what's the difference between drag radials, street radials, racing slicks, all seasons? why are some illegal?

[Lifer]

...other than the obvious application. is it the tread design? composition?
what makes one better, or more applicable, than the other?

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Drag tires and racing slicks are softer, stickier compound. Drag radials seem to have treads sometimes though. All seasons suck. Don't get them. I don't know what makes them all season besides the tread design but why compromise when you don't have to? I strongly believe that everyone who lives in a place without snow should be using summer tires year round.

 

[Lifer]

what makes certain tires NOT street legal?
the ones without tread for wet weather?

 

[Nocturnal]

Slicks are also bald there is no thread at all.

 

[Howard]

Slicks have no wet traction.

 

[boyRacer]

ive seen 1 or 2 cars on the road with slicks. boy are they screwed if a cop notices or if it starts raining.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Last I checked the local laws (Canada), having slicks on your car anywhere outside a registered racetrack gets you three demerits, a $600 fine, loss of said rubber, and an impounded car. :Q

- M4H

 

[Triumph]

slicks on the street leave too much rubber on the concrete. rubber on the road is hazardous in the rain.

 

[boyRacer]

Originally posted by: Triumph
slicks on the street leave too much rubber on the concrete. rubber on the road is hazardous in the rain.

i don't think thats the reason really... a car with slicks has a greater chance of aquaplaning on a wet surface which means he's/she's a hazard to those around him.

 

[slikmunks]

Originally posted by: boyRacer

Originally posted by: Triumph
slicks on the street leave too much rubber on the concrete. rubber on the road is hazardous in the rain.

i don't think thats the reason really... a car with slicks has a greater chance of aquaplaning on a wet surface which means he's/she's a hazard to those around him.

nailed it.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Triumph
slicks on the street leave too much rubber on the concrete. rubber on the road is hazardous in the rain.

not exactly true....the more rubber on the road the better, unfortunately with a slick you have no rubber on the road when water gets beneath them.

You have two types of race tires, DOT approved and race only.

Now a DOT tire has to go through a bunch of tests....things like separation, temperature, etc....non-DOT tires are illegal in the US for road use.

race tires don't have to be tested, but some are tested more strictly than street tires are by the DOT.

A drag radial is usually a street-legal and treaded tire of softer compound than normal, many are mostly slick with just a little tread on the outside for water to tunnel out. These are designed to get you to and from the track without a trailer, but not meant for daily use.

A street radial is a normal tire.....some are 'stickier' than others.

A racing slick is a smooth tire of a very soft compound....many times a slick can create enough traction to break driveline components with driver error.

All season tires are tires that can handle snow (many think all-season is for rain, but that is not the case).

 

[slikmunks]

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis
Drag tires and racing slicks are softer, stickier compound. Drag radials seem to have treads sometimes though. All seasons suck. Don't get them. I don't know what makes them all season besides the tread design but why compromise when you don't have to? I strongly believe that everyone who lives in a place without snow should be using summer tires year round.

that's me.... falken azenis sports baby... cheap, great handling, look badass