Slicks vs. Drag Radials

[Darius]

I am looking to put down about 500hp to the wheels this summer with my RB and am so new to drag racing that it is hardly funny. I've found a couple threads on drag radials, but nothing real informative and barely anything on slicks.

My first questions begin with general topics like:

1) Why run drag radials instead of slicks if a person already has a set of street wheels/tires? What advantages are there to slicks?

2) What are the disadvantages to running slicks? Is there some tire prep involved?

3) Is the general idea to get as much tread width under the car as possible or is there a calculatable balance between tire size/weight and grip needed?

[DeXteR]

1) Why run drag radials instead of slicks if a person already has a set of street wheels/tires? What advantages are there to slicks?

Drag Radials are usually street legal - slicks are not. Depending on your local law-enforcement, you might be able to get away with slicks on the street.

You'll have to check local/sactioning rules, but I'm pretty sure drag radials allow you to run in a "street tire" class.

2) What are the disadvantages to running slicks? Is there some tire prep involved?

Zero wet traction. They need to be heated up for maximum results (hence the "burnout box")

3) Is the general idea to get as much tread width under the car as possible or is there a calculatable balance between tire size/weight and grip needed?

I believe the word is "calculable". Everything is a cost/benefit equation for cars. However, until you start honing in on a particular time or are trying to shave tenths of seconds to be competitive, just stuff as much rubber as you possibly can. When you need to start gnat's-assing things, then you need to bust out the calculator and figure out the balance between tire size and wheel/tire weight that yields your desired results.

This is just my input on the subject. I honestly don't have a lot of real experience with slicks and drag radials or drag racing. I'm just drawing from my general automotive experience and things I've learned from others.

[Darius]

These tires/wheels would be used strictly at the track and be heated up in the burnout box. So aside from the street legality of each, is there a major performance difference in a drag radial and slick of the same dimensions?

And I believe the term is "calculatable-ator"

[R-Yahne_240]

if you drive your car to the track get the radials but slicks are better for hooking up and going down the track

ps most people dont make enough power for it to make a big difference

[Darius]

I have to drive to the track, so for now it will be simpler to get MT ET streets instead of ET drags.

[nismofly]

wider tire wont help

with slicks you might need some driveline reinforcement to keep it together when you launch, probably not as much of a problem with the et streets or whatnot

[Darius]

Yep I will be looking into the Q45 differential and driveaxle/hub swap in the near future.