Recomend a slick...

[BracketNova]

Hey guys...I did well at the races this weekend and I can afford to get some new rubber now.

I'd like to get some input on what compound and tire to buy. I've been running a 29 x 12 with tubes and screws currently. I got it all from a racer for $300 wheels/tubes/tires. I would like to run a 28 x 10/10.5. Would also like to keep my 12" rim.

what would you suggest.

Car is '71 Nova
weighs 3200lbs w/ me
currently sends 400hp to the wheels but looking to make it 500 by spring
I use a pg with a full brake
I have caltrac split monos and cal trac bars w comp eng 3-way shocks.
front springs are original (6 cyl) w 3-way summit shocks.
4.88 gear...might move to a 4.56 but not immediately.


TIA

Greg

[Chevyfireball]

I prefer Hoosiers. Never had a problem. I think they recommend that you don't go more than 1" either way bigger or smaller than your rim. I run 34.5 x 17 x 16 C2055 compound.

[John_Heard]

29.5x10.5 Stiff Mickey Thompson's - $100-$150 a set used from many shootout racers with only 10 passes or so on them. Best deal going on tires if you have some in your area.

[DOTracer]

Only two choices IMO.

First choice would be the Hoosier 18155 which is a 10.5 x 28 stiff sidewall, C07 compound.

Second choice is the M/T 3055S same basic dimensions in the M5 compound.

Myself, I prefer the Hoosier as they don't leak down near as much as M/T's tend to. The C07 is a great compound.

I would not run tubes with either tire.

[BracketNova]

John, not too many of those guys in my area.

To all - can I not put screws in my new slicks if I have holes in my rims for them?

[Craig W.]

26x8.5s are all you need

[John_Heard]

Probably leak around the holes. Just put the screws in them and be done with it...

I just watched a friend abut a month ago almost run his into the wall this summer at Ozark Street Machines. Steve Napier's Drag Radial Nova - it knocked the tire off the rim at launch and spun the car about 60' out or so. I assume the tire slipped on the rim, then it lost pressure.

[Pegasus]

Thats a good looking 66 Fastback by the Nova in Johns picture.

If I was buying new tires for your bracket car I would get
29 x 10.5 W Mickey Thompsons.

[BracketNova]

So, I can put the screws back in without using tubes? From the few scraps of info in all the dung being thrown around in the ed racer supernova throwdown...I thought it was said that if you screwed you had to tube. I just don't wanna put my car in the wall.

Craig - I like to tinker, I'm sure I could get my ride to hook 75% as well as yours. But, I don't have the $$$ to buy a narrower rim, and hey wide tires are cool. But, I do agree with johns other posts stating that he likes to keep rotational mass to a minimum. That's why I am not looking to get 12"s again...and I'm totally down with losing the tubes.

[DOTracer]

I have two sets of rims. One set is drilled and I no longer use screws and they do not leak.

[BracketNova]

Pegasus - those were my faves, till my track said they were a no no in their 10.5 challenges.

If I sunk my Nova into the high fives I could win some 10.5 challenges at my track. This would not make me the fastest, but I would be the most consistent. Most guys here use the pray and spray method to get sub 5.50 in that class. Now I make this pun because you watch them spin all the way down the track - I am not trying to offend anyone. There are many scientific NO2 tuners here that get there squeeze to the ground. But I tell you every time we have one of those events someone is in the wall. I even watched a guy ride the top of the wall for 50 ft or so this year.

[BracketNova]

I'd like to put the screws back in, I think it might look weird with all the empty holes. Maybe it wouldn't be as noticable as I think.

[John_Heard]

Sure you sure can run em' without tubes. You'll probably get a little leakage with the screws without tubes, but you can reduce it by putting a little dab of silicone under the head of the screw. I've never ran tubes in mine, but I have been considering it to help stiffen the tire up some.

I thought you said there weren't any 10.5 guys around your area???

[BracketNova]

I suppose I could poke my head into there trailers in the spring and see if they've got some used stuff. The 6 or 7 folks that come out just don't seem to be the type that would replace tires that quick.

I talked to the guy I did the interior for. He coats the whole inside of his slicks with dawn dish soap. He said that will take care of the leakage...he doesn't know why - but it does he says

[vegaracer]

I run screws and no tubes - no major quick leakage. And the dish soap inside the slick trick worked to help slow the leakage on my last set of slicks.