Tall slicks

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wirenut

wirenut

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Is there an advantage to running a tall slick (31") vs shorter like 28 or 29".

What I am trying to figure out is this.
I have a car that I recently purchased. BB A body low 6 sec 1/8 mile car.
440, 12.5/1, eagle rods, steel heads, (500 hp??)
727
9" w/4.88s
31" MT ets
I will be running 1/4 mile.
I have taken it to a couple of test and tunes and got about 8 runs in. By 3/4 track its well into the 6800 rpm rev limiter. I dont want to hurt he motor so I backed out.
I need to replace the gears. Most I spoke to at the track running the same basic combo are running 4.10s with 28 or 29" tires. The car hooks very well with the 31s and 60' times are around 1.56. And I know this isnt the important thing but it does look real good with those big tires under it and would love to keep them.

the online calulators tell me I could use 4:30s and keep the revs around 6400 at the big end, but the lack of knowing converter slip concerns me.

Thoughts, experience.
 
taller tire give you a larger contact pattern (patch) on the track...

just drop the gear to 4.30 and keep the tall tires...
 
Ball park 10 % for slippage.
Your results may vary , but this comes close in most cases.
The shorter tire takes less energy to get moving since it will weigh less and the weight will be closer to the axle center line........miniscule difference , but it is there.
You know the math , so figure which ratio works for the taller hide if you want to keep them.
You will have a ton more choices for gears with the 9" , so this opens up a lot of possibilities.
Slicks come in a lot of different diameters too , so maybe a 30" tall ?
 
I haven't kept up on tire technology, but a bigger dia tire will give you more "grow" at the high end, and depending on your gear, might actually help

Yup. Taller tire generally = larger contact area.
 
Cool beans, thanks I'll let you know how I make out
 
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