Drag Radials = Breakage???
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 111
From: Windsor ON
Drag Radials = Breakage???
Just wondering how many of you guys run DR's and if you've ever broke anything in the driveline? I was thinking of getting a set of Nitto's but now I'm undecided. ET streets on CCW's are cool but I have a min. 1.5 hour drive to a track and would have to have someone else follow me with the jack and tires which kind of sucks.
BTW-to all the guys who responded to my 4rth gear gring thread the dealer is pulling the trans and changing out the synchro. I'm also going to get them to install the steel shift fork while they're in there. Thanks guys.
BTW-to all the guys who responded to my 4rth gear gring thread the dealer is pulling the trans and changing out the synchro. I'm also going to get them to install the steel shift fork while they're in there. Thanks guys.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 26,794
Likes: 614
From: Elmhurst, IL (West Suburb of Chicago) & Home of MEGA Horsepower
St. Jude Donor '06
Just playing around on the street with some periodic weekend blasts on my BFG and then new syle Nitto drag radials, caused the diff. case on my Getrag 3.73 gears to completely crack with my 427 Power!!!! 
:mad 
:shocked:
:mad :shocked:
Last edited by Mopar Jimmy; Jul 11, 2004 at 01:08 AM.
Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 744
Likes: 0
From: St. Peters MO.
Going to sticky rubber will speed up all the problems of ware on our vettes but that just is the price we pay. I've observed and talked with both drag radial and nitto users they all liked the drag radials for dead stop assaults on the 1/4, but they liked the nitto's for an all around performance, and they're ability to last about 10.000 miles compared to 3,000.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 38,314
Likes: 35
I went through this too, before deciding to go with BFG G force drag radials. Some say the ET streets don't break parts as often as the DRs. Others say they have broken just as many parts with ET streets as DRs.
Some said the breakage occurred mainly during burnouts.
For me it came to this. Without drag radials or ET streets, I would never realize the fullest potential of my mods. In fact, the money that I spent on them would have been for nothing, so street tires were not an option.
I also wanted an 18 inch tire. And since it seemed that people were breaking stuff using either tire, I went with the BFGs. If I break something , I break something.
Some said the breakage occurred mainly during burnouts.
For me it came to this. Without drag radials or ET streets, I would never realize the fullest potential of my mods. In fact, the money that I spent on them would have been for nothing, so street tires were not an option.
I also wanted an 18 inch tire. And since it seemed that people were breaking stuff using either tire, I went with the BFGs. If I break something , I break something.
Last edited by '06 Quicksilver Z06; Jul 10, 2004 at 12:27 PM.
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Cape Coral FL
I went with the BFG's when it came time for race tires on the Vette. After running both the Nitto and BFG's on my Z28 the BFG's hooked up much better. The draw back the BFG dont last nearly as long as the nittos did and the Nitto's were much better if you got caught in the rain. I swapped to a 3.73 w/ hardened outputs and an ss3600 converter....havent broken a thing yet pulling 1.69 60ft's...but the A4 is easier on the drive line launch.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 111
From: Windsor ON
Basically then, you're could just as well break with the ET's or the DR's. I guess if you run the DR's, don't heat them up like John Force, slip the clutch a little instead of dropping it and avoid 5k launches you MAY be alright. I'm not looking to set records, I just don't want to worry about the tires breaking loose after I roll out in first. Keep 'em coming guys I'd like to hear your experiences. Thanks. 
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 111
From: Windsor ON
Originally Posted by GaryZ06
I have well over 100 runs at the track with my BFG drag radials and have no problems at all. 
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,261
Likes: 2
From: Fort Wayne,Indiana
Originally Posted by 97 SC Cobra
Gary, how high do you launch the car? Do you heat the tires up? What pressure do you run? Does the car spin at all, or is it a dead hook? Thanks.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 10,649
Likes: 31
From: Central Florida
I've had no breakage in about 300 passes on two Z06s running BFG Comp TA DR.
Full burnout in 2d gear. Launch rpm of 3600-4100. Very quick clutch release.
Each set of BFGs also gave about 8K street miles.
The downside of BFG is they suck in the rain once the tread gets worn down.
An often overlooked and BIG benefit of DRs vs ET Steets is that they are radials and can be run safely with stock front tires. ET Streets are bias-ply tires and most sane folk don't run with radial fronts. Instead they need bias ply fronts, with most folks opting for "skinnies." ET Streets are also said to be scary in the rains from day one.
My ezperience has been 125 passes per clutch; but that's maintenance, not really breakage.
Ranger
Full burnout in 2d gear. Launch rpm of 3600-4100. Very quick clutch release.
Each set of BFGs also gave about 8K street miles.
The downside of BFG is they suck in the rain once the tread gets worn down.
An often overlooked and BIG benefit of DRs vs ET Steets is that they are radials and can be run safely with stock front tires. ET Streets are bias-ply tires and most sane folk don't run with radial fronts. Instead they need bias ply fronts, with most folks opting for "skinnies." ET Streets are also said to be scary in the rains from day one.
My ezperience has been 125 passes per clutch; but that's maintenance, not really breakage.
Ranger
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 111
From: Windsor ON
Thanks for the replies guys, and the follow-up Gary. I think I'm going to go with the DR's. I'm shooting for 1.7X or low 1.8 60' and I don't think I'm going to get it on street tires (Best being 1.98 so far). I just want to get an 11 out of this thing before the season's over.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 10,649
Likes: 31
From: Central Florida
Originally Posted by Face
I've seen someone break his output shaft with stock supercar tires while doing a burnout at Cecil...
Tracy, stock 03 Z06 on F1SCs with less that 1K miles on the odometer.
First pass in that car, but many passes in other cars.
Drove around the water and pulled forward up near the line and decided to clean the tires there, amid the super sticky VHT sprayed area.
Wrong place. Too sticky.
Bang! Broke a shaft. Left on a flatbed.
Ranger
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 111
From: Windsor ON
Originally Posted by Ranger
I watched Tracy in the Fall of 2002 break at MIR.
Tracy, stock 03 Z06 on F1SCs with less that 1K miles on the odometer.
First pass in that car, but many passes in other cars.
Drove around the water and pulled forward up near the line and decided to clean the tires there, amid the super sticky VHT sprayed area.
Wrong place. Too sticky.
Bang! Broke a shaft. Left on a flatbed.
Ranger
Tracy, stock 03 Z06 on F1SCs with less that 1K miles on the odometer.
First pass in that car, but many passes in other cars.
Drove around the water and pulled forward up near the line and decided to clean the tires there, amid the super sticky VHT sprayed area.
Wrong place. Too sticky.
Bang! Broke a shaft. Left on a flatbed.
Ranger
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 10,649
Likes: 31
From: Central Florida
Originally Posted by 97 SC Cobra
It's crazy to think that some of you guys have made over 100 passes on DR's and this poor guy doesn't even get one with stock tires. I thought I had bad luck. :shocked:
NEVER trying to spin the tires forward of the damp area near the water box is a key element of the briefing he missed.
Ranger