I just installed a 3400 stall converter with a 2.5 STR in my 98 Z28, ofcourse now it doesnt hook up at all on stock tires. Should I buy some drag radials or do I need slicks now? I have a spare set of 16" salad shooters. The suspension is all stock and should run in the 13.3-13.6 range with a decent launch. which would you buy?

 

The race tires will give much better traction, but they should not be used on the street and they will drastically increase your chances of breaking the stock rear end. Drag radials can be used on the street and give pretty good grip. By way of comparison, most people can run 2.0-2.2 sec 60' times with street radials. Figure 1.8-2.0sec with DR's and 1.6-1.8 with race tires. Of course, with the race tires you can go even faster if you have enough hp. The faster times refer to stock or mildly modded cars with gears and/or a converter.

Tires are really the key to fast times at the drag strip. I went from a 2.2sec 60' on crappy street radials (the original Goodyear RS-A's that came on my car) to 1.51sec with essentially the same suspension by switiching to a set of ET Streets.

Rich Krause

 

I'd get the ET Streets. That way you'll have enough tire for future mods. + they hook alot better than DR's.

 

I would hate to invest in some DRs if they spin at the drag strip. I bought some BFG DR 275/40/17s for my 96 Z28 supercharged, and they dont hook up at the track. Im just worried about breaking my rearends with slicks

 

Well I wouldn't worry too much about the auto car breaking the rear. I'm running 11.0's (traction limited ) with a 3.42 10-bolt. I've seen people running street tires break their rearend with a 6 speed though.

 

ET streets!!!!!

 

I know after all the researching I've done and all the time I've spent drilling people at the track, et streets is the way to go!

 

I can't speak for BFG Drag Radials, but I've seen Mickey Thompson E/T Streets in action, and they fuggin' hook up!!! I know a guy with a '99 C5 and a guy with an '01 WS6 who both run MT E/T Streets..............neither of their cars are stock, and yet they hook up 10 times better than my car. I think they're the way to go.

 

In reality you are talking two different beasts here!

I have run both, I think Rich answered your question best but I wil add my .02 here too.

I have run a best 60' of 1.68 on Hoosier quick time pros. Averaging high1.6 to low 1.7's. I would suggest Et streets or Hoosier QTP's for the track if you want to change tires once you arrive. Hoosiers hook well.

I just put on a set of 245/50/16 BFG drag radials. I ran them at 20 psi and cut a 1.877 60'. I did not heat em up well on this run and finished with a 12.6 @ 110 in 95 degree heat.

I then turned em at high rpm on my next burnout @ 18 psi. Got em heated up good. The timing lights were off at the 60' mark, as I got my slip it said I pulled a 1.311 60' I had a better hook and 60' as I could feel it, I would guess low 1.8. This run ended in a 12.5 @ 110.

With Hoosiers or ET streets if you heat em up good you should be able to go WOT off the line. With my BFG drag radials I had to do a little bit of driving but they still hooked up real well.

So I guess my point to this is. BFG drag radials if you don't want to change tires at the track. If you want the ultimate traction Hoosier QTP's or ET streets.

Ken

 

I'm able to do just as good with my DR's then other guys with ET streets.

You just have to learn how to launch a little different.

 

But have you ever thought of this?
If you have to launch any other way than instant WOT you could benifit from better traction.

 

I have a friend with a 6 speed 1LE Z28 with a pair of 255/50 BFG Drag radials in the back. He only cut 1.9 60 foot times at the track. BUT... he wasn't proficient with launching them.

He has yet to return to the track with them, but on the street, he launches at 3500 RPM (So that it doesn't bog) and he only chirps off the line. His experience with the Drag Radials has definitely influenced me to get a set, because they are a great overall strett/strip tire.

 

Well, our track just sucks and guys with ET drag spin if they launch to hard.

I also noticed the guys down here get better 60ft's with the ET street, but loose a little ET and MPH.

Plus I like not have to change tire, I got about 11K miles on my last set.

I have a new pair to try out this Wendsday hopefully I can get better times.


If you like just stomping it out the line go with ET street, I have to ease off the line. (just another option)

Good Luck.

 

Umm...something doesn't sound right here. If they are cutting better 60's, they are definitly running better et's than with worse 60's, or there's something wrong there. And there was recently a thread on here about how getting a better 60' actually helped a bunch of people get better trap speeds too. I'm not sure we're all on the same page...or maybe it's just me reading something wrong.

 

With ET streets there is more resistance, I'm not really sure.

I've seen it first hand, a friend made a few runs on dr's then ET streets.

His 60ft's are better(1.9's to 1.7's, but his et's are the same or a little better and his mph is lower.