:

Some one correct me if I am wrong,but I think a 28" would suit him better.

Tom, the stock tire on my car is 245/50/16-- or 26"tall. I want to keep the same height since I'm only running with 3.27 gears.

I'm also not really concerned about being able to run in a street tire class. I usually only go up for T&T or the occasional Fbody shootout. I just want to be able to hook every time.

Also just seen that Hoosier makes a 26x9. Another possibility?

Bob

I did not read your full sig before I hit the reply button,a friend of mine is running the Hoosier Quick Times on his 69 GTO.

He has been to the track with them twice and both times his 60 fts got better.

Bob,

go with the smaller slick it will work perfect for your car. i have heard the hoosiers are a pretty good tire. you can borrow my 26" et streets maybe when we are up at st.thomas next time for a few passes to see how you like them, they are on a 16" rim though, a 15" rim will of course yield better results.

taner, you think the et drags 26x8.5x15 will work good for me? The 10" too much for my car?
What size et streets do you run?

I just want to make the right choice first.

Bob

... ALWAYS OVER tire the car! A VERY wise and Winning Bracket racer gave me that tip many years ago! Run as much tire as you can :
1) Afford.
2: Fit in place.

Too big a tire is not gonna hurt your ET's by that much and may even improve them on slippery tracks. ALWAYS better to have too much tire than not enough! Make sure you match wheel width to tire manufacturers recomendation.

Go with a tire maker that offers different compounds, too. I would NEVER go harder then a Medium compound and currently run the softest Hoosiers (D-5). Again... better too soft then too hard! A softer tire rubber compound needs NOT to be smoked into oblivion and you can save the wear factor there! I am on my second season on the D-5's.

Just my .02 as I have only been done a track(s) maybe a few hundred times! :D

hink definitely has the experience to go with the advice. for a 13 sec car i just don't see a big slick being necessary, but it can of course help for consistency! and make up for a poorly prepped track!

Hink, thanks for the words of wisdom.
The reason I had wanted to go with a 10" et drag was the last couple of times I've been to my "home" track the same 5.0 Mustang has been there, and while we were both trapping 98-99 mph he was consistently running 13.6's on 26x10x15 et drags while I would get anywhere from 13.8 to 14.3.
He was hooking and I wasn't!

I would stay with the 26" size and I would go with something that has 9"-10" of footprint.

An ET Street is plenty of tire for your car and leaves room to drow. I was running the 26" x 11.5" x 15" ET Streets for two seasons before moving up to the 28" diameter. The Et Streets are a sidewall measurement, not a tread width measurement and street tire classes require 10" of footprint of less to be legal.

I know you don't care about street bracket racing, but if you buy a tire that has more than enough hook, why limit your options?

... I would tend to always use the largest diameter tire you can stuff under the fenderwell AND doesn't hurt your gearing. I might think about the 27" as they seem to be a happy medium.

I've been converted from M/T to Hoosier. They at least offer different compounds. You should be able to at least choose between soft and medium compounds.

Last year I had Redbird geared correctly for the 4.56 gears with 28" tall tires. I went through the traps about 6200+, with the converter locked in 3rd gear. I've always been a believer you hit the traps about what you shift at. If the converter is locked thats just extra gravy!

This year I am playing more with "the gas", so out came the 4.56's and in went the 4.10's. This is to facilitate the extra RPM capabilities of N2O/4.10.

Lastly... I had the spiders of an open carrier welded to the carrier.
No more BS'ing with a posi unit. NOW I know both tires are grabbing, and car leaves like it too!

HInk

Personally, I have had great results with the 26" x 8.5" MT ET Drag. I have run the tire going on almost 1.5 seasons with lots of runs. I have a the same trans as you do and probabley very similar weight too. Just a thought..I cut consistant 1.68's on the tire and have never had a traction issue running more HP than you are. Good luck with whatever tire you choose!