| There comes a time when most people get the | | | | 8000 horsepower drag car are relevant to your |
| urge to take their muscle car to the drag strip to | | | | situation. The key is understanding that allowing |
| see what she will do in a quarter mile run. Drag | | | | the sidewall of a tire to deform slightly helps |
| racing can be an inexpensive and fun way to | | | | increase overall traction when launching. What this |
| enjoy your car. It can also get quite competitive, | | | | means in practical terms is that low-profile tires |
| especially if you and your friends start racing for | | | | do not make good drag tires and since their |
| bragging rights. | | | | sidewalls are far too thin to deform, instead of |
| Having the right set of tires on your car is one of | | | | gripping they often spin or chatter when power is |
| the most crucial aspects to successful drag racing. | | | | dumped to the rear axle. |
| So much of a car's ET, or elapsed time, is based | | | | Since dedicated drag racing tires, called slicks, do |
| on its performance in the initial 60 feet of the | | | | not have any tread (just an ultra-sticky rubber |
| race. You will notice that on the time slip that you | | | | compound), they are not safe for every day |
| get at the end of each run, there is a line | | | | driving, especially in the rain. The best option when |
| dedicated to the 60 foot time telling you how | | | | it comes to drag tires that you can drive safely |
| many seconds it took you to reach that marker. | | | | to the track and then back home again are drag |
| This measurement is a great method of | | | | radials. Drag radials are tires with enough tread to |
| determining how much traction your car is getting | | | | handle reasonably wet conditions, but still have the |
| on the hole-shot. | | | | majority of the tire smooth and sticky for |
| The quicker your car can get off the line, the | | | | maximum traction. They are also designed to be |
| faster the run will be. This is where tire selection | | | | rigid enough for safe highway use, but when a |
| comes into the picture. If you have ever seen a | | | | deflated to a lower pressure, their sidewalls can |
| slow-motion video of a funny car or top fuel | | | | wrinkle in a similar fashion to true slicks. |
| dragster launching at the strip, then you might | | | | Drag radials are an excellent option to dramatically |
| have noticed that the huge rear tires actually | | | | improve your traction out of the hole, and speed |
| seem to sag and bow under heavy acceleration. | | | | up your 60 foot times. Many people say that a |
| This wrinkling in the sidewall of the tire occurs so | | | | drag race is won or lost in those crucial first few |
| that the maximum size contact patch can be | | | | seconds, and this type of tire can help keep you |
| maintained while all of that power is applied at | | | | on the winning end of that equation more often |
| once. | | | | than not while still letting you drive home safely at |
| You might be wondering how the tires on an | | | | the end of the evening. |