Drag Racing Tires

Tires are essential parts of any race car. They're what connect the car and driver to the ground. Consequently, they can make or break the performance of your car. Drag tires, nicknamed slicks, are tread-less tires designed to maximize surface area in contact with the ground to achieve maximum traction. Because they have these kind of tires on them, drag cars are able to accelerate quickly down a straight track with minimal spinning of the tires.

Tires are the meat and potatoes of any car, however the stock rear tires on most cars are generally not good for drag racing because they have tread carved into the surface which makes it harder to put power down. Drag racing tires are usually made without any curves or grooves etched into its rubber, making the tread as smooth as possible so that it will maximize the surface area on the car’s tires and transfers power effectively from the engine to the road.

Compared to other tire applications, a lower pressure is applied to drag car tires before the car is launched in order to compress the sidewalls so that they wrinkle up. The compression of the tire means that final-drive ratio of the car is shortened for a better launch. The "squat" produced spreads out the tread at the front of the contact patch, increasing it's area. As the drag car speeds up, the drag tire grows in diameter which narrows the contact patch. As this happens, the final-drive ratio grows and rolling resistance is reduced, increasing your top speed.

It has been said that drag racing isn’t so much about speed as it is about acceleration. That’s why drag tire compounds must be designed to allow for the correct amount of tire spin on launch without tearing up the tires during a pass. Drag slick tires have a rubber compound that helps put power to the ground. The right tire compounds will allow your car to reach its maximum performance. Drag racing tires have different rubber compounds based on how the tires are going to be used. Track prep and car tire weight affect a tire's compound performance.

Drag tires are designed with lots of rubber but with a very soft compound. Compounds are ingredients that go into the recipe for tires. Tires are made out of different stuff, just like cakes are made out of different stuff (for example chocolate cake vs. carrot cake). Tire compounding is a way to make tires more suited to drag racing, by mixing different amounts of various ingredients.

If you want to compete at the highest level of drag racing, you’re going to need a good set of drag tires. We carry a wide variety of drag race tires that can help you set records and win races. If you’re just setting out in competition, or if you want to advance in the sport of drag racing, we have some of the best tires for every type of drag car. If you’re looking for the best drag tires, we have a wide selection, and we proudly support racers from the grassroots all the way to the big leagues. No one knows more about drag racing slicks than us. We’ve been supporting racers since 1952, and we’re proud to support them in all levels of the sport.

As partners in your passion, the experts at Speedway Motors have handpicked the best drag tires for sale today. As a leading drag race tire dealer in the industry, we carry the foremost drag race tires from legendary brands, as well as innovative drag radial tires from emerging manufacturers. Numerous styles and sizes are available, covering most drag racing classes, including 13 inch, 15 inch, 16 inch, 17 inch, and 18 inch drag racing tire sizes. There's no need to tirelessly search the Internet for where to buy drag tires near me. With fast shipping options available, you'll have a new set in just a few days. Count on drag slicks for sale from Speedway Motors to deliver on our promise of high quality at an affordable price.

Since 1952, Speedway Motors has helped auto enthusiasts and racers to build their best cars and live their best moments. Whether you need information on drag tire sizes for your race car or how to identify which drag slicks are street legal, we are on your team to make it happen. What’s more, every drag tire for sale is backed by 3 generations of automotive knowledge to help you build it right the first time. Our service before and after the sale is second to none, so there's no need to look elsewhere for information on drag radial tires. If you have questions about how drag slicks work, discover more in The Toolbox or call/email/chat us.