GeorgeC

I currently have M/T ET Fronts (26x4.5x15) on my 15x3.5" Weld draglites. They have worked well for me, but didn't hold up very well at all. They also look too "pinched" on the wheel for my taste, as they have ~6.3" section width. They are worn slap out at this point, and I need to get something on the car ASAP.

Have any of you guys that were running the 165R/15's that switched to a "true" racing front tire noticed any better/worse ET's? I know my R/T's will get a tad quicker with the reduced rollout from the shorter 165R/15's. The M/T's are also lighter than the radials, but it's a minimal difference in weight. I don't remember seeing any gains when I switched from the heavy M/T Sportsman fronts to the ET fronts.

Remember, my car is pretty light, so it won't make the radials look flat on the front like many cars I've seen... Heck, they're only ~$30/each, so it wouldn't be a big deal if I didn't like them and changed them out after a short time.

Opinions?

<small>[ September 24, 2002, 04:39 PM: Message edited by: GeorgeC ]</small>

Terry Burger

iTrader: (4)

It's about an 8# difference, I'd try some of those DS2 tires myself.

WILWAXU

iTrader: (6)

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Terry Burger:
<strong>It's about an 8# difference, I'd try some of those DS2 tires myself.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yeah.. most of the fast mustang guys are switching to those... Moroso DS2's

GeorgeC

Yeah, I thought about those myself. They have a 25" tall one, which would help with R/T's...

chevyguy3

iTrader: (4)

my 165 dunlop front radials were only 1lb heavier each than a 26x4.5 Et front. i now have 26x4.5" goodyears on the front on one set of wheels, and i have another set of wheels with the 165 radials for the street

2000SILVERTA

sounds kinda like youve already talked yourself into going with the radials again. for around $80 installed, they are definately worth a try(again).

Coach 02 A3 Z/28

iTrader: (10)

George,

I have a pair of Goodyear front runners 26x4.5x15 on the Hot Rod now and they work great. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="gr_images/icons/cool.gif" />

I also just got a brand new pair of D2s 28x4.5x15. I want to see if they will slow my reaction times down just little. More rollout ya know? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="gr_tounge.gif" />

Try the cheap ones out, but remember you get what ya pay for. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

Coach

DERTY

I have the Moroso DS2's on mine and I'm liking them quite a bit. They are a bit squashed because of my near stock weight car, but they are pretty damn lite! I can't say much on RT or ET differences as it's my first pair of skinnies.

ROBS SS

iTrader: (7)

I have the hoosier front 26x4.5...they are light and seem to work verry well.

Tom the roofer

iTrader: (9)

The drag only front runners are 8 lbs lighter each. Total 16 lbs less of rotating mass and unsprung weight 16 lbs X 4?lbs (unsprung weight factor) = 64 lbs of body weight. Could be worth a little ET. Every little bit helps <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />
Tom <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />

Colonel

When I researched skinnies, Hoosier made the lightest I could find. I'm on my second set. I replaced the last ones not because they were worn slick but because the sidewalls were getting too cracked. They don't like sitting out in the sun for long.

GeorgeC

After doing some checking around, I found the 165R/15's at Pep Boys for $90 mounted/balanced for the pair. That's less than the price of one ET Front.

When I switched from M/T Sportsman fronts to the ET fronts, I saw no difference in ET's, and there was a fairly noticeable difference in weight. The metric radials are actually lighter than the Sportsman fronts, so I don't think they'll slow the car down any.

If I don't like them, I'll just sell them. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" /> I'm going to have a pair mounted on my wheels this afternoon.

JS

iTrader: (4)

I did NOT like the DS2's on my car,If your heavier than 3200lbs I would NOT reccommend them..

Just stick with a 165 w/a (H rating)
I went to the Sportsman/8PLY because the 165's steel belts were comming apart from the inside over time.I didnt like the way the tire looked after 2500 mles.

DS2 are for light cars...
JS

Navy David SS

iTrader: (13)

George

Just got rid of my Firestone 165x15 metric (I'll give them to you if you want to pick them up <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> ). Went with the ET fronts. What a difference for my little car. Have you driven a car with radials on front and slicks on the back - even just ET Streets? You feel like you are skating on ice. The ET Fronts have a much better feel at higher speeds. For your set up I would stay away from the radials as fronts. Sometimes an extra dollar or 2 is worth that 'comfort' feeling. Besides most 165x15 are not rated for but about 115mph. Me thnx you'll be going fast than that <img border="0" alt="[Fluffy]" title="" src="graemlins/fluffy.gif" />

David

98A4Z

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by GeorgeC:
<strong>After doing some checking around, I found the 165R/15's at Pep Boys for $90 mounted/balanced for the pair. That's less than the price of one ET Front.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">about 3 years ago i was running the pep boy 165r/15's i think they were Futuras. i had about 2500 miles on them and one friday night after leaving orlando speedworld i was driving down US50 at about 60 mph and the whole tire came apart, it was like the tread came totally off of the tires carcass, the tread flopped around and destroyed the fender on my stang it also damaged the door and rocker panel. maybe i was just unlucky, but i wouldnt run them again.

GeorgeC

Well, the new front tires are on... I went with the Futura 165R/15's for now. They look a lot better on the car (IMHO) than the ET Fronts did. I did manage to do a little driving on them in the pits last night (before the rain came and screwed things up). The steering is much easier, and almost feels like I have power steering back on the car. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

I did get to make one abortion of a pass before the rainout, but the car was acting up a bit and was way off (10.4 @ 128.5). I don't think it liked the fuel I had in it, as it seemed to have lost some top end pull and was breaking up a little in the top of high gear.

Anyway, I see a lot of fast cars at the track that still rely on the metric radials for their front tires. The speed rating is a mute point, since in drag racing we only make short bursts of high speed. Speed rated tires are rated by letter code (H, V, Z, etc) for sustained high speeds, when a lot of heat will be generated in the tire. The worst I can see happening is the tire's loading capabilities being exceeded, causing premature wear of the belts/sidewalls. I don't think that'll be an issue for me, since the front end of my car is fairly lightweight.

JS

iTrader: (4)

George u are correct about the speed rating but hardness of the sidewall stiffness comes into play with S,H,V,Z etc too.I would run at least a H rated tire for its superior side loading and stronger belt setup.An S is too light...

More guys are starting to tell u that these tires are NOT for your car.I hope u dont pop one of those POS futura's on a hard lauch off the trans brake.

I've seen the results.
Its not pretty....

Good luck
JS

<small>[ September 26, 2002, 07:31 AM: Message edited by: JS ]</small>