Traction compound
- Thread starter Ron_r1959
- Start date
Kube
Super Moderator
bleach
oldandtired
Well-known member
Ron 1959...It sounds like a potentially expensive undertaking. 60 years ago, we used bleach like Kube suggests and often reduced the tire pressure in the rear tires a bit to get more traction if doing a friendly street race with typical stock vehicles. Not much weight in the back of a pickup for traction and with a pickup you can't hide several flywheels under the spare like you can in a car trunk. Gcmac makes a good suggestion. Get a spare differential and ******. Put them in the bed of the pickup to help with traction during the race, and you will have better traction and no need to go find parts after the race. If the guy you are racing says anything, just tell him that you can beat him even with a load in your pickup.
It’s not the good old days when trannys were $5.-$10 and complete rears were $20 and there was a service station on every corner that could help switch them out . But back then any guy worth his tools and was 20 or younger could do it blindfolded , with some beer and buddies.
Lanny
Well-known member
Bleach is a corrosive chemical that reacts with a tire's rubber polymers, causing dry rot, brittleness, and cracking, leading to accelerated deterioration and potential safety issues. While some old-school theories suggested it could make tires stickier and better for burnouts by softening the surface, scientific testing indicates it primarily damages the rubber, making it less effective. Using bleach on tires is not recommended and should be avoided...
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Kube
Super Moderator
I agree with you. However, when running a car down a 1/4-mile, tire longevity is not a serious consideration. In fact, it's not considered at all.