Cheap tires to run up front with the MT et streets(28x11.50-16) at the track.
215/70-16 on Stock rims will give the same 28" diameter as the streets. Should be alot better than Running my current track set up;
275/45-20 on 20x9.5 (29.5tall)
28x11.50-16 on 16x8 billets (28 tall)

Any suggestions? I can get Uniroyals for like $60 hr speed rated.

 

Creederado you need to run the tallest,skinniest tire you can find.The tall tire will allow you to stage deep and leave early by covering the beam at the start line longer.A narrow tire will give less rolling resistance this helps on both the launch and trap speeds.You will probably want to run about 50psi in the front tires too.

 

The smallest tire I could find and still be 28" tall is 195/80-16. Although I'm unsure of the load capabilities. I liked the 215/70-16 because it is still very narrow and ther's more tires to choose from. For $120 bucks I could have to tires mounted on my stockers up front for the track and should be alot better than pushing the 20's.

 

If you're running the tires at the track the load rating should'nt matter especially with 50psi of pressure in them.You might even be lighter than the 20"wheels and tires dispite the 16"wheels being steel.Stage shallow(barely breaking the beam,be careful not to roll back)and start early to get a rolling start on the lights.It's an old racer's trick that works(it does take practice).

 

Actually, you will get a lower E.T. by shallow staging, or in other words, barely lighting the second bulb by just barely rolling in. What this does is give you better "roll out". In other words, you will actually be "moving" when the clock starts. I know it sounds petty, but deep staging (going in so far that you turn the top bulb out) will actually cost you at LEAST a tenth, maybe even more sometimes. That is why a taller tire is also better. It keeps the light on longer because of the bigger area it blocks off. This is why all of the NHRA super stock cars run those big tires that look like freakin' 18 wheeler tires! Anyway, just thought I'd contribute my 2 cents.

 

Woahhhh,
I'm not going to get into Staging and lights etc. But I do appreciate the info.
My 20X9.5 rims up front wiegh approx 75 lbs each,w/tire. The're 11" wide and 1.25" taller than the rear, 28x11.50-16 Et streets I Drag with. The rear drags wiegh about 44lbs

In order to compliment the Et streets I'm going to run 215/70-16 on the stock steel rims to mock "skinnies". The steels with 235/75-16 only weigh around 50lbs each, still 25lbs less than the 20's. I think the smaller tire will solve the height and weight issue at the same time.
Thanks though for the staging tips