Drag radial or full slick netting fastest ET

A buddy and I have been making a few passes at the track with his ex cab and ran into an interesting debate. We used my drag radials last year a few times and where very consistant 13.92-14.03 pass after pass. This year he is using a full slick that he had purchased and we netted 14.01-14.19. The only changes made where since last year he had 3.73s. This year 4.10s. The 60fts are extemely close but we lost mph and ET. We both expected it to pick up ET, not slow down. So begs my question.... Do you think the softer tire is eating hp? We will be back to the track soon with the dr's from last year and the new slicks.

A drag radial will always be faster if you can make it hook and stay hooked

gears! that was ur only change right? unless the engine/trans are worn out

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Originally Posted by blacstar

gears! that was ur only change right? unless the engine/trans are worn out

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No.... Gears and tires were changed.

Correct. Only changes where 3.73 to 4.10s. And radials at 28.5 to full slick 29 tall. Oh and about 3500 miles since its a DD.

A slick typically grows an inch to inch and half. So you'll lose gearing and mph as well. A drag radial stays the same and has better rolling abilities... netting better mph

Chances are you're way to soft on psi in slicks as well. I run my hooisers at 18 and hook well anything less and 60s suffer

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Originally Posted by ecld_07

Correct. Only changes where 3.73 to 4.10s. And radials at 28.5 to full slick 29 tall. Oh and about 3500 miles since its a DD.

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that's what I meant, tire height is also part of the gear change.

if you can hook a drag radial consistantly, run it.

Gonna go back tomorrow night assuming weather is good on a radial and see what it does

what was DA for both times out? can't get a solid comparison without that.

my experience has the radials as being faster, but the slicks as more repeatable, and easier to recover in the event of wheel spin.

for manual transmission combos, throw all that out...bias ply only for max performance.

The DA Is a variable yes..making passes throughout many months and many different conditions the passes remained within a very reasonable amount. All of which where faster than this years various passes. The 14sec vehicle is not as sisitive to outside conditions as one may think...

Well went to strip last night. After the two hour drive to the track...on the radials it went 13.89 right off the highway. Backed up by 13.84 and 13.83...

I have done this many times I have a 94 caprice with a 396 lt1 and 3.90 gears I drive it to the track on drag radials and it will always run 12:70-12:80. it is always consistent put it in drive and mash it my drag radials are 26.5 tall and my slick is the same height and width, and with the slick I can get just a tick better 60 foot but my quarter mile time suffers by sometimes up to 12:90 or even a 13.0 the car even feels slower with the slicks on. I know that some of my problem is that it is hooking to well on the slicks and bogs a little I only have a trailblazer converter in there hope to be calling circle d soon to eliminate that problem.

I'm running a supercharger on my 2000 sierra regular cab does any one know war size of sliks or radials I should buy for the truck

Haha you need to give more info current tire size is a good start.

Biggest you can stick under it!! Lol