BFG Drag Radials, help.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,878
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From: EP Texas
St. Jude Contributor
BFG Drag Radials, help.
Going to try these today at 15psi. Do these tires work well still when the thread are worn down pretty good? I know they don't need as much head as the nittos.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,204
Likes: 5
From: Bethlehem PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'05-'06-'08-'10
Re: BFG Drag Radials, help. (TexCorvette)
I wouldn't start at 15lbs. I would recommend you start at 20 and work your way down based on how you are launching and how the track is hooking up. You may also want to vary your launch RPM based on these factors. As far as how the BFGs hook up after they are worn, I have been told they hook real well, of course, they do wear out so the degree of wear is a factor. From talking with some of the A4 folks, they found running the pressures a little higher induced some spin but better times. Here again, it's all based on conditions at the track. Trial and error is the best technique for you, as it was for me. Good luck.
Joe
Joe
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,698
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From: Chapin SC
Cruise-In II Veteran
Cruise-In III Veteran
Re: BFG Drag Radials, help. (C54FUN)
I agree with C54FUN. 15 is too low to start. DRs aren't like ET Streets where the side wall will flex (wrinkle). The big concern should be to get the maximum amount of rubber on the ground - too much pressure and the edges of the tire won't make full contact. I've had guys tell me that the DRs hook well until the cord starts to show.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,878
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From: EP Texas
St. Jude Contributor
Re: BFG Drag Radials, help. (JerryL)
ok, however I know for a fact now that Nitto DR do not work well when the threads are all low, however I heard the BFGs were suposed to be the other way around :D
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,698
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From: Chapin SC
Cruise-In II Veteran
Cruise-In III Veteran
Re: BFG Drag Radials, help. (TexCorvette)
Tex,
Drag radials are a design compromise between good traction on the drag strip and streetability. The tread is necessary to make them street legal. The tread is only an issue if the roads are wet. I can't speak for the Nittos, but I don't understand why they would lose traction when the tread is worn away - there's actually a little more contact patch in this case. The only explanation for this would be if the tire compound is different (harder) when you get close to the cords.
Drag radials are a design compromise between good traction on the drag strip and streetability. The tread is necessary to make them street legal. The tread is only an issue if the roads are wet. I can't speak for the Nittos, but I don't understand why they would lose traction when the tread is worn away - there's actually a little more contact patch in this case. The only explanation for this would be if the tire compound is different (harder) when you get close to the cords.
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 32,782
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From: Former NCM Drag Racing coordinator, National director Corvette Challenge Spring Hill, Tennessee: Whiting, New Jersey
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Re: BFG Drag Radials, help. (TexCorvette)
I would never go below 20 psi on any DR. Less air pressure than that and the tires will cup. I would start at 26 lbs and see what your 60" time is and drop 1 lbs at a time till you feel it right. Most of the time I run mine at 24 lbs and I can 60' high 1.50s low 1.60s.
As for the tread wear. Just when you think the tires need to be replaced, when the tread is just all gone is when these tires are at their best. You can get 75 to 80 run after all the tread is gone.
As for the tread wear. Just when you think the tires need to be replaced, when the tread is just all gone is when these tires are at their best. You can get 75 to 80 run after all the tread is gone.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,802
Likes: 61
From: Wichita KS
Re: BFG Drag Radials, help. (mackeyred96)
I find I get my best runs with the pressure at 15 pounds. But tha is with an M6. I still have a lot of wheel spin so I'm thinking maybe slicks are in order. You can see in my sig the cars is quick but my 60' was 1.99
cc
cc
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,577
Likes: 3
From: Southern Maryland Maryland
Re: BFG Drag Radials, help. (CCrane00)
BFG 315/30s on CCW 17 x 12s:
14psi
Burnout in 1st gear for 5-10 seconds
Shallow stage
Launch @ 3500 spraying nitrous
60's: 1.61-65s dead hooking
Phillip
14psi
Burnout in 1st gear for 5-10 seconds
Shallow stage
Launch @ 3500 spraying nitrous
60's: 1.61-65s dead hooking
Phillip
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 6,725
Likes: 0
From: South Bend IN
Re: BFG Drag Radials, help. (TexCorvette)
C54fun is right start at 20psi and work downward to 15 if needed. You don't wanna get into squirming on the high end in the tripple digits! :cool:
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,878
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From: EP Texas
St. Jude Contributor
Re: BFG Drag Radials, help. (NJVetteGuy)
OK, I was dead hooking at WOT for the first time in this car with BRG Drag Radials (not sure if its the older style, as I think the new design has a fat strip in the middle) at 16Psi Friday. Light 4 second or so burn outs. 1.8 60 foot once I lowered to 16psi. Didn't get to try that combo more than once, only at other tire psi, but I think I could have done even better with 15-16PSI if I got more runs!
Sunday got much colder for the legal street style races at an airport here, and it was wet early in the day, but not that night, the strage thing though is I could not burn out (it would move the car), but on takeoff I would get wheel spin much of 1st, yet I think the suface is better than the track of friday?? Ideas? Can't burnout right, but spins on take off? Won all my races that night, except for one supra with Nitrous, downpipe, exhaust, and few other things. Close race though, pulled less than a fender on me.
Sunday got much colder for the legal street style races at an airport here, and it was wet early in the day, but not that night, the strage thing though is I could not burn out (it would move the car), but on takeoff I would get wheel spin much of 1st, yet I think the suface is better than the track of friday?? Ideas? Can't burnout right, but spins on take off? Won all my races that night, except for one supra with Nitrous, downpipe, exhaust, and few other things. Close race though, pulled less than a fender on me.
