Any suggestions for drag radials? I used my 18's at the track when I ran the 12.82. They have the nitto 555r 's on em... and they hooked pretty damn good. 1.8 sixty foot........... however, I dont want to keep burning my street tires at the track. I have the old stock aluminum polished 18's. Should I just put radials on those?

Suggestions? would it really matter if I used a smaller rim?

 

While I use 18s on the street, I use 17s for the track. The 17s are just a bit lighter, and there are simply more choices in drag tires. I use 26x11.5-17 Mickey Thompson ET Streets and they've hooked to 1.59 60 fts, although 1.6-1.7 is the norm. The MTs are really about 26.5" tall by the way.

The only problem with a dedicated set of drag wheels/tires is travel to and from the track. Real drag tires wear fast with highway use, especially towards the center of the tire, and you want to swap them out at the track. So now you have a security problem (do you leave your two street tires, jack and jack standslaying around while you race?). If you have to travel on the tires then I'd recommend the Mickey Thompson ET Street Radials in 275/40-17. My son often comes with me and takes my truck, so securing our tools and tires isn't an issue those days. Or I meet someone at the track that has a truck to lock stuff up, and I use two TireTotes (TireRack) for hauling the wheels/tires in the cars cleanly.

Another consideration is tire diameter. I've been watching this trend of new 17"tires in 28" diametersgetting released, and have learned that using one of them can actually decrease your ETs if you are not careful. Larger tires have more rolling resistence AND should only be considered when you have a bit more power than stock (I've been hearing an honest 335-350hp) and 4.10-4.30 gears in normally aspirated vehicles. With 325hp, I'm a bit bummed but man they sure LOOK nice on our cars. I might try these new sizes out next spring.

From meeting you I'm guessing you race in the Maryland area. Hope to see your car with all the new mods at the SuperStallions drag day at Cecil County November 17...

John

 

mickey thompson ET Street Radials. they can be used on the street, and grip absolutely FANTASTIC. size 275/40-17, will fit on a stock 8 inch rim.

 

absofreakinlutely! I love my M&H 275/50/17's

They are raffling off a set on M0dularfords.com to help raise money for Don W. (his house burned down in Cali.)