Help me choose Drag radials
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 838
Likes: 8
From: Newbury Park CA
Help me choose Drag radials
Ok so I am now running nitto 305 35 18 NT555R DR's and the seemed fine when they were on my Camaro w/ 490 rear wheel but now that I have twin turbos on the vette I can get sideways all the way through 4th w/ tc on. The car is putting down over 600 to the ground and I have a forged ls3 in the works w/ more boost for the future. The biggest problem Im having deciding on which tire to go w/ is that I drive the car on a regular basis and I want a a streetable tire that will hook. I am now trying to chose between the BFG's or MT's, I was originally gonna go w/ the BFG's but I just found a good deal on some MT's in the new 315 30 18's and have heard how bitchin they are, but Ive also been hearing a lot of complaints about gettin squirley @ hight speeds
I would like some insight as to which tire between these two has the best street manners and high speed comfort, or are they about the same other than the mickey's hooking better?
I would like some insight as to which tire between these two has the best street manners and high speed comfort, or are they about the same other than the mickey's hooking better?
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Fort Wayne IN
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For a streetable tire I would stick with the Nitto. Sure, the MT or BFG's are stickier, but street life is half that of the Nitto's and at least with the Nitto's if you get caught in inclement weather you have a realistic chance of getting home unlike with the MT's or BFG's.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,941
Likes: 281
From: Was New Orleans but swam to Baton Rouge LA
Cruise-In IX Veteran
I would suggest the BFG drag radials. I have personally had the Nittos, and they did not work that well. I have seen a 550 rwhp car run with BFG tires and with the new 18 inch Et street radials. The BFG DRs worked better on the street then the Mickeys.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
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M/Ts will hook alot better but are NO fun and down right dangerous in the rain. This is comming from someone who has a very high tolerance and can drive just about everything.
I have 335 nitto DRs on my car but when you get to this hp level, unfortunately there arent alot of options as far as hooking.
I have 335 nitto DRs on my car but when you get to this hp level, unfortunately there arent alot of options as far as hooking.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 838
Likes: 8
From: Newbury Park CA
I will not be driving the car in the rain, NEVER again after the last time I tried it and almost lost it w/ the nittos, spun 3 360's and came about 3 feet from a guard rail down hill on the freeway after hitting a patch of water. And the nittos arent doing the job w/ the new found power so between the BFG's and MT's which are more suitable for the street, I need a good compromise between nittos and an all out race tire that wont be scary at high speeds, if that exists.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,941
Likes: 281
From: Was New Orleans but swam to Baton Rouge LA
Cruise-In IX Veteran
I will not be driving the car in the rain, NEVER again after the last time I tried it and almost lost it w/ the nittos, spun 3 360's and came about 3 feet from a guard rail down hill on the freeway after hitting a patch of water. And the nittos arent doing the job w/ the new found power so between the BFG's and MT's which are more suitable for the street, I need a good compromise between nittos and an all out race tire that wont be scary at high speeds, if that exists.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,642
Likes: 0
I will not be driving the car in the rain, NEVER again after the last time I tried it and almost lost it w/ the nittos, spun 3 360's and came about 3 feet from a guard rail down hill on the freeway after hitting a patch of water. And the nittos arent doing the job w/ the new found power so between the BFG's and MT's which are more suitable for the street, I need a good compromise between nittos and an all out race tire that wont be scary at high speeds, if that exists.
No tire with a good contact patch will do well in the rain because theres no where for the water to go and the water stays between your tire and the road creating a slick surface. The better they stick, the worse they are in the rain. You just have to take it easy when its wet or buy a daily driver like I finally did.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 455
Likes: 11
From: Clovis CA
My BFG's 'hooked' fairly well in wet weather, but felt awefully 'squishy' at high speeds. My M/T's were much more stable at highway speeds 65-70 mph. I've driven both to Bakersfield from Fresno......and a few clandestine locations too........
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From: Dyer, IN
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Chicago-NW Burbs Illinois
I think what he's getting at is that you get more tire wrinkle and better launches out of the whole and such. When I had some 17" rims out back last year with MT's I was cutting 1.6 60'' times but I've heard of people getting that with 295/35/18 BFG's so not sure about that whole statement anymore that people make about having more sidewall. The only thing about having more sidewall is that it will be a lot more foregiving on your drivetrain when you dead-hook.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2007
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Black98 nailed it. The tire has more flexability therefore more traction. Try and find a 18" slick. There's a reason you can't. I would go with BFG in a 17".
That's me, but you're the one that needs to do some more research. Black98 also stated what his experience was and then stated what he was told. I would go with experience anyday. Good luck.
That's me, but you're the one that needs to do some more research. Black98 also stated what his experience was and then stated what he was told. I would go with experience anyday. Good luck.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 838
Likes: 8
From: Newbury Park CA
MTs or BFGs will be much dangerous in the rain then nittos. Ive tried all three tires. I could average about 55-60 tops in the rain on nittos before the back end started to feel light. On M/Ts my top speed was 35-40.
No tire with a good contact patch will do well in the rain because theres no where for the water to go and the water stays between your tire and the road creating a slick surface. The better they stick, the worse they are in the rain. You just have to take it easy when its wet or buy a daily driver like I finally did.
No tire with a good contact patch will do well in the rain because theres no where for the water to go and the water stays between your tire and the road creating a slick surface. The better they stick, the worse they are in the rain. You just have to take it easy when its wet or buy a daily driver like I finally did.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 8,466
Likes: 51
St. Jude Donor '17
Like I said before, I will NEVER drive the car in the rain again and wet traction will not be an issue, I just need a tire that hooks better than the Nittos and will handle decent. So far it is between BFG or mickey so I would like to get as much input as possible from those who have used either or both and can help me choose which is better for street. Ive also heard that much of the high speed squirllyness can be fixed by adjusting tire psi
Look at the toyo tho
I like the f1 super car tire personally
Have you up graged your half shaft's
I hear you can break them pretty easily with drags
Last edited by Got uid0; Feb 14, 2008 at 10:54 PM.
Safety Car
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From: Chicago-NW Burbs Illinois
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Dyer, IN
Black98 nailed it. The tire has more flexability therefore more traction. Try and find a 18" slick. There's a reason you can't. I would go with BFG in a 17".
That's me, but you're the one that needs to do some more research. Black98 also stated what his experience was and then stated what he was told. I would go with experience anyday. Good luck.
That's me, but you're the one that needs to do some more research. Black98 also stated what his experience was and then stated what he was told. I would go with experience anyday. Good luck.
