Speed raiting
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Joined: Jan 2000
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From: Chicago
Re: Speed raiting (b16bri)
From the Tire Rack website, about the BFG Drag Radial:
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tire Rack website »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The Drag Radial's popularity has resulted in some questions about the tire's high-speed capabilities because, unlike other Ultra High Performance street radials, its speed capability is not indicated on the sidewall by a speed symbol in its size or service description. While the g-Force T/A Drag Radial has many of the internal construction features usually found in high speed radial tires, the feature that prevents it from being speed rated in the "normal" ways is its unique high-hysteresis tread compound. This compound has extreme energy-absorption characteristics that help the Drag Radial readily conform to the track surface to help launch the car and take it to victory... an eighth- or quarter-mile at a time. This same tread compound, when subjected to continuous operation at high speeds, could possibly overheat and blister like super-sticky "qualifying tires" that have been used in professional oval track or road racing competition. Thus, even if the g-Force T/A Drag Radial is available in a vehicle's ideal size for use in activities other than drag racing, it should not be used in competition where the car and tire will be exposed to extreme cornering loads or sustained high speeds.
It is also important to remember that the g-Force T/A Drag Radial operates most efficiently on the strip at cold inflation pressures of between 15psi and 20psi (in no case should below 12psi be used). And after the racing is done for the day, it is essential that the g-Force T/A Drag Radial be reinflated to normal highway operating pressures before carrying the driver and trophy back home. Running any tire at relatively low inflation pressure for a given load reduces the tire's speed capability by causing it to stretch more and operate at a high deflection (more radial bulge). The Drag Radial is built to withstand brief "bursts" of high speed while inflated at low pressure (such as would be experienced on a quick car in the quarter-mile), but no tire can be expected to survive for a long time at high speed while operating at high deflection.</TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tire Rack website »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The Drag Radial's popularity has resulted in some questions about the tire's high-speed capabilities because, unlike other Ultra High Performance street radials, its speed capability is not indicated on the sidewall by a speed symbol in its size or service description. While the g-Force T/A Drag Radial has many of the internal construction features usually found in high speed radial tires, the feature that prevents it from being speed rated in the "normal" ways is its unique high-hysteresis tread compound. This compound has extreme energy-absorption characteristics that help the Drag Radial readily conform to the track surface to help launch the car and take it to victory... an eighth- or quarter-mile at a time. This same tread compound, when subjected to continuous operation at high speeds, could possibly overheat and blister like super-sticky "qualifying tires" that have been used in professional oval track or road racing competition. Thus, even if the g-Force T/A Drag Radial is available in a vehicle's ideal size for use in activities other than drag racing, it should not be used in competition where the car and tire will be exposed to extreme cornering loads or sustained high speeds.
It is also important to remember that the g-Force T/A Drag Radial operates most efficiently on the strip at cold inflation pressures of between 15psi and 20psi (in no case should below 12psi be used). And after the racing is done for the day, it is essential that the g-Force T/A Drag Radial be reinflated to normal highway operating pressures before carrying the driver and trophy back home. Running any tire at relatively low inflation pressure for a given load reduces the tire's speed capability by causing it to stretch more and operate at a high deflection (more radial bulge). The Drag Radial is built to withstand brief "bursts" of high speed while inflated at low pressure (such as would be experienced on a quick car in the quarter-mile), but no tire can be expected to survive for a long time at high speed while operating at high deflection.</TD></TR></TABLE>
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