How do i get a radial slick to hook on a marginal track ??

racerAL · 06-23-2016, 11:02 PM

I switched to the 30x9 Hoosier radial slick last spring, but because of engine issues I didn't get to run the car til the fall. I had no issues with getting the slicks to hook. I ran at 4 different tracks and at all of them traction was no issue with my 60 ft avg in the 1.44 - 1.46 range, and the car was lifting the front end nicely. Fast forward to this summer and i have had a lot of issues with the car spinning at the starting line. A few weeks ago at Norwalk for the no box race the car was good with no issues, but when i go to my home track (which is marginal at best), I can only get the car to hook before the heat gets in the track. Last Saturday my first two time runs were without issue, but as soon as the sun gets higher in the sky and has had a chance to build heat in the track(119 degrees) the car spins on the hit. My question is what if anything can i do to make these radial slicks work on a "hot" marginal track ? I have lowered launch rpm and soften the rear shocks as much as possible. I know my car isn't a stocker but it's ET and 60 ft times are comparable to most stockers so i was hoping I could get some pointers on what you all do when your having traction issues with the radial slicks. Thanks in advance for any and all help.
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slick5861 · 06-23-2016, 11:11 PM

How many passes do you have on the slicks ?

racerAL · 06-23-2016, 11:14 PM

My log book is in the trailer but I'm pretty sure they had 58 going into last weekend.

countrypuppy4865 · 06-23-2016, 11:37 PM

Put 100 lbs in trunk

racerAL · 06-23-2016, 11:42 PM

Yep, that's what I had already decided I would try for this weekend ...lol, thanks.

James Perrone · 06-24-2016, 08:07 AM

Mickey Thompson they will help

Rusty Davenport · 06-24-2016, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Perrone

Mickey Thompson they will help

Not trying to steal the thread but more than one person told me the M/T radials might get 30 passes at best-----I bought a set------not sure its going to make thirty with ten to go-----anyone else comment on M/T lifespan ????

racerAL · 06-24-2016, 01:02 PM

Well if I'm only going to get 50-60 passes out of the radials, I'll switch back to a bias ply slick. I have a new set Goodyear 4457's that I tried early this year and they were even more touchy than the Hoosiers. I think I'll try to sell them and get a set of bias ply's. I was hoping to get more input from the racers that use these slicks.... Surely every track you guys race on isn't prepped to perfection. Thanks countrypuppy and Jim Perrone for ur input. Im going to add weight in the trunk and take some timing out of it and hopefully I can get it to not spin. I've wasted 3 points races messing with this issue. I'll have me a set of bias ply's on it as soon as I sell the Goodyears.

Robert Simpson · 06-24-2016, 02:09 PM

Add some weight, take out some initial timing. take some hit out of the converter, if you foot brake come up on the converter some. I have lowered tire pressure a little. But, if you do heavy burn outs, stop... In the real heat just barely see any smoke let them go. The tires are good, but you are right, in some conditions they are not as forgiving as a bias. Your car might not stand up as high as it usually does but it will help it hook and you can work on that set up and have the other for killer air. I hope this helps some.

Robert

Mike Pearson · 06-24-2016, 02:15 PM

I run a wider tire than you do also taller. Nothing can fix a bad track. The radials are much faster on my car than the bias. What are the other guys experiencing at the bad tracks. similar to you or not. If the other racers are not having a big problem than you might need some suspension adjustments on your car. I run Hoosier and get more passes than I did with the Mickeys.

06-23-2016, 11:02 PM	#1
racerAL Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: central ohio Posts: 19 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	How do i get a radial slick to hook on a marginal track ?? I switched to the 30x9 Hoosier radial slick last spring, but because of engine issues I didn't get to run the car til the fall. I had no issues with getting the slicks to hook. I ran at 4 different tracks and at all of them traction was no issue with my 60 ft avg in the 1.44 - 1.46 range, and the car was lifting the front end nicely. Fast forward to this summer and i have had a lot of issues with the car spinning at the starting line. A few weeks ago at Norwalk for the no box race the car was good with no issues, but when i go to my home track (which is marginal at best), I can only get the car to hook before the heat gets in the track. Last Saturday my first two time runs were without issue, but as soon as the sun gets higher in the sky and has had a chance to build heat in the track(119 degrees) the car spins on the hit. My question is what if anything can i do to make these radial slicks work on a "hot" marginal track ? I have lowered launch rpm and soften the rear shocks as much as possible. I know my car isn't a stocker but it's ET and 60 ft times are comparable to most stockers so i was hoping I could get some pointers on what you all do when your having traction issues with the radial slicks. Thanks in advance for any and all help. [IMG][/IMG] Last edited by racerAL; 06-23-2016 at 11:05 PM.

06-23-2016, 11:11 PM	#2
slick5861 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: East St Paul,Manitoba Canada Posts: 23 Likes: 7 Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: How do i get a radial slick to hook on a marginal track How many passes do you have on the slicks ?

06-23-2016, 11:14 PM	#3
racerAL Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: central ohio Posts: 19 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: How do i get a radial slick to hook on a marginal track My log book is in the trailer but I'm pretty sure they had 58 going into last weekend.

06-23-2016, 11:37 PM	#4
countrypuppy4865 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Donaldsonville, LA Posts: 966 Likes: 8 Liked 183 Times in 62 Posts	Re: How do i get a radial slick to hook on a marginal track Put 100 lbs in trunk __________________ Jimmy "Cooter" Hidalgo, Jr. 4865 E/SA '04 GTO 4865 SS/GA '99 Firebird

06-23-2016, 11:42 PM	#5
racerAL Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: central ohio Posts: 19 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: How do i get a radial slick to hook on a marginal track Yep, that's what I had already decided I would try for this weekend ...lol, thanks.

06-24-2016, 08:07 AM	#6
James Perrone VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: LONG ISLAND N.Y. Posts: 1,595 Likes: 2,929 Liked 1,606 Times in 376 Posts	Re: How do i get a radial slick to hook on a marginal track Mickey Thompson they will help __________________ james perrone 1290 STK

06-24-2016, 01:02 PM	#8
racerAL Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: central ohio Posts: 19 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: How do i get a radial slick to hook on a marginal track Well if I'm only going to get 50-60 passes out of the radials, I'll switch back to a bias ply slick. I have a new set Goodyear 4457's that I tried early this year and they were even more touchy than the Hoosiers. I think I'll try to sell them and get a set of bias ply's. I was hoping to get more input from the racers that use these slicks.... Surely every track you guys race on isn't prepped to perfection. Thanks countrypuppy and Jim Perrone for ur input. Im going to add weight in the trunk and take some timing out of it and hopefully I can get it to not spin. I've wasted 3 points races messing with this issue. I'll have me a set of bias ply's on it as soon as I sell the Goodyears.

06-24-2016, 02:09 PM	#9
Robert Simpson Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Jacksonville, Florida Posts: 803 Likes: 6 Liked 20 Times in 12 Posts	Re: How do i get a radial slick to hook on a marginal track Add some weight, take out some initial timing. take some hit out of the converter, if you foot brake come up on the converter some. I have lowered tire pressure a little. But, if you do heavy burn outs, stop... In the real heat just barely see any smoke let them go. The tires are good, but you are right, in some conditions they are not as forgiving as a bias. Your car might not stand up as high as it usually does but it will help it hook and you can work on that set up and have the other for killer air. I hope this helps some. Robert

06-24-2016, 02:15 PM	#10
Mike Pearson VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,318 Likes: 546 Liked 1,629 Times in 502 Posts	Re: How do i get a radial slick to hook on a marginal track I run a wider tire than you do also taller. Nothing can fix a bad track. The radials are much faster on my car than the bias. What are the other guys experiencing at the bad tracks. similar to you or not. If the other racers are not having a big problem than you might need some suspension adjustments on your car. I run Hoosier and get more passes than I did with the Mickeys. __________________ Mike Pearson 2485 SS