Another question on drag radials.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,043
Likes: 3
From: Roselle IL
Another question on drag radials.
I'm about to purchase drag radials, and have narrowed it down to Nitto's, I need to stay with 18"
It will be either NT-01's or Nitto 555's RII
Any one have experience with either of these?
The car is not a daily driver and never driven in snow or rain - intentionally that is.
The car would mostly be run on the street with very limited track time.
It will be either NT-01's or Nitto 555's RII
Any one have experience with either of these?
The car is not a daily driver and never driven in snow or rain - intentionally that is.
The car would mostly be run on the street with very limited track time.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,191
Likes: 43
From: Scottsdale Az
The Nitto 555 RII is a good tire. I ran it for a while before getting the BFGs. It lasts longer than the BFG but isn't as sticky. Since my car isn't a DD either, I got the stickier of the two. It was nice having a DR that lasted longer than 3 months if constantly driven though.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,586
Likes: 0
From: Lynn Haven, FL Sunshine State
St. Jude Donor '08
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,043
Likes: 3
From: Roselle IL
ya, I looked at BFG also, problem is the sizes they have
275/35/18 or 295/35/18
The first one 275/35/18, I think it would look funny as the sidewall height is too short, my car is at stock height.
295/35/18 - Would this work on a stock 18" wagon wheel - I've heard it would work and pepole have done it though.
275/35/18 or 295/35/18
The first one 275/35/18, I think it would look funny as the sidewall height is too short, my car is at stock height.
295/35/18 - Would this work on a stock 18" wagon wheel - I've heard it would work and pepole have done it though.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
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You can put the 295-35x18 on the stock 9.5" wheel - it's not really recommended. You should have a slightly wider wheel, at least a 10" wide wheel. Also - I question the reason why someone would want a drag radial on a mostly street driven vehicle. I have no personal experience with them - but I have had many discussions with friends that have run them on the street, and they have found them to be crappy handling tires. They are designed to hook up at a drag strip, not handle the potential extreme lateral loads when driving a vehicle like a Corvette through curves.
Why not mount a set on a pair of 10" wide wheels, and have a set of street tires for the rest of the time that will be more effective for the streets.
A wise man once told me that you can teach a pig to sing, but all you get is a gawd awful noise and one pi$$ed off pig......if you know what I mean.
Why not mount a set on a pair of 10" wide wheels, and have a set of street tires for the rest of the time that will be more effective for the streets.
A wise man once told me that you can teach a pig to sing, but all you get is a gawd awful noise and one pi$$ed off pig......if you know what I mean.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,043
Likes: 3
From: Roselle IL
You can put the 295-35x18 on the stock 9.5" wheel - it's not really recommended. You should have a slightly wider wheel, at least a 10" wide wheel. Also - I question the reason why someone would want a drag radial on a mostly street driven vehicle. I have no personal experience with them - but I have had many discussions with friends that have run them on the street, and they have found them to be crappy handling tires. They are designed to hook up at a drag strip, not handle the potential extreme lateral loads when driving a vehicle like a Corvette through curves.
Why not mount a set on a pair of 10" wide wheels, and have a set of street tires for the rest of the time that will be more effective for the streets.
A wise man once told me that you can teach a pig to sing, but all you get is a gawd awful noise and one pi$$ed off pig......if you know what I mean.
Why not mount a set on a pair of 10" wide wheels, and have a set of street tires for the rest of the time that will be more effective for the streets.
A wise man once told me that you can teach a pig to sing, but all you get is a gawd awful noise and one pi$$ed off pig......if you know what I mean.
I hear ya, we can debate all day why I need them but I dont want to waist your time.
One could argue why they would need over 400 rwhp for a "street" car also, and I know a few of those people.
But arent some of these drag radials designed for autocross too?
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,008
Likes: 1
From: Gibbstown New Jersey
I looked into this myself cause I know after my cam I would needto loose the old tires I have now. I went with street tires because if it rarely sees the strip u want a tire that will hook but also give u good handling why have a vette that handels like a box mustang?
Life Time NCM #2196
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 82,596
Likes: 1,712
From: Converse TX
Here is my take on the Nitto NT-01s as I run them in the 315/30/18s and love them on dry pavement. Actually for the first 5k they were ok in wet weather. There is nothing short of a real slick to hold my power, so I have learned throttle modulation.
My take on the NT-01s are that they offer superior handling and traction over treaded tires as I run Falken's for my wet and normal day to day driving. The NTs have stiffer sidewalls over the R tires or the BFGs and with the spirited country driving I do the NTs are the ticket. They put my Vette on rails and my car sticks in the turns where I plant her and they are very stable in turns and I have been over 170 mph with them on and they are fine at high speeds. For your needs you need to determine if you want the best handling NT-01s or a little better traction with the R series or the best traction and worst handling of the BFGs
My take on the NT-01s are that they offer superior handling and traction over treaded tires as I run Falken's for my wet and normal day to day driving. The NTs have stiffer sidewalls over the R tires or the BFGs and with the spirited country driving I do the NTs are the ticket. They put my Vette on rails and my car sticks in the turns where I plant her and they are very stable in turns and I have been over 170 mph with them on and they are fine at high speeds. For your needs you need to determine if you want the best handling NT-01s or a little better traction with the R series or the best traction and worst handling of the BFGs
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,043
Likes: 3
From: Roselle IL
Here is my take on the Nitto NT-01s as I run them in the 315/30/18s and love them on dry pavement. Actually for the first 5k they were ok in wet weather. There is nothing short of a real slick to hold my power, so I have learned throttle modulation.
My take on the NT-01s are that they offer superior handling and traction over treaded tires as I run Falken's for my wet and normal day to day driving. The NTs have stiffer sidewalls over the R tires or the BFGs and with the spirited country driving I do the NTs are the ticket. They put my Vette on rails and my car sticks in the turns where I plant her and they are very stable in turns and I have been over 170 mph with them on and they are fine at high speeds. For your needs you need to determine if you want the best handling NT-01s or a little better traction with the R series or the best traction and worst handling of the BFGs
My take on the NT-01s are that they offer superior handling and traction over treaded tires as I run Falken's for my wet and normal day to day driving. The NTs have stiffer sidewalls over the R tires or the BFGs and with the spirited country driving I do the NTs are the ticket. They put my Vette on rails and my car sticks in the turns where I plant her and they are very stable in turns and I have been over 170 mph with them on and they are fine at high speeds. For your needs you need to determine if you want the best handling NT-01s or a little better traction with the R series or the best traction and worst handling of the BFGs
The NT-01's are the ones I'm really interested in.
Since you have experience with them, I hear they kick up a lot of road debris on the street? Did you notice this at all?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 18,049
Likes: 53
From: long Island NY
I'm about to purchase drag radials, and have narrowed it down to Nitto's, I need to stay with 18"
It will be either NT-01's or Nitto 555's RII
Any one have experience with either of these?
The car is not a daily driver and never driven in snow or rain - intentionally that is.
The car would mostly be run on the street with very limited track time.
It will be either NT-01's or Nitto 555's RII
Any one have experience with either of these?
The car is not a daily driver and never driven in snow or rain - intentionally that is.
The car would mostly be run on the street with very limited track time.