Why do drag racers use skinny front tires?

Why do drag racers use skinny front tires?

Skinny Tires Up Front A decision many drag racers make is to do what is called “staggering” or running skinny tires at the front of the vehicle to reduce weight and friction while installing wider or stock tires at the back to help with grip, control, and faster acceleration.

Why do drag racers use big tires?

After the car launches, inertia grows the tire to as much as 38 inches in diameter, simultaneously lengthening and narrowing the contact patch. This effectively lets the final-drive ratio grow taller for higher speeds and reduces rolling resistance as the vehicle hits terminal velocity.

What size are drag racing tires?

For an 18” wheel option, a 305/45/18 is the most ideal size tire you can run for drag use. Some of the fastest modern-day Dodge racers run this tire size. For 20” wheel option… just don’t.

What PSI should my tires be for drag racing?

ET Drag and ET Street

Vehicle Weight	Tire Size	Air Pressure
Under 2,500 lbs.	Over 32″ dia.	5 psi and up
2,500 – 3,000 lbs.	Under 30″ dia.	10 psi and up
2,500 – 3,000 lbs.	30″ – 33″ dia.	8 psi and up
2,500 – 3,000 lbs.	Over 33″ dia.	5.5 psi and up

Are wider tires better for drag racing?

“Rim width is related to drag slick inflation pressure,” Bickel said. “The wider the rim, the more tire pressure you can run while maintaining the same footprint area. There are tons of variables, and in many cases, a car might actually perform better with a smaller tire.

How long do drag tires last?

Owners of drag racing cars estimate that they get anywhere from 15,000-30,000 miles on their street drag radials. Street drag radials are constructed differently than typical tires. They have a slightly smaller sidewall width and thinner tread.

How do I choose drag tires?

For racing tire sizes, try this formula: nominal diameter times tread width times bead diameter. Example: A 32.0 x 14.0 x 15 is a 32-inch tall, 10-inch-wide slick that goes on a 15-inch diameter wheel. Measurements are from an inflated tire under unloaded conditions.

Should you rotate drag slicks?

Should Mickey Thompson slicks be rotated side to side? This should only be needed if you are getting excessive furring, shredding or tearing of the tread rubber. Mickey Thompson suggests that you rotate every 25–30 passes if needed.

How long do Mickey Thompson ET Streets last?

Owners of drag racing cars estimate that they get anywhere from 15,000-30,000 miles on their street drag radials. Street drag radials are constructed differently than typical tires. They have a slightly smaller sidewall width and thinner tread. This helps them achieve higher speeds while maintaining a smooth ride.

How big of a tire do you need for drag racing?

Ultimately you want to run as high of a psi as possible to reduce rolling resistance. Depending on your vehicle, there are a few different sizes of front drag tires. The most common size is 15″ due to most front drag wheels are a 15″ diameter.

What makes Hoosier tires good for drag racing?

Hoosier produces a proven drag strip winner with state of the art real world research and development to give our slicks the winning edge. Engineered for consistent ET’s and maximum traction with superior construction and compounding for most drag race applications.

What kind of tire do I need for a race car?

“The ET Street Radial R is a good tire for a racecar that is occasionally driven on the street and is a sunny day type of tire. This is a race tire with a DOT stamp, and there are plenty of fast cars out there running these,” Moulton says.

Which is better a drag radial or street tire?

Jason Moulton from Mickey Thompson explains the biggest advantages a drag radial has over street tires at the track. “A drag radial is just that — it’s designed with drag racing in mind, so it is compounded and constructed to provide superior traction over a standard street tire.