How much horsepower can 10" slicks handle?
 

I have 28x10.5x15 inch slicks on my 84 GT. I am building a new motor this winter and I want more power but I don't want to spin the tires down the track either. By launching my car around 5000 rpm how much power can I get without smoking the tires all the time? I don't have the extra money to tub the car, but I don't want to overpower the tires.

With the proper suspention you will not over power the tires. What are you building?

I'm hitting them with close to 600hp, 6200 stall converter on a 2900lb car going 10.5's at 130mph on a 1.44 60'. If you look at my driveshaft data, there's not a bit of wheel spin off the line when the track is prepped well. I'd say your in good shape up to about 750hp with the 10" tire.

One of my friend's run NMRA EFI Renegade and runs low 9's/high 8's on the same tire and can spin them a LITTLE bit, needless to say, you're not going to need to upgrade your tires, they can take the power plus more. ~Brian

that tire is good for 9's maybe faster with the proper suspension..


suspension shouldnt be overlooked..

What is considered proper suspension for a 10 inch tire setup?

Proper? ....look into either Wolfe Racecraft, TRZ, or UPR's rear drag suspension package. Other than that, a quality set of adj. shocks will take care of the rear. A tubular K-member, A-arms, and coil-overs will get you pointed in the right direction for the front.

The NMRA SSO cars are limited to 28x10.5 slicks... they typically run in the high 7 - low 8 sec. range w/ a ladder bar suspension. :)

With an efficient, stock-type suspension, you can dip into the mid 8's. FFW Renegade cars are doing it...

Looks to me like you can put down well over 1000HP+ with those little tires. :D ....just depends on how crazy you are. The 28x10.5 Outlaw cars tend to get out of shape on the big end, sometimes.

FWIW, NMRA Real Street cars make great power and put it down with 26x10's ....they just recently entered the 9 sec. realm, going 9.90's (and one 9.7x pass that I know of).

I was putting (at one time) 815hp to a set of 28x10's with a Wolfe rear sway, 90/10 front and 50/50 rears. Subframe connectors and welding in the torque boxes also. I E.T.'d 9.50's