slicks

[therieldeal]

What do you guys know about matching slicks, and how long they last? I bought a "pair" of brand new slicks from someone online.... one of them looks fresh off the shelf, the other looks more like "new old stock". It still has stickers on it but the rubber seems a bit dried out and the style of the lettering is even different. Is the older looking tire junk?

[13thghost]

the tires have the build date printed on them. look for it so you can tell how old they are. dot#
n the example above:
DOT U2LL LMLR 5107
DOT U2LL LMLR 5107 Manufactured during the 51st week of the year
DOT U2LL LMLR 5107 Manufactured during 2007





How many passes down the drag strip should a pair of slicks last?
Firestone designed the tire for 60 to 70 runs. Anything over that range should be considered as Jim Bean puts it, "free rubber."






How big of a burn out should a racer do?
Just a small burn out is necessary to heat the tire up. To prolong the life of a racing slick, just pull through water box, hit throttle until you get smoke, and then stop. Pulling into the pre-stage lights soon after the burn out will allow the tire and track surface to heat up even more near the track-to-tire contact area. Essentially, it's a good idea to avoid any unnecessary movement of the tire after the burnout and before the launch. The worst thing a driver could do it dry hop the slick (a quick jolting type burnout). Dry hopping rattles the slick and makes it dissipate heat faster, also known as a thermal shock. More of a burnout would just be for show and essentially shortens the life of the slick.

Are burnouts required for slicks every time?
It really depends on the car and the track conditions. If you're getting the car to hook up, then I say "no," however; you should do at least one burnout when you first get to the track if the tires have been sitting for an extended length of time.

Does the fact that VW's weigh less than the average drag car allow the tires to last longer than if they were used on a heavier car?
Yes, because less weight to means that less rubber is needed to get the car to hook up, therefore less rubber is expended.

Does the rubber in the tire break down because of heat during the burn out?
No, not in the same manner as that of an Indy, Cart, or Cup (circle track) race car tire. A different compound of rubber is used for circle track racecars. The rubber compounds in Phoenix Drag tires are specifically designed for drag racing. Therefore, heat cycles are really not an issue in a drag tire. Heat cycling of the tire does make the tire less pliable over the entire life of the slick. Lack of air or not enough air will break the tires sidewall down. The worst enemies of drag tires are ozone, ultraviolet light, asphalt and concrete (used during storage). When slicks are stored on asphalt or concrete the asphalt and concrete tends to draw the oil from the tires compound essentially drying the rubber out. Ozone and ultra violent light also break the tire's compounds down and dry the rubber out. Furthermore, traction restoring compounds are not recommended, as once they are applied, they must be applied each time you race. Jim explained that these compounds create a chemical reaction, which can break down the tire composition, and could result in shortening the life of the tire.


When using a slick, how does tire pressure affect its performance?
The amount of tire pressure to be used is different for every car. The basic rule of thumb is to run as much air as you can get away with. There are basically two kinds of tire spin, initial and reaction spin. If you have too much air pressure, your wheel will have initial spin; this is when the tire spins almost immediately when the power is put to it. Reaction spin happens when the tire hooks initially then bounces as the wheel is un-loaded. Reaction spin is caused when there is not enough air pressure. The best launch is when there is about 1/8 of a turn in the wheel; the tire hooks onto the track, lifts the nose of the car, and then is gone!

How thick is the tread surface of the slick?
The tread thickness of Phoenix Slicks is 7/32 of an inch. The next version will have wear indicators down to the cords.

How do you recommend storing slick over winter and between races?
Over the winter Jim recommends storing them in a dark plastic bag. After winter or long-term storage, you should do a really good burnout to soften the rubber. Between races, storing tires on carpet or plywood is a great idea.

When should a person put tubes in their slicks?
All Phoenix Drag Tires are two-ply and during the molding process the rubber doesn't always fill the holes between the cords, thereby allowing air to leak out. Besides the additional rolling resistance, the use of tubes really is determined by how often the racer wants to fill the air in the tire.

When should a slick be screwed on to the rim of your wheel?
With the higher horsepower cars most classes are recommending or requiring that rim screws are used, a minimum of 5 to 8 per each side of the rim.

The launch from the start line can cause the rim to slip inside the tire, and with the use of tubes, can rip the valve stem off. A mark on the tire/rim assembly can be used to gauge the amount of slippage, and should be checked while checking air pressures


Are there special tubes for drag slicks?
Yes, tubes made from natural rubber containing a metal valve stem. Natural rubber stretches better and is able to sustain more heat.

How much does each tire weight?
The 15x26x6 (5.6 inch tread width) weigh 19 pounds each, the 15x26x6W (7 inch tread width) weigh 20 pounds each and the 15x26x6A (8.5 inch tread width) weigh 19 pounds each.


What is the best way to tell how a drag slick is worn out?
A racer's 60-ft times will start to increase each run, indicating that it's time to replace your slicks.

What determines which slick a person should buy?
The rule of thumb here is that bigger isn't always better. Bigger slicks have more rolling resistance; however, they provide more surface-to-track contact. The real answer is that you should use the smallest tire you can get the car to hook up with.


What are the arrows on the side of the slicks for?
New tires should be mounted according to the directional arrows, but after several passes they should be swapped side to side. This rotation should occur whenever a medium grain appears on the tread face of the tire. Most vehicles can get by with rotation every 12 to 20 passes; however high horsepower or large tires may require rotation every couple of passes.

more info by hooser'' http://www.hoosiertire.com/faqdrag.htm

[deadly_sleeper]

wow, that's some good info.

[psiturbo]

How do you recommend storing slick over winter and between races?
Over the winter Jim recommends storing them in a dark plastic bag. After winter or long-term storage, you should do a really good burnout to soften the rubber. Between races, storing tires on carpet or plywood is a great idea.

This is the best tip of all, I have no problem to do a few of those, better safe than sorry.

[93 Pro]

Do slicks have a DOT number though? I would assume they dont seeing that they arent DOT approved for roads.

[13thghost]

they will have a built date.