Hoosier Big Radials

Jim Cimarolli · 07-13-2008, 04:46 PM

I'm trying to help a friend that has been trying some Hoosier 14.5 x 32 x 15 Radials. Car woked fine with the bias tires, he switched to the radials and the car is so unstable he couldn't stay in the throttle.
The car has a four link rear susp. He tried as much as 18 lbs. of air, said it seemed worse at 18 than it did at 15 lbs., car weighs about 3000 lbs with the driver.
Any suggestions?
Thanks, Jim Cimarolli

Angelo DiTocco · 07-13-2008, 07:57 PM

Hi Jim
how are you?

regarding the big Hoosiers..... I use them and don't have any issues with them. Your friend should start by making sure they are balanced properly. Next he can tighten the rear shocks and that may help. I did tighten up the rear shocks w/ mine. The pressure he's using sounds right 18 or so pounds.

Also.. the radials are very sensitive to how the car rebounds from the wheelstand. If one front tire hits the pavement before the other, the force gets transfered to the opposite rear tire and then back and forth between the left and right rear wheels. With bias ply tires you would never even notice it. Check the front end travel to see if its even on both sides. Likewise the radials are more sensitive to bumps in the track surface.
hope all is well
take care
Angelo D.

Jim Cimarolli · 07-13-2008, 11:50 PM

Thankyou Angelo, nice to hear from you, doing well here and I hope you are too.
I will pass on your thoughts to my friend, sounds like a good analogy.

Jim

Mike Pearson · 07-14-2008, 01:57 PM

Jim,

Drop the air pressure down to about what you were running the bias ply tire and see if it calms down the problem. then start to increase the pressure. The car should get progressively faster until you find the sweet spot. This is what I had to do with my car. I run a mickey tire found about 14 lbs worked the best for me. good luck.

Jim Cimarolli · 07-14-2008, 07:27 PM

Thanks Mike, appreciate the info.

Jim

Mike Pearson · 07-15-2008, 12:01 PM

I actually run the 12.2 x31.5 mickey tire. I have it mounted on a 14 inch rim. On a real good track I have run 15 lbs. Anything more compromises the hook and doesn't run any faster.

07-13-2008, 04:46 PM	#1
Jim Cimarolli Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Sulphur Springs Texas Posts: 743 Likes: 146 Liked 166 Times in 46 Posts	Hoosier Big Radials I'm trying to help a friend that has been trying some Hoosier 14.5 x 32 x 15 Radials. Car woked fine with the bias tires, he switched to the radials and the car is so unstable he couldn't stay in the throttle. The car has a four link rear susp. He tried as much as 18 lbs. of air, said it seemed worse at 18 than it did at 15 lbs., car weighs about 3000 lbs with the driver. Any suggestions? Thanks, Jim Cimarolli

07-13-2008, 07:57 PM	#2
Angelo DiTocco Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: NY, NY Posts: 750 Likes: 175 Liked 189 Times in 48 Posts	Re: Hoosier Big Radials Hi Jim how are you? regarding the big Hoosiers..... I use them and don't have any issues with them. Your friend should start by making sure they are balanced properly. Next he can tighten the rear shocks and that may help. I did tighten up the rear shocks w/ mine. The pressure he's using sounds right 18 or so pounds. Also.. the radials are very sensitive to how the car rebounds from the wheelstand. If one front tire hits the pavement before the other, the force gets transfered to the opposite rear tire and then back and forth between the left and right rear wheels. With bias ply tires you would never even notice it. Check the front end travel to see if its even on both sides. Likewise the radials are more sensitive to bumps in the track surface. hope all is well take care Angelo D. __________________ Angelo DiTocco '98 Firebird SS/HA '98 Firebird B/SA

07-13-2008, 11:50 PM	#3
Jim Cimarolli Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Sulphur Springs Texas Posts: 743 Likes: 146 Liked 166 Times in 46 Posts	Re: Hoosier Big Radials Thankyou Angelo, nice to hear from you, doing well here and I hope you are too. I will pass on your thoughts to my friend, sounds like a good analogy. Jim

07-14-2008, 01:57 PM	#4
Mike Pearson VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,446 Likes: 614 Liked 1,919 Times in 576 Posts	Re: Hoosier Big Radials Jim, Drop the air pressure down to about what you were running the bias ply tire and see if it calms down the problem. then start to increase the pressure. The car should get progressively faster until you find the sweet spot. This is what I had to do with my car. I run a mickey tire found about 14 lbs worked the best for me. good luck. __________________ Mike Pearson 2485 SS

07-14-2008, 07:27 PM	#5
Jim Cimarolli Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Sulphur Springs Texas Posts: 743 Likes: 146 Liked 166 Times in 46 Posts	Re: Hoosier Big Radials Thanks Mike, appreciate the info. Jim

07-15-2008, 12:01 PM	#6
Mike Pearson VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,446 Likes: 614 Liked 1,919 Times in 576 Posts	Re: Hoosier Big Radials I actually run the 12.2 x31.5 mickey tire. I have it mounted on a 14 inch rim. On a real good track I have run 15 lbs. Anything more compromises the hook and doesn't run any faster. __________________ Mike Pearson 2485 SS