Tires for Street and Strip

[skids72]

Hi All,

Looking to buy some new tires for the Firebird. I currently have well-worn Pro-Trac 375/60-15 (32") radials on 15x12" Centerlines that I've used on the street and strip.

My plan was to get 29" Hoosier Quick Time Pros for the strip and either 31" M/T Sportsman or new Pro-Trac's like the ones I have now for the street.

Are there any opinions out there on these tires? Would you recommend any different tires for these applications? I want to keep a really tall tire for the street to keep my revs down (4.56 gears) and I want to stick with the 15x12" rims.

What are the caveats of running a tube-type bias tire on the street (i.e. the Mickey's)? I'm running 6" skinny radials in the front. I've heard you shouldn't mix bias tires with radials. Is this true front to back, too?

Thanks in advance for any guidance/opinions,

Chris

[robot]

I cant help you BUT.....shouldnt Hoosier sell two sizes of tires

Hoosier Daddy is the big tire

Hoosier Momma is the smaller tire

[skids72]

Funny guy!

I guess a set of Hoosier daddy's in the rear and hoosier momma up front

But seriously, radials all around for the street and bias for rear only at the strip.... would this be safe?

Any opinions on running slicks/cheater slicks without tubes? My mechanic said he used to run slicks at 10psi without tubes but wouldn't recommend it.

What do y'all run for tire pressure at the strip? I've been at 18psi with the pro-trac radials. 14psi sound about right for the Hoosiers?

[Dave Severson]

I run Goodyear on the track, going to try the Hoosier Radials for the street. I would never recomend bias rear, radial front for track or street....

[skids72]

Thanks, Dave... I've read that in a few places now. I guess I'll go bias all around all the time with M/T's for the street and the Hoosier's for the strip. I'll need to invest in some new bias skinny's... The M/T sportsman front 8-ply looks suitable.

I'll pull the trigger in a few days.... any other opinions out there? What about tubes?

I little off topic, but my skinny front centerline wheels leak... I need to air up the front tires weekly. What's the best way to seal these 2-piece wheels so they don't leak so much?

[Dave Severson]

I always run tubes in my slicks and big rears. As far as the two piece wheels leaking, you could try a very thin bead along the seam---or just get used to checking them. My 2 piece wheels usually leake, too!!!!

[pat mccarthy]

i tried a set of quick time put them on my goat nail it the car felt like is was on gravel pull over look at the tries and they all gone all the tread. they last less than a week ?? i have had good luck with bfgdrag radials. both of my cars have them and work good. i have tried. hurst.mt .mcCrearys recaps with soft compound.so far the bfg have work the best

[pro70z28]

I've got Hoosiers all around Radials up front and Quick Times on the back. The rep @ hoosier said I could get away with the bias/radial combo since the radials are so narrow?? 4.5" front to 22.5" rear. I don't plan to get much use out of these anyway. Eventualy I think I'll go radials all around for the street and then get a set of slicks & bead locks for the strip.

[RJ & CJ]

Originally posted by Dave Severson
I would never recomend bias rear, radial front for track or street....

Simple why

[pat mccarthy]

i do not think it a big deal like some would think. i ran mt-ss33-19.5-15 and for the front runner a small radial from dissount tires like for a vw? do not know the size but it work great and did the same on my red goat had a dirt track McC on the back and they work

[billlsbird]

Originally posted by RJ & CJ
Simple why

...I believe that tire companys are referring to handleing around corners when they say "don't mix bias & radials". But when you've got skinnies on the front & wide on the back, I also don't see how it'd make any difference. After all, who is going to haul a** around a corner with a skinny/big combo??? Bill

[Dave Severson]

Well, if you're talking straight line only, then a bias rear, radial front probably doesn't matter. On the street, the difference in grip between a radial and a bias ply tire can lead to some interesting handling problems. Bias ply tires are not good on side bite at all, radials are. Any high speed manuever with a bias rear and radial front, be it planned or an emergency avoidance, tends to leave the front end sticking and the back end coming around!! If you're ready for the oversteer and don't over correct, it's ok. If you're not ready for it, or miss catching it the first time, a high speed spin is coming your way!!! Big and little tire combinations can be made to corner good. With radial tires available in the extra wide widths now, I personally see no reason to not have the better grip of a radial tire. JMO

[skids72]

Okay... thanks everyone. All these opinions have led back to where I started.

Radials all around for the street (big/little). Bias/cheater-slicks in rear for the strip.

I shoulda set up a poll.

Anyone else have bad experience with Hoosier quick time pros.... I would only be using these at the strip, but if they're gonna wear out in a couple weekends I might want to look at something else. I like the Hoosier's cuz they have the only 29" tire I can find for a 15x12" wheel. Sticky Mickey's got a 28".

[pat mccarthy]

Originally posted by skids72
[B]Okay... thanks everyone. All these opinions have led back to where I started.

Radials all around for the street (big/little). Bias/cheater-slicks in rear for the strip.

I shoulda set up a poll.

Anyone else have bad experience with Hoosier quick time pros.... I would only be using these at the strip, but if they're gonna wear out in a couple weekends I might want to look at something else. I like the Hoosier's cuz they have the only 29" tire I can find for a 15x12" wheel. Sticky Mickey's got a 28". [/]

bfg has them i think that big or very close put some under a g body last year