I am in the middle of debate regarding the danger of running a tire combo of street radials up front and ET Streets on the rear.

The person with whom I debate this issue even provided a quote from the maker of CCW wheels that calls anyone who runs drag tires with radial tires a candidate for the "Darwin Award".

Whereas I find that quite humerous, I think it's a gross exaggeration and I suspect there are hordes of folks here who run this way every week. I have done it for years and see the majority of racers who also do it without catestrophic results.

PLEASE NOTE: I am willing to conceed that in a perfect world we would want to run a bias ply up front (skinnies) and drag tires in the rear but I am not convinced that it is so extremly hazardous to run the radials with the drag tires that we are insane for doing it.

So ..... what's your opinion?

 

Running a radial and bias tire on the same axle is asking for trouble but I have yet to see any proof that having a bias set of tires on one axle and radials on the other has any effect on handling. How could it?

I use radials on the front of my car.

I think it's just an old urban legend thing. Just like people still tell you to keep batteries off concrete floors. Dual points distributors are better than electronic ignition. 3/4 race cams and cheater slicks always makes me laugh too.

 

I run ET Fronts and ET Streets at the track. On the Street I have Comp TA's on the rear which are radials and I do not have any problems. The car corners so badly anyway with a loose front end the type of tire makes no difference to me. Just don't put them on the same axle as has been pointed out already. Also, be advised that many ste inspection stations will not allow you to mix tires if this is a street/strip combo vehicle.

 

tnthub, this is very specifically a strip use debate

 

tnthub, this is very specifically a strip use debate not a street use. And I totally agree that for cornering or even braking the car will handle poorly with mixed tires and I wouldn't even consider mixing tires on the same axle but I don't see a serious problem with radials on the front and ET's on the rear.

My brother-in-law, who was a part owner in 4-day Tires out here in the west, agrees that without braking and cornering concerns, straight down the track driving will not be a huge risk with the radials/bias combo. Now you bring braking and driving through the twisties into the picture and that changes significantly.

You bring up another good point .... I've never had my car fail a tech inspection for radials and ET Streets. I wouldn't think they would allow racing that way is it was so dangerous.

Anyway, thanks and I'd love some more feedback.

 

I've been told that running bias ply up front makes the car less 'shakey/squirely' at higher speeds.. I guess this is because they give the same amount..

When you run a radial up front, it is more 'rigid' then the bias ply tire in the rear, so, the car tends to move back and forth in the rear..




or so i've been told

--Sean

 

There are radial slicks and standard slicks. I don't much of an issue in a straight line.