I need a set of 275/40/17's.
These are for drag use only. The only reason I'm not getting slicks is that I'm driving 50 to 125 miles depending on what track I'm going to.
My car is an 08 Z-51, M6 with headers, borla exhaust and Vera Ram.
I've sifted through the forum with no real consensus.
Considering my narrow use(drag only) which tire would be my best choice?

Thanks in advance.

Marc

 

For a stick car, a bias ply will always be the better option. That said, the Hoosier radial has the softest overall construction and sidewall for the radials. That will be the best option with a stick.

 

Buy 17" Hoosiers and 9.5 x 17 wheels (C4 or C5 Z06). Throw them in the hatch with a jack and torque wrench and change at the track.

An average 200 mile round trip on the same tires would use them up in 5 trips.

 

Hoosiers are lighter, arguably slightly sticker, last about ½ as long and are HORRIBLE in the rain (like wreck your car from hydroplaning bad). Living in FL you have a good chance of getting stuck in the rain which means you'd be wise to stop and wait it out until the roads are dry.

Mickey Thompsons are slightly heavier, have terrific traction, and are not so bad in the rain (you still have to slow down) so long as the tread remains and will last about twice as long.

Given these facts which I doubt anyone will dispute, based upon my years of observations of friends who've tried many solutions, I've always chosen Mickeys and always been happy.

As to wheels, c5 z06 wheels are a great choice, light and inexpensive. But, if you want to go cheaper, regular c5 front wheels are an inch narrower but will work just fine with 275 tires, I did it for years. They are very cheap too, much cheaper than z06 wheels but slightly heavier.

Age matters a lot in drag radials. Once they are 3 or more years old (as you can tell from the sidewall date) they lose their bite even if they have plenty of tread. Given your mods this isn't such an issue, 17 psi with some Mickeys and some practice and you'll be cutting high 1.7's.

I don't know how experienced you are, but regardless, this is a TERRIFIC resource. Read the entire website and pay particular attention to the clutch care section:

www.rangeracceleration.com

Good luck and keep us posted how you do.

 

We have driven that distance on bias ply tires without issue. (M/T ET Streets and M&H skinnies) However, if you are going DRs and do not drive in the rain, the Hoosiers cannot be beat. If there is a chance you may get caught in the rain and wish to continue driving, the M/Ts as Joe stated are a better option.

 

Joe G, regarding driving in the rain, that was one of my concerns.

I do have a set of C5 front wheels and an old set of BFGoodrich drag radials that I bought as a package from a fellow club member. I've tried them once at the strip and and got very little traction. I was spinning going into 3rd gear. I used to do a lot of auto crossing and drag racing with a fox bodied Mustang and Joe is right. The tires get harder as they get older.

Given the advice I'm leaning toward the M/Ts


Thanks all for your advice.

 

A sound decision. I think you will be happy.

Keep in mind you cannot dump a Vette clutch like you can a Mustang. You must walk it out. Eliminating the bog is key to the good 60 foot. Accelerating into the clutch release vs holding and letting out is the key to that.

Any wheelhop will kill your rear end. Abort the run if you get any.

 

Last Sunday in CA, I coached a bone stock on street tires C6 M6 owner (1 month ownership and 1st trip to the strip) from his two earlier 13.2x second runs and 2.2x 60' times, to a 12.6x with a 1.9x 60'. He learned quickly and will certainly get better with practice.

Although, I still subscribe to driving to the track on street tires and changing to race tires there.

 

Tom, it's a great feeling helping out a new Vette owner attain the performance these cars are capable of isn't it.

I've coached a few, but none caught on as quickly as JustinJor (Juic3d)...he went from 11.2's and hating his car one week to a trip to PBIR one not so cool day where he turned in this hot lap....a hair away from the ls3 manual cam only record. On this run he dumped out the contents of his console and his floormats trying to get the record! This is the 4th in a row hot lap where he dropped down to this level. That dude is one quick study and not afraid of anything it seems, look for his sticky on how to rebuild a 6060 transmission. lol


Here I am getting some coaching from none other than Ranger himself. Though I didn't turn in a new Personal Best that cool evening, 4 other Vette owners did, which was such a nice feeling for all of them and for the coaches as well.

(this was before I installed AFR heads, I was cam only at the time)

 

Here's a video of my friend RRBob taken by Christopher Martin who coached him into his first 10 second pass. Listen at the end for how Christopher felt.

 

^^^ Tom I know that feeling..

After chasing it for two seasons, if you listen closely on this run...I think you can hear me screaming like Chris at the end of the ¼ at the ticket booth when I finally got this slip. This before AFR heads as well. I seriously hurt my voice. lol

 

I think I was more excited than Bob was.

 

Im a believer in the hoosier dot drag radial in 275/40/17. I have them on 17x9.5 c5 repo wheels and it hooks good on the street and does 1.4x 60fts at the track. And it tucks in the fender so no worry with crushing the rear fenders if your lowered

 

I have a set of hooosires also 315/35/17 got from someone else.. think im switching to the 275 40 17 this year ran a 11.3 125 1.7 60ft oem clutch I drive on the street with these when people want to do some street racing

 

This is the way to go!!

Ron

 

Update:
I got the M/T Streets and went to the track last night.
Best 60' time was 2.0, 8.15 in the 1/8th mile. 20lbs pressure.
I need lots of practice to be consistent.
No wheel hop what so ever.
I wish I had a shift light and some sort of launch rev limiter but I did have fun!

 

They will take a lot of practice since a DR is much softer. Tire pressure is a good starting point based on your mods. If the track is well prepped, then you may wish to even increase the tire pressure by a pound or two. Once you get comfortable, you can start launching higher assuming the track is there and 1.6s can be achieved. Good luck.

 

A two-step (launch rev limiter) won't help with a drag radial. You will have to ride the clutch to allow the slip that the tires need.

Just being the RPMs up a lot and ride out the clutch as you are adding throttle.