There's one thing that's bothering me about the NMRA 03 Cobra plans. I am not positive that I have this straight but, from what I have read and been told, one class will be for slicks and drag radials and the other for street tires.
I think that the slick class will have a tremendous disadvantage for anyone using any tire other than a full set of slicks.
There is NO WAY that a drag radial tire can compare to a real slick...not a snowball's chance in Hell.
Furthermore, there is NO WAY that a DOT-approved bias-ply race tire can compare to real slicks. Some people say that the only difference between ET Streets and ET Drags is the grooves cut into the DOT version. That is not true. ET Streets have a different compound that is more durable for street driving...and just not as sticky. Also, more importantly, the sidewall construction is different between the two. ET Drags have less plys and wrinkle much more. That makes a HUGE difference when launching.
M/T ET Streets are about the best hooking Department of Transportation-approved tire you can buy but good luck launching at 5K with them. So if the 03 Cobra Slick class allows for real slicks (which I believe it does since there is nothing to indicate otherwise) then no one is going to compete with those who show up with M/T ET Drags or the like.
So what I am saying is that, in my opinion, drag radials are drag radials. BFG Drag radials are about the best hooking radial tire you can buy. But you can't launch with them at 4K with stock 03 Cobra suspension (I've had 3 sets on other muscle Mustangs).
DOT-approved bias-ply tires are thier own class of tire. A set of M/T ET Streets are probably the best hooking DOT tire you can buy. They are FAR better than drag radials but, for the love of God, don't get caught in rain with them on your car (I've owned 2 sets of ET Streets). Also, they make cars drift up top just like slicks do. They are simply not practical for regular driving with street cars. So you end up using ET Streets like you do real slicks: you get a set of rims and only bolt them on when you are at the track. And why would you bother with ET Streets for track-only use when you could go with ET Drags for the same scenario? Someone explain that one to me, please.
Real slicks (like ET Drags) are in a class by themselves and you simply cannot compete with them.
So, getting back to my purpose for this thread, I think that the slick class will be completely dominated by any cars with real slicks, gears and any remote level of competing power via mods.
I would think that it would be better to either ban real slicks or put drag radials in the street tire class. Drag radials have a clear advantage over street tires but not as drastic as the advantage that real slicks have over drag radials. I think putting drag radial cars in the street tire class is the 'lesser of the two evils' with respect to vehicle match-up.
The other issue is DOT slicks. They are a damn good hooking DOT tire but you can't launch them with stock suspension at 5K like you could with a set of real slicks...NO WAY!! This constitutes another clear disadvantage. But you can't put DOT slicks in the street tire class...that's too unfair.
So, if you are going to NMRA Bowling Green with your 03 Cobra and are looking to hang through some eliminations, either run street tires (and be a DAMN GOOD driver) or come with real slicks. Anything in the middle will be eaten for breakfast.
I think that the slick class will have a tremendous disadvantage for anyone using any tire other than a full set of slicks.
There is NO WAY that a drag radial tire can compare to a real slick...not a snowball's chance in Hell.
Furthermore, there is NO WAY that a DOT-approved bias-ply race tire can compare to real slicks. Some people say that the only difference between ET Streets and ET Drags is the grooves cut into the DOT version. That is not true. ET Streets have a different compound that is more durable for street driving...and just not as sticky. Also, more importantly, the sidewall construction is different between the two. ET Drags have less plys and wrinkle much more. That makes a HUGE difference when launching.
M/T ET Streets are about the best hooking Department of Transportation-approved tire you can buy but good luck launching at 5K with them. So if the 03 Cobra Slick class allows for real slicks (which I believe it does since there is nothing to indicate otherwise) then no one is going to compete with those who show up with M/T ET Drags or the like.
So what I am saying is that, in my opinion, drag radials are drag radials. BFG Drag radials are about the best hooking radial tire you can buy. But you can't launch with them at 4K with stock 03 Cobra suspension (I've had 3 sets on other muscle Mustangs).
DOT-approved bias-ply tires are thier own class of tire. A set of M/T ET Streets are probably the best hooking DOT tire you can buy. They are FAR better than drag radials but, for the love of God, don't get caught in rain with them on your car (I've owned 2 sets of ET Streets). Also, they make cars drift up top just like slicks do. They are simply not practical for regular driving with street cars. So you end up using ET Streets like you do real slicks: you get a set of rims and only bolt them on when you are at the track. And why would you bother with ET Streets for track-only use when you could go with ET Drags for the same scenario? Someone explain that one to me, please.
Real slicks (like ET Drags) are in a class by themselves and you simply cannot compete with them.
So, getting back to my purpose for this thread, I think that the slick class will be completely dominated by any cars with real slicks, gears and any remote level of competing power via mods.
I would think that it would be better to either ban real slicks or put drag radials in the street tire class. Drag radials have a clear advantage over street tires but not as drastic as the advantage that real slicks have over drag radials. I think putting drag radial cars in the street tire class is the 'lesser of the two evils' with respect to vehicle match-up.
The other issue is DOT slicks. They are a damn good hooking DOT tire but you can't launch them with stock suspension at 5K like you could with a set of real slicks...NO WAY!! This constitutes another clear disadvantage. But you can't put DOT slicks in the street tire class...that's too unfair.
So, if you are going to NMRA Bowling Green with your 03 Cobra and are looking to hang through some eliminations, either run street tires (and be a DAMN GOOD driver) or come with real slicks. Anything in the middle will be eaten for breakfast.
