Made a few runs with ET Streets last night. Best 60 foot of 1.557 which is okay I guess.

Anyways, I had problems with ending up in the other lane so I'd have to shut her down. These ET Streets seem to walk over over the track. I run between 12.5-15 psi tire pressure.

Is this normal?

 

I run ET streets as well same pressure, but I never had that problem. Are you sure the pressure on both sides are the same, sometimes that can pull you to one side.

 

What tires are you running in the front?

 

I have never ran ET streets on my RX-7, but I did use them for a while on my 67 Nova. They hooked up pretty well for me when the track was in good condition. When it got to 95 - 100 degrees outside they were a little sloppy (but not out of control). I was running the 32in x 17.50in x 15in - which is probably much bigger than you are using. I tried everything from 7.5psi to 13psi with the best traction around 10psi. I was pulling 1.39 60ft times when the track was good and 1.45s when it was really hot. I switched to all out slicks because they did better on the hotter days and I could pull consistent 1.3x 60 ft times.

Was the track in good condition? What was the weather like? What size tires are you running? I suspect you may be reaching the limits of the tire (if it is small) or need to adjust your setup a little. Were you always pulling to one side? That is an indication of setup issues. What is your suspension setup? 1.55 60 ft times are pretty fast - I am sure you must have some suspension upgrades, hopefully with some adjustability.

Another thing to consider is the burnout. Sometimes tires will take better to a greasy track if they have a little less heat in them - meaning shorter burnout. Most people think the bigger the cloud of smoke the better traction you will get.

 

Wow that's a good 60' time, DSM style. Does it always go to the same side? Did it stop once you hit second or third gear? Did it happen every run?

 

how do the stock rear ends hold up?

 

Yeah, they have the same pressure.

 

My nitto 555 extreme. 17 inch 225 ....

 

Track temperature was around 62 degrees and it was high 50's outside, so it was chilly. I run a 26 inch tire on the stock rim. I have a 1990 Ford Mustang GT straight axle with a 4 link suspension so I might need to make some adjustments in that.

I'm not only pulling to one side, it rocks back and forth. It feels like it's in the tires. I don't burn my tires off.

 

It go's both ways, not just one. It starts at the top of second all the way down the track. Every run yes.

 

I wouldn't know.

 

I actually have 235's up front after looking at them.

 

On the stock rims your tires must not be very wide and at 26in tall there is not a very big contact patch. Most traction problems occur in the first 60ft - it is a little strange that you'd get good traction and then lose it farther down the track, but it does happen sometimes (if your problems are happening at the top of 2nd gear, you are beyond 60ft).

That 4 link will provide a lot of adjustability. You might try adjusting it, but most setup problems will become evident when you first launch the car. Have you ever tried heating the tires (burnout)? Generally you want a hotter tire on a cold track and a cooler tire on a hot track. Most street tires will not benefit from a burnout, but ET streets are basically slicks in street clothes. It sounds like the track was nice and cool and should provide some pretty good bite - if it was well prepped.

 

Eric-

I drove my car to KCIR once with ET streets on them. It did what you encountered the entire way out there. I vowed to never drive on ET streets again (outside the track only). It gets scary when the back end rocks side to side. If you don't control it correctly, it will cause you to crash. When I drove it to the track, I had higher air pressure than when I actually ran them. On the track itself, I didn't have any problems once I lowered the air pressure; until OFF-Throttle. At the end of the track, if you just let go, it would rock again.

 

That is just sort of the general behavior of a low air pressure, soft sidewall tire. Some brands are better than others, but any car I have ever driven with slicks will get a little sloppy once you let off the throttle. Also high powered cars with slicks will wander a little on the track. Sometimes trying to hold it right down the middle can make things much worse than letting it move around a little. I suspect Gargamel is having more trouble than a slight wander though.

 

Had the same problem with M&H Racemasters (~15-16 psi) on my Supra. The car was all over the place down the track and if you got off the gas quick at the end, it had a nasty whiplash effect that would send you towards the wall. I was taking far longer to stop because I had to come off the gas gradually to avoid it. I never ran those tires again. I'd rather run drag radials and be a little slower off the line than run the chance of hitting the wall at the far end.

 

when i run less that 16psi in my nitto drags, they tend to wander a little bit too. soft sidewalls on any tire don't like going in a straight line

 

I do a burnout until I can see smoke. Not a whole lot but some puffs here and there

I'm thinking I might have just gotten out of the groove. I've heard the swaying with et streets is normal though. Dunno?

 

EXACTLY! This is what I'm talking about.

 

I was getting the slight wonder on every pass at higher rpm's. Looking back at the tape, I only got out of shape once really.

 

Yeah, you may have just gotten out of the groove or over-corrected a little. Like I said, trying to keep it dead straight will amplify the problem sometimes. I think of it like driving on ice or pulling a heavy trailer on the freeway - it will wander a little and its best to just go with it and use gradual, smooth corrections. If it is bad enough that you are having to do too much driving, then you have either a setup or tire issue.

 

Another basic question that I should have learned in drivers ed in high school. If someone were to get out of shape on the big end, what would be the best way of getting out of it without losing control? Probably not hitting the brakes huh?

 

Ha Ha, my drivers ed teacher never mentioned anything about driving 140+ mph.

 

novadan is on the money - just gentile smooth corrections works just fine. First time scared the hell out of me.

And as far as driving with them, to & from the track is fine but nothin' fancy. The do have a nice soft ride through. & pray it does not rain driving home. That is an experience.

 

Well, I'll just need to practice with them for awhile. I need to atleast make it to the 1/8 though.

I agree, driving them on the road is quite nice. Makes me feel like I'm riding in a caddi