The track was open today so I took off my tool box and tailgate and spare. I had right under half a tank of gas and it was mid 60 degrees. My first pass 17.00! What the hell? I've only ran above a 15.9 once! I roasted the tires half way down the track Try again... Run 2: 16.3??? After a few runs I figured this truck is not gunna hook up like it did without superchips and the new tires. My best run tonight was 15.49. I was running consistent 14.8-15.0s last time and consistent 15.4-15.5 completely stock with tool box, spare, tailgate and completely full tank of gas at 5300lbs. What the hell happened?

My '60 times were terrible with a best of 2.45. My best last time was 2.17. My truck weighed right at 100lbs more than it did last time. The tires and extra gas I would guess. Are the 265s tires slowing me down that much? Or are BFG all terrains just that bad at the track??? They are slightly bigger than stock so that means it's like having a higher gear ratio. Which is bad for racing...but .8 seconds slower? I could barely get my crappy good years to spin off the line last time. This time I had to baby it past the '60.

There was like 10 tuners running 15-17s that I wanted to blow the doors off of but I didn't want to embarass myself and run another 17 flat in a 345 horse truck that ran 14.8 when it was completely stock on a diet.

HELP! Is the extra power from the superchips making me roast the tires? Or do the tires just suck at the track. On the street or off road they're much better than the goodyears. I know the 31" tires with 3.55 gears is not a good combo but lower gears will just let me roast the tires the full 1/4 instead of just the 1/8. What the heck should I do? I'm so disapointed. I was hoping to at least run what I ran last time.

A taller tire does kill your overall effective gear ratio.I would imagine the plus side would be that you might be getting better highway MPG?

Bigger tires with 3.55's will slow you down considerably. As you found out.

And once they break loose its almost impossible to get hooked back up. Those worn down Goodboots actually worked pretty well.

Street surface is rougher and without the rubber base of the starting line. Less tread and a warm tire is what works.

Your 60 foot time is killing your et. And the better throttle response from the Superchips makes is harder to get outta the gate.

With a borrowed set of drag radials I got a 1.71 60 foot this year on my best pass of the year.(13.43)

You may want to consider that as a option for running at the track. And with the 3.55's I would opt for a shorter drag radial...like 275 45. this will help...may look a little funny but it will effectively lower your final drive
ratio.

Good luck.

Ok, so I know the gear ratio + those big tires are killing me. I'm planning on getting 4.10 gears soon. Once I get those I was thinking about getting a set of lighter rims and some kind of legal slicks so I don't have to change my tires when I get to the track. Would a set of 245 michellins or goodyears (like the truck came with)and some stock 17" rims be fine for the front? and just get lighter rims and cheater slicks for the back? I'm now determined to run the times my truck CAN run. You say 275 45s would be good? Even though that is a bigger tire than I already have?

Starchief-275/45/17's drag radials spec out at about 25.75 to 26" in diameter.That would give you a better effective gear ratio(shorter gearing)and a better launch.Those would work to your advantage at the track until you get your 4.10's.

Sounds sweet! What about AFTER I get the 4.10s? Will that still be a good ratio? I plan on getting the 4.10s before the drag radials. My truck hooks up fine on the street and it is my daily driver, so the street and cruising around on my ranch are my priorities. What would be a good set of rims to use? Or are the bottom of the line, steel, work truck rims I have light enough?

most people use the factory 17x8 chrome/gray 5 spokes steelies(in the back) just because they're cheaper.There are lighter rims out there,thou-you could also use your 17x7's(I think your stock ones are that size,maybe 17x7.5's?).As far as gears go,some of the other members have posted that with deeper gears(4.10's+4.56's),you should go with a taller tire-such as a 275/50/17(M+H makes this size)that spec out to 28" in diameter.The 275/45/17's are supposed to work well with 3.55's and 3.92's.Hope this helps a little.

i have a correction- BFG makes a drag radial and so does Nitto(555r?),they are 275/40/17's.Those are the ones that spec out to 25.75-26' tall.Sorry for the confusion.Most of these drag radials will run you $150-$200 per tire NEW.Look around to see if you could get some used for cheaper-I picked some up on my local Craigslist(the BFG Comp T/A drag radials,275/40/17)for $150 for 2 slightly used(he claimed only 7 runs).I know there are others out there for less than that.If you check on Third Strikes website-I think he sells some lighter wheels(25lbs.each)for about $150-$175(I think they are 17x8's or 17x9's).And yes,run the plain steel wheels in front.

I just had some 17x7 steelies shipped to me-they spec out at 35lbs each.

I do believe that Ram rims are all 8" wide. That's what the sticker on the door says. And my 02 Ram had the steel painted "aluminum" rims and they were 17"X8" also. I know I can pick up a set of the rims I already have for pretty cheap because no one wants them but me! haha

After the holidays I'm gunna get my rear end gears in (4.10) and then start looking for some drag radials and another set of rims. Then it's headers and hi flow cats with an h pipe and I'm not sure what mufflers.

I'm goin to make a new thread in the tire section of this site to see if I can get some more help. I don't see a 275/50/17 or a 275/60/17 in Summit for BFG drag radials. But that doesnt mean they don't make them. Thanks

M&H does though....


M & H Racing Tires

quote:

Originally posted by Starchief_59:
I'm goin to make a new thread in the tire section of this site to see if I can get some more help. I don't see a 275/50/17 or a 275/60/17 in Summit for BFG drag radials. But that doesnt mean they don't make them. Thanks

275/45/17 M&H Drag radials are about the best you can buy for our trucks and with 4.10 gears its about as perfect a gear ratio & tire combo as you could get,

BTW I know its hard to go to the track and perform worse than expected but there are a lot of variables that occur from day to day. What was the DA the first time you went compared to the last time you went? If your going to Drag Race BFG all terrains have a 4 ply side wall and are a lot stiffer than regular radials along with the 3.55s and having a taller heavier tire you've just killed your et. Every little change you do to your truck is gonna affect something as far as drag racing goes. The best way to think about it is smaller and lighter the better.

I've got a set of four forged aluminum 17 x 8 Centerlines that would work well with drag radials. At 25 lbs each, you'll drop 10 lbs off the steelies. If you're interested, make me an offer.

I have some 235/55/17's that i am trying at the track this year. Talk about funny looking especially on a 4wd... They are just 26" tall!