Wandering Feeling with ET Streets?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: EP Texas
St. Jude Contributor
Wandering Feeling with ET Streets?
Hey everyone. I’ve been a long time drag radial user, found BFG to be the best. Anyhow, tried the 17” ET streets for the first time tonight. On the second half of the track, I get a slight swaying/wandering feeling. I think this has a lot to do with the bias ply rear, radial front I hear about.
I like to put my tires on at home, and drive to and from the track. As the tires were brand new, they started to work better after a few burn outs. The wandering feeling either got less as the time went on, or I got used to it. Not sure.
What do you guys think? Do I need shinnies upfront? That would take away from the convenience a it, and cost me more money! Can't I be cheap and lazy :D I see lots of F-bodes with just ETs on the back, they don’t seem to this issue as much? I'll be picking up another 100HP or so, and don't want to have any problems.
I like to put my tires on at home, and drive to and from the track. As the tires were brand new, they started to work better after a few burn outs. The wandering feeling either got less as the time went on, or I got used to it. Not sure.
What do you guys think? Do I need shinnies upfront? That would take away from the convenience a it, and cost me more money! Can't I be cheap and lazy :D I see lots of F-bodes with just ETs on the back, they don’t seem to this issue as much? I'll be picking up another 100HP or so, and don't want to have any problems.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 1999
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Re: Wandering Feeling with ET Streets? (TexCorvette)
Tex,
2 things to consider. Make sure your alignment is dead on. You can get away with running the radials up front, but you will need to run as narrow a tire as possible...like a 225 40 or 215 45 with 40-45 #s of air. After some experimenting a friend and myself found this to work and virtually eliminates the top of the track "sway".
His car runs 11.30s with no sway and he drives to the track on them. HTH
Mike :flag
2 things to consider. Make sure your alignment is dead on. You can get away with running the radials up front, but you will need to run as narrow a tire as possible...like a 225 40 or 215 45 with 40-45 #s of air. After some experimenting a friend and myself found this to work and virtually eliminates the top of the track "sway".
His car runs 11.30s with no sway and he drives to the track on them. HTH
Mike :flag
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: EP Texas
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Wandering Feeling with ET Streets? (Mikie C)
The fronts are Pilots, 275/40/17, and had about 35PSI in them. I can try pumping them up to 40 and try again Sunday. If I need to change them out for smaller tires, I might as well put skinnies on, as I was trying to ovoid messing with the fronts, and just changing out the back for track days.
Thanks for the pointers, car was aligned this year, I think I can get it checked again for free within 6 months or something, so I will look at that again also.
Thanks for the pointers, car was aligned this year, I think I can get it checked again for free within 6 months or something, so I will look at that again also.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2000
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From: Winter Garden (central),FL,USA
Re: Wandering Feeling with ET Streets? (TexCorvette)
I wouldn't do it...
If you hit a slick spot towards the big end of the track and need to correct, you might have big problems. :shocked:
Be careful out there.
If you hit a slick spot towards the big end of the track and need to correct, you might have big problems. :shocked:
Be careful out there.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 32,545
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From: Lithia FL
Cruise-In II & IV Veteran
CI VI Drag Champ!
Re: Wandering Feeling with ET Streets? (TexCorvette)
Did you say skinnies are inconvinient?
You definitly can drive with skinnies up front with your bias ply and even radials. I drove 60 miles each way wiht skinnies and emts for 3 months, no problems.
If you dirve to the track skinnies and ET streets are fine.
You definitly can drive with skinnies up front with your bias ply and even radials. I drove 60 miles each way wiht skinnies and emts for 3 months, no problems.
If you dirve to the track skinnies and ET streets are fine.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Laredo Texas
Re: Wandering Feeling with ET Streets? (TexCorvette)
TexCorvette I just did the same thing and have been fighting that swaying feeling on the road. I'm just about to take it to the track so thanks for the warning.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
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From: Elmhurst, IL (West Suburb of Chicago) & Home of MEGA Horsepower
St. Jude Donor '06
Re: Wandering Feeling with ET Streets? (S.TX 50thAE)
It is DANGEROUS to run the radial tire on front with the bias ply et streets and back and more than a few people have smacked the wall on the top end b/c of this dangerous combo and although many do it and get use to that squirelly feeling its just not worth the RISK that is involved if you KISS THE WALL! :U
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: EP Texas
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Wandering Feeling with ET Streets? (MTI 427 Roadster)
inconvinient because I have to change 4 tires isntead of 2 in 10 minutes to go to the track. I have the 17ETs on some wide spoke c5 front wheels. What type of wheel should I get for the front so I don't have to go with the CCW setup as I just got the 17: ET streets 2 days ago :smash:
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: EP Texas
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Wandering Feeling with ET Streets? (TexCorvette)
No one running the new ET streets with a non radial tire up front? What is an inexpensive skinny I could run, with the 17"s on the back as an alternative to the CCW package? Is everyone that bought the 17s just using stock fronts and fighting this loose side to side feeling?
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: El Paso TX
Re: Wandering Feeling with ET Streets? (TexCorvette)
Marcus,
I got Firestone 5 x 16 bias ply tires up front for skinnies. Can't be too much $$. Finding the wheels shouldn't be too difficult either. Get the 16" wheel/tire and tap down on the top of the A-arm with a small hammer. You'll be set. :cheers:
I got Firestone 5 x 16 bias ply tires up front for skinnies. Can't be too much $$. Finding the wheels shouldn't be too difficult either. Get the 16" wheel/tire and tap down on the top of the A-arm with a small hammer. You'll be set. :cheers:
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: EP Texas
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Wandering Feeling with ET Streets? (Inelpaso)
I know of the firestone tire, but what wheel/rim can I get, other then the CCW wheel, for skinnies, then I can can get a cheap matching set for the rear, and have a complete drag setup for the track, with 17"s in the rear.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 247
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From: El Paso TX
Re: Wandering Feeling with ET Streets? (TexCorvette)
I know of the firestone tire, but what wheel/rim can I get, other then the CCW wheel, for skinnies, then I can can get a cheap matching set for the rear, and have a complete drag setup for the track, with 17"s in the rear.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 9,251
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From: 2007 Nat'l Corvette Challenge 11.50 index Champ. New Jersey
Re: Wandering Feeling with ET Streets? (TexCorvette)
Haven't had my Z on anything but F1SC's so far, but when I used to run my Mustang I had a set of DOT (street slicks) & the car would feel like you described, especially with the lower air pressure in there.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: EP Texas
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Wandering Feeling with ET Streets? (Dr.Ron)
I heard its worse on the vettes because of the ind. rear with A arms? I might have to buy some CCW fronts with the 17" on back, and when they ware out, get some 16" CCWs for the back as well :(
[Modified by TexCorvette, 2:10 AM 5/5/2004]
[Modified by TexCorvette, 2:10 AM 5/5/2004]
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: San Antonio Texas
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'08
Re: Wandering Feeling with ET Streets? (TexCorvette)
Hey Tex....If I was you I would get Skinnies if you are running Et Streets....I run BFG G Forces with my stock radial in front........ Ive seen a vette hit the wall and it cost him 12K worth of damage..........remember that insurance wont take care of any damages at the track.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2003
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Re: Wandering Feeling with ET Streets? (MTI 427 Roadster)
It is DANGEROUS to run the radial tire on front with the bias ply et streets and back and more than a few people have smacked the wall on the top end b/c of this dangerous combo and although many do it and get use to that squirelly feeling its just not worth the RISK that is involved if you KISS THE WALL! :U
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
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From: Elmhurst, IL (West Suburb of Chicago) & Home of MEGA Horsepower
St. Jude Donor '06
Re: Wandering Feeling with ET Streets? (mark b)
Are you saying that if I keep the stock tires in the front and 16 ET streets in the rear that the ET streets will loose some traction down the strip? how much power can cause this? I am planning on running my 16 et streets in the rear but I dont have a h/c yet just bolt ons...I could hit high 11's, it is possible, or low 12's...is that set up safe? :confused: [/QUOTE]
NOT EXACTLY, what i am saying is that it is a well know fact in the drag racing world (including C4s and C5s) that it can be quite dangerous to run a full bias ply tire in the rear (i.e.-et streets) with a drag radial (non bias ply) tire up front, bc the two different materials that the tires are made out of fight against one another causing the car to float and become unstable on the top end, and this has caused more than a few guys to lose control of their car (not traction) and then slam into the wall causing MAJOR DAMAGE to their cars. Many guys get use to the squirelly floating feeling caused by this effect and have no issues but more than a few have caused severe damage to their vettes/cars and that's a risk i am not willing to take myself b/c life is already dangerous and unpredictalbe enough as it is already!!! :cheers:
[Modified by MTI 427 Roadster, 10:22 PM 5/4/2004]
NOT EXACTLY, what i am saying is that it is a well know fact in the drag racing world (including C4s and C5s) that it can be quite dangerous to run a full bias ply tire in the rear (i.e.-et streets) with a drag radial (non bias ply) tire up front, bc the two different materials that the tires are made out of fight against one another causing the car to float and become unstable on the top end, and this has caused more than a few guys to lose control of their car (not traction) and then slam into the wall causing MAJOR DAMAGE to their cars. Many guys get use to the squirelly floating feeling caused by this effect and have no issues but more than a few have caused severe damage to their vettes/cars and that's a risk i am not willing to take myself b/c life is already dangerous and unpredictalbe enough as it is already!!! :cheers:
[Modified by MTI 427 Roadster, 10:22 PM 5/4/2004]
Pro
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Central OH
Re: Wandering Feeling with ET Streets? (MTI 427 Roadster)
I am a drag racer first and have had several different vehicles anywhere from 12 sec 1/4 to 9 sec 1/4 and when you go from a radial or drag radial to ET Streets or Slicks you will notice the rear wandering, this goes for ANY car. Try putting 3 or 4 more pounds in the ET Streets and see if it helps the wandering and still hooks. As for the skinnies, I don't think they will make you feel more in control, less tire-less contact patch-less control. Skinnies will make most cars faster for the previously mentioned less contact patch. A set of light weight skinnies can be worth 2 tenths because of the lighter weight and the less contact patch.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: EP Texas
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Wandering Feeling with ET Streets? (VettesandZs)
3 or more pounds would be 18PSI, anyone hook with that much air? I'm also going to increase the radials to 40 psi, but now I might not even want to try it again. Other cars with the CCW setup here don't have much of this problem, and I as well as others including CCW thinks this is because of the skinnies. The front of the car is stable, its the rear that floats, adding the skinnies would make the car faster, yes, but in this case, its supposed to help because your no longer pushing to large radials up front??