Drag Racing Slicks

Drag Racing Slicks

Drag racing slicks are purpose-built rear tires designed to maximize traction at the starting line and through the full length of the quarter mile. Bias-ply and radial drag slick compounds use heat-activated sticky rubber that generates maximum grip on prepared drag strip surfaces under hard acceleration.

Popular Drag Slick Types

Popular drag slick categories include bias-ply slicks for traditional bracket racing applications offering a large contact patch and excellent compliance under launch load, radial drag slicks that provide improved high-speed stability and are preferred in high-horsepower applications, ET Drag slicks for street-strip dual-purpose use in DOT-approved compounds, and Pro Street radial tires that meet DOT requirements while delivering drag-focused compound performance for high-powered street cars.

What size drag slick do I need?

Drag slick sizing depends on the vehicle's wheel well clearance, the desired contact patch width, and class rules if racing in a sanctioned category. Common sizes range from 26x10-15 for lighter street-strip cars up to 33x22.5-15 for doorslammer and pro-class vehicles. Measuring available clearance at the rear wheel well with the suspension at full droop is essential before selecting a slick size. Slick diameter also affects launch RPM calculations for clutch and converter tuning.

Can drag slicks be used on the street?

Non-DOT bias-ply drag slicks are not street legal and must be trailered to and from the track. DOT-approved ET Drag and Pro Street radial tires are technically street legal but generate very little wet traction and are not safe for use in wet conditions. Most drag slick-equipped vehicles are dedicated track cars transported on a trailer, with the slicks swapped for street tires only for necessary short moves in the pit area.

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