M/T slicks, 28x11.50 or 29.5x10.5w?

We struggled a little last year with traction. Our very best 60 foot time was 1.48 IIRC, leaving on a 150 shot on the footbrake...this was with 29.5x10.5w's.

Last year, with no spray at all, we had the same 60 foot times, but on 28x11.50's.

The notable difference in these two tire sizes, aside from the diameter, is the sidewall stiffness. The 28" tire has a very soft sidewall, whereas the 29.5" tire has a much stiffer sidewall....although it was not a "stiff sidewall" model tire.

So, it seems that off the spray the car liked the 28" tire. I switched to the 29.5 to get a little bigger footprint, but 'm not sure that helped.

Anyone have any sugestions on which tire to put on the car for this season?

I bought a damn near new set of 29.5 S tires and mounted them on a different set of rim so I can hit some of the local 10.5 deals, will do some track testing with those and the 10.5 31 w's I ran at Tulsa and the Buicl race, we'll see how they compare.

What size rim and backspace you run?

I run a 15x10, 3.5" backspacing. Typical little girl wheel/tire combo.

Work on the suspension, if guys can 7.30's on 28x10.5's, you can make the 29.5x10.5 work. You need a 12" rim with W tire to get the most out of it

Outlaw5.0 wrote:Work on the suspension, if guys can 7.30's on 28x10.5's, you can make the 29.5x10.5 work. You need a 12" rim with W tire to get the most out of it

those guys are threading a needle

Well, my car is 5 feet longer and 900 lbs heavier than those guys.

I ended up with 29.5 x 11.50's and so far they seem OK.

Greg

Plus there is leaf spring cars in the 7.50's on 275/60/16 drag radials(28x10.5). The tires are not the problem.

Maybe 2200 lbs of weight on the front axle is a concern in my case?

Outlaw5.0 wrote:Plus there is leaf spring cars in the 7.50's on 275/60/16 drag radials(28x10.5). The tires are not the problem.

your absolutly correct , but i think those guys have hughed budgets or deep pockets ....those cars are very impressive

Outlaw5.0 wrote:Work on the suspension, if guys can 7.30's on 28x10.5's, you can make the 29.5x10.5 work. You need a 12" rim with W tire to get the most out of it

x2 on that im going to be running the 31 10.5w on a 15x14

For the first time ever I will replace these slicks with the same type.........I rekon my car likes the stiffwall deal.

The 31 10.5w is an awesome tire, i hope when you goto a 14" rim you screw the snot out of um or run beadlocks.

Greg just wondering how much air pressure you are running? I have found that M/T like 13-14 psi on our mustang. 1.431 60 ft with no juice and footbrake. Not running stiff sidewalls neither.

richter69 wrote:For the first time ever I will replace these slicks with the same type.........I rekon my car likes the stiffwall deal.

The 31 10.5w is an awesome tire, i hope when you goto a 14" rim you screw the snot out of um or run beadlocks.

x2 you better beadlock them babys

514Fox87 wrote:Greg just wondering how much air pressure you are running? I have found that M/T like 13-14 psi on our mustang. 1.431 60 ft with no juice and footbrake. Not running stiff sidewalls neither.

We've found that 13 psi works the best, but any lower and the tire really folds up at the launch and the tire seems to wad up onto itself and leave very strange marks at the line. Feels like a vibration at the launch, as well.

Greg

I agree with Richter69 on the stiffer sidewall. Also the firmest compound available would be good. I have been getting consistent 1.41 60fts. on Hoosier 9x30 D07 with a 4 speed. These tires have the stiffest sidewall in a bias ply 9x30. My M/T's were flatout dangerous; sidewalls were way to soft for a 2 ton, low 10 sec. car. On cars like ours the front suspension is the key to making the car work.
Good luck, Ken