Drag wheel setup
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 124
Likes: 5
Drag wheel setup
I was looking at getting my Dad a pair of wheels with drag radials. I found some 18X9.5 with 6"-Back spacing. They r off a 00/01 corvette. If I can use these, what would be the best tire and size to get for the track (Drag strip)
Race Director
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 13,298
Likes: 14
From: Somers NY
I have been drag racing probably longer than you have been alive Racing since 1961..
If you dads car is not 700 + HP.... using my car as example I have an 2005 A4 with minor bolt ons, & a tune..
As for tires I am using Mickey Thompson 265/40x18 and they HOOK FANTASTIC....
On my old 96 that had more modifications, I used BFG 315/35x17 and they also worked fine.. my 96 had a 3000 converter..
My 2005 still has the stock converter and its never spun one time, my 60' are are around 1.86 and 1/4 mile ET are a best of 12.11 @ 115 mph..
I ran the tires at 30 LB of air with NO traction problems ever... IF I decide to go to a 3200 converter I might lower the air to 20 lb.. but I'll start at 30 and see how it hooks...
If you dads car is not 700 + HP.... using my car as example I have an 2005 A4 with minor bolt ons, & a tune..
As for tires I am using Mickey Thompson 265/40x18 and they HOOK FANTASTIC....
On my old 96 that had more modifications, I used BFG 315/35x17 and they also worked fine.. my 96 had a 3000 converter..
My 2005 still has the stock converter and its never spun one time, my 60' are are around 1.86 and 1/4 mile ET are a best of 12.11 @ 115 mph..
I ran the tires at 30 LB of air with NO traction problems ever... IF I decide to go to a 3200 converter I might lower the air to 20 lb.. but I'll start at 30 and see how it hooks...
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,922
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From: Cheektowaga NY
St. Jude Donor '08
What kinda trans do you have? Auto? Stick?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 124
Likes: 5
If your going to be running a 18/9.5 you want to go with the BFG drag radials.This setup has been proven to work very well. The tire size for that 18/9.5 would be 295 35 18 and that gives a tire diameter of 26.2. Your stockers are 26.64. It shouldn`t mess with your shift points because you are close to the stock diameter. Now if you run a smaller tire or smaller tire/rim, you add gearing, but it also messes the shift points up(hitting the rev-limiter). If you have HPtuners then i would say if you can, go with the smaller tire or smaller rim/tire(diameter) for the gearing advantaged.
What kinda trans do you have? Auto? Stick?
What kinda trans do you have? Auto? Stick?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 12,094
Likes: 197
From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
A6's (automatic) and the M6 (manual) are both 6 speeds.
Many people new to this car and having track aspirations have been warned about using 18" drag radials on a prepped track for manual transmission cars. There is no sidewall protection in cases on launch shock and wheel hop. Braciole broke 2 rear diffs using tires that have no flex to the sidewall on prepped tracks. Both were from wheel hop.
ECS's choice for the manual 6 is a 275 on a 17" rim. There are also 16" rim options.
Drag radials such as 18" BFG's will cause you so much financial loss on a prepped track. Rear diffs are 2100 for the core plus labor and any mods to the gearing/hardened shafts. Further if you dont have a trans brace like DTE's, expect more often than not to have trans output shaft and case damage. Typical repair bills can exceed 5-6k so do it right the first time and get the proper wheel diameter and soft sidewall for protection.
2005's can break the stock diff on the street with stock tires. If you didnt upgrade the case and have any level of mods it will break.
Many people new to this car and having track aspirations have been warned about using 18" drag radials on a prepped track for manual transmission cars. There is no sidewall protection in cases on launch shock and wheel hop. Braciole broke 2 rear diffs using tires that have no flex to the sidewall on prepped tracks. Both were from wheel hop.
ECS's choice for the manual 6 is a 275 on a 17" rim. There are also 16" rim options.
Drag radials such as 18" BFG's will cause you so much financial loss on a prepped track. Rear diffs are 2100 for the core plus labor and any mods to the gearing/hardened shafts. Further if you dont have a trans brace like DTE's, expect more often than not to have trans output shaft and case damage. Typical repair bills can exceed 5-6k so do it right the first time and get the proper wheel diameter and soft sidewall for protection.
2005's can break the stock diff on the street with stock tires. If you didnt upgrade the case and have any level of mods it will break.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,998
Likes: 1,681
From: Southeast TX
A6's (automatic) and the M6 (manual) are both 6 speeds.
Many people new to this car and having track aspirations have been warned about using 18" drag radials on a prepped track for manual transmission cars. There is no sidewall protection in cases on launch shock and wheel hop. Braciole broke 2 rear diffs using tires that have no flex to the sidewall on prepped tracks. Both were from wheel hop.
ECS's choice for the manual 6 is a 275 on a 17" rim. There are also 16" rim options.
Drag radials such as 18" BFG's will cause you so much financial loss on a prepped track. Rear diffs are 2100 for the core plus labor and any mods to the gearing/hardened shafts. Further if you dont have a trans brace like DTE's, expect more often than not to have trans output shaft and case damage. Typical repair bills can exceed 5-6k so do it right the first time and get the proper wheel diameter and soft sidewall for protection.
2005's can break the stock diff on the street with stock tires. If you didnt upgrade the case and have any level of mods it will break.
Many people new to this car and having track aspirations have been warned about using 18" drag radials on a prepped track for manual transmission cars. There is no sidewall protection in cases on launch shock and wheel hop. Braciole broke 2 rear diffs using tires that have no flex to the sidewall on prepped tracks. Both were from wheel hop.
ECS's choice for the manual 6 is a 275 on a 17" rim. There are also 16" rim options.
Drag radials such as 18" BFG's will cause you so much financial loss on a prepped track. Rear diffs are 2100 for the core plus labor and any mods to the gearing/hardened shafts. Further if you dont have a trans brace like DTE's, expect more often than not to have trans output shaft and case damage. Typical repair bills can exceed 5-6k so do it right the first time and get the proper wheel diameter and soft sidewall for protection.
2005's can break the stock diff on the street with stock tires. If you didnt upgrade the case and have any level of mods it will break.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 12,094
Likes: 197
From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
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Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,235
Likes: 119
From: Short Hills, NJ
Only recently has CCW made a 16" Classic that can fit properly on the C6s/C6 Z06s but they're quite costly.
Most 17s fit/clear nicely though.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 13,298
Likes: 14
From: Somers NY
Right now I'm using 18"x9.5 rims with 265/40x18 MT they are just a tiny bit narrower than the 275 BFG BUT the sidewall is 40 vs 35 for the BFG its just a little more sidewall... i plan on going to 17" rims ASP
Also from about only 20-25 runs i have on the MT... I seem to think they are a SOFTER compound than the BFG.. (I'm SURE) they (the MT) do wear faster than the BGFs.
I'm not sure if the overall diameter of the 265/40x18 MT but they are close to the stock ,,(maybe a little shorter) however I'm stock and am having no problem hooking even on a marginal track (1.86 60' times) 12.11 ET
Are there any 17" rims that even remotely look like the stock 2005 polished aluminum wheels? If anyone knows of a 17" 5 spoke polished wheel 9.5" or wider for my C5 I'd appreciate a yell or just a tip... thanks
Also from about only 20-25 runs i have on the MT... I seem to think they are a SOFTER compound than the BFG.. (I'm SURE) they (the MT) do wear faster than the BGFs.
I'm not sure if the overall diameter of the 265/40x18 MT but they are close to the stock ,,(maybe a little shorter) however I'm stock and am having no problem hooking even on a marginal track (1.86 60' times) 12.11 ET
Are there any 17" rims that even remotely look like the stock 2005 polished aluminum wheels? If anyone knows of a 17" 5 spoke polished wheel 9.5" or wider for my C5 I'd appreciate a yell or just a tip... thanks
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,922
Likes: 4
From: Cheektowaga NY
St. Jude Donor '08
A6's (automatic) and the M6 (manual) are both 6 speeds.
Many people new to this car and having track aspirations have been warned about using 18" drag radials on a prepped track for manual transmission cars. There is no sidewall protection in cases on launch shock and wheel hop. Braciole broke 2 rear diffs using tires that have no flex to the sidewall on prepped tracks. Both were from wheel hop.
ECS's choice for the manual 6 is a 275 on a 17" rim. There are also 16" rim options.
Drag radials such as 18" BFG's will cause you so much financial loss on a prepped track. Rear diffs are 2100 for the core plus labor and any mods to the gearing/hardened shafts. Further if you dont have a trans brace like DTE's, expect more often than not to have trans output shaft and case damage. Typical repair bills can exceed 5-6k so do it right the first time and get the proper wheel diameter and soft sidewall for protection.
2005's can break the stock diff on the street with stock tires. If you didnt upgrade the case and have any level of mods it will break.
Many people new to this car and having track aspirations have been warned about using 18" drag radials on a prepped track for manual transmission cars. There is no sidewall protection in cases on launch shock and wheel hop. Braciole broke 2 rear diffs using tires that have no flex to the sidewall on prepped tracks. Both were from wheel hop.
ECS's choice for the manual 6 is a 275 on a 17" rim. There are also 16" rim options.
Drag radials such as 18" BFG's will cause you so much financial loss on a prepped track. Rear diffs are 2100 for the core plus labor and any mods to the gearing/hardened shafts. Further if you dont have a trans brace like DTE's, expect more often than not to have trans output shaft and case damage. Typical repair bills can exceed 5-6k so do it right the first time and get the proper wheel diameter and soft sidewall for protection.
2005's can break the stock diff on the street with stock tires. If you didnt upgrade the case and have any level of mods it will break.
Manuals are breaking left and right at the tracks. Thats why i asked if it was an auto or stick. I haven`t heard of any A6`s breaking rears and i have had plenty of passes with the 295 35 18 bfg drag radials
. The bfg`s hook. Look at Dennis`s car, 1.47-1.50 60fts with that 295 35 18 bfg. My best so far is 1.64 with stock 2.56 gears. The tire is very consistent at the track. I made 4 passes the last time out and the 60fts were 1.64,1.64,1.65,1.66.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,235
Likes: 119
From: Short Hills, NJ
Race Director
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 13,298
Likes: 14
From: Somers NY
I definitely do not want wagon wheels (although I tried a set and they do fit).. maybe I should try House of Wheels to see if they have anything...right now I have 18" thin spoke polished aluminum for my DR on the rear... if I can get 17" I'll sell my 18"
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,235
Likes: 119
From: Short Hills, NJ
Race Director
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 13,298
Likes: 14
From: Somers NY
... but I'm hooking great with the MT...at 30 lb of air 1.86 60' time..Jeanne went 1.91 DEEP staging at out last race in 35 deg weather.. but I guess she don't count
all 105 lb of her 
BTW she went .016 and .000 on the tree so I guess she has the current set up figured out pretty well
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,984
Likes: 16
From: Amityville New York
Go to the after market rims section and get your dad a set of 1995 ZR1 rims and buy a set of MT ET Drag radial from Summit or Jegs the tire size are 26x11.5x17 and it works perfect and hooks like a leach. But remember if your dad still got the stock rear and clutch, he will be having some serious expense. Sometimes its better to get wheel spin than to break ****.The 2005 rears are weak and the stock clutch are week and even the output shalf has to be harden. Both the tranny output shalf and the rear output shalf. If he is not making big HPlike 500+ then the rear and clutch is very important immediately.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 124
Likes: 5
So basically if I get him drag radials even on 17' wheels he's on barrowed time? He's getting his corsa sport catback tomarrow and will probably get an intake soon but other then that he will probably leave it as is. Also If I do decide to go with the 17' 1995 Zr1 wheels, where is a good place to buy them.