Nitto Drag radials, quick question
#1
Nitto Drag radials, quick question
I was looking at getting Nitto Drag radials, but I have 2 questions. I do know the pros and cons of these tires. On the website they list a 285/40/18 drag radial. Can the be used on a 18x9" rim? Is a special order size? Discount tire doesn't list this size.
#2
I found the 285/40/18 on discounttire direct but they are $282 each. At $199 each for the 275/50/17 the M&H drag radials would be a much better option. I would only mount the dragradials the day of or day before going to the track.
#3
Norm
#5
I dont see why it would be a problem running 285s on a 9" rim for track purposes. There are alot of people running 275s on the stock 8" rim. Myself included. No issues.
#6
DR's don't have a lot of lateral stiffness - that's one of the things usually sacrificed to get more straightline grip. Mounting tires on rims of below recommendations gives up a little more lateral stiffness. And finally, the lower pressures that many run give up still more.
I didn't say that you won't be able to get away with it. Just cautioning the OP about something he should reasonably expect.
Every once in a while, somebody does complain about poor stability going through the lights. Mostly, folks tell him to air the tires up a little and I guess that works well enough most of the time. I don't think I've ever seen the OP in those threads ask about any of the other contributing factors.
Actually, I suspect that going below the min recommended width costs you a little grip, since the tire's cross-section is being distorted away a little from its design shape. Maybe not a lot, but it might be just enough every once in a while. Unless there's some undocumented hot tip to the contrary, you'd normally expect the design shape for a drag tire that doesn't have to do much except hold air and go straight to be pretty close to the shape that would provide the best performance a dead-straight quarter mile at a time.
Norm
I didn't say that you won't be able to get away with it. Just cautioning the OP about something he should reasonably expect.
Every once in a while, somebody does complain about poor stability going through the lights. Mostly, folks tell him to air the tires up a little and I guess that works well enough most of the time. I don't think I've ever seen the OP in those threads ask about any of the other contributing factors.
Actually, I suspect that going below the min recommended width costs you a little grip, since the tire's cross-section is being distorted away a little from its design shape. Maybe not a lot, but it might be just enough every once in a while. Unless there's some undocumented hot tip to the contrary, you'd normally expect the design shape for a drag tire that doesn't have to do much except hold air and go straight to be pretty close to the shape that would provide the best performance a dead-straight quarter mile at a time.
Norm
Last edited by Norm Peterson; 05-04-2009 at 03:46 PM.
#7
DR's don't have a lot of lateral stiffness - that's one of the things usually sacrificed to get more straightline grip. Mounting tires on rims of below recommendations gives up a little more lateral stiffness. And finally, the lower pressures that many run give up still more.
I didn't say that you won't be able to get away with it. Just cautioning the OP about something he should reasonably expect.
Every once in a while, somebody does complain about poor stability going through the lights. Mostly, folks tell him to air the tires up a little and I guess that works well enough most of the time. I don't think I've ever seen the OP in those threads ask about any of the other contributing factors.
Actually, I suspect that going below the min recommended width costs you a little grip, since the tire's cross-section is being distorted away a little from its design shape. Maybe not a lot, but it might be just enough every once in a while. Unless there's some undocumented hot tip to the contrary, you'd normally expect the design shape for a drag tire that doesn't have to do much except hold air and go straight to be pretty close to the shape that would provide the best performance a dead-straight i live my life a quarter mile at a time.
Norm
I didn't say that you won't be able to get away with it. Just cautioning the OP about something he should reasonably expect.
Every once in a while, somebody does complain about poor stability going through the lights. Mostly, folks tell him to air the tires up a little and I guess that works well enough most of the time. I don't think I've ever seen the OP in those threads ask about any of the other contributing factors.
Actually, I suspect that going below the min recommended width costs you a little grip, since the tire's cross-section is being distorted away a little from its design shape. Maybe not a lot, but it might be just enough every once in a while. Unless there's some undocumented hot tip to the contrary, you'd normally expect the design shape for a drag tire that doesn't have to do much except hold air and go straight to be pretty close to the shape that would provide the best performance a dead-straight i live my life a quarter mile at a time.
Norm
#9
I run the Mickey Thompson ET Streets. They work great. The size I run is 265-40-18. The ET Streets hook a little better than the Nittos but the nittos will last a little longer before they wear out. The 285 width will work with a nine inch rim but it is on the edge of being to wide.
Good luck,
Al
Good luck,
Al
#10
I think I am sticking with separate street and track tires. I thought about using Nittos as an a street/track tire, but I think having M&H as the track tire and Nitto 555 (non-drag radial) or BFG as the street tire would be a better idea.