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Old Dec 21, 2013 | 10:13 PM
  #21  
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Gkull is correct that purchasing high speed rated tires is much more than the tires actual speed rating. It is about MUCH better traction and a tire that will run MUCH cooler under high load conditions. Every car I own has ZR rated tires (W,Y) not because I plan to run the car at 168/186 MPH but because of the reasons above AND a ZR rated tire is MUCH stronger all the way around than an S rated tire. The stronger stiffer ZR rated tire carcass will respond MUCH better to handling/steering/braking requirements of the chassis it is under. The BFG Radial TA S rated is a standard passenger car tire with the same ratings as a Toyota Corolla-basically junk for a performance car. Tires are one of the most important aspects of a high performance suspension. They are critical to the proper maximization of any cars suspension.

Last edited by jb78L-82; Dec 21, 2013 at 10:16 PM.
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Old Dec 21, 2013 | 10:27 PM
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Don't forget the advantage of lower profile tires not having as much sidewall to flex during maneuvering.
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Old Dec 22, 2013 | 02:00 AM
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Originally Posted by 7t9l82
im a 5% er i guess.
So are you a 1% er if you go out to the track and get going about 160 mph every lap before you have to get on the brakes?

A 30 minute session is about 13 laps which is something over 50 miles on the 4.2 mile course.


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Old Dec 22, 2013 | 05:57 AM
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no, your a 1% er when you have gone that fast( or faster ) in a 1/4 mile.

i didn't know your car looked that good, very nice.
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Old Dec 22, 2013 | 07:35 AM
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I don't know where the 900 per tire price came from but if you look at the site below you will see the tires in sizes for our cars range from 350-400 dollars per tire. I searched over on the Cobra forums and they overwhelmingly give a thumbs up to the Avons. They are a track worthy tire that gives decent street life. I am just one of those guys that thinks these cars just look better with 15 inch rubber.

http://rogerkrausracing.com/pages/pricing.html
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Old Dec 22, 2013 | 07:57 AM
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Originally Posted by 69ttop502
I don't know where the 900 per tire price came from but if you look at the site below you will see the tires in sizes for our cars range from 350-400 dollars per tire. I searched over on the Cobra forums and they overwhelmingly give a thumbs up to the Avons. They are a track worthy tire that gives decent street life. I am just one of those guys that thinks these cars just look better with 15 inch rubber.

http://rogerkrausracing.com/pages/pricing.html
I see that M & H and Micky Thompson are promoting new 18" diameter drag type radials - don't know what speed ratings though?
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Old Dec 22, 2013 | 08:49 AM
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Originally Posted by 69ttop502
I don't know where the 900 per tire price came from but if you look at the site below you will see the tires in sizes for our cars range from 350-400 dollars per tire. I searched over on the Cobra forums and they overwhelmingly give a thumbs up to the Avons. They are a track worthy tire that gives decent street life. I am just one of those guys that thinks these cars just look better with 15 inch rubber.

http://rogerkrausracing.com/pages/pricing.html
a price like you quoted is still a hit, but not as bad as what i saw on another site. i will give them a call and see what they have. thanks.
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Old Dec 22, 2013 | 09:29 AM
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Originally Posted by 7t9l82
no, your a 1% er when you have gone that fast( or faster ) in a 1/4 mile.
Well I have been faster than that is both drag bikes and my dragster. A friend let me drive his 1000 hp 69 Camaro at the drags. It was kind of fun doing the low 8 seconds @ 156 mph in a street legal all metal car
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Old Dec 22, 2013 | 12:46 PM
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i used to run a Pro-Stock car and at the time was in the 8.50- 8.60 range between 160 - 170 Mph, could win if someone broke or red lighted. tried a couple passes with an alcohol funny car, those guys ARE nuts.and piloted an unblown fuel flat boat at 160 M.p.h that was the longest run in my life when i hit the pedal it couldn't have been over fast enough. those boat guys are INSANE!!!! guess were both 1% ers.
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Old Dec 22, 2013 | 01:39 PM
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Originally Posted by gkull

Well I have been faster than that is both drag bikes and my dragster. A friend let me drive his 1000 hp 69 Camaro at the drags. It was kind of fun doing the low 8 seconds @ 156 mph in a street legal all metal car
I bet that was fun. I've still yet to make it down the quarter in anything let alone my vette but am going to try this year.
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Old Dec 22, 2013 | 01:44 PM
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Originally Posted by lionelhutz
Don't forget the advantage of lower profile tires not having as much sidewall to flex during maneuvering.
I've often wondered if that wasn't part of the speed rating. It would seem that the more mass you have rotating the more flex the tire would have when not in contact with the road, this flex would stress the tire, or so I've thought any how.
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Old Dec 22, 2013 | 09:41 PM
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H (130mph) 15" tire
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....omCompare1=yes

H (130mph) 15" tire
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....omCompare1=yes

V (149mph) 15" tire
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....omCompare1=yes
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Old Dec 22, 2013 | 11:20 PM
  #33  
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Originally Posted by bluedawg
I've often wondered if that wasn't part of the speed rating. It would seem that the more mass you have rotating the more flex the tire would have when not in contact with the road, this flex would stress the tire, or so I've thought any how.
Most likely. It's not like there is an abundance of 70 or 75 series tires with speed ratings over the typical R/S/T speed rating range.
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Old Dec 23, 2013 | 04:50 AM
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small sizes, about the size of a temporary spare
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Old Dec 24, 2013 | 12:35 PM
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Originally Posted by gkull
So are you a 1% er if you go out to the track and get going about 160 mph every lap before you have to get on the brakes?

A 30 minute session is about 13 laps which is something over 50 miles on the 4.2 mile course.


Is this the same vette you had the 434 in?
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Old Dec 24, 2013 | 03:21 PM
  #36  
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Default I just don't think they want our cars to be fast!

I am in the same dilemma! BFG's 15's still available pretty poorly speed rated. The thick thread is the killer. If you wanted to shorten the tire life, you could shave down the blocks to raise the speed sustainability like John Greenwood at LeMans for years, but I still wouldn't go 186mph on them.

I see Coker doing repops of a number of tires to include some of the BFG's (295 50 15 I think is what I saw), and I even heard someone was just starting to repro the Pirelli P7's. But they were expensive back in the day and Pirelli's would wear out faster than any other tire brand.

I know BFG and the Hoosier race rubber is rated right at about 186mph is what I remember. Thus if I was to do the Silver State or such, I would be on something akin to a NASCAR tire! The Silver State has blown a few ZR's in the past!

I personally feel that I have to have two sets of tires (street and race) is the only way around the dilemma!
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Old Dec 24, 2013 | 04:52 PM
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Originally Posted by bluedawg
Is this the same vette you had the 434 in?
In that picture it has the 434. It is my only 79 Vette
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Old Dec 24, 2013 | 04:55 PM
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Originally Posted by TCracingCA
I am in the same dilemma! BFG's 15's still available pretty poorly speed rated. The thick thread is the killer. If you wanted to shorten the tire life, you could shave down the blocks to raise the speed sustainability like John Greenwood at LeMans for years, but I still wouldn't go 186mph on them.

I see Coker doing repops of a number of tires to include some of the BFG's (295 50 15 I think is what I saw), and I even heard someone was just starting to repro the Pirelli P7's. But they were expensive back in the day and Pirelli's would wear out faster than any other tire brand.

I know BFG and the Hoosier race rubber is rated right at about 186mph is what I remember. Thus if I was to do the Silver State or such, I would be on something akin to a NASCAR tire! The Silver State has blown a few ZR's in the past!

I personally feel that I have to have two sets of tires (street and race) is the only way around the dilemma!
I used 15 inch NASCAR Goodyear Eagle road racing tires
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Old Dec 24, 2013 | 07:59 PM
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Originally Posted by bluedawg
Is this the same vette you had the 434 in?
Bluedawg, I was going to add that this was Paul's southern California 2nd annual vette cruise and get together. I drove 600 miles Sat. morning to meet up. I stayed at BeeJay's house Sat night and drove 600 miles home on Sunday. I drove windy roads along the ocean and through the mountains home pushing it pretty hard. the front tires were perfectly smooth and zero tread left. actually down to the cords with only 1500 miles on them.

the ultra performance tires even though they are rated at 180 UTOG tread ware rating. I rarely get 5000 miles out of a tire.
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Old Dec 24, 2013 | 08:24 PM
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Originally Posted by gkull
Bluedawg, I was going to add that this was Paul's southern California 2nd annual vette cruise and get together. I drove 600 miles Sat. morning to meet up. I stayed at BeeJay's house Sat night and drove 600 miles home on Sunday. I drove windy roads along the ocean and through the mountains home pushing it pretty hard. the front tires were perfectly smooth and zero tread left. actually down to the cords with only 1500 miles on them.

the ultra performance tires even though they are rated at 180 UTOG tread ware rating. I rarely get 5000 miles out of a tire.
That's very interesting. I've wondered the same thing about drag radials, being soft I bet they wear quickly. How was the meet? take any photos?
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