Which one would you choose?

M&H 275/50/R17 Racemaster
M&H 275/45/R18 Racemaster
Nitto 285/40/R18 555R

Both M&H are pretty tall tires (27.8") so increase overall diameter which in turn affects gearing. One will fit a 17x9 which is a weight advantage over the 18s.

The Nitto is closer to stock height and won't affect the gearing as much.

All these tires probably weigh within a couple pounds of each other.

 

eithe rthe M&H 17"

or the more readily available 555R

 

Are u using for track mostly or street? Are you trying to reduce your gearing go with taller wheel. What size rims do you have? If you got 18 x 9s I would go with 555R 305/40/R18.

Which is the tire and size I will be buying in the summer. Go to onlinetires.com they like $210 per tire plus shipping.

 

I want some Enkei RPF1 wheels. I'm just having a tough time deciding between the 18x9.5 or the 17x9. The 17x9 are 15.5 pounds. The 18x9.5 are 18.6 pounds.

If I get either of the M&H then I have more overall diameter which is not a good thing for acceleration. The Nittos would have less overall diameter which is good and weigh about the same as the others.

If I were to go with the 17x9 I save weight over the 18x9.5. But I am limited to one single type and model drag radial. With the 18x9.5 I can put the Nitto on there if I wanted.

Decisions decisions.

 

If you're going to run them on the street, I definately run the Nitto DR. That's all I run on my cars. You can get quite a few miles out of them, and I've never had traction problems with any of my sets.

 

Go with the smaller 17 to increase your gearing and decrease your unsprung weight, and lower your ET the greatest. Only problem is, you'll have to change them off and on since I'm assuming you're running 18s up front?

For the most well rounded tire, get the 555R. Its the perfect mix between a moderate life street tire, and they hook pretty good imo. I've never had any issues hooking them in the past. You can still get 10-15k miles outta them with 20 or so passes/track burnouts a month.

 

The LIGHTEST combination would be the 17x9" rim with the M&H 275/50 drag radial. 47.5 pounds total. However, the down side is the extra overall diameter. 27.8".

If I stick with 18x9.5 rims, and use the Nitto drag radial, the weight is 50.6 pounds total. The plus side is the overall diameter stays at stock 27.1" height.

Is the 3.1 pounds weight savings worth the .6" increase in overall diameter if I go with the 17x9?

I'm having my doubts. The 18x9.5 combo seems like it might be the best option overall even if it is a few pounds heavier.

EDIT: To fill in some blanks. I plan on keeping my current 18s and running an all season on them. The new Enkei wheels I'm considering will be for summer use. And yes I will drive around town on drag radials. And no, not in rain storms thanks.

 

3lbs is 3lbs, and it does make a difference if you get technical about it, but in all honesty, you'll never know it. I'd probably stick with the Nitto.

 

Stone brah. The 3lbs. is worthy of note I agree. But the combination I'm looking at with the 17x9 and a 275/50 will not help my gearing. The increased overall diameter will actually make it worse than if I stick with the 18x9.5 and a 285/40.

17x9 + 275/50/R17 = 47.5 pounds, 27.8" overall diameter
18x9.5 + 285/40/R18 = 50.6 pounds, 27.1" overall diameter

See the quandry?

 

Rip - is it for mostly track use?