How to launch an A4 with Nitto DR's?
 

I'm going to be hitting the track for the first time with my drag radials in a few weeks. I have a Vig 2800 and 3.73's to go with 275/40/17 Nitto 555R's. I'm planning on 16-18 psi in the tires. :drive:

My first question is after a big smokey burnout, should I launch around idle or should I stall to around 3000?

Also, I'm hoping for 1.8ish 60' times, but not sure if the car can do it with my, smallish converter, limited mods and stock suspension. What do you all think? Thanks.

try both and a couple different ones in between and see what works best for you. different cars like to be launched different.

With that converter you wont be able to launch any higher that 2200rpm by foot brake. I ran that conv for about 1 year in an 02 Formula, it would cut 1.82 - 1.90 w/ 2.73 gears depending on track prep. I always launch at about 2000-2200rpm because it loads the driveline( less brakeage worries) and it seems to be more consistant ETs. Tire press about 16-18 psi no less. About 5 -7 sec burnout and your good to go .

16-18 is too low in my opinion. On 245/50/16s 24 PSI worked very well. I always hit 1.60-1.62 on those. The 275s are wider so you need to make sure they don't cup in the center. They aren't like a slick and don't behave like a slick so don't treat them like a slick. You are not going to get any substantial sidewall flex out of a radial tire so dropping the pressure low doesn't make sense.

You want to make sure you get the greatest contact patch you can.

Tim

I guess trial and error to see what works for me is going to be the best thing to do...but I'll start out with a higher psi and work from there.

What was your setup with those 1.6's?

At that time the setup was ARE Stage II H/C, 357 CI, TH400, 4500 Yank, 4.11s (9"), Spohn T/A, stock shocks, stock wheels/tires in the front. Best pass was 11.52@118 N/A.

Tim

Ever step on an egg and not break it? ;) :D

The stickiness of the track will determine the best way to launch it.

I've been to tracks that I could hit the tires hard on Nitto's and other that spun no matter what I did.