Thread: Starting a rat T build

Tweet

This conversation is one of those subjects that gets heated in a hurry it seems. Years back I was trying to find out info on how safe is it to run these DOT slicks on the street and the feed back I got from people was almost opposite. The street race guys said hell yes we run them from home to the race, race, and then drive back home. You ask track racers and they say absolutely not! Then try to ask how safe they are with tubes on the street...... Most I've asked and been around won't run tubes on the street because the tubes rub the slicks and generate heat and the tire goes boom. Some said they put an absurd amount of baby powder in while installing the tube to help prevent this.

In my opinion, I'd send those tires back, get my money back and get a radial based tire to start with. These M/T ones seem to work the best in the wet weather. These will take jolting of large pot holes too as where the cheater slicks will not. I know a guy that almost lost his pro street 69 Camaro last summer when he hit a mammoth pot hole and his side wall split. He got very lucky.

Mickey Thompson | Sportsman S/R™

Proper rim width is a big thing too. Those tires on a 10" wheel you will be running on the center most of the time. So when you go to turn the tire will want to roll since it's already rounded on the outer edges. That will make for sliding and crappy driving for sure. Been there done it too. You'd probably get by ok for a while since it will be light weight, but if you lose one of those big meats, it isn't a fun ride. About 7 years ago I was racing a guy that blew his engine up and I ran over debris as I was going around him. My right rear tire blew and I just about put the car in to the wall. That was no dang fun at all!