Drag Radial Recommendations for a Driver
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 3,946
Likes: 63
From: Marianna FL
Drag Radial Recommendations for a Driver
I used Nitto 555 drag radials several years ago and I was happy with the extra traction, but didn't like the fact that they looked small on the 17x11s. What's everyone's experience with the DRs available from BFG, Toyo, and Mickey Thompson? Really just looking for something that will allow me to use full throttle in first and second gear on the street.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,624
Likes: 431
From: Dale City VA
OP - What size tire are you looking for? 17x11, I assume 315 35R17....
Will
Last edited by rklessdriver; Nov 19, 2017 at 11:51 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 6,482
Likes: 566
From: Clearwater Florida
..... If its an automatic , I would definitely go with the Mickey T's ... manual might benefit from the Toyo/Nitto compounds ... but you might need to spring for some double adjustable shocks to get them to work for you ..... My avatar is on 275/50/15 Mickeys .....
Last edited by C409; Nov 19, 2017 at 12:42 PM.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 3,946
Likes: 63
From: Marianna FL
Yes, 315s.
I had good luck with the Nittos, they would practically dead hook on the street with my essentially stock 96 LT4 with 4.10s. The only time I had them at the strip it was 45 degrees and the track was not hooking for anyone.
I'd really like to get this car to hook better without DRs, but I like the way it handles now and it's not going to be a drag car. I just want to be able to hit the throttle hard in 2nd gear without hazing the tires. I currently have Mickey Thompson street comps ( I think that's what they are called) and they are pretty much useless in first and second gear.
I can get it not to spin with a lot of throttle modulation, but I really want to feel what this 383 will do.
I had good luck with the Nittos, they would practically dead hook on the street with my essentially stock 96 LT4 with 4.10s. The only time I had them at the strip it was 45 degrees and the track was not hooking for anyone.
I'd really like to get this car to hook better without DRs, but I like the way it handles now and it's not going to be a drag car. I just want to be able to hit the throttle hard in 2nd gear without hazing the tires. I currently have Mickey Thompson street comps ( I think that's what they are called) and they are pretty much useless in first and second gear.
I can get it not to spin with a lot of throttle modulation, but I really want to feel what this 383 will do.
Last edited by LTxDave; Nov 19, 2017 at 12:53 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,624
Likes: 431
From: Dale City VA
The MT ET Street SS pn 3471 will do a good job for you.
I ran the previous version of the tire on my old 92.... car has over 480RWP...... 11.0s@128mph on dead stock suspension and on a preped track they hooked so hard, I could break u joints or outer stub axles at will and often did being overly aggressive with power/clutch. On the street you could drive the car WOT with a little pedling in 1st gear but second was not a problem as long as you didnt just mat it in the powerband..... I could get about 7,000 miles out of a set on the street depending on how many track outing I did. My wife and I drove the car on them to Carlisle few years ago, 2hr drive and it rained big time the whole way. No problems as long as I drove the car reasonable.
By comparison you could not drive that car on regular street radials. Anything approaching 1/2 throttle in the lower 3 gears would light the tires up like you were on ice.
Will
I ran the previous version of the tire on my old 92.... car has over 480RWP...... 11.0s@128mph on dead stock suspension and on a preped track they hooked so hard, I could break u joints or outer stub axles at will and often did being overly aggressive with power/clutch. On the street you could drive the car WOT with a little pedling in 1st gear but second was not a problem as long as you didnt just mat it in the powerband..... I could get about 7,000 miles out of a set on the street depending on how many track outing I did. My wife and I drove the car on them to Carlisle few years ago, 2hr drive and it rained big time the whole way. No problems as long as I drove the car reasonable.
By comparison you could not drive that car on regular street radials. Anything approaching 1/2 throttle in the lower 3 gears would light the tires up like you were on ice.
Will
Last edited by rklessdriver; Nov 19, 2017 at 01:21 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,007
Likes: 1,488
From: Ashland, OH
I have a customer with an 89 C4 Vette on this board running 10.2xs@130mph on Nittos.... His friend, also a customer, runs 9.80s on Nittos with his Nova. Both daily driver street cars. That tire is far from garbage. It is a very good tire for its intended purpose. Yes there are better tires but the Nitto has its place and if you know how how to set suspension up, it can do far more than many people who just use tires as a crutch for lack of tuning skill think.
OP - What size tire are you looking for? 17x11, I assume 315 35R17....
Will
OP - What size tire are you looking for? 17x11, I assume 315 35R17....
Will
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Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,007
Likes: 1,488
From: Ashland, OH
Yes, 315s.
I had good luck with the Nittos, they would practically dead hook on the street with my essentially stock 96 LT4 with 4.10s. The only time I had them at the strip it was 45 degrees and the track was not hooking for anyone.
I'd really like to get this car to hook better without DRs, but I like the way it handles now and it's not going to be a drag car. I just want to be able to hit the throttle hard in 2nd gear without hazing the tires. I currently have Mickey Thompson street comps ( I think that's what they are called) and they are pretty much useless in first and second gear.
I can get it not to spin with a lot of throttle modulation, but I really want to feel what this 383 will do.
I had good luck with the Nittos, they would practically dead hook on the street with my essentially stock 96 LT4 with 4.10s. The only time I had them at the strip it was 45 degrees and the track was not hooking for anyone.
I'd really like to get this car to hook better without DRs, but I like the way it handles now and it's not going to be a drag car. I just want to be able to hit the throttle hard in 2nd gear without hazing the tires. I currently have Mickey Thompson street comps ( I think that's what they are called) and they are pretty much useless in first and second gear.
I can get it not to spin with a lot of throttle modulation, but I really want to feel what this 383 will do.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,624
Likes: 431
From: Dale City VA
My best in my 6spd 92 was 1.7x and everytime I went after it hard trying to better that it just exploded something under the rear.
Will
Racer
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 419
Likes: 5
From: Bel Air Maryland
I have a customer with an 89 C4 Vette on this board running 10.2xs@130mph on Nittos.... His friend, also a customer, runs 9.80s on Nittos with his Nova. Both daily driver street cars. That tire is far from garbage. It is a very good tire for its intended purpose. Yes there are better tires but the Nitto has its place and if you know how how to set suspension up, it can do far more than many people who just use tires as a crutch for lack of tuning skill think.
OP - What size tire are you looking for? 17x11, I assume 315 35R17....
Will
OP - What size tire are you looking for? 17x11, I assume 315 35R17....
Will
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 6,482
Likes: 566
From: Clearwater Florida
..... The Hoosiers are great for traction at the drag strip but are not intended to be used on the street . Hoosier got the DOT rating for sanctioning body purposes only ! Check on their website and you will see all the warnings about street use ... they do hook very well at the track ! .....
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,007
Likes: 1,488
From: Ashland, OH
That’s tires,driver, and track. Its pretty horrible. Get a set of Mickeys and a line lock and do a long 2nd gear burn out at 18 psi. You can thank me later.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,624
Likes: 431
From: Dale City VA
The MT ET Street SS is the best all around dual purpose tire.
The MT Pro Radial is the best drag radial ever.... the Hoosier lies somewhere inbetween those 2.
Let me know next time you are going to Cecil or MIR, I'll see if I can head up and take a few swings at your suspension.
Will
Last edited by rklessdriver; Nov 20, 2017 at 10:10 AM.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 419
Likes: 5
From: Bel Air Maryland
The Hoosier is a very track oriented tire. It will hook at the track but its not street friendly at all.
The MT ET Street SS is the best all around dual purpose tire.
The MT Pro Radial is the best drag radial ever.... the Hoosier lies somewhere inbetween those 2.
Let me know next time you are going to Cecil or MIR, I'll see if I can head up and take a few swings at your suspension.
Will
The MT ET Street SS is the best all around dual purpose tire.
The MT Pro Radial is the best drag radial ever.... the Hoosier lies somewhere inbetween those 2.
Let me know next time you are going to Cecil or MIR, I'll see if I can head up and take a few swings at your suspension.
Will
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,270
Likes: 118
From: N. Babylon NY
Another vote for the 315s M/T
Drove to E-Town from Long Island 11/12. Cold day in the 40s. They did prep the track. They only ran the 1/8 mile due to the weather (for some of the classes). My car is a 92 6 speed with solid axle and 4.11's. Stock with headers and lightweight flywheel (289 rwhp). Went the best 60' at 1.78 and 8.24et (1/8 mile).
Steve
Drove to E-Town from Long Island 11/12. Cold day in the 40s. They did prep the track. They only ran the 1/8 mile due to the weather (for some of the classes). My car is a 92 6 speed with solid axle and 4.11's. Stock with headers and lightweight flywheel (289 rwhp). Went the best 60' at 1.78 and 8.24et (1/8 mile).
Steve