Alternative To Drag Radials
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 900
Likes: 0
From: New Bern NC
Alternative To Drag Radials
Ordered new wheels w/ 18x10.5 back 17x9.5 front. Car has over 500 rwhp. I've been considering drag radials, but now reconsidering.
After reveiwing feedback, there seems to be down sides I'm not sure I'm willing to accept.The car will be primarily driven on the street, with an occasional trip to the strip.
DOWN SIDE
-wear out fast
-have to heat up to work
-don't feel like I could trust them in curves
If I'm mistaken about the down side let me know.
Is there the perfect all around tire i can put on this car? I want to be able to feel the launch, but don't want to have the car for the most part commited to drag racing.
I've made alot of inquiries about these wheels and tires. You have all been helpful, and if I can get this one last detail worked out I'll move on to something else.
Thanks for your time.
97Rob
After reveiwing feedback, there seems to be down sides I'm not sure I'm willing to accept.The car will be primarily driven on the street, with an occasional trip to the strip.
DOWN SIDE
-wear out fast
-have to heat up to work
-don't feel like I could trust them in curves
If I'm mistaken about the down side let me know.
Is there the perfect all around tire i can put on this car? I want to be able to feel the launch, but don't want to have the car for the most part commited to drag racing.
I've made alot of inquiries about these wheels and tires. You have all been helpful, and if I can get this one last detail worked out I'll move on to something else.
Thanks for your time.
97Rob
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I don't think that drag radials have the sidewall strength for high speed cornering. Get into a bit of wet pavement or rain and there probably won't be a lot of traction even at slow speeds.
Consider something around a 295/35 in the back and a 275/40 in front:
BF Goodrich KD's
Kumho Ecsta MX
Toyo Proxes T1R
Michlien Pilot Sport
Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3
Any of these should provide excelled dry traction for street/track day use. Have you thought of having a pair of wheels dedicated to a set of drag radials? You could fit them in the car perhaps one in the passenger seat and the other in the back. Get a couple of plastic tire bags at Les Schwab to protect the interior. A small jack and lug wrench would be all you really need to swap wheels at the strip.
Consider something around a 295/35 in the back and a 275/40 in front:
BF Goodrich KD's
Kumho Ecsta MX
Toyo Proxes T1R
Michlien Pilot Sport
Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3
Any of these should provide excelled dry traction for street/track day use. Have you thought of having a pair of wheels dedicated to a set of drag radials? You could fit them in the car perhaps one in the passenger seat and the other in the back. Get a couple of plastic tire bags at Les Schwab to protect the interior. A small jack and lug wrench would be all you really need to swap wheels at the strip.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 3,060
Likes: 3
From: Dublin CA
Nitto 555R2 has the same compound as their 555R Drag Radial but with a stiffer sidewall and is made for road race. Have it pre-broken-in by having it heat-cycled and it doubles the tire life. I'm running these up front, and the DR in back on 10.5" Z06 wheels (305/35ZR-18 $259 - do tire prices follow oil prices?!?). The road race version 305/35ZR-18 101Y is $313 from tires.com. The only drawback is that to get the full DR effect, you need to run them in the low 20psi range, and the DIC warning goes on at 26psi.
There's a new more radical D.O.T. road race Nitto NT-01, but I don't have experience with it. 315/30ZR-18 98W BLK $324
There's a new more radical D.O.T. road race Nitto NT-01, but I don't have experience with it. 315/30ZR-18 98W BLK $324
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 4,251
Likes: 7
From: Woodbridge Ontario
Originally Posted by mdhmi
I run the Nitto's. Regular 555's up front and the DR's out back. It's a nice combo. Trying to plant 600 rwhp on a regular street tire just doesn't work.
Mark
Mark
Anything at or over 500rwhp is useless on anything less than a D/R.
What's the use of all that power if you can't get it planted?
Even with my 555R's, 1st & 2nd needs a healthy dose of restraint on the gas pedal.
With the F1's, 1st and 2nd were useless.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 3,060
Likes: 3
From: Dublin CA
Originally Posted by boatboatboat
would that tire listed (the nitto) make a decent autocross-1/4 mile tire, that the user could drive to the track?
305/35ZR-18 101Y B
would that width fit a stock wagon wheel c-5 rim?
305/35ZR-18 101Y B
would that width fit a stock wagon wheel c-5 rim?
The narrowest rim recommended by Nitto is 10": http://www.nittotire.com/popup_555r_sizes.asp
