drag radials email
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,905
Likes: 1
drag radials email
Just got an email from Nitto rep saying that they are planning to make a tire for the C6, although the specifics weren't spoke of. I'm hoping its a 555R or equivilent. We need a 19inch DR that'll fit on our rear wheels, guys, so email the snot out of the best tire manufacturers and lets see results.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,905
Likes: 1
All they have to do is make 'em...we'll bake 'em...
Hopefully, they'll show more improvement over the stock run flats than the PS2s. I'm hitting 1.9s(+) on the run flats, The best I've seen from PS2s are 1.8s, so right now, it's not worth the $900.00 for two tires.
Hopefully, they'll show more improvement over the stock run flats than the PS2s. I'm hitting 1.9s(+) on the run flats, The best I've seen from PS2s are 1.8s, so right now, it's not worth the $900.00 for two tires.
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,950
Likes: 264
From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
Another opinion here - I actually like to use the 17" MT drag radials for drag strip use. They are shorter so it gives you a gearing advantage, plus, the taller sidewall has more give to it and I think is a little easier on your rear end. 17" wheels are cheap, get a set of wagons for next to nothing and MT's are about $185 ea.
A down side to the 17" worth mentioning is you can't use them for street driving for every day use if you plan to use your active handling. They screw up the tire ratio and turn off active handling. You can still use traction control if you want.
Dennis, can you really get 1.7's on stock tires? 1.70 or 1.79? Auto or manual? I have a manual and I work pretty darn hard to get 1.7's - feels like a slingshot when I get it right though! But I know I can't do that on runflats...
Takes me a 4500k launch to get it!
A down side to the 17" worth mentioning is you can't use them for street driving for every day use if you plan to use your active handling. They screw up the tire ratio and turn off active handling. You can still use traction control if you want.
Dennis, can you really get 1.7's on stock tires? 1.70 or 1.79? Auto or manual? I have a manual and I work pretty darn hard to get 1.7's - feels like a slingshot when I get it right though! But I know I can't do that on runflats...
Takes me a 4500k launch to get it!
Last edited by Joe_G; Jan 24, 2007 at 08:30 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,549
Likes: 27
From: Southampton NJ
Another opinion here - I actually like to use the 17" MT drag radials for drag strip use. They are shorter so it gives you a gearing advantage, plus, the taller sidewall has more give to it and I think is a little easier on your rear end. 17" wheels are cheap, get a set of wagons for next to nothing and MT's are about $185 ea.
A down side to the 17" worth mentioning is you can't use them for street driving for every day use if you plan to use your active handling. They screw up the tire ratio and turn off active handling. You can still use traction control if you want.
Dennis, can you really get 1.7's on stock tires? 1.70 or 1.79? Auto or manual? I have a manual and I work pretty darn hard to get 1.7's - feels like a slingshot when I get it right though! But I know I can't do that on runflats... Takes me a 4500k launch to get it!
A down side to the 17" worth mentioning is you can't use them for street driving for every day use if you plan to use your active handling. They screw up the tire ratio and turn off active handling. You can still use traction control if you want.
Dennis, can you really get 1.7's on stock tires? 1.70 or 1.79? Auto or manual? I have a manual and I work pretty darn hard to get 1.7's - feels like a slingshot when I get it right though! But I know I can't do that on runflats...
Takes me a 4500k launch to get it!
but your right the 17 is shorter and still have more sidewall thats why i told them such heights for sidewall if they want 19s or they would be useless
Last edited by dennis50nj; Jan 24, 2007 at 09:22 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,254
Likes: 136
From: Short Hills, NJ
They might work better than stock tires for most people but I agree that the 35 series profile combined with the fact that Nitto DRs generally aren't quite as sticky as the M/T DRs or even the BFG DRs (unless Nitto is working on that as well?) there will be limited gains, especially for those making some real power. They do generally last longer though.
I've cut a bunch of 1.88s on my stock (non Z51) runflats as well so the Nittos may or may not help in a stock/near stock power level situation like that.
I've cut a bunch of 1.88s on my stock (non Z51) runflats as well so the Nittos may or may not help in a stock/near stock power level situation like that.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,905
Likes: 1
The best I've gotten so far, and granted it was only a 50 degree day and the track probally didn't have a lot of heat in it, was 1.9XX's. I hope any company comes out with DRs, it was just that Nitto actually responded back to my request. If there is any co. out there you guys like better, let's email them too. The whole reason for the want for DRs in the stock size is two fold...1) don't have to take more wheels and tires to the track and keeps the run what you brung look,and 2)Don't want to have to worry that midway down the track the computer will say "oops...no tire pressure...limp mode".
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,549
Likes: 27
From: Southampton NJ
The best I've gotten so far, and granted it was only a 50 degree day and the track probally didn't have a lot of heat in it, was 1.9XX's. I hope any company comes out with DRs, it was just that Nitto actually responded back to my request. If there is any co. out there you guys like better, let's email them too. The whole reason for the want for DRs in the stock size is two fold...1) don't have to take more wheels and tires to the track and keeps the run what you brung look,and 2)Don't want to have to worry that midway down the track the computer will say "oops...no tire pressure...limp mode".
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,950
Likes: 264
From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
The best I've gotten so far, and granted it was only a 50 degree day and the track probally didn't have a lot of heat in it, was 1.9XX's. I hope any company comes out with DRs, it was just that Nitto actually responded back to my request. If there is any co. out there you guys like better, let's email them too. The whole reason for the want for DRs in the stock size is two fold...1) don't have to take more wheels and tires to the track and keeps the run what you brung look,and 2)Don't want to have to worry that midway down the track the computer will say "oops...no tire pressure...limp mode".
If you want to drive up on drag radials I'd recommend the Nitto 555 or the BF Goodrich drag radials they already make in 18" size like Dennis has, I saw a set mounted up on repro C6 wheels and they look good, tall like factory size. When they are new they have a fair amount of tread grooves, I see guys daily driving these pretty often.
Here's a post from Ranger that made me think twice about driving on my drag radials. I've always been afraid of this but never heard of it actually happening until now:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...5&postcount=33
So I think I'll go back to my original plan!
Last edited by Joe_G; Jan 25, 2007 at 06:28 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,549
Likes: 27
From: Southampton NJ
Joe i wouldnt worry about what happened to ranger it had to be another problem like near the gas station over flow oil leak trans leak from another car. who knows. but i drove my 5.0 everyday in snow ice rain for 2 years 3 sets bfgs 63000 miles no problems
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,254
Likes: 136
From: Short Hills, NJ
If they were really worn down smooth I could easily see it happening just as Ranger describes but I've been running drag radials (first Nittos, then BFGs, now M/Ts) on the back of my Z28 for 4 straight years now and while most of that was only in dry conditions more recently I've been out in the rain since the Z28 has become more of a daily driver for me. I will admit though that a good, full treaded, rain oriented front tire helps as well...I was limited to only 60mph on the highway one night in heavy rain earlier in the month because my front tires are starting to really wear down but when I had good tread on the fronts the rear DRs were ok in most wet scenarios.
I like having DRs on there full time for that 'drive to the track and run street car convenience' and also for any impromptu street encounters
that might pop up.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,905
Likes: 1
If they were really worn down smooth I could easily see it happening just as Ranger describes but I've been running drag radials (first Nittos, then BFGs, now M/Ts) on the back of my Z28 for 4 straight years now and while most of that was only in dry conditions more recently I've been out in the rain since the Z28 has become more of a daily driver for me. I will admit though that a good, full treaded, rain oriented front tire helps as well...I was limited to only 60mph on the highway one night in heavy rain earlier in the month because my front tires are starting to really wear down but when I had good tread on the fronts the rear DRs were ok in most wet scenarios.
I like having DRs on there full time for that 'drive to the track and run street car convenience' and also for any impromptu street encounters
that might pop up.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 294
Likes: 2
From: Romeo Michigan
I drove 80 miles to the track on my drag radials with no sensors last time. The computer doesn't go to "limp mode" but because it can't tell the rear tire pressure it turns off active handling and competition mode. Traction control still works but of course you don't want to use that at the track. I was a little nervous driving on the MT drag radials and I don't think I'll make a habit out of it. But we had 0% chance of rain that night so I did it.
If you want to drive up on drag radials I'd recommend the Nitto 555 or the BF Goodrich drag radials they already make in 18" size like Dennis has, I saw a set mounted up on repro C6 wheels and they look good, tall like factory size. When they are new they have a fair amount of tread grooves, I see guys daily driving these pretty often.
Here's a post from Ranger that made me think twice about driving on my drag radials. I've always been afraid of this but never heard of it actually happening until now:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...5&postcount=33
So I think I'll go back to my original plan!
If you want to drive up on drag radials I'd recommend the Nitto 555 or the BF Goodrich drag radials they already make in 18" size like Dennis has, I saw a set mounted up on repro C6 wheels and they look good, tall like factory size. When they are new they have a fair amount of tread grooves, I see guys daily driving these pretty often.
Here's a post from Ranger that made me think twice about driving on my drag radials. I've always been afraid of this but never heard of it actually happening until now:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...5&postcount=33
So I think I'll go back to my original plan!
Joe_G...where did you find the trailer hitch for your C6? Did you have to drill any holes for the installation?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,950
Likes: 264
From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
http://www.etrailer.com/hitch-2005_C...t_Corvette.htm
$.99 cents shipping! Yes, you have to drill 4 holes. I had my shop do it on the lift, cost about $60.