I would start at 22 psi and go up or down from there as needed. 
air pressure
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please be very carefull of how the car feels on the big end when using below 15lbs . you might start at 18 and work down a lb at a time . at the end let off slow to not unload the tires too much and dont hammer on the breaks.
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Not a whole lot of folks running the 18's. i sometimes run 16" and I don't go that low. No need to. The numbers you have is what a stick shift car might run MT ET Street Bias play tires. I have an auto and run bias ply at 15 cold and radials at 19 or 20 cold.
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From: yardley pa
Not a whole lot of folks running the 18's. i sometimes run 16" and I don't go that low. No need to. The numbers you have is what a stick shift car might run MT ET Street Bias play tires. I have an auto and run bias ply at 15 cold and radials at 19 or 20 cold.
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From: yardley pa
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From: yardley pa
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Up to a point.. TOO low and the tires will "cup" in the middle and run on just the inner & outer edges..
Before you get to the track, try 20 lb and do a small burn out 10' or so... look at the rubber marks on the road.. see if it looks like they are the same color all the way across from one side to the other.. if the edges are darker than the center the air pressure is too low... if the center is darker you have to let more air out..
But as Redgar says with Radials 20 is a good starting point..
I use 315x17 BFG Drag Radials at 18 lb and do fine, but my car is an automatic... Stick shift cars can be more of a problem to get the air pressure just right...
It's a matter of "Trial & Error" but once you find that "Sweet Spot" you air pressure should always be + or - 2-3 lbs...of that #
Last edited by jpee; Jul 27, 2008 at 11:41 PM.
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From: yardley pa
Up to a point.. TOO low and the tires will "cup" in the middle and run on just the inner & outer edges..
Before you get to the track, try 20 lb and do a small burn out 10' or so... look at the rubber marks on the road.. see if it looks like they are the same color all the way across from one side to the other.. if the edges are darker than the center the air pressure is too low... if the center is darker you have to let more air out..
But as Redgar says with Radials 20 is a good starting point..
I use 315x17 BFG Drag Radials at 18 lb and do fine, but my car is an automatic... Stick shift cars can be more of a problem to get the air pressure just right...
It's a matter of "Trial & Error" but once you find that "Sweet Spot" you air pressure should always be + or - 2-3 lbs...of that #
Before you get to the track, try 20 lb and do a small burn out 10' or so... look at the rubber marks on the road.. see if it looks like they are the same color all the way across from one side to the other.. if the edges are darker than the center the air pressure is too low... if the center is darker you have to let more air out..
But as Redgar says with Radials 20 is a good starting point..
I use 315x17 BFG Drag Radials at 18 lb and do fine, but my car is an automatic... Stick shift cars can be more of a problem to get the air pressure just right...
It's a matter of "Trial & Error" but once you find that "Sweet Spot" you air pressure should always be + or - 2-3 lbs...of that #
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To build on what LS1LT1 said (and I'm hoping somebody will back me up on this) there really is no one "perfect pressure" that will give you the best time all the time. I've run at the same track twice in two days and despite all of the conditions being pretty much the same except for the air temps, I've gotten very different 60ft times and subsequent ETs.
If you're bracket racing, another thing to keep in mind is that you don't want to experiment too much during your time trials. The best thing to do is to pick a pressure early on and then try to stick with it because it's consistency that wins trophies, not the best speed.
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From: yardley pa
If I may, I'd like to add to this thread.
To build on what LS1LT1 said (and I'm hoping somebody will back me up on this) there really is no one "perfect pressure" that will give you the best time all the time. I've run at the same track twice in two days and despite all of the conditions being pretty much the same except for the air temps, I've gotten very different 60ft times and subsequent ETs.
If you're bracket racing, another thing to keep in mind is that you don't want to experiment too much during your time trials. The best thing to do is to pick a pressure early on and then try to stick with it because it's consistency that wins trophies, not the best speed.
Christopher
To build on what LS1LT1 said (and I'm hoping somebody will back me up on this) there really is no one "perfect pressure" that will give you the best time all the time. I've run at the same track twice in two days and despite all of the conditions being pretty much the same except for the air temps, I've gotten very different 60ft times and subsequent ETs.
If you're bracket racing, another thing to keep in mind is that you don't want to experiment too much during your time trials. The best thing to do is to pick a pressure early on and then try to stick with it because it's consistency that wins trophies, not the best speed.
Christopher
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one last addition , having run 2 sets of these for 3 years. on your first run do a really good burnout then do a short burnout on the following runs . if you do long burn outs on everyrun your 60ft times will suffer as it will bring out oils that are in these tires . if you have a manual car as i do you will find i think that 17 is your absouloute low and 21 your high . you might also ck out rangers site he has some very good hints on how to drive your car at the strip . good luck but be carefull if she gets a little squirrely get out of her that run is ruined any way . you can allways make another run . also when your at the strip ask some other vet guys that are there . those of us that have raced for a long time enjoy helping out the new guys . it is fun to see the look on their faces when their car goes way faster than it did before we helped.plus we have a new fellow drag racing addict
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With good track/weather conditions......I have an auto...........so for me, 5 second burnout........22-25psi hot to start. 1.49-1.52 60's all day long
I find the MT drs like more pressure.
I have run 16,17 & 18" bias/drs on C5s
I find the MT drs like more pressure.
I have run 16,17 & 18" bias/drs on C5s
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From: yardley pa
one last addition , having run 2 sets of these for 3 years. on your first run do a really good burnout then do a short burnout on the following runs . if you do long burn outs on everyrun your 60ft times will suffer as it will bring out oils that are in these tires . if you have a manual car as i do you will find i think that 17 is your absouloute low and 21 your high . you might also ck out rangers site he has some very good hints on how to drive your car at the strip . good luck but be carefull if she gets a little squirrely get out of her that run is ruined any way . you can allways make another run . also when your at the strip ask some other vet guys that are there . those of us that have raced for a long time enjoy helping out the new guys . it is fun to see the look on their faces when their car goes way faster than it did before we helped.plus we have a new fellow drag racing addict
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