Drag Tires (DOT) for C4
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Arlington VA
Drag Tires (DOT) for C4
We are going to start drag racing some with our '92 Vette and plan to run a set of drag radials this year. We run the 275/40R17 Kumho 710's all the way around for autocross but would like to run either the same size or jump up to the 315/35R17 for the rear.
Anyone have any recommendations or comparisons on the Drag Radials - we are currently looking at the Nitto, BF Goodrich and Mickey Thompson's?
* BF Goodrich
* Nitto 555
* Nitto 555X
* Nitto NT01
* Mickey Thompson
Anyone have any recommendations or comparisons on the Drag Radials - we are currently looking at the Nitto, BF Goodrich and Mickey Thompson's?
* BF Goodrich
* Nitto 555
* Nitto 555X
* Nitto NT01
* Mickey Thompson
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 12,263
Likes: 86
From: O'Fallon Missouri
Originally Posted by tequilaboy
Another choice to consider:
There is an M&H Racemaster drag radial in 275/50R17. I haven't heard of anyone running it yet but I like the ideal of a taller drag tire.
There is an M&H Racemaster drag radial in 275/50R17. I haven't heard of anyone running it yet but I like the ideal of a taller drag tire.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 19,653
Likes: 428
From: Melbourne Florida
Cruise-In IV Veteran
I am going to assume you have a Dana 44 differential if you are looking for DR's...
If you plan to trailer or change tires at the track, I'd say MT radials...there have been a lot of really good reports on them...
If you plan on driving to the track it's another story...unless you live very close, say 35 miles or less, you need to consider the Nitto 555R's...they are the best ones for driving at highway speeds and in the rain...they will last the longest as well...
The trade off with the Nitto's is they will not give you the great 60' times like the other, softer, Dr's...btw, none of the Nitto's you posted are DR's...only the 555R is a drag radial...the NT01 is for road racing and the 555 is a street tire...I've nevr heard of the 555X...
If you plan to trailer or change tires at the track, I'd say MT radials...there have been a lot of really good reports on them...
If you plan on driving to the track it's another story...unless you live very close, say 35 miles or less, you need to consider the Nitto 555R's...they are the best ones for driving at highway speeds and in the rain...they will last the longest as well...
The trade off with the Nitto's is they will not give you the great 60' times like the other, softer, Dr's...btw, none of the Nitto's you posted are DR's...only the 555R is a drag radial...the NT01 is for road racing and the 555 is a street tire...I've nevr heard of the 555X...
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 65,811
Likes: 71
From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by Fuzzy Dice
I am going to assume you have a Dana 44 differential if you are looking for DR's...
If you plan to trailer or change tires at the track, I'd say MT radials...there have been a lot of really good reports on them...
If you plan on driving to the track it's another story...unless you live very close, say 35 miles or less, you need to consider the Nitto 555R's...they are the best ones for driving at highway speeds and in the rain...they will last the longest as well...
The trade off with the Nitto's is they will not give you the great 60' times like the other, softer, Dr's...btw, none of the Nitto's you posted are DR's...only the 555R is a drag radial...the NT01 is for road racing and the 555 is a street tire...I've nevr heard of the 555X...
If you plan to trailer or change tires at the track, I'd say MT radials...there have been a lot of really good reports on them...
If you plan on driving to the track it's another story...unless you live very close, say 35 miles or less, you need to consider the Nitto 555R's...they are the best ones for driving at highway speeds and in the rain...they will last the longest as well...
The trade off with the Nitto's is they will not give you the great 60' times like the other, softer, Dr's...btw, none of the Nitto's you posted are DR's...only the 555R is a drag radial...the NT01 is for road racing and the 555 is a street tire...I've nevr heard of the 555X...
The Nitto 555R is by far the best dual purpose tire and is the only DR I'd run full time, and have. The MT is the best thing going right now for just drag, from all reports I've heard.
Former Vendor
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 7,204
Likes: 6
From: St Marys PA
I have a set of M/T sportman tires I used for a season that I am looking to sell. 150 takes both front skinnies that are also DOT legal.
If your not running the drag tires on the street, you can't get any better than the M/T drag slicks.
The drag radials are good if and only if you have a car that is working VERY good on the strip already. The drag radials will improve your et/mph, again if your already hooking great, but will not recover as quick as a bias drag tire will.
If your not running the drag tires on the street, you can't get any better than the M/T drag slicks.
The drag radials are good if and only if you have a car that is working VERY good on the strip already. The drag radials will improve your et/mph, again if your already hooking great, but will not recover as quick as a bias drag tire will.
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Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Arlington VA
Sounds like the MTs are the route to go from what everyone here and the guys in the club that do lots more drag racing than we do say.
Thanks a mil!!
Have a Safe, Prosperous and Happy New Year
Thanks a mil!!
Have a Safe, Prosperous and Happy New Year
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,484
Likes: 1
From: Everyday you must choose between the pain of discipline and the pain of regret. Fredericktown, OH
I ran the BFGs on my LT-4 and they worked too good really. It was just as difficult learning to launch the car with sticky tires as with out. The car ran high 12s, so it wasn't anything quick.
On my previous car (a low 11 second Nova), I ran the Hoosier Quick TIme Pros (essentially a MT ET Street) with great success. I could 60' in the deep 1.50s. The only tire that I could out 60's them with was a Hoosier Radial Slick (30x9) and I could go 1.48 with them.
As mentioned earlier, if you can get a radial tire to hook (takes a little more work) you should ET and MPH better as you can run more air pressure, essentially minimizing some rolling resistance.
For example, in my Radial Slicks, I ran 20 lbs of pressure, vs 14 or so in a bias ply slick.
On my previous car (a low 11 second Nova), I ran the Hoosier Quick TIme Pros (essentially a MT ET Street) with great success. I could 60' in the deep 1.50s. The only tire that I could out 60's them with was a Hoosier Radial Slick (30x9) and I could go 1.48 with them.
As mentioned earlier, if you can get a radial tire to hook (takes a little more work) you should ET and MPH better as you can run more air pressure, essentially minimizing some rolling resistance.
For example, in my Radial Slicks, I ran 20 lbs of pressure, vs 14 or so in a bias ply slick.