Thinking about ET Streets...........
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,844
Likes: 99
From: Orrtanna Pa.
Thinking about ET Streets...........
I am toying with the idea of trying a set of MT ET Streets on the 80, and am once again faced with the ever present question of....Is it really worth it.
I currently run Kelly P295 50 15's on 9" wide rims, which do OK, but no real traction when the hammer goes down. I like the fit. They do not stick out too far past the fender, have never rubbed, and don't handle too bad for cheap tires.
The Kelly tires have a section width of almost 12", a tread width of 10, and a height of 26.7".
What tire size would you guys pick for a close match, yet not require rim change? Would a P275 60 15 be worth a shot as far as any traction gain?
I currently run Kelly P295 50 15's on 9" wide rims, which do OK, but no real traction when the hammer goes down. I like the fit. They do not stick out too far past the fender, have never rubbed, and don't handle too bad for cheap tires.
The Kelly tires have a section width of almost 12", a tread width of 10, and a height of 26.7".
What tire size would you guys pick for a close match, yet not require rim change? Would a P275 60 15 be worth a shot as far as any traction gain?
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,993
Likes: 1,136
From: League City Tx
IF you are gonna be driving the car on the street a lot, I would go with the ET Street radials.....they will handle better, be more stable and still hook good......Keep in mind they will wear out in no time driving them on the street.....2-3k miles will probably be all you get. The regular ET Streets(the bias plys) hook well but tend to be a little squirrely in normal driving. Either way, I hope you have good rear end parts.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,659
Likes: 7
From: Katy (Houston) TX
CI 7-8 Veteran
I've got 275/60/15 Nitto Drag Radials and they are decent on the street but you've got to really watch it when any moisture is on the road. They heat up pretty quick just driving around so they get pretty sticky and hold pretty well when driving around. No experience though with MT's. Another thing, the 275/60 is pretty tall. Here's a pic of mine although I have my spring setup pretty tall.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 258
Likes: 1
From: Memphis TN
I've got 275/60/15 Nitto Drag Radials and they are decent on the street but you've got to really watch it when any moisture is on the road. They heat up pretty quick just driving around so they get pretty sticky and hold pretty well when driving around. No experience though with MT's. Another thing, the 275/60 is pretty tall. Here's a pic of mine although I have my spring setup pretty tall.
BTW, your car is beautiful.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,540
Likes: 51
From: Lexington Park Maryland
IF you are gonna be driving the car on the street a lot, I would go with the ET Street radials.....they will handle better, be more stable and still hook good......Keep in mind they will wear out in no time driving them on the street.....2-3k miles will probably be all you get. The regular ET Streets(the bias plys) hook well but tend to be a little squirrely in normal driving. Either way, I hope you have good rear end parts.
especially regarding "good rear end parts" !! Remember....., The car is only as strong as it's weakest link. When those tires stick to the pavement your u-joints et al. will be more stressed than they've ever been before.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 11,096
Likes: 990
From: Sierra Foothills CA
I've got 275/60/15 Nitto Drag Radials and they are decent on the street but you've got to really watch it when any moisture is on the road. They heat up pretty quick just driving around so they get pretty sticky and hold pretty well when driving around. No experience though with MT's. Another thing, the 275/60 is pretty tall. Here's a pic of mine although I have my spring setup pretty tall.
Now, if they're cold I can break the Nittos loose on a roll in first gear but they gain grip almost immediately and stay hooked in second gear. If I put my mind to it I can still definitely do a burnout but at least I do it by choice now. I enjoy driving the car so much more now that I can drop the hammer w/o pitching the car sideways every time. If you keep tire pressure up to 32 lbs. there isn't much sidewall flex in the turns. At lower pressures you can feel the rear of the car want to bounce slightly over bumps and dips because it has some give in it. The tire is tall, as mentioned, but mine doesn't have quite as much clearance between the fender lip and top of the tire as T-short's does. They will give your car a bit of a nose down attitude as you can see in his pic.
I chose the Nitto because, at the time, it was getting much better reviews for overall handling, with roughly equal ratings for straight line traction vs. other brands. It is a nice, sticky tire and I've been very happy with it. I've never driven it on wet pavement and have no plans to do so.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 10,042
Likes: 674
From: FL
Do a google for Avon CR6ZZ. They are a DOT legal soft racing tire. Cobra guys seem to love them.
Here is an excerpt from a Cobra board:
http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/showthread.php?t=79567
Here is an excerpt from a Cobra board:
That would be me.
I have my second set of Avons in the garage ready to mount as soon as the weather turns (probably late March). I have right at 6000 miles on the first set and they are pretty much ready to be put out to pasture. I competed at Run-n-Gun on these tires (took first place in big block street - Road Course, second place - Autocross, second place - drag race). I also participated in four days worth of open track events at VIR and have 2 dozen or more 1/4 mile passes on them. My street driving style could be described as "spirited".
I put around 30,000 mile worth of street and track wear on Yoko Avids before switching to the Avons. There is absolutely no comparison between these two tires. The Avids are a great value highway cruising tire. That's about all I can say good about the Avids when comparing them to the Avons.
I expect that one could get around 10k miles out of a set of Avons if they drove only on the street, but I'm not sure that they would be worth the extra $$ if the car isn't pushed towards it's limits occassionally. On the street the car handles like a true performance vehicle instead of like a 60s muscle car.
At the track the Avons come within a hair of keeping up with full on racing slicks. They are not cheap, but in terms of grins, they are worth every penny. I'd say the performance difference is similar to giving your engine a nice extra 50/75 hp jolt. There's my .02.
Be safe and have fun.
-steve
I have my second set of Avons in the garage ready to mount as soon as the weather turns (probably late March). I have right at 6000 miles on the first set and they are pretty much ready to be put out to pasture. I competed at Run-n-Gun on these tires (took first place in big block street - Road Course, second place - Autocross, second place - drag race). I also participated in four days worth of open track events at VIR and have 2 dozen or more 1/4 mile passes on them. My street driving style could be described as "spirited".
I put around 30,000 mile worth of street and track wear on Yoko Avids before switching to the Avons. There is absolutely no comparison between these two tires. The Avids are a great value highway cruising tire. That's about all I can say good about the Avids when comparing them to the Avons.
I expect that one could get around 10k miles out of a set of Avons if they drove only on the street, but I'm not sure that they would be worth the extra $$ if the car isn't pushed towards it's limits occassionally. On the street the car handles like a true performance vehicle instead of like a 60s muscle car.
At the track the Avons come within a hair of keeping up with full on racing slicks. They are not cheap, but in terms of grins, they are worth every penny. I'd say the performance difference is similar to giving your engine a nice extra 50/75 hp jolt. There's my .02.
Be safe and have fun.
-steve
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 861
Likes: 0
From: WNY
Just be prepared to change them pretty regularly.. and if you drive ANYWHERE but on nice smooth pavement, be prepared. They pick up any and everything you can imagine when hot..
I had a few different pairs of drag radials on my last Mustang.. I used BFG's most the time when I was dragging it, but when I started going on Hallett more often (road course) I found some good cheap ones.. Look into the Sumitomo HTR Z's.. they are a little harder compound but still get nice and tacky if you spin them good. Not the best for anyone thing but good for an all around car, and you can't be the price.. well.. at least not for the 17's not so sure about in a 15"..
I had a few different pairs of drag radials on my last Mustang.. I used BFG's most the time when I was dragging it, but when I started going on Hallett more often (road course) I found some good cheap ones.. Look into the Sumitomo HTR Z's.. they are a little harder compound but still get nice and tacky if you spin them good. Not the best for anyone thing but good for an all around car, and you can't be the price.. well.. at least not for the 17's not so sure about in a 15"..
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,844
Likes: 99
From: Orrtanna Pa.
I'm really not into drag racing anyway, but definately want to control that rear drift when I hit second gear hard.......... Any thoughts on the MT SR radial? The 28x12R looks to be a perfect fit. Not sure I like the flame tread pattern though.
The question I guess that should be answered is the ET SR series has the R-2 compound, so even if the tires a bit smaller, it may in fact hook harder,...........that is on dry roads.
Here's a shot of the P 295 50's. I don't think I can get away with much wider, and still keep everything under the fender.
On the car
The question I guess that should be answered is the ET SR series has the R-2 compound, so even if the tires a bit smaller, it may in fact hook harder,...........that is on dry roads.
Here's a shot of the P 295 50's. I don't think I can get away with much wider, and still keep everything under the fender.
On the car
Last edited by The Money Pit; Feb 17, 2009 at 06:21 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,993
Likes: 1,136
From: League City Tx
For what you want, I would try the Nitto Nt555r. They hook decent and give decent mileage.....best of all, they don't handle THAT bad....I mean a regular street radial is more stable but for a drag type tire, the Nittos are a good street compromise. I run the 315/35/17s on my 99 Trans Am.....They hook well from a 15 mph roll(390rwhp & 6spd, 3.70 gears) and I get 10k miles out of a set with 2-3 trips to the track.... I gave up on really trying to drag race with them...they will spin from a dig. I have ET Street 26x10.5s on a set of stock wheels for serious drag racing.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,209
Likes: 12
From: Montgomery Alabama
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
I am looking into a set of drag tires for my 72, so I can twist the half shafts, and wasn't sure if the 27 x 10.5's would fit in the wheel wells with the stock control arms and e-brake cables.
Are you running these on the stock wheels, ro a drag light wheel? If so, what is the offset or back spacing?
Thanks,
Racer
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 258
Likes: 1
From: Memphis TN
I am looking into a set of drag tires for my 72, so I can twist the half shafts, and wasn't sure if the 27 x 10.5's would fit in the wheel wells with the stock control arms and e-brake cables.
Are you running these on the stock wheels, ro a drag light wheel? If so, what is the offset or back spacing?
Thanks,
Are you running these on the stock wheels, ro a drag light wheel? If so, what is the offset or back spacing?
Thanks,
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,209
Likes: 12
From: Montgomery Alabama
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
Thanks. My 72 with the zz454 motor makes a little over 600 ft pounds of torque, so I don't know what kind of damage the brand new BFG Radial T/A's will sustain on Sunday, when I let loose on the clutch.
The E/T's I was looking at were the 27x9.0, but I won't waste my $300 on those, since I now know that the 27x10.5 tires will fit, and give me a lot more contact area.
I need to master the clutch first
All I have ever run on the track were automatics. This is my first 4-speed with any kind of power.
The E/T's I was looking at were the 27x9.0, but I won't waste my $300 on those, since I now know that the 27x10.5 tires will fit, and give me a lot more contact area.
I need to master the clutch first
All I have ever run on the track were automatics. This is my first 4-speed with any kind of power.