Slicks on the Street

Black968 · 03-31-2006, 04:46 PM

Has anyone had any experience running slicks on the street? Experiences with slicks and the police? Just thought it would be kind of cool because it is forbidden.

Cheers

Wil Ferch · 03-31-2006, 05:12 PM

Real cool getting caught in a downpour and trying to brake , too ....

- Wil

Zeke · 03-31-2006, 05:30 PM

Not a brilliant idea. Wet spots, oil, etc. could get you in a world of trouble. I don't know about your police, but ours are so busy, they would have to have their heads stuck under the car to notice, unless they already had you pulled over. At that, they might not allow you to continue.

Not to mention the awful ride...

HawgRyder · HawgRyder's Garage

I tried it once....on my 67 Fairlane.
Went to the A&W to impress the women.
The lot was wet because they had washed it down.
Could not get over the speed bump!!
They had to push me.
Slicks on the street....very bad idea....also embarrassing.
Bob

Mad Mike · 03-31-2006, 06:13 PM

I just switched my street tires for race tires today. And since I just had my new sway bars installed, needed to test the car.

First thing I noticed was the car was picking up all the cracks and grooves on the road. Street tires didn't do that in the least. Then after a few warm up back and forths hit a deserted turn with a little speed and, no joke, scared myself. The car performed fantastic. Followed up with the brakes and then into traffic.

I took my old car through MVD in Arizona with an old set of half worn Michelin Pilot Sport Cups. That set the inspectors into a frenzy. I had 7 inspectors looking at my car, that also had a race seat...complied with everything and sent me on my way.

I don't recommend slicks on the street, but sometime you might want to chalk it up to been there done that.

Cheers,

Mike

dad911 · 03-31-2006, 06:58 PM

Slick also don't work when cold. You will get more stick with street tires.

vntgspd · 03-31-2006, 07:11 PM

Don't forget that slicks also tend to be much more prone to puncture.

ted · ted's Garage

Slicks have a warning on the side wall..NOT FOR HIGHWAY USE.
Just buff off the NOT before you hit the highway.

Why would you want to drive with slicks on the street,?
They would never get up to temperature and when cold on the street would likely have less grip than street tires.

Kevin Stewart · 03-31-2006, 09:14 PM

in reality dot states that your tires have to have more then 2/32 tread

Jack Olsen · 03-31-2006, 11:49 PM

I can think of ways to tear up $100 bills that are a lot more fun.

Dantilla · 04-01-2006, 05:48 AM

Sticky tires will pick up any junk laying in the road and throw it at your paint.

I took the 911 out for a few minutes the other day with Hoosiers on the back, and they are now covered in pine needles.

PorscheGuy79 · PorscheGuy79's Garage

Some of you are really over exaggerating the situation here. My father drove his Hoosiers 1.5hours to Blackhawk when I wasn't available to throw them on the top of my car. He had no problems, and though they are not ideal, they arnt as bad as most would make it seem. It even rained a bit when he was on route, towards the end of the day, and he said as long as you were paying attention there was nothing to worry about as far as braking zones or spinning. I wouldn't recommend it, but if you are really in a pinch and its not gonna rain...

BTW You are not really doing any damage/real wear to the tire because on the street, just driving along, you cant get the tires up to operating temps so they stay pretty cold and hard.

Dantilla · 04-01-2006, 08:31 AM

In a quick emergency type setting, you do what you've got to do.

I wanted to check for leaks after an oil change, so I drove for five or ten minutes and put it back into the garage.

But to drive on slicks just because it's cool is probably not wise.

ted · ted's Garage

We all know the difference between slicks and DOT R rated Hoosiers, right?

True slicks are not legal on the road.
If, if something were to happen with race slicks your insurance may be voided, your liability and exposure certainly increased.

Driving DOT R rated street legal tires on the street is not uncommon.
I'd say cold, which means basic street driving my guess is that the Hoosiers or most DOT R rated tires would still have more grip than real slicks.

I had R rated Vicotracers on a 4 hour street drive. For 15 minutes on some 2nd and 3rd gear switchbacks they got enough heat in them to be better than street tires, but for the other 3.75 hours they had less grip than street tires.

I have driven my car with Pagid Orange brake pads on the street.
During a long cool freeway drive my brakes are cold and worthless.

At any rate imho what works best at the track when at operating temperature in turn becomes a compromise on the street.

I don't mind doing the above, just don't expect improved street performance.

PorscheGuy79 · PorscheGuy79's Garage

They were straight up slicks, not Rs, but you are very right about that fact.

Yes, I was refering to just getting slicks to the race track, I deffinatly do not recommend long term street use, or any performance street use for that matter. If was refering to the fact that they are just something to roll on to get to the track.

wastintime · 04-01-2006, 10:35 AM

One of my bosses got to scrub a set of slicks that were going to be exported to Canada, don't ask me why, but they had to be "used" He put the wheels on his turbo, and made 1 lap on the interstate (1 mile maybe) he took one on ramp and one off ramp then pulled right back in the shop. I'm sure it was fun, but probably not the smartest thing to do.

Matthew, that is the greatest quote ever