Need some advice about tire selection for street and strip

[Longram330]

With my big block 63 Dodge 440 hardtop close to being finished,(I'll be painting it come spring) after that all that's left is seats and tires. So..... I have started wondering about the tire selection. With a Drag strip about an hour and a half away from my home I'd like to do a bit of bracket racing. I have no idea how it will perform, but all indications give me the impression that what I built will not be slow! I'd have to do some playing to determine what my Dial-in will be! The tires that are on it now are basically enough to keep it of the ground! My initial idea was just to go out and get a set of BFG T/A Radials , but then I felt I should ask around and see what's being used etc. I'm going with basic steel wheels 15 X 7 or 15 X 8 on the rear and 15 X 5.5 on the front. I have disc brakes on the front so I have to stay with 15's. What are your thoughts?? Thanks in advance.

 

[WileE]

BFG radial T/A = not good

 

[Aron Gleason]

Mickey Thompson et SS drag radials or the radial pros are a good tire.

 

[R413]

Have you priced the BFG TA? They are big money now. Not worth buying.

And the traction is dismal.

What does not slow mean? 11's? 10's? How much racing are you doing? May need to get a pair just for racing.

 

[493 Mike]

Have you priced the BFG TA? They are big money now. Not worth buying.

And the traction is dismal.

What does not slow mean? 11's? 10's? How much racing are you doing? May need to get a pair just for racing.

M/T drag radials.
Mike

 

[1967coronet]

I'm sure these guys know what you need for track/ street tires.
I can add once again skip the BFGs , my motor home 440 and 3:23 gears will roast mine ( 245s )from a stand still.

 

[Longram330]

Have you priced the BFG TA? They are big money now. Not worth buying.

And the traction is dismal.

What does not slow mean? 11's? 10's? How much racing are you doing? May need to get a pair just for racing.

To answer your question about how fast ... after I finished doing a basic tune on the carbs , I did a Sunday morning run on a piece of road that runs from a local highway to a radio tower , (roughly a half mile long and it's paved!) With the garbage tires that are on it (an ancient set of General xp2000gt 235/15's the rear(it's embarassing even to mention those tires) and a set of old F70/15 BFG T/A's on the front. I did the run after some putting around to warm it up & watching for the Polizei. I floored it , manually shifting the Torqueflite at about 4400, It didn't take very long at all to get to the tower(with an analogue watch) . From a standing start, it took a touch under 30 seconds.(3:55 gears with sure grip) I have to get the speedo working yet so no speed! I wrapped it up and took off home before I got finked on....these days there is always some busy body watching!

 

[RemCharger]

To answer your question about how fast ... after I finished doing a basic tune on the carbs , I did a Sunday morning run on a piece of road that runs from a local highway to a radio tower , (roughly a half mile long and it's paved!) With the garbage tires that are on it (an ancient set of General xp2000gt 235/15's the rear(it's embarassing even to mention those tires) and a set of old F70/15 BFG T/A's on the front. I did the run after some putting around to warm it up & watching for the Polizei. I floored it , manually shifting the Torqueflite at about 4400, It didn't take very long at all to get to the tower(with an analogue watch) . From a standing start, it took a touch under 30 seconds.(3:55 gears with sure grip) I have to get the speedo working yet so no speed! I wrapped it up and took off home before I got finked on....these days there is always some busy body watching!

A mickey Thompson street R.
4400 is not even starting to pull if you have a decent cam. That's 318 2bbl territory

 

[R413]

I'd be embarrassed to have TA's on any car I own.

 

[padam]

To answer your question about how fast ... after I finished doing a basic tune on the carbs , I did a Sunday morning run on a piece of road that runs from a local highway to a radio tower , (roughly a half mile long and it's paved!) With the garbage tires that are on it (an ancient set of General xp2000gt 235/15's the rear(it's embarassing even to mention those tires) and a set of old F70/15 BFG T/A's on the front. I did the run after some putting around to warm it up & watching for the Polizei. I floored it , manually shifting the Torqueflite at about 4400, It didn't take very long at all to get to the tower(with an analogue watch) . From a standing start, it took a touch under 30 seconds.(3:55 gears with sure grip) I have to get the speedo working yet so no speed! I wrapped it up and took off home before I got finked on....these days there is always some busy body watching!

15's?

 

[Longram330]

I guess a number of factors were going through my head , First I was a touch nervous to be out there, it's getting to a point where you can't even go test a car as it's fargin near impossible to find a road off the beaten track that's in decent shape. Also there is always some ******** that comes along and makes your business his, even on that tower road which BTW is shrouded with a fair bit of foliage. Secondly, I have a vintage plate on the car which can be obtained without a safety inspection , which my car wouldn't pass anyway due to no heater, a single wiper & lexan side glass , I mention this as the plate has many restrictions, so getting caught by Duddly Do-Right doing a a banzai drag test would most likely result in impoundment and a Mucho Humongous Ticket and a safety check of all safety checks! The Junk Rubber on the car also had me very concerned! Lastly it's a green engine so I didn't want to really push it! I just needed to drive it so I could see if the carbs didn't bog off the line and to see the Tach rise somewhat over 2500 RPM which up to that day was as high as I had it in order to condition the camshaft and accomplish ignition output tests , and secondary ignition current tests.
So ya I chickened out......