ok guys i need some advice here. in a few months ill be going to the track with my car. both autox and drag. last year i did it a bit, and used my stock tires, which didnt yield the results i wanted (more so in autox) so im thinking of picking up some 17x10.5 rims and 315/35r17 tires. i want radials, but i just want 1 set. trying not to go nutty with the $$ spending.

heres the question. when buying radials, should i just buy track ones, and use them for the drag? or is this a bad idea. i would think that (even tho they arent for drag) they would be better at drag vs stock simply because of the surface area and compound.

im not trying to get the "best" performance for each event... just all around better for both. without breaking the bank. i rather not destroy my street tires this year...


and NOTE: im guessing this could be either here, or the 4.6 section, but i rather have the overall wisdom of the group, not just my car specific

 

I have zero experience here so I could be completely wrong, so bear this in mind.

The Nitto 555R is titled as a drag radial. The Nitto 555RII is titled asa road racing tire. They have a very nearly identical tread pattern, identical tread wear ratings, etc. I would ASSume that they would be effective in both environments. Their NT01 is called a dry weather track tire only, but with the same tread wear as both 555R's, so they will probably be equally soft. Again, I would ASSume they would work decently at the drag strip mostly from the soft compound it is made of and the lack of any tread on the tire.

The only obvious catch I can think of is how a drag radial is designed to get stickier when you spin them, hence a burnout first. I don't know if an open track tire would act the same or not.

 

Im am also going to ASSume they can be used for the same purpose, however you may run into a problem.

Usually smaller front tires will cuase a car to understeer, sence its has less grip up front. And Usally a car with same or small back tires will oversteer, sence it has less grip in the back and the tail will come out. This does depend on weight distribution though. Thats why you see many track cars with slightly bigger back tires.

So, if you buy drag radials they are most likely going to be much bigger than your front tires. Which could cuase your car to be prone to understeer. I would talk to some other people auto crossing new edge GTs and see what size tires they are running, and go from there. Just keep in mind, if you have huge back tires and small front tires, your going to understeer badly.

 

well to be honest, i already understreer pritty bad... last autox event it pritty much ended in me trying to drift the entire thing, simply because i had to slow down alot to get the fronts to hook, then once they did i was going slower then ****, hit the gas, and ended up sliding around the turn. for auto x im sure ill have to get some wider front, but that will prolly come in time.

to be honest i prolly should get new fronts with the rear, but im trying not to blow to much cash

i enjoy doing both... i just gotta find a happy medium... which can be a pain.



i am curious tho stig, why would the size of the rear cause the front to have problems... i would figure the understeer would be there regaurdless of what you had in the back... if your front tires are to small, then doesnt that just mean their to small? this maybe a stupid question, but oh well

 

Well, Stangs were never really made for road racing so but some mods should help alot.

I assume you alright have a strut tower brace? If not, you should get one and maybe a bigger front sway bar too. Make sure you take the sway bar off for drag racing though.

Dunno what size tires you are using now, but try doing all 4 tires the same size. Some more grip in the front should help.

 

my car is pritty much stock with the exception of my short shifter... i have been pushing myself to keep it that way. i wanted to build a better car, and my platform (modular 2v) isnt really the best... i figure the less cash i dump into it, the more money ill have for a serious "track" car. untill then ive been trying to find some simple stuff. the only reason im looking into tires is because i dont want to destroy my street tires...

im running 245's all around.


my idea was to make the car for the track, and just drag with it... provided i make it powerful enough, and light enough, i should run the drag quick. im not looking to squeeze time out of it, but i would like something somewhat fast. this again comes with the idea that i build a car simply for the track/drag purpose...

 

In AutoX you will usually find the same size front and rear tires are better. Also smaller diameter wheels
with short sidewalls are usually better. Adjust overall bite and chassis balance with air pressure.

"R" Compounds no longer legal for street classes, SCCA requires minimum 140 wear rating (May have changed to 160)

RI - Sidewall to soft for AutoX, Tread compound requires to much heat
RII - Better Sidewall, Same Compound as RI

Yokohama Advan A048- 255/40R17 on stock rims. Can be street driven, Pretty decent AutoX tire if you must street drive, should be decent at strip.

Hoosier A6 - 275/45R16 on 16x10 (If legal in your class). The AutoX Tire. Not really a good choice if you must street drive on them.
Should be pretty decent at strip.

Street Tires - Minimum 140 Tread Wear Rating
Falken Azenis RT-615 - 255/40R17 on stock 17x8 or 275/45R17 on 17x9/9.5.
The leading tire in Mustang sizes for Street Class AutoX. Some have issues with strip taction.

Kumho MX - 255/40r17 (17x8) and 285/40R17 (17x9.5).Slightly inferior to Azenis at AutoX because compound needs more heat.

Whatever you get treat them like All-Seasons. AX tires have an optimum operating temp 60-100F lowerthan a track tire.
They are very easy to get to hot at the Strip. Just clean them dont doa real burnout.The Kumho MX is the only one
that might like a short burnout. This assumes normal temps. If its 32F you migh modify this.

PS If you want to run in stock class your wheels have to be stock dimensions with a minor variation in offset allowed.

 

for the track you want as sticky of a tire you can get that will still maintain some sidewall.. I used BFG drag radials on 315/35/17's with good year gatorback 265's in the front... same setup on the drag strip, just lowered the air pressure.

You want as sticky of a tire as you can get on the track, and stay as far away from all-season tires. You want summer only racing tires. WHen an all season or a harder rubber compound tire gets warm it gets a film on it and becomes slick.. a drag radial when it heats up will either maintain grip or get a little more "grippy" if you will.

Id say go with a GOOD set of drag radials and be prepared to buy them often if your driving much. THey are only 5k-10k tires, less so if proper burn outs at the strip and if used for track racing...

 

Believe me, go talk to some experienced drag and course racers and you will discover your idea of saving money with a single set of tires is not a good idea. Just get a set for each application or decide which kind of racing is most important to you and get that set and just use your current tires for the other and have fun.

 

Actually AutoX tires can work better at the Strip than regular street tires.
Just dont expect them to hold like DR's.
DR's in Autocross? Forget it!