My BFG T/A Drag Radials arrived today, can't wait to test them out. I've read from a couple of you guys that these tires really need to be "worn in." Was wondering if I can get some tips on the best way to wear them in. Do you drive around the street with them for a while? Also when you get to the track, what is the best method to heat them up (especially when new)? Do you do a wet burn out like they do with slicks, or only dry?

Thanks,
Mike

------------------
99.5 Black Lightning
PowerSurge Cone Filter
JBA Jet-Hot coated headers
Flowmaster muffler
So-Cal Lowering Kit; Cal-Tracs traction bars
Watter Wetter
Lo-Jack

 

Boy,sure is quiet around here tonight...
Mike..Just got my DR's last night and I'm going to the track on Sat. I'll let you know how they do.My first impression is that they are much smaller than the F1s, but after
a few minutes with a caliper they actually have a bigger contact patch than the much larger F1s
Good luck..Jim W.

------------------
99.5 WHITE LIGHTNING
SNUGLID,W/BEDRUG
SUPERCHIP
PSP FILTER KIT
13.54@102MPH
PHX,AZ.

 

ARGH, I am really considering getting some MT Et streets, after seeng them @ Wes's. Just cant ante up the cash right now, but my Birtday is next month & I might just try to ask for some. I also want to get the Bassani exhuast but that is big$$$. Oh well hey guys I'm gonna have to wimp out on this outting to Speedworld, but hope you have fun.

 

Yoda..You'll be missed at the track.
If the DR's do good I'll help you get a set "wholesale".My out of pocket was very reasonable by pulling a few favors.
Might see you Sunday at the auction
Later Jim W.

------------------
99.5 WHITE LIGHTNING
SNUGLID,W/BEDRUG
SUPERCHIP
PSP FILTER KIT
13.54@102MPH
PHX,AZ.

 

E*X*C*E*L*L*E*N*T*!!!! If you could get them @ a good rate im sure my wife will let me get some . R you plannin on going Sunday? Looks like that wil be the day I can go (with limp-along hehe). Man I really want to meet you guys there, but I think i have to drive my wife to work since she hurt herself & cant work the clutch.

[This message has been edited by Yoda (edited 01-22-2000).]

 

BRIMSTONE...Sorry to clutter your post I'm sure Spiro and ISA will post soon they have been the pioneers in DR's.
Yoda..That's funny I looked hard but could not find a clutch pedal in my L...Just kidding...BTW what size were the ET's on Wes' truck?
Later Jim W.

------------------
99.5 WHITE LIGHTNING
SNUGLID,W/BEDRUG
SUPERCHIP
PSP FILTER KIT
13.54@102MPH
PHX,AZ.

 

uh, what are you callin me a liar??? hehe just kidding I actualy installed a dual friction center force cluth with T-56 6 speed tranny, along with a carbon fiber drive shaft, scatter sheild (for those mid 11's), 4.55's in the rear. All of this in my wifes saturn (which is what she drives ). What are you crazy, let my wife drive MY LIGHTNING???? HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND MAN???? j/k her car is a stick, & she doesnt think she can drive it (i told I would leave bus fare on the table for her in the morning, she didnt see the humor).
hum really dont remember, think they were 26x11.5x16.

[This message has been edited by Yoda (edited 01-22-2000).]

 

Well.. they..(with all due respect to CristyAnn)rarely see the humor.But we march onward.
We are going to the auction on Sunday I'll hope to see you.
Good times Jim W.



------------------
99.5 WHITE LIGHTNING
SNUGLID,W/BEDRUG
SUPERCHIP
PSP FILTER KIT
13.54@102MPH
PHX,AZ.

 

 

Brimstone
Goodrich says burn in your tires one good time and let them set for 24 hours then only do a cleanoff burn out, not in water to get all the gravel or rocks off. These are radials and do not need to be smoked before each run. Best tire pressure I have found is 22 psi.

------------------
Andre Terranova (1-18-1947)
isa4325@flash.net / "1-BAD-TK" Texas Tag,
Red Lightning / Red Premier Tonneau Cover,
Red Shadow Cowl Cover / SuperChip,
3:73 Gears / K&N Filter,
Edelbrock muffler,
Laptop Computer at Side,
G-Tech,
Best Time 12.97 Tweeked to the max.
[05-11-1999 #1132]

<*(((><
Only Little Boys Wear "Bow Ties"



[This message has been edited by isa4325 (edited 01-22-2000).]

 

BRIMSTONE,What I did to break in my DR`s was drive them on the street for a couple of days,I actually put about 80 miles on them. Yes, I know the SVT`s will look funny with such a short tire but I believe is the best way of breaking them in. At the track the tires did not need any water.All that I would do is a quick snap of the throttle to clean them off.As far as pressure start at 20 and work your way down. On my 13.0 passes I was using 15 psi.Launching at around 1500 RPM. Had I had more time to play with the pressure some more 12`s would have been there.With the MPH that my SVT is running 12.6`s are in reach.Just a matter of time.

Good Luck

LAUNCH HARD

------------------
99 SVT Lightning
BLK. #1476 5/20/99
2 Chamber Flowmasters
Downs Air Intake
B.F.Goodrich Drag T/A`s
Superchips
A-pillar Phantom Boost Guage
Redline Water Wetter
Sportmaster Flip tonneau
Tow package
CD changer

Best run to date
13.064 @105.33

"Empty Pockets Racing"Drag Race Team NJ-DE

 

LightningFreak,
Of course I remeber you. Glad to see that you finally made it to the board. This is one great group of people.Me and H8 2 W8 will be at the track opening weekend.I might even have the stang finished by then.My L is still running strong even in the snow. Once again welcome to the board.



------------------
99 SVT Lightning
BLK. #1476 5/20/99
2 Chamber Flowmasters
Downs Air Intake
B.F.Goodrich Drag T/A`s
Superchips
A-pillar Phantom Boost Guage
Redline Water Wetter
Sportmaster Flip tonneau
Tow package
CD changer

Best run to date
13.064 @105.33

"Empty Pockets Racing"Drag Race Team NJ-DE

LAUNCH HARD

 

HEY SPIRO99SVT

I don't know if you remember me but I met
you at cecil county dragway in MD. I had
the white Lightning (you know :the white
L's are faster!) with the hypertech chip
everything else stock.I think the track opens
again on feb 25th, bot I'm not sure if that
includes friday night racing. let me know
if you have heard anything. hope to see
you there if the weather breaks.are you still driving your L in all this snow?

 

Thanks for the helpful tips. I was doing test launches in a parking lot all day today on the F1s (guess I should've used the DRs). We found that I got the best launches (.10g's better according to Gtech) when the cal-tracs weren't pre-loaded TOO much and the caps on top of the front springs were removed, to allow the front of the truck to lift higher under acceleration. Problem is it would be a major pain in the butt to do it everytime I go to the track. But I understand this is sort of what drag shocks would do. I'll probably put the DRs on tomorrow and start breaking them in.

thanks again,
Mike

P.S. on the way home today, I ran across a Porsche, and smoked him twice, even on a curved road. I'll post the details after I eat some food:P


------------------
99.5 Black Lightning
PowerSurge Cone Filter
JBA Jet-Hot coated headers
Flowmaster muffler
So-Cal Lowering Kit; Cal-Tracs traction bars
Watter Wetter
Lo-Jack

 

I use a damp burnout on drag radials to keep the load on the driveline components to a minimum. What I do is drive around the water box, back up to the damp edge, zip the throttle to dampen the entire tire, and roll out about 5 feet. I then do a nice 3-4 second 4000 rpm in first gear burnout. It gets a little bit of smoke from the tires, but there is no need to heat them up like a slick.

You really don't want to take a DOT tire through the water box because you'll have a hard time getting the water out of the tread blocks, but dampening the surface of the tire will make your transmission, u-joints, and rear differential much happier.

You can look at the tire after you make a pass and if you're seeing little rolls of rubber forming at the edges of the tread blocks, you're heating them too much.

Contrary to what some other people have posted, I found my tires hook best when they're run close to normal pressure. I've ran mine all up and down the scale and have found that 28 psi was the magic number. I hook just as well there as I do on my slicks (which I never run anymore) with 12 psi. And I don't get all that "puckering" slick squirm either.

I never change the pressure in my drag radials anymore. I typically put them on at the track, and then drive home with them still on the truck - all the time staying at 28 psi.

I've had 60's as low as a 1.73 with no spin on these tires.



------------------
Later!
Jeff S.
President, National Lightning Owners Club - http://nloc.org
SVT Lightning #74 in '95
11.92@115.2 on radials, driven daily
jeff_s@nloc.org or fmosracing@aol.com