Drag radials
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 18
Likes: 4
From: Slidell, LA
Drag radials
I have 18 x 12 rear wheels for my 2011 ZR1, I have Mickey Thompson 3581 ET street R radials P325/35-18 they are worn and looking to replace them. I found Mickey Thompson 3483 ET street S/S P345/35-18, they both have they same compound will one provide better traction than the other? I don’t like how the 325’s get squirrelly at high speeds, I know these are made for the track, so will the wider 345 provide more traction even as it was designed for the street? I have around 900 rwhp, I have r888’s on the factory 20’s and love them except for lack of traction, Am I just wishing for traction with all these tires?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,108
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
I have 18 x 12 rear wheels for my 2011 ZR1, I have Mickey Thompson 3581 ET street R radials P325/35-18 they are worn and looking to replace them. I found Mickey Thompson 3483 ET street S/S P345/35-18, they both have they same compound will one provide better traction than the other? I don’t like how the 325’s get squirrelly at high speeds, I know these are made for the track, so will the wider 345 provide more traction even as it was designed for the street? I have around 900 rwhp, I have r888’s on the factory 20’s and love them except for lack of traction, Am I just wishing for traction with all these tires?
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 13,262
Likes: 3,151
From: SW Florida
2021 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
HOXXOH already mentioned this ...
Look for a drag radial with a 40 or 45 aspect ratio. The bigger the sidewall, the better for a good launch . (more flex)
Look for a drag radial with a 40 or 45 aspect ratio. The bigger the sidewall, the better for a good launch . (more flex)
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 13,262
Likes: 3,151
From: SW Florida
2021 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
One thing to remember ... The taller the rear tire, the more it will effect the overall drive ratio. Putting a tall rear tire on the car would be like changing the rear axle ratio from a 4.11 to a 3.73 (just an example)
Here is a calculator that will tell you what a different rear tire diameter will do to your overall rear wheel drive ratio. . You will need the diameter of your OEM rear tires and the new drag radials you plan on installing (and of course your OEM rear axle ratio)
https://www.intercotire.com/tire_siz...tio_calculator
Here is a calculator that will tell you what a different rear tire diameter will do to your overall rear wheel drive ratio. . You will need the diameter of your OEM rear tires and the new drag radials you plan on installing (and of course your OEM rear axle ratio)
https://www.intercotire.com/tire_siz...tio_calculator
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Feb 2011
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2024 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (track prepared)
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 13,262
Likes: 3,151
From: SW Florida
2021 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,108
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
The reason a 315/35x17 works well for Subfloor, is the combo of a higher torque engine and a high stall TC that shifts a lot (mostly all 
) of the weight to the rear on the launch. That creates a really long footprint to get those 1.3 second 60' times. My LS3 bolton doesn't have the torque to shift that much weight even with a 4K stall TC, so I need a narrower tire (275/40x17) with a taller sidewall to get a long footprint.
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