Drag radial size ?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 134
Likes: 1
From: McAllen Texas
Drag radial size ?
Going with some Mickey Thompson ET Streer R on my C7. Was leaning towards the 27” tire (325/35/18) since its close to stock height . Would the taller 29” (305/45/18) tire have any advantage over the other?
Mods:
100 shot nitrous
LT headers
X pipe
e85
CAI
tune
Mods:
100 shot nitrous
LT headers
X pipe
e85
CAI
tune
Supporting Tuner
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,227
Likes: 28
From: Dearborn Heights MI
I would definitely recommend going with the taller 305/45/18 overall this is the best option for the power range you are most likely in and should give you the best traction
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 7,052
Likes: 945
From: DFW TX
The 305/45 is going to rub. Bad. trust me 
..
I experimented with a BUNCH of tire sizes and the only ones that fit just right are the 305/35/18. I ran these and they worked perfectly... and I am at 1000+ wheel.
..I experimented with a BUNCH of tire sizes and the only ones that fit just right are the 305/35/18. I ran these and they worked perfectly... and I am at 1000+ wheel.
Supporting Tuner
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,227
Likes: 28
From: Dearborn Heights MI
It all depends on what wheel you go with and what offset it is of what will work best so that would be the first thing to know after that the chocie will be easier on the correct tire
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 7,052
Likes: 945
From: DFW TX
I suppose.... I ran 18inch forgelines with a pretty dialed in offset. They rubbed the inside of the fender liner and the back side closest to the rear of the car, when I ran anything bigger than the 305/35.. What freaked me out was it rubbed one of the wheel liner screws that's on that flat surface and put a nice line if the tire... At 180 mph.
Supporting Tuner
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,227
Likes: 28
From: Dearborn Heights MI
I suppose.... I ran 18inch forgelines with a pretty dialed in offset. They rubbed the inside of the fender liner and the back side closest to the rear of the car, when I ran anything bigger than the 305/35.. What freaked me out was it rubbed one of the wheel liner screws that's on that flat surface and put a nice line if the tire... At 180 mph.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 134
Likes: 1
From: McAllen Texas
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 134
Likes: 1
From: McAllen Texas
what brand of radials where you running? I believe the M/T ET street R only comes in 325/35/18 and 305/45/18
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Pro
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 687
Likes: 83
From: Fort Worth Texas
I suppose.... I ran 18inch forgelines with a pretty dialed in offset. They rubbed the inside of the fender liner and the back side closest to the rear of the car, when I ran anything bigger than the 305/35.. What freaked me out was it rubbed one of the wheel liner screws that's on that flat surface and put a nice line if the tire... At 180 mph.
I've got my 18" rear setup going and I am decently happy with the results thus far. Let me see if I can explain myself with a question that I have about my 18" drag setup.
I went searching for this very topic today and I can't seem to nail down a solid response.
The tire in question: Mickey Thompson's
Tire sizes in question: 305/35-18's vs. 305/40-18's
Platform: C7 (specifically my platform is a 2014 Z51)
The factory rear tire on my C7 with the stock Michelin PSS's is 285/30-20's.
Stock rear tire height on Michelin PSS's is published at 26.8"
It obviously does not rub.
I currently own Mickey Thompson 305/35-18's.
The published tire height of these tires is 26.61"
When I measured this brand new MT tire over and over, the tires measure 26" - 26.1"
There seems to be a discrepancy of 1/2" which makes the tire look a bit short.
There is an OBVIOUS height difference between a stock Michelin rear tire vs. the Mickey Thompson.
This setup does not rub.
I am not throwing any codes or anything like that but I am curious if I should step up to a Mickey Thompson 305/40-18.
The 305/40-18 is published to be 27.99" tall. I just left my local shop that just mounted this exact setup on a C7 Z51.
They appear to fit just fine and it does look like it fills out the fender well a lot better. When we measured the tire, it was again, 1/2" shorter.
The 305/40-18 measured at 27.5"
So, I would really like to hear other C7 owners with these exact setups. I already have a noticeable sway at freeway speeds with my 305/35-18's.
Would the rear end sway get "worse" on a MT 305/40-18's due to the increased sidewall? Will it rub? Any benefits of a 35 vs a 40 series MT drag radial?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 7,052
Likes: 945
From: DFW TX
Hey C7&7... LTNS!
I've got my 18" rear setup going and I am decently happy with the results thus far. Let me see if I can explain myself with a question that I have about my 18" drag setup.
I went searching for this very topic today and I can't seem to nail down a solid response.
The tire in question: Mickey Thompson's
Tire sizes in question: 305/35-18's vs. 305/40-18's
Platform: C7 (specifically my platform is a 2014 Z51)
The factory rear tire on my C7 with the stock Michelin PSS's is 285/30-20's.
Stock rear tire height on Michelin PSS's is published at 26.8"
It obviously does not rub.
I currently own Mickey Thompson 305/35-18's.
The published tire height of these tires is 26.61"
When I measured this brand new MT tire over and over, the tires measure 26" - 26.1"
There seems to be a discrepancy of 1/2" which makes the tire look a bit short.
There is an OBVIOUS height difference between a stock Michelin rear tire vs. the Mickey Thompson.
This setup does not rub.
I am not throwing any codes or anything like that but I am curious if I should step up to a Mickey Thompson 305/40-18.
The 305/40-18 is published to be 27.99" tall. I just left my local shop that just mounted this exact setup on a C7 Z51.
They appear to fit just fine and it does look like it fills out the fender well a lot better. When we measured the tire, it was again, 1/2" shorter.
The 305/40-18 measured at 27.5"
So, I would really like to hear other C7 owners with these exact setups. I already have a noticeable sway at freeway speeds with my 305/35-18's.
Would the rear end sway get "worse" on a MT 305/40-18's due to the increased sidewall? Will it rub? Any benefits of a 35 vs a 40 series MT drag radial?
I've got my 18" rear setup going and I am decently happy with the results thus far. Let me see if I can explain myself with a question that I have about my 18" drag setup.
I went searching for this very topic today and I can't seem to nail down a solid response.
The tire in question: Mickey Thompson's
Tire sizes in question: 305/35-18's vs. 305/40-18's
Platform: C7 (specifically my platform is a 2014 Z51)
The factory rear tire on my C7 with the stock Michelin PSS's is 285/30-20's.
Stock rear tire height on Michelin PSS's is published at 26.8"
It obviously does not rub.
I currently own Mickey Thompson 305/35-18's.
The published tire height of these tires is 26.61"
When I measured this brand new MT tire over and over, the tires measure 26" - 26.1"
There seems to be a discrepancy of 1/2" which makes the tire look a bit short.
There is an OBVIOUS height difference between a stock Michelin rear tire vs. the Mickey Thompson.
This setup does not rub.
I am not throwing any codes or anything like that but I am curious if I should step up to a Mickey Thompson 305/40-18.
The 305/40-18 is published to be 27.99" tall. I just left my local shop that just mounted this exact setup on a C7 Z51.
They appear to fit just fine and it does look like it fills out the fender well a lot better. When we measured the tire, it was again, 1/2" shorter.
The 305/40-18 measured at 27.5"
So, I would really like to hear other C7 owners with these exact setups. I already have a noticeable sway at freeway speeds with my 305/35-18's.
Would the rear end sway get "worse" on a MT 305/40-18's due to the increased sidewall? Will it rub? Any benefits of a 35 vs a 40 series MT drag radial?
305/40s will rub bad. I ran them a couple events and they rubbed bad. 305/35 is your best bet.
Last edited by C7&7; Jul 18, 2019 at 03:51 PM.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 687
Likes: 83
From: Fort Worth Texas
Thanks! Doing well.. Kind of scary how well I seem to be doing. The only downside is I'm CONSTANTLY working, not being able to enjoy our C7. As for your 305/40's "testing," I'm glad you shared your experiences and yet I'm sorry to hear that they were rubbing bad. So, it looks like I will be keeping our 305/35's. With you having solid experiences with Micky Thompson ET drag radial tires, have you found any better straight line performance 18" tire for the streets?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 7,052
Likes: 945
From: DFW TX
Thanks! Doing well.. Kind of scary how well I seem to be doing. The only downside is I'm CONSTANTLY working, not being able to enjoy our C7. As for your 305/40's "testing," I'm glad you shared your experiences and yet I'm sorry to hear that they were rubbing bad. So, it looks like I will be keeping our 305/35's. With you having solid experiences with Micky Thompson ET drag radial tires, have you found any better straight line performance 18" tire for the streets?
