Looking for the answer here.
I am in process of a very near future tire replacement on the rear of my Z06. I have read up on the Hoosier R6, and Nitto Nt05 Drags, and sticky Mickey Thompsons ET street II's.
My question and my interest is this:

R6's are they the best choice for occasional strip and hardcore street?
I "heard" they are dead hook tires when warm.

The Mickeys I hear are vibration makers.. I "hear" they are comon balance problematic..? Maybe maybe not, Idk.

The Nitto's seem common, is it price or performance?
I ran some Nitto's back in 2001 on a Lightning and they held pretty good but under some fierce burnouts they appeared oily. Has that been resolved or still a common issue..

BTW, I intend to go 345/30/19 if thats a factor.
I spin 1 through 3rd into 4th chirppin and its getting old. +500 rwhp.

Id appreciate the feedback from users. THe car has been reduced to light street, one track night a week, weather pending of course.

 

I have used the MT ET IIs for about 2 years now. They work great and I've not heard from my installers about any problems with balancing.
I would point out that I use the 345/35/18 tire... I'm not sure they make a 345 in 19".
I went with the 18" for a little more sidewall/ better traction.

 

The answer depends on how serious you are about traction and how much money you're willing to spend to get it.

It sounds like you intend to use the same tires in stock sizes for all activities, but there is no one-size-fits-all best tire for multiple conditions.

You need to pick the priority (street or strip) and know that without changing tires/wheels, the other will be a poor compromise.

 

What he said...

 

Hoosier r6s are a road race tire. You don't want them on a car you just drive around. Nitto suck. I've tried them all,but they are better than Michelin crap. Mickeys are the ultimate tire for grip. And they do make 19s now. But, just like anything there is 2 sides. Mickeys are probably the worst when it comes to rain....so choose wisely

 

I've never used them on the strip, but I have NT05R's on for the street. They gripped perfectly @ 595 RWHP, but now they slip even in hard 3rd pulls on the fwy @ 666 RWHP. Obviously, once hot and gooey after a burnout, YMMV.

And MT doesn't make ET Street II's in 19x345's, just 19x305.

 

Yes, I missed a few details guys, Mickey only sells the 305 in 19" I fully understand.
As for the Nitto, the crowd seems still swayed.
On the R6's I intend to avoid rain, so hardcore street hits and a track night a week are only intended. Rain is not my friend. lol

I must say I am leaning toward the R6's and Nito as a strong contender. The Mickeys might move up the ladder is there is more feedback +.

The botomline is Im spinning in the sickest way out of the hole on the runcraps.
I hate them and they are not happening. Michelins never entered my mind. More of the same.
My intention is to add 100hp to an already 5XX plus set-up. I am looking for the parameters mentioned in terms of usage - rain. I need a tire that can be driven on the street to the track without nail biting and vibration there and back. I also need a tire that can hang on the strip in terms of leaving. Dual purpose not so much, just need to gain some grip. I run most all times on track for "racing" but those every now and then stop light launches are necessary. No denial. We are all realists.
In terms of the Mickeys, the 305 with a 35 sidewall will pull flatter on the rim shortening the sidewall, yes? My car is somewhat LOW, and I want the tires to be as unnoticed to the eye as possible when in motion(obviously you cannot hide sidewall markings). I like the unknowing factor. Going from a 325 to a 305 losing the 25mm concerns me but i might be overreading into it and in my mind they will appear skinny cross section wise. Yes? no?
Keep those real world opinions coming. I am listening.

 

We have ran numerous tires on the track. As many have stated above, there is no one size fits all. ALL DRs will not give you the same handling comfort level that a performance street tire will. Having said that, the 305x35x19 MT DRs are one of the better compromise tires. They will get you home in the rain at highway speeds, provide some lateral support with the reduced sidewall and can produce low 1.6s at the track with some practice. The overall height of this tire will be +/- 27.7" on the stock rim and the rim will appear to stick out from the bead due to the narrower section width. All in all we are happy with this setup as a street setup and is better handling than the bias ply ET Streets and skinnies. (You will just not see 1.40s with the DRs. )

 

I am using MT 305/35x18" on my car.. & I drive it 100 miles each way to & from the track...

I try to avoid driving in the rain but "HAVE" gotten caught in some heavy rain with them.. I just slow down to 40-45 mph and stay in the right hand lane..

As for traction, I am getting 1.6x with my 05 (A4) and run 11.59 (best) in cool weather..

My car was making 397 RWHP when I ran those ET's... It (my car) is in the shop now and its getting a 403" ci stroker motor, & should be around 500 RWHP... I plan on sticking with MT Drag Radials..

I have a 2800 converter, and if I switch to a 3800 converter I "WILL" need more tire... I haven't had the car at a track since the new motor.. but I'm hoping to keep the same size tire...

 

I get 1.4 60 foots at will with my 315/35/17 Mickey Thompson ETII's. I like the ET II tread pattern better than the original pattern for rain. But 315's rub on stock c6 fenders on c5 z06 rims. They do not rub with the wide rear fenders.

I have run Mickey Thompson tires for years, both original and ETII, and have NEVER had a vibration problem, except the one time I had tires mounted and went up to the track right after....I spun the tires on the rims as the bead had not set yet. A rebalance after drying and no problem afterward. You need to wait a couple of days before hitting the track after mounting tires.

 

Drove a bit tonight, and I have to say, the NT05R 345x19's really are woefully inadequate since I got the new tune after the meth kit install. It's a whole new bucking bronco of a car.

Really hoping that MT comes out with a 19x345, because I don't want to go to 18's. But honestly, the car was probably faster with 70 less HP because it hooked. Something to consider for anyone thinking about going above 600 RWHP and wanting to hook off of the track.

 

The first thing to consider is the availability of selection related to wheel diameter. 15" has the greatest number of offerings while 19" has the least. Of course, for the 15/16's you'd need the LG hub mod.
This is where the tire type and compound variations are available.

Then consider the tread width vs sidewall height vs overall diameter. The size needed will depend on your HP, gear ratios, and clearance concerns.

Finally consider weight vs longevity.
Of the three major players (MT, M&H, Hoosier) Hoosier's are the lightest by 3-5#, but since most of the weight difference is on the tread surface, they don't last as long, but hook better and have less rolling resistance.

Member Stanger has cut 1.2 60's and ran mid 9's with 315/35x17 Hoosier DRs. He probably has less than 600 HP, but that shows it's possible.

 

They run huge. They are wider than my 315s I run on my 911 turbo. And with such grip, excess tire is just wasted friction. Looks like you could use a set

 

I might have to try the 305's, even if I hate giving up the wide look. The MT rep just returned my e-mail and said he was unaware of any plans to make a 19x345.

 

The 305 Mickeys run huge meaning width? I'm sorry a lil' lost on that reply.
Throw a few pics up guys for anyone following including myself please!!
I'd like to get an idea of look/dimension, etc..

 

Well they are certainly tall, due to their section width of 35 vs 30 for the Nittos (27.9" dia on MT's vs 27.36" for the NT05R 345's, which are tall themselves!). So more sidewall with the MT's.

I, too, would like to see some pics. If only they had a way to search for that.

 

 

Is this a 19x12 with 305/35 or 18x10.5 replica?

OP I would not consider the R6 if talking about launching at the dragstrip as it has an extremely stiff sidewall that doesn't allow the cushion of any drivetrain shock on launch if you have a M6, now auto is a different story.

 

Chris- These are the OEM rear wheels with the 305x35x19s.

 

Yeah a consideration, M6 here.
Any pics running 345 Nitto 19"??