Quarter-Mile ET Predictor Calculator
Elapsed time from weight and horsepower.
Inputs
Results
Quarter-mile ET (sec)
13.54
Trap speed (mph)
100.7
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter Vehicle weight (lbs), Flywheel HP, and Drivetrain loss (%).
- Set Tire type (0=street, 1=slick).
- Review Quarter-mile ET (sec) and Trap speed (mph).
- Use 60-ft time (sec) and Est. 0-60 mph (sec) to inform your decision.
How the result changes with Flywheel HP
| Flywheel HP | Quarter-mile ET (sec) | Trap speed (mph) |
|---|---|---|
| 545 | 11.09 | 122.9 |
| 1,783 | 7.47 | 182.4 |
| 3,268 | 6.11 | 223.2 |
| 4,505 | 5.49 | 248.4 |
What each input means
- Vehicle weight (lbs)
- Total vehicle weight including driver (curb weight + ~170 lbs).
- Flywheel HP
- Flywheel (crank) horsepower as rated by the manufacturer or measured on an engine dyno.
- Drivetrain loss (%)
- Typical losses: 15% manual, 18% automatic, 10% direct drive / EV.
- Tire type (0=street, 1=slick)
- Street tires have higher 60-ft times; drag slicks improve launch.
What each result means
- Quarter-mile ET (sec)
- Predicted elapsed time using ET = 5.825 × (W/WHP)^(1/3).
- Trap speed (mph)
- Estimated speed at the end of the quarter mile.
- 60-ft time (sec)
- Estimated 60-foot launch time based on tire type.
- Est. 0-60 mph (sec)
- Rough 0-60 estimate from quarter-mile ET.
- 1/8-mile ET (sec)
- Eighth-mile elapsed time (ET × 0.632).
- 1/8-mile speed (mph)
- Estimated speed at the 1/8-mile mark.
- Wheel HP
- Horsepower at the wheels after drivetrain loss.
- Lbs per WHP
- Weight-to-power ratio used in the calculation.
How this is calculated
Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input Parameters4 parametersVehicle weight (lbs) = 3200, Flywheel HP = 300, Drivetrain loss (%) = 15, Tire type (0=street, 1=slick) = 0 = 4 input(s) provided
- Calculate Quarter-mile ETQuarter-mile ET = 5.825 * pow(wpr, 1 / 3)13.536 = 13.536
- Calculate Trap speedTrap speed = 234 / pow(wpr, 1 / 3)100.7 = 100.7
- Calculate 60-ft time60-ft time = etSeconds * sixtyFootFactor2.058 = 2.058
- Calculate Est. 0-60 mphEst. 0-60 mph = etSeconds * 0.476.36 = 6.36
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