Tires that bite
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 24
Likes: 1
From: ANDOVER, MN
Tires that bite
My '01 vette puts down 560 HP at the rear wheels. Current tires are Michelin Sport on 2012 Grand Sport rims - tires are 325 30 x 19. Any playing with the go pedal and traction is lost. This is a daily driver and for ordinarily days the tires are great... but sometimes I want to play and these tires won't hold in 1st or 2nd gear. Looking for suggestions for wheels and wheel size plus tires and size that will really grip, but be safe in a little rain too. Suggestions?
Thanks
Dave
Thanks
Dave
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 195
Likes: 7
From: Greenfield In
St. Jude Donor '16
I like Toyo Proxes4. Had them on my 450hp Coyote Mustang and they daily'd great. I had Pireli's on my 2010 stock SS Camaro and they sucked along with Continentals. I'm not mentioning the model on the last two because they were that bad and I'll never buy the brands again.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 472
Likes: 9
From: San Diego CA
Nitto 555R2's have been the only tire that I've had that I didn't need to baby the throttle in first and second....and sometimes third. Im running Falken RT 615s in the rears now and I get squirly with 400 whp with a tiny blip. Need more grip. Felt much safer with the drag radials.....
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Columbus Ohio
Sounds like your getting to the level where something like a drag radial is going to be needed if you don't want to spin as easily, but that means making some compromises. Mileage, crappy weather, and you can't run stuff like that if it gets cold out, are all things to consider. Personally I've had Nitto 555Rs, Mickey Thompsons, and Hoosiers, and in that order they go from decent mileage for a drag tire, to most sticky. I have friends who've had the NT05R and it's similar to a Mickey. I've known other people to run around on R888s if you want something with more sidebite then just straightline. Hope you figure out what you want to do.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,375
Likes: 326
From: CA.
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15
Welcome to the world of HP----Any car can make gobbs of HP- but to make a car QUICK it's all about "hooking up " It's an asset to have lots of HP but unless you get traction you can get beat by a Honda Civic-----Remember that a Corvette is basically a sports road racing car--not ideal for drag racing---There are things you can do to make it launch harder but the side affect is losing it's handling and it's street ride---Solid engine-solid trans mounts help---But you risk breaking output shafts--Same goes for drag radials --the harder you make it hook up the more chance you have of breaking it--So basically it depends on your goals with the car---and your wallet ehat you are willing to spend to go fast--
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,170
Likes: 672
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
My '01 vette puts down 560 HP at the rear wheels. This is a daily driver and for ordinarily days the tires are great... but sometimes I want to play and these tires won't hold in 1st or 2nd gear. Looking for suggestions for wheels and wheel size plus tires and size that will really grip, but be safe in a little rain too. Suggestions?
Tying down 560 RWHP is a chore at best, then heat cycling the tires daily?
I'm subscribed to see what the others will suggest
Last edited by JrRifleCoach; Nov 19, 2014 at 01:02 AM.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 24
Likes: 1
From: ANDOVER, MN
Thanks for the comments. Boos performance has my car in moderate tune, stating that it's capable of 600 rwhp with a more aggressive tune. No point in more power until we get a handle on what's already there - besides, in the summer (MN resident) it's my non-rainy day driver. Plans for Spring include a T6060 trans for a longer first gear, torque tube build up and probably differential axles. Still, traction is the issue. My current Michliens are 300 tread wear rating. I should be able to find something with tread wear closer to 100 that will be a safe DD yet give better bite
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 204
Likes: 35
From: buffalo new york
My supercharged 98 is at 550 hp and traction has always been a issue. I changed suspension to z06 parts along with other higher end parts. Hankook rs3 were ok handling wise but takeoff traction was poor. Those days are gone now as I recently switched to toyo r888. If you can afford them ,best tire for high hp cars . Car now really moves fast from takeoff with little spinning.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 901
Likes: 2
From: Palm City Fl
02 Z06 with a Maggie TVS2300 and couldn't keep traction even in 3rd with the Nitto Invos. I now have NT01s on the back and NT05s on the front (they came on the rims I purchased and were almost new). I have great traction now. I can still spinn if I really get on it but knowing my milage is limited already with these tires (it is my DD) I don't do that very much. Also, the point is to keep traction and go not spinn and sit. I have driven in heavy downpours with no problems, I'm sure that will be an issue as the tires wear more. I have a few thousand miles on them now and still loving them. I do worry about tracking it as it is mostly stock and don't want to break anything launching. For the street I couldn't be happier, they stick like glue so far.
Last edited by Lt. Dan M.; Nov 19, 2014 at 02:42 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,170
Likes: 672
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
My supercharged 98 is at 550 hp and traction has always been a issue. I changed suspension to z06 parts along with other higher end parts. Hankook rs3 were ok handling wise but takeoff traction was poor. Those days are gone now as I recently switched to toyo r888. If you can afford them ,best tire for high hp cars . Car now really moves fast from takeoff with little spinning.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,791
Likes: 355
From: Northville, MI
When looking a performance tire, you can almost forget the treadware rating from the manufacturer as their is no standard. When SCCA required 140 or better for a street tire class, several good tire came out with that rating. Next year they will increase the rating to 200 minimum. The mfg, simply changes the tire mold to 200 and the old tire immediately complies.
It sounds like you are looking for a good competition tire that you drive on the street with good results. There are several tire with a treadware rating around 100 that would work. Check with Tirerack or other retailers about a good street/track tire and they should be able to give you good advice depending on where in the country you live.
It sounds like you are looking for a good competition tire that you drive on the street with good results. There are several tire with a treadware rating around 100 that would work. Check with Tirerack or other retailers about a good street/track tire and they should be able to give you good advice depending on where in the country you live.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 24
Likes: 1
From: ANDOVER, MN
When looking a performance tire, you can almost forget the treadware rating from the manufacturer as their is no standard. When SCCA required 140 or better for a street tire class, several good tire came out with that rating. Next year they will increase the rating to 200 minimum. The mfg, simply changes the tire mold to 200 and the old tire immediately complies.
It sounds like you are looking for a good competition tire that you drive on the street with good results. There are several tire with a treadware rating around 100 that would work. Check with Tirerack or other retailers about a good street/track tire and they should be able to give you good advice depending on where in the country you live.
It sounds like you are looking for a good competition tire that you drive on the street with good results. There are several tire with a treadware rating around 100 that would work. Check with Tirerack or other retailers about a good street/track tire and they should be able to give you good advice depending on where in the country you live.
Thanks
d
