[Old School]

I have just got my 383 in a few weeks ago, and running BFG's street tires. As you could guess, they don't bit worth a crap. My question is, Would a set of DR's be better than ET streets for what my intentions are. I drive mainly on the street, not much highway. I want to juice out of the hole. Would a set of DR's do me just fine. I know that the ET's would be a better bite tire, but would the DR's be pretty close. I'm looking at the cost to how long it will last factor.
Thanks,

Michael

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My 75 Camaro
383 with AFR's
Old School for life!!

[MarkM]

I'd go with the ET Streets. You'll never be able to juice it out of the hole with drag radials, I doubt you'll even be able to hook on the motor on the street with the dr's. What size are you looking to buy? I ran the 255/50 16 and couldn't get them to hook until halfway through second.

[joesmith69]

There is no comparison.

BFG Drag Radial - Soft sticky compound when HOT. Hard sidewall to retain drivability and cornering ability. Good for ~1.8 60ft times in a mildly built car.

MT ET streets - Even softer then the BFG's when cold. Get em hot and hello. Wrinkle sidewall bias-ply tire. I've seen guys pull 1.3XX 60ft times in WELL set-up cars. I've seen stock suspension cars pull 1.6's all day long.

The ET streets won't last as long. You're not gonna have as much cornering ability. But, you will hook ALOT harder. You're not gonna be able to leave on the spray with DR's IMO.

Speed costs, how much do you want to spend today? (aka, how fast do you want to go today?)

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79' Z28 4-spd- built 355, TRW 10:1 forged flat tops, WP SportsmanII heads, Crane Energizer 228* duration .480" lift, Edelbrock Victor Jr., Holley 750cfm, Dynomax headers, dual 3" flowmasters 3.73 Posi 10-bolt

[Old School]

Cool, thanks guys.

Michael

[CamaroNOTcamero]

ET streets are a good way to get injured or mess up your car. Ever drive around with bald tires with low air pressure? these are worse considering they have a wrinkle wall. If you get cought in the rain you might get hurt figuring the engine is powerful.

Here's my plan...use a street tire on the street, a good radial so you can corner and if you get stuck in the rain you wont get hurt (hopefully) and use slicks mounted on different wheels for the strip.

[68rs406]

heres my .02. et streets (or mt sportsmans)are just fine on the street, unless its raining, but who cares. no, they wont get you killed. drag radials, however are tighter feeling on a daily driver, and can hook up reasonably O.K., but not even close to a drag oriented tire.(and yes they suck in the the rain too) an example of a car w/ drag radials though, is my buddy's 63 nova w/ a 406, and 235 drag radials (only because nothing else fits), ran 11.50's, w a 1.70 60 foot, so they can work, but i know i've used them before and i'm not messing w/ them again. they still wear out quick, but w/ less bite. its MT sportsmans for me.

[blackvi]

The DR's are the best "all around" tire for most H.P. cars. Joe smith has some good numbers on both tires that are a very good rule of thumb. the tire size is also a factor. I would definitely go with a larger diameter D.R. for a bit better off the line traction. If you have juice, well I'd stick with the ET streets. (bank on that!) If I were you, I'd purchase the ET streets for that 383 for the track, and use the DR's for the daily drive and occasional "light-to-light". (Just my .02)

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84 Modified F-body
"Skinnin' season is just a phone call away!"

[blackvi]

By the way, I read something that caught my eye in some of the replies that some of the guys wrote. This is by far not a "correction" to any of you guys in ANY way. I NEVER drive my car when it's raining, or even looks like there might be moisture in the forcast. I feel it's the SAFE thing to do. Even when I am on all terrain street tires, I try to stay OFF the throttle when it's not needed. No matter if a driver chooses DR's or ET's, rain is always a factor, so IMHO, it's best not to drive PERIOD when rain is comming. Now "Camaros" advise is very good! he's one of the best techs on here! please take that under consideration when you purchase the tires! "JoeSmith" was giving you accurate, raw numbers, on both tire specs, and he's right as well. With that being said, just keep it safe on the streets, but bring hell on the track! Ok, I'm finished running off at the mouth....

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84 Modified F-body
"Skinnin' season is just a phone call away!"

[Old School]

Thanks very much for the imput guys. My decision was to use ET's on the track and street, and DR's on the cruiseing nights. As far as the rain, I rarely drive my car when it is raining. No fun to me then, plus it would suck if some idot were to hit me becasue they don't know how to drive in rain.

Michael

[CamaroNOTcamero]

Wow, thanks blackvi, appreciate the compliment.
My only concern is that one day you guys might get caught in the rain, it happens, you might drive somewhere in the sun, and then before you know it you get back out to the car and its raining. If your on regular radials you can creep home and be ok, without too much worry, but ET streets and drag radials dont have much of a tread at all, so if you do get caught just wait until it stops if you can, or wait for a little while. The oils and grime on the road tend to partly wash off after about 10 minutes or so, and after that it gets ~Less~ dangerous.

If i had a choice between the two i'd definetly go for the ET streets, becuase of the wrinkle wall, and no tread pattern, and the fact that it's not a radial, radials have a stiff sidwewall and wont bite as much. I doubt the ET streets will last long at all though, especially if your going to be gassing it alot. I think you may get pulled over alot with them and have to do alot of explaining to officers who think you're driving on drag slicks (they arent smart enough to know the "street" means they're DOT approved).