If you’ve been paying attention to drag-and-drive events you might have noticed many of the racers using some interesting wheel and tire combinations when they’re driving on the street. The rear tires look like what you’d see on a pickup truck, versus a vehicle that can run an impressive elapsed time. The use of all-terrain tires at drag-and-drive events is a trick racers have discovered that makes driving on the street easier.

Any tire can be a street tire if you’re brave enough, but that doesn’t necessarily make the most sense. Drag-and-drive events are rain or shine, and there have been more than a few instances where competitors have had to deal with inclement weather. The wrong set of tires in bad conditions can make driving a high-horsepower car all but impossible.

The solution to this issue for many racers was simple: switch to an all-terrain type tire for the mandatory drive between tracks. There are plenty of racers that could make this switch easily thanks to readily available wheel and tire packages for their vehicles. Racers who are running on bigger wheel and tire packages weren’t so lucky, so they had to get creative.

Chad Spicer is a drag-and-drive racer who has competed in numerous events, including Sick Week 2022. Spicer explains why many racers like are making the move to all-terrain tires for the street.

“We run a 33x12x15 tire on the truck for the cruise between tracks. The taller tire helps to kill the gear ratio so the engine doesn’t have to spin at such a high RPM. This allows us to cruise at freeway speeds easier without being hard on the engine. The all-terrain tires make it safer to drive in the rain and on wet roads, as well. These tires also last a lot longer than a racing tire on the streets would,” Spicer says.

Companies like Mickey Thompson offer all-terrain tires drag-and-drive racers can use in multiple sizes. This means that racers not only have more options for tires but the tires can also be found easier when they’re on the road and encounter an issue. Sick Week 2022 featured a Mickey Thompson support trailer that offered tires to racers to help keep them on the road during the event.

Drag-and-drive events continue to grow in popularity, so it makes sense to see this type of evolution take place. Racers are willing to try anything that will give them an edge and increase their chances of winning, even if it does look a little different.