18" Drag radials
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
18" Drag radials
Looking for a better tire to hook up with. I want to run these all the time. Not worried about wet performance or how many miles I get from them. Looking for a good tire with good traction that will handle well also in the twisties. I have driven a set of the Nitto 555 drag radials and liked them a lot. What else have you guys run that works. I have 18X10 rear rims and was looking in the 275-285 width 35 or 40 series tires. No slicks looking for DOT tires
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,672
Likes: 199
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
I guess we might have to go to the C5-C6 guys, 18's haven't been around long enough in our generation, not even sure if anyone is running an 18" drag radial on their C3 yet. My 18 inch ZR rated Ultra High Performance street tires hook pretty good around the 660 ft mark 
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
I have been looking around and searching the C5 and C6 forum. Lots of guys are running ultra high performance rubber on their cars. Not to much talk of them running DR all the time. Maybe that is not a good idea but a DOT race tire with very soft compound.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 703
Likes: 2
I'm also looking for something but in a 16".. Something that hooks hard on both the street and strip but will give me a little life on street as well.. I curently have BFG 295/50-16's but with the new 4.11 I just installed, I cant keep from busting them lose and getting sideways even from a roll.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,242
Likes: 12
From: Kalispell MT
Hey Gordon,
I found the article I read recently on the Nitto NT05. If you can find a copy of the August 2010 Chevy High Performance there is a real good article on them installed and tested on a C5 Vette. They were rated very well. The link below carries part of the article.
http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/te...res/index.html
Let us know what you decide to use and how you like them.
I found the article I read recently on the Nitto NT05. If you can find a copy of the August 2010 Chevy High Performance there is a real good article on them installed and tested on a C5 Vette. They were rated very well. The link below carries part of the article.
http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/te...res/index.html
Let us know what you decide to use and how you like them.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,961
Likes: 573
From: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
I'm with you on this one Gordon. I never drive in the wet and it never freezes here. I'm looking in the 295-315 range. I have an autocross event this weekend, so I'm just about finished with these 295-35/18s. The C5 guys do prolly have the best info.
Bee Jay
Bee Jay
Last edited by Bee Jay; Jul 7, 2010 at 01:06 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,993
Likes: 1,136
From: League City Tx
Gordon check these out...
http://www.mickeythompsontires.com/s...StreetRadialII
I havent used them, I use the regular ET Street radials. But I have seen these used locally on some big hp C6s....
http://www.mickeythompsontires.com/s...StreetRadialII
I havent used them, I use the regular ET Street radials. But I have seen these used locally on some big hp C6s....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,659
Likes: 7
From: Katy (Houston) TX
CI 7-8 Veteran
I'm curious as well. I've been considering switching from my 15" setup to something like 18's with drag radials. I'm curious what are the best (or good enough) tires, how they perform, and what sizes can we fit under the rear with the stock trailing arms, stock spring width, and stock fenders.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Looks like I'm not able to have my cake and eat it also. You have to decide what you are going to do with the car. There are sticky road race tires and there are sticky drag race tires in a DOT tire. Have to decide which is going to be a better choice. Seeing I will probably only run at the strip once or twice a season the sticky road race tire will probably be a better choice for me. If you do more drag racing than a dedicated drag radial would be the choice. Stiffer sidewalls are not for drag racing but are good for handling. Actually for drag racing a 15" or 16" rim/tire combo would be a better deal. You would get better sidewall flex. Running an 18" tire the sidewall is pretty small. So a sticky road race tire might be a better choice for my car. Now which one of those to get. 
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,961
Likes: 573
From: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
Gordon check these out...
http://www.mickeythompsontires.com/s...StreetRadialII
I havent used them, I use the regular ET Street radials. But I have seen these used locally on some big hp C6s....
http://www.mickeythompsontires.com/s...StreetRadialII
I havent used them, I use the regular ET Street radials. But I have seen these used locally on some big hp C6s....
Bee Jay
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,242
Likes: 12
From: Kalispell MT
I'll give you another link to the NT05. They are available up to 45 sidwall in an 18".
http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/wheels...ag-radial.html
http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/wheels...ag-radial.html
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,090
Likes: 74
From: New Carlisle IN
Looks like I'm not able to have my cake and eat it also. You have to decide what you are going to do with the car. There are sticky road race tires and there are sticky drag race tires in a DOT tire. Have to decide which is going to be a better choice. Seeing I will probably only run at the strip once or twice a season the sticky road race tire will probably be a better choice for me. If you do more drag racing than a dedicated drag radial would be the choice. Stiffer sidewalls are not for drag racing but are good for handling. Actually for drag racing a 15" or 16" rim/tire combo would be a better deal. You would get better sidewall flex. Running an 18" tire the sidewall is pretty small. So a sticky road race tire might be a better choice for my car. Now which one of those to get.
I have heard the Nitto 555 RII are the same compund as on the regular 555s but have a stiffer side wall for road racing.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
That is what I was looking at. The Kumhos I have are decent tires for the money but are severly limited on traction for acceleration. Probably a little hard by now also.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,951
Likes: 1
From: Shore NJ
Looks like I'm not able to have my cake and eat it also. You have to decide what you are going to do with the car. There are sticky road race tires and there are sticky drag race tires in a DOT tire. Have to decide which is going to be a better choice. Seeing I will probably only run at the strip once or twice a season the sticky road race tire will probably be a better choice for me. If you do more drag racing than a dedicated drag radial would be the choice. Stiffer sidewalls are not for drag racing but are good for handling. Actually for drag racing a 15" or 16" rim/tire combo would be a better deal. You would get better sidewall flex. Running an 18" tire the sidewall is pretty small. So a sticky road race tire might be a better choice for my car. Now which one of those to get.
here we go again.....
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,798
Likes: 12
From: Southeastern VA
Gordon,
Now that I have had the Nitto 555R's on mine for a while, I really like them!! They actually handle very well on the street inflated to a proper psi.....and hook like your getting shot out with a slingshot when properly launching the car when at the lower psi! I found "street" tires to be hopeless under hard throttle, even in third gear at 90-100mph...the 555R's keep it hooked and aiming in the right direction, even under full coal runs! The key with this style tire is the tire pressure. I'm running 26-28 for normal street cruising and knock them back to 18-22 for "driving". As for wet surfaces….no complaints, been on wet roads but no conditions when standing water could cause hydroplaning. Heck, we ran them on the Toys for Tots run at good speed on damp/wet roads!!
I would love to see how they would do on an auto-X track, I would think they would give you great adhesion under throttle coming out of the turns and with a 18" rim, the side wall is still very controllable. I have found the DR to be best rear tire for a car that has the kind of power your car is putting down and for the primary use of your car. Bottom line.......If your racing, buy race tires!!
R/
Jeff
Now that I have had the Nitto 555R's on mine for a while, I really like them!! They actually handle very well on the street inflated to a proper psi.....and hook like your getting shot out with a slingshot when properly launching the car when at the lower psi! I found "street" tires to be hopeless under hard throttle, even in third gear at 90-100mph...the 555R's keep it hooked and aiming in the right direction, even under full coal runs! The key with this style tire is the tire pressure. I'm running 26-28 for normal street cruising and knock them back to 18-22 for "driving". As for wet surfaces….no complaints, been on wet roads but no conditions when standing water could cause hydroplaning. Heck, we ran them on the Toys for Tots run at good speed on damp/wet roads!!
I would love to see how they would do on an auto-X track, I would think they would give you great adhesion under throttle coming out of the turns and with a 18" rim, the side wall is still very controllable. I have found the DR to be best rear tire for a car that has the kind of power your car is putting down and for the primary use of your car. Bottom line.......If your racing, buy race tires!!
R/
Jeff
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,672
Likes: 199
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
Take a look at the Toyo T1R's I have them and they are great street tires and if you are not 450-500 HP at the rear wheels they might hook pretty good. I am sold on these for the street, my motor overpowers them on strip though, they might get some traction with an auto but all in all the best tire I have ever had on any car
http://www.1010tires.com/Tires/Reviews/Toyo/Proxes+T1R
http://www.1010tires.com/Tires/Reviews/Toyo/Proxes+T1R