Is there any difference between a "race tube" for slicks and a plain old tire tube?
The reason I ask is about a $40 difference between the two.

Can't wait to launch hard!

 

Pretty sure the tube is thicker material and it has a steel valve stem that screws down to the rim.
Jerrod

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Jerrod
99.5 White Lightning
SHM mass air/filter
PSP chip
Full Bassani exhaust
4:10 gear
FRPP oval throttle body
BFG Drag Radials
104 oct. unleaded
Snuglid bed cover
sprayed on bed liner
phantom boost gauge
smoked driving light covers

best 1/8 - 8.43sec
best 1/4 - 13.21sec
both at high 90's temp

 

If your not in the low 10's dont use a tube. I have run many slick without tube's and not one problem.

Make sure you use a metal threaded valve core. That's it, simple.

 

I've heard tubes and bead screws are not necessary unless you are going 9's. The tubes being round pushing against a flat tread of the tire will place more weight on the center of the tread reducing your traction. The problem running without tubes is the sidewalls on a slick are porous and will go flat in a week or two or bleed off air.
I am running both. I did it before I knew. Traction isn't a problem for me so I left them alone. But I suppose some one looking for every bit of traction would run with out tubes and keep an eye on the pressure. The screws are just more rotating mass (not much but every bit counts)

HIGH RISK

 

The answer to your questions:
Race tubes are natural rubber and are more fexable. They are also better manufactured to pressurize evenly.

On the "you don't have to use a tube" note, it is you life. Remember you are using bias-ply tires on radial rims, not a perfect match.

Hope some of you don't end up in the morge.

Steven

 

When I spoke with a tech support guy at MT, He was adamant about the need for tubes. Aside from the rim leakage issue, he indicated that the MTs puncture more easily than street tires.

I wouldn't put it quite the way SilverBullet did, but IMO the $70 I spent on screws and tubes is cheap insurance for a $30,000 truck.

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Regards,
Gordon

'99 Red Lightning
Johnny Lightning Superchip
Johnny Lighting Stage II Ram Air Kit
Century Tonneau