With South Georgia Motorsports Park’s “Lights Out V” race set to take place next weekend, everyone has Drag Radial on the brain right now. And with the advancements in Drag Radial technology, along with the amazing level of technology in turbo setups, there has never been a time when small tire drag racing is more exciting. BUT…as much as we love drag radial cars, there is something about a big set of steamrollers under the back of something ultra fast that just makes our hearts go pitter patter. We wouldn’t kick either one out of bed for eating crackers, and we can’t decide which one is our favorite. Can you help? Which do you like better? Small tire, drag radial stuff? True 10.5? Or do you want a 10.5 W or bigger under your racecar? Maybe a giant by huge 34″ tall Pro Mod tire is more your speed?
Let us know. Big Or Small? WHich Tires Do You Like Most On Drag Cars?
Both, and here is why.. today you have small tire guys running mighty fast, but that’s not the WHOLE story.. the engine tuneup is set up(keystrokes) to allow the package to not make as much power at the line, at shift points/etc to allow the small tire to work.. they take power OUT… this is todays throttle stops and limiters.. and should be illegal in any class that outlaws delay boxes and throttle stops/etc as that’s the only reason those cars get down the track.. WHO’S KIDDING WHO.
I like the big tire also because there is less need to pull power out.. if the set up is good and the track can take it.. Small tired cars without the keystrokes pulling power out and todays track prep. would be like watch’n a short wheel base car making a pass.. 80% more of them would find the wall. than do know…
Big tire cars always look cool but not practical like a small tire car. Then again running a 1-2000 hp car on the street isn’t practical period! Fun but not practical!
I like small tire cars since nobody will strain there neck staring at you as you drive by like a big tire car.
Small tire cars are contrary to hot rodding’s #1 rule:
“If some is good, more is better”
That’s all I got to say.
Small tire racing is the cutting edge and I have to think will grow considerably in the future
not if they level the playing field.. no electronics should mean just that.. if they can use the ecu as a limiter.. let everyone else run power limiting items
Both.
I love sleepers. It takes real talent to build something that goes like stink & looks like junk. That is very much old school. My fathers friend ran a high torque truck straight six in his ’36 Chevy & used to smoke the V-8 Fords, Olds, & Buicks light-to-light in the late 40s & 50s. I had a rust bucket Chevelle in the early 80s missing its badges, with 4 mismatched steelie mags & a peeling vinyl top w/ a Bill Raney built 396/402 that ate clutches, ‘Vettes & Camaros for breakfast.
The spirit of hot rodding is also in your face power & daring someone to knock you off. Put big & little on & a blower or intake sticking thru the hood & let the comers have at it.
Bigger the Better.
Both but I help run a small tire car while at the races. As much as I love the intimidating look of a big tire car, I love the fact that a small tire car can run as fast, if not faster, than a big tire car while keeping more of a sleeper/ stocker profile to the car.
I think the spectator side of small tire racing is much more entertaining with the constant supply of bumper dragging wheelies ( as most classes don’t allow wheelie bars) that drivers will carry out through the 1/8th at times, and MPH numbers that would have been unfathomable 5-10 years ago from stock suspension cars.
I feel small tire racing is a bit of a modern tribute and spin on the origins of racing from back before companies were producing 3′ tall and 2′ wide tires. They don’t require all of the extra fabrication to the chassis and body to fit like a big tire does which allows you to retain more of the factory style appearance both inside and out of the car.
Lastly, to paraphrase N/A purists – Anyone can go fast on a big tire, but not everyone can go fast on a small tire.
It depends on what I”m running. A pro street car needs big tires. A sleeper needs small one to sucker the competition.
I have 18″ tires under my pro street 74 Cuda and 10″ under my 55 Savoy. But I have 7.50x15s under my 71 Fury which is my sleeper.
BTW, are y’all planing on being at SGMP? If so I’ll try to look y’all up if I can make it. It looks sketchy right now.
Hey 440 6pac are your running your short wheelbase hemi powered Willys when you go to SGMP? Can’t wait to see it. Or is the track too short for you to run on?