Useing circuit slicks on the drag strip

[QABB]

After i complete some more work on my car i want to run it down the qtr for a bit of fun. Being FWD, traction is not on my side so id like to run some slicks, probably 13". Because this car is being built on a budget, i can't justify the expense of a pair of new FWD drag slicks so would a pair of second hand circuit slicks (thinking ex-formula ford) be much better than street tyres??

[a777]

In a word, yes :)

Make sure you heat them up LOTS with a decent burnout though.

[dohrifto]

not saying that it won't help
but a guy i know bought slicks for his turbo exa, ran it at willowbank and ran a worse time on the slicks than road tyres!
any number of factors as to why but i'm abit scepticle myself now
once again i'll say they may well but just from this guys experience they didn't

[Billzilla]

Three's a number of problems with using racing slicks.
One of them is if you use Formula Ford ones, they're not designed or built to take the weight of a full road car, the sidewalls just aren't strong enough. They'll fall over badly in the corners, but I guess they might be okay in a straight line.
A normal racing slick in new condition will stick more than a good road tyre will, even when it's cold. When they're hot, they'll stick an astounding amount indeed - My little car generates nearly 2G's lateral loading at times!
The problem is getting them hot - The older they are the longer they take to 'wake up', and even when they do they won't stick as well as new ones do.
A brand new slick will take at least a lap (couple of minutes really) to get up to temperature, and a dead one maybe five laps.

What you'd be better off doing is going for a straight rain tyre compound, as they stick like buggery right from the start. Brand new they come without any grooves, so they're just like a normal slick though thicker in the tread area to allow for cutting grooves.
It'll cost a bit, but I'd suggest trying out a pair of those. I'd guess about $300 or so each would be the damage.

[edo]

I have some 15 inch wets I can do you a deal on if its any help. Say $100 each...I think ive got 6, used twice.

[QABB]

Hey guys, thanks for your advice!

Edo, if they were 13" i'd consider them but 15" rims would be a huge squeez under my cars gaurds!

I wonder if you can get 12" slicks as that would actually be ideal... Mini's run 10" slicksbut i cant remember any running 12"??

[edo]

Ive got a hammer & angle grinder you can borrow too...:D

[Matty]

You might also want to look at hillclimb tyres, I poked some Avons at an event a couple of weeks ago - they were the gooiest things I've ever come across! Made hot 540S's look positively hard, when the Avons were cold... call up Gippsland Car Club or another hillclimbing club and see if they can help you.

[QABB]

edo - thanks mate, ill keep that in mind! :D

matty - yeah i never thought of that, next meet at morwell ill have to do some asking around.

[Guido]

Edo-these wet's, what are they?? Are they road legal, and do they still have enough tread on them to be legal?
Being on an R I suppose they'd be around the 195 size,yes??

[Billzilla]

They're pure racing tyres and so there's no way you can run them on the road. They'll get sliced up very quickly with all the crud on the road if you try anyway. ;)