Anyone on here know of someone running radial slicks on a roadster? I have been curious about them but don't necessarily want to be the guinea pig. LOL I have 347 passes on my 18250 32 x 14 Hoosiers and they have been really good to me but aren't we always trying to be better? I will be running them to the end of the season and will need new ones so thought I would ask.

Not a roadster, but a good friend ran them on his very light tube chassis Vega and it was incredible.

Thanks man.

quote:

Originally posted by CURTIS REED:
Anyone on here know of someone running radial slicks on a roadster? I have been curious about them but don't necessarily want to be the guinea pig. LOL I have 347 passes on my 18250 32 x 14 Hoosiers and they have been really good to me but aren't we always trying to be better? I will be running them to the end of the season and will need new ones so thought I would ask.

Have you called your radial slick manufacturer of choice & ask them? They might have a recommendation for you or may know someone using their radials on a roadster.

2BKING

I have not but I probably will later. I just wondered if anyone on here knew of people doing it?

I'm all for you trying radials & I get you are somewhat apprehensive about trying them.

I was the same way when I went from bias slicks to radials. Everyone had an opinion on them, you got to do this or that when changing over. I guess I got lucky, put them on the car & they worked very well with no changes to the set-up. Later, after getting some runs on them I started making some small shock adjustments & improved on them.

Good luck with your research & hope you give them a try!

2BKING

Yeah, it's an expensive gamble. I only see them on heavy cars though. I'm 1994 sitting at the line and only being a 5.80 car I worry about being able to keep them loaded since the sidewall acts differently. That may be unfounded but I just don't know.

Let me ask my Comp buddies that run them. If I remember it was a pretty good learning curve.

On my stocker it’s almost a dime back to back.
3620# ,it wants a stiffer rear shock on mine.

Thanks BP

quote:

Originally posted by BP758:
On my stocker it’s almost a dime back to back.
3620# ,it wants a stiffer rear shock on mine.

After I got some runs on the radials. I ended up 1-2 clicks softer on rebound & 3-4 clicks stiffer on compression on rear shocks over the bias ply set-up.

2BKING

Please let us know what tire manufacturers say and how well they work if you do try them.

I am always interested in learning something new.

Looking at the Hoosier bias CO5 that is very soft to a radial CO6 that is less soft will be an interesting $900 radial tire trial. Can always sell and go back if you don’t like. FS let us know the results if you decide to do this.

No doubt guys if I pull the trigger on these I will post up good or bad. I do wonder if I need to set up to separate more if I went that route?

I think a better trial would be to go from the Hoosier 18250 to the MT 3074/S. Both are about the same size bias, but both different rubber.

I asked about radials on a dragster a couple years ago. Place was a little less friendly to such ideas then

Lets hope it is more friendly now and supportive.

It is already.

I figured a radial would be less consistent, from what I have watched from the small tire guys. But that assumption isn't entirely fair. They are pushing the limits of the tire by the nature of their classes and tire limitations. A friend told me he has run radials on his camaro for a good long time with great success. I just haven't seen lightweight open bodied cars on them yet. I thought when this came up a while ago that one or more of the tire companies were on the verge of releasing appropriate sized radials for dragsters etc. I have heard nothing since.

Ben, that's where I am on it, I haven't seen any other guinea pigs and am just not sure I want to be the one. Now it is a little different for me that I run a 14x32 so they are available.

I know a lot of bracket racers who run radials but they are almost all 10.5 guys.

Mark, what would be different about the 3074S to make you recommend it? It's still a bias tire just stiffer wall.

I have to admit I'm not totally sure I know what it is about radial construction that is supposed to make it work better.

I tried Goodyear radials over ten years ago on 27 roadster. They are quick but don’t last. 50 passes I thought I lost a rear gear; they just went away. Went back to bias plys.

Rob

quote:

Originally posted by SC1834:
I tried Goodyear radials over ten years ago on 27 roadster. They are quick but don’t last. 50 passes I thought I lost a rear gear; they just went away. Went back to bias plys.

Rob

Dang that was an expensive test. Thanks.