I have a '00 'Vert C5 and a yank 3200 was just installed along with a set of LPE headers. I went from getting a few 1.9 range 60' times up to a best of 2.07 ! The car is all over the track, like the tires got oiled. I'm running the stock tires (run-craps) at 25lbs, but pressure seems to make no diff. Car has stock 3.15 gears. Can I run the front 17" wheel size on the rear and hopefully get a little more sidewall flex and switch to ET streets, or do I need more, like a switch to different rate front shocks? Car has the '45 ride control/active handling. Also, I got the boot for running a 12.50@114 for not having a rollbar ! Anyone hear of a move to try and change this more than 40 year old NHRA rule. Seems a bit dated, as cars today are much safer, I think. Thanks.

 

I think you answered your own question of the tractione issue by saying you use run craps. Go get some tire. I have talked to a couple guys at the track running their 17 inch rims out back with M/T ET Streets and I plan on doing the samething with my stock wagon wheels

 

... DR's are a must.

 

I've heard that the ET's are easier on the drivetrain than the BFG. Don't know. I have been told that 295/40 is the widest tire without tubbing. Any comment would be appreciated. Thanks. Mike

 

I have seen a vette run 305s with no rubbing. No mini tub kit. Looked great. From what I have seen from some of the regular drag racers a mt et is the tire of choice and is much easier on the drivetrain.

 

If you are going to be spending any time at the track, try to find a set of MT Et streets. Night and day difference from any other set-up. Several people have had problems with drag radials and breakage. I have Pilot Sports 335 30 18's on the back for the street on 11.5 rims (no tubbing) and they are worthless compared to the ET streets.

 

With you being an auto, you should be okay with drag radials, but for some reason people don't break the rear as often if they use E.T. Streets. I have seen tires wider than 295 on vettes, but it really depends on the wheel size and offset.

 

Grinder, a high stall converter and stock run flats are not a good combination for the track.

Your really need at a minimum drag radials. There are available in 17" sizes to fit our Vette front wheels.

BFG 275 17 is a good choice. I run them on stock front wagon wheels and I 60' low 1.6s. I also run ET Streets with skinnies (depending on the event I am running) and the 60's are pretty much the same (but the wheels are lighter so there is some ET gain but we are taking hundredths of a second).

The new NHRA will get you to 13.49 because you have a vert. There was some talk of a Pure Stock designation that would allow running a vert to 11.49 but most tracks have not adopted this.

 

I have reasearched wheel sizes and can't find a stock looking 17" wheel wider than 9.5'. I want the stock look as I am wanting to keep the stock 17" 5 spoke GM wheel on front. By using the same design wheel out back, but in a 9.5 width,this would be a hard mod to see and cheaper than buying 4 new/used wheels. I am also of the opinion that with a 17 on the rear, I would benefit from the increased sidewall "flex", as it has an extra 1/2 inch width on the sidewall. Will the stock looking 5 spoke 17x9.5 wheel clear the calipers and not have any backspacing issues? I would like to run the Goodyear F1 supercar tires that the LS6 has stock. I have heard they hook much better than the stock run-flats. Do you think a 315/35/17 would clear my wheel wells. And do these tires really hook better than the stock 275/40/18's? Thanks.

 

I have seen stock wheels widened before. If you get a good machine shop they do a hell of a job.

 

I ran BFG DR's all this summer in the 275/35/18" size and manged a few Low 1.8 60' times. My best was a 1.808 and this yielded my best ET to date. with an auto you may not be hitting the tires as hard as I do with a manual. If the track was holding traction I was launching upwards to 4.5-5K. you may want to reasearch the same items I am, A stock set of 17" fronts mated to the MT ET streets which is 270/40/17" size. This will mount on the factory 17X8.5" rims. If you are worried about breakage I think the ET setup is the way to go.

 

Thanks. What mods, if any have you done to cut 1.6 60'? That pretty damn good! I ran one 1.95 60' on the run craps, but this was BEFORE the converter and headers were installed. I have discovered that the Goodyear F1's are no longer an option, as they don't make bigger than a 265/17. Wear rate isn't a big concern, as I'll keep my 18 runcraps for a long trip. I've been told by Discount tire's national toll free guy that Pirelli makes a 315/35/17 Corsa that has a 60 wear rating, pretty soft, for about 2 bills, but the local tire dealers say there is no such tire available. I really want a tire that can be run in wet weather if necessary without being paranoid of a light rain, but still hook well at the track. If I could get down to the 1.8-1.7 range for 60' times, I'd be a happy camper, as the car isn't run at the track more than 2 or 3 times a year (I went once this year). But I want to drive on the street and not worry if I can run with a stock 'Vette because I go up in smoke while he's on his way. As it stands now, if I was to run up against my car as it was before the converter/headers were on, I'd get my *** kicked on the street, as it's hard around here to run someone for more than 500' or so, and by the time my increase in power would start to show, we'd have to shut down. This is becoming more crucial as I'm going to a bigger motor soon, and a cam and head package on top of that. Thanks.

 

I have a 4400 stall converter with 4.10 gears.

Vette Doctors custom grind cam, kooks headers, ls6 manifold and front way bar removed. I do have Hal adjustable shocks but they have not done anything to really help the 60' The car is custom tuned by The Vette Doctors, who are now doing mail order tuning as well.

Also use a line-lock for a cosistent burnout of the BFG drag radial or ET Streets, depending on the day.

The problem is not street tire can really handle the hit from the converter on the track. You seem to have confliciting goals. Your really need to have the strip tires for the strip.

For the street, lots of folks are using Michelin Pilots and love them. For me, I use Firestone Firehawk EMT but don't do any hard hitting on the streets.

 

I guess I do. Conflicting goals/ having cake and eat it too!! I was surprised that I got a 1.95 on my runcraps, but it only happened once. All the rest were +2.07 range. I would be happy with 1.8 even, if they were there most every time (consistent). I've heard Mickey T is releasing new tire sizes for our cars in spring of '05. Guess I'll wait and see. Where did you get the line lock? I said earlier that Goodyear super car tires were out, but maybe not. If I could run a 295/40/18 in rear, I'd save by not buying a set of 17" wheels and, if you could advise, I have been told that these are a softer compound than the stock runcraps I got . Also, are these 295's stock on the Z-06? Thanks, and have a happy turkey day and don't eat too much turkey (Mustangs!)!!

 

C5 take offs for are cheap. I had one guy selling his wheels and fairly used drag radials with about 20 - 30 runs left on them for $75. The deals aren't always that good but you are patient you will find it.

I bought my line lock about four years ago from jegs or summit, I forget. It was installed on my prior vette first and on the C5 it was installed by The Vette Doctors.

The F1 super cars will be better but will likely still not survive a direct hit from your converter on the starting line, at least not consistently.

Not sure what you are asking on the 295 stock question on Z06.

Turkey was great. As usual, I did not get enough turkey becasue I filled up on all the side dishes that came with it. Shame how the turkey seems to lose to all the fixins and it is suposed to be the main event. Oh, brought home some left overs so round II on Friday

 

What I was asking was that do the Z06's come with the 295/40 supercar F1 tires on the rear, or they got 275/40's like us, but in the different compound ( F1 supercar)? And would the 295 version F1 hook that much better than our stock 275/40 run=craps? Thanks, and ttt on that turkey!!

 

I think they are the same size (thought the 275 is on our front not rear).

The advantage comes from not having the stiff sidwall insert that the run flat has and thus the tire flexs better.

 

I see. Actually, my car has 245's in front and they are on a 8.5 wide wheel, I think. I wanted a 9.5 17 wheel to be able to go to a wider tire without cupping. The takeoffs/stockers are only 8.5 max., but House of wheels and others have rproductions that are 9.5 wide for about $475.00/pair. Anyway, a local Corvette specialty shop here has done some research and told me I could run 305/35/18 size in rear with no issues, as he has already done this several times successfully, but as he says, every car is a little different, and no one will guarantee that it will work on everyones car until you get 'em on. I researched the old ZR-1 cars and found they came with a 315/35/17, which would be perfect, but there are no wheels in the thinspoke/5 spoke design we have that are wide enough.