BFG Drag Radials 1/8 Mile testing

[fuelman]

Went out Saturday to Orlando Speed world after our Central Florida VCA meeting, we have 165 members and only 7 or 8 people actually drove there Vipers to the meeting, the rest were scared of the rain. Only Larry Macedo and Cudaman were brave enough to go out to the track. We were lucky and the rain held off until about 9 pm, so we ran from 4-9 pm. Humidty and heat was quite high, but I decided to give the BFG drag radials a good thrashing. I got the 60ft time down to 1.70, but what impressed me was the launch RPM and the way the car hooked. I left the line at 3500 rpm with little or no spin and the car felt like I was leaving on ET Streets. It dug hard, there were many comments from stander bys on how well the car was leaving the line. I am sure with better weather these drag radials will be in the 1.6s and even the 1.5s.

Once again, thanks to Larry Macedo for helping me to prep the car, dinner, and spending the better part of his Saturday with his customers at the track, he must like happy customers.

 

[Warren S]

Sounds like a good drag tire. What pressure did you set the tires at?

 

[BigCarrot]

Did you drive on the street with these things? If so, how do they handle? I was thinking of leaving them on my car for around town use.

 

[fuelman]

Warren S, I ran the tires at 17.5 PSI. They seem to hook best at that PSI.

BigCarrot, I don't recommend running these things on the street. I have done it for about two weeks and it is plain dangerous. The front end floats and if you hit any uneven road hang on. Driving them in the rain is almost suicide. I would mount them on rims if you can.

 

[CHAD]

Just curious, if you can't drive them on the street, then why not use M/T's? If you have to have two sets of wheels and tires and change them at the track, why not run the best tire you can for that application?

Nice run on DR's though, with an 11.13. And how did you run a 1.55 60 foot on Michelins?

Thanks,

Chad

 

[fuelman]

Just curious, if you can't drive them on the street, then why not use M/T's? If you have to have two sets of wheels and tires and change them at the track, why not run the best tire you can for that application?

Nice run on DR's though, with an 11.13. And how did you run a 1.55 60 foot on Michelins?

Thanks,

Chad

When I bought the BFGs I thought they would work like the drag radials on my other cars, but the center of the tire is about a 4 inch slick. I didn't know this before, however I was just looking for better traction without having to shave down my calipers to fit a mickey thompson tire or having to buy skinnies for the front. The tires are fine for driving out to the track I just would not drive on them all the time. Cudaman drove on his for about 6 weeks he is a little crazier then me, but he too just put Michelins back on the rears. It rained hard this weekend here and I drove on them, it just takes a little more care. With my Mickey Thompsons for my F-Body it is near impossible to drive them in the rain, even to the track. I think when the weather cools down I will get them into the 1.5s. The 1.55 on the Michelins was due to a sticky track and a well running car and supercharger. I did it at the V-10 Nationals, the weather was cooler and the car just hooked. The Roe Charger builds a lot of torque from the get go, on my car 575 ft lbs at 2600 rpm.

 

[dwhitt]

John:

Have you upgraded your halfshafts?

 

[V10 MOJO]

with the bfg's ive been having a bear of a time finding that sweet spot launch. at 2500 i bog and at 3000 i spin, not much of a window for my foot eh? i have been running 20psi and yesterday ran 19, actually noticed a difference, wednesday evening im gonna try your recommended 17.5psi see what happens. i have been practicing launching with the drivetrain loaded via lineloc and with alot more practice i dont see why a 1.5 60' isnt possibble. paul s got a 1.35 at VOI didnt he

 

[Cudaman]

Fuelman, Larry Macedo, Complete custom wheel(John Pruner)and myself have worked out a very good deal on a 18" x 13" rim.

if you have a 2001 or newer Viper ...you have ABS braking system. You do not have very many choices on drag radials or slicks. Basically you have the 18" BFG Drag radials...Any NO one sells a 18"x 13" rim reasonable...example people are selling if they will separate ( OEM) rears for $1900.00 to $ 2000.00 for 2 rims USED. By the way.. Larry Macedo can new (OEM) rims almost for same price people are selling used.

Well that has all changed.....you can get thru Larry or John a 18"x 13"rim for aprox $300.00 to $350.00 per rim less than a USED or NEW rim. These do not match your current rims ... they are a Pruner skinny and slick setup.... they are polished aluminum rim.

I took the BFG off my car for one reason only ....It rains alot in Florida in the summer.....and the are SCARY to drive in the rain on. Now Fuelman and myself will have options of a rain (Pilot)18" tire and rim or a 18" drag radial and rim depending on what Florida has to dish out any given summer day.

Cudaman

 

[RedGTS]

How does the ABS setup prevent CC's regular slicks/skinnies setup from fitting? Are the calipers larger than '00 cars?

 

[Cudaman]

Are the calipers larger than '00 cars?

RedGTS do not have ABS, so you will not have a problem with CC skinnies and slicks.
Cudaman

 

[V10 MOJO]

after getting a set of hre 547's for my car, i kept the stock rims and mounted the bfg's on them. id like to sell the set of rims to make some cash to sink back into the car but its much more convenient to have the drags mounted and ready in my garage. ideally id like to get a second rear set of hre 547's to mount the bfg's on then id also have the poser side of me cover as well but i just cannot, yet, justify the cost. hmmm heres a thought, id trade a full set of stock excellent condition rims for two rear hre 547's, think it'll work?

 

[J DAWG]

15 psi HOT the other night and the key for me was to get plenty of heat in them initially. After that they did not require much of a burn out and I was launching around 3800 rpm's with my car(essentially stock).

 

[RedGTS]

RedGTS do not have ABS, so you will not have a problem with CC skinnies and slicks.
Cudaman

Ward, I'm not sure whether you meant Red GTS's in general don't have ABS, or MY Red GTS doesn't have ABS , but my car is an '01 and does have ABS. So what's the fitment problem with ABS?

 

[V10 MOJO]

john, 15psi, what were they cold? also, you have no wheel spin at 3800??

 

[fuelman]

John:

Have you upgraded your halfshafts?

Dwitt,

Sorry for the delay. I have been away from the computer for a day or so. I do have upgraded halfshafts. They are Macedo Halfhshafts, they are much beefier than the stock ones. I did not want to take a chance on launching aggressively on the stockers, if you have ever seen IRS car break a halfshaft launching I'm sure you understand. It can be an immediate right or left turn into the guard rail.

The question from Red GTS on the 01 cars, you cannot fit a rim smaller than 18" over the caliper without modifying the caliper and going with SS brake lines.

 

[treynor]

Actually, to be precise, you only have to modify the rear calipers on a '01-'02 car. The stock brake lines are fine. With modified rear calipers you can fit the 16" or 17" Purner wheels.

However, for the money these days I'd also recommend the 18x13 Purner wheel and 345 BFG g-force DR combo. You don't need to muck with your brakes, you don't need to change out your front wheels -- you just bolt 'em on and go racing.

 

[Cudaman]

Treynor is correct.... you are modify the caliper so that the bolt on the brake line bolt clears the 16" or 17" rim. The advantage of using Stoptech braided line is better braking and less modification to the caliper, because brake line bolt is narrower. Also a braided brake is "Good" insurance on a fast car and not a real expensive mod.

Cudaman

 

[fuelman]

Cudaman,

My cell battery went dead, charging it now to finish our conversation.

 

[Cudaman]

John call me @ home
Cuderman