Which drag radial is best in hooking:
1-BFG g-force drag radial 275 x 40 x 17
2-Mickey Thompson ET street drag radial 275 x 40 x 17
3-Mickey Thompson ET street 11.5 x 26 x 17
4-Hoosier, same size
Can the MT ET street be run tubeless?
I need to get a set because my current tyre (BFG D/R) are too hard due to aging.

 

Depends on your goals. With a 396 I would be looking at a 15" rim, not a 17", but that is just my opinion.

I have not personally tested the MT ET Street Drag Radials but from the people I know, the MT Drag Radials hook as good as the regular ET Streets on some cars. Obviously the sidewall doesn't have the flex of a regulat ET Street so you want to take that into consideration. The BFG's would next best hook, followed by the Nitto's. Tire life, if you plan on street driving is in the reverse order.

For a track only tire I use 28" ET Streets, not the radials, and I like them. However I have 15" rims.

I do know somr people who have used traditional ET Streets without tubes or rim screws but I had to use screws because mine were spinning on the rims. Tubes I use because it is a tube type tire. I don't want a leak in the staging lanes. And most importantly, the tube is a little bit of protection for my but at over 100mph. I prefer to follow spec on things like that.

 

tnthub, Yes, I may have to go with 15", already looking at a strange 12 bolt. Your Cragar wheels look like the weld draglite. how was the fit esspicialy the 5" in the front.

 

All these tires can be run tubeless if you want. Years ago when I had some ET drags and was tubeless, my car was sitting in the rain and I could see air bubbles coming through the sidewalls. Every few weeks I was always filling the tires up. My current tires have tubes and tire pressure is more consistent. I run 12 pounds in them all year long and only adjust pressure when they get cold and hot. I also use rims screws to keep the tire from spinning on the rim and ripping the valve stem off.

I did manage to get a flat this year. Nothing found in the tire but a small hole appeared in the tube. Good thing I had a spare tube at the time and a way to change it at the track. I have a tube repair kit now in my toolbox. Running tubeless you still run the chance of getting a flat but repairs can be easier or harder depending on how you want to patch it. The best method is to apply the patch to the inside of the tire. Cheap way is to put a plug in the tread.

 

Id be usuing Et's for the type of power your putting down