drag radial info needed
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
From: Belle Vernon, PA
drag radial info needed A friend is running a H/C LS1 and he has questions about drag radials. The car puts down 420rwhp. Currently he is running regular street tires and having major traction problems and now he's looking into drag radials. The car is an A4 3.73 gears, stock converter and stock rear end.
I am looking for a drag racing tire that I can use on the street, highway, or in the rain. I have seen some discussion about Mickey Thompson ET Drag Radial, BFGoodrich Drag Radial, and Nitto NT555R. Can the MT be included in the comparison since it seems to be more of a "slick"?
From what I have read, I take it that the BFG is better at hooking up than the Nitto, but the Nitto is better on the highway. Any opinions?
Does anyone know how the Mickey Thompson ET Street Radial compares to the BFGoodrich Drag Radial and Nitto NT555R as far as launching and use on the street, highway, or in the rain?
thanks for any input!
I am looking for a drag racing tire that I can use on the street, highway, or in the rain. I have seen some discussion about Mickey Thompson ET Drag Radial, BFGoodrich Drag Radial, and Nitto NT555R. Can the MT be included in the comparison since it seems to be more of a "slick"?
From what I have read, I take it that the BFG is better at hooking up than the Nitto, but the Nitto is better on the highway. Any opinions?
Does anyone know how the Mickey Thompson ET Street Radial compares to the BFGoodrich Drag Radial and Nitto NT555R as far as launching and use on the street, highway, or in the rain?
thanks for any input!
Last edited by mikez28_mjf; May 16, 2008 at 11:42 AM.
I wouldn't recommend any DR to be driven in the rain. There was a discussion about this on another forum a little while back. There were quite a few people that had either wrecked or nearly wrecked there car while using a DR in the rain. Hydroplaning is the biggest issue.
If he wants a DR with some good street manners (decent traction, decent treadwear), then he should look into the Nitto 555r's. If he wants all-out traction, most people agree that the MT ET Street Drag Radial is your best bet (don't confuse this tire with the bias-ply MT ET Street. The bias-ply is basically a slick, the drag radial is a radial tire with actual tread).
If he wants a DR with some good street manners (decent traction, decent treadwear), then he should look into the Nitto 555r's. If he wants all-out traction, most people agree that the MT ET Street Drag Radial is your best bet (don't confuse this tire with the bias-ply MT ET Street. The bias-ply is basically a slick, the drag radial is a radial tire with actual tread).
I've always ran the Mickey Thompson et drag radial on the street and track, but like what others said i've never drove in the rain for fear of traction. Otherwise they are a great tire that wears pretty good too.
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,023
Likes: 6
From: LT1 land...the "409" of the 90s!
M/Ts are a hand full in the rain and flat out hydro plane over 50mph or so.
We have driven Nitto 555Rd in the snow. I would not do it again but we got the info we wanted. Even in deep rain at hiway speeds they were ok for us.
M/Ts on the track (wheels up many times on 17s) and Nottos for the street
Good luck!
We have driven Nitto 555Rd in the snow. I would not do it again but we got the info we wanted. Even in deep rain at hiway speeds they were ok for us.
M/Ts on the track (wheels up many times on 17s) and Nottos for the street
Good luck!
The biggest problem I hear is that they do perform alright in heavy rain when new, but all that does is give a false sense of security. Once they lose a 32nd or 2, they are just as dangerous and will hydroplane just as bad as the next DR.
A friend is running a H/C LS1 and he has questions about drag radials. The car puts down 420rwhp. Currently he is running regular street tires and having major traction problems and now he's looking into drag radials. The car is an A4 3.73 gears, stock converter and stock rear end.
I am looking for a drag racing tire that I can use on the street, highway, or in the rain. I have seen some discussion about Mickey Thompson ET Drag Radial, BFGoodrich Drag Radial, and Nitto NT555R. Can the MT be included in the comparison since it seems to be more of a "slick"?
From what I have read, I take it that the BFG is better at hooking up than the Nitto, but the Nitto is better on the highway. Any opinions?
Does anyone know how the Mickey Thompson ET Street Radial compares to the BFGoodrich Drag Radial and Nitto NT555R as far as launching and use on the street, highway, or in the rain?
thanks for any input!
I am looking for a drag racing tire that I can use on the street, highway, or in the rain. I have seen some discussion about Mickey Thompson ET Drag Radial, BFGoodrich Drag Radial, and Nitto NT555R. Can the MT be included in the comparison since it seems to be more of a "slick"?
From what I have read, I take it that the BFG is better at hooking up than the Nitto, but the Nitto is better on the highway. Any opinions?
Does anyone know how the Mickey Thompson ET Street Radial compares to the BFGoodrich Drag Radial and Nitto NT555R as far as launching and use on the street, highway, or in the rain?
thanks for any input!
Mickey Thompson - best traction, worst in rain
BFGoodrich- traction decent, still scarry as hell in the rain
Nitto- traction still better then regular radial, decent in rain
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Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
From: Belle Vernon, PA
Thanks for the info. I have some questions about the drag radials and regular street tires. The MT ET Street Radials have two designs. The "newer" design has more "grooves" in it which I guess would be better in the rain. Has anyone tried the newer design in the rain? If so, how was it? I usually don't drive in the rain. I am asking in case I get caught in the rain.
http://www.mickeythompsontires.com/s...ETStreetRadial
Below is how Nitto says to handle their drag radials during storage and sub-freezing temperatures. Does anyone follow those directions for any drag radials?
http://www.nittotire.com/assets/safe...itionTires.pdf
1. Do not operate the car with these tires at sub-freezing temperatures, as the tires may suddenly fail.
2. Always store these tires indoors at temperatures above 32°F (0°C).
3. Before mounting or dismounting, store these tires for at least 24 hours in a temperature-controlled
environment of 68°F (20°C) or warmer.
4. Remove these tires from the vehicle and deflate to half the normal air pressure during prolonged periods of
non-use or storage.
5. Do not move a car that is in storage with these tires, as the tires may crack.
The rest of this is about regular street tires. I run a 275/40ZR17. I have tried the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3s. I currently have BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDs. Neither tire hooks up good from a dead stop. Does anyone know of a better street tire? Should I maybe go to a different size on rear? I usually run 32 PSI in the tires. Could I go to a lower PSI for street use?
http://www.mickeythompsontires.com/s...ETStreetRadial
Below is how Nitto says to handle their drag radials during storage and sub-freezing temperatures. Does anyone follow those directions for any drag radials?
http://www.nittotire.com/assets/safe...itionTires.pdf
1. Do not operate the car with these tires at sub-freezing temperatures, as the tires may suddenly fail.
2. Always store these tires indoors at temperatures above 32°F (0°C).
3. Before mounting or dismounting, store these tires for at least 24 hours in a temperature-controlled
environment of 68°F (20°C) or warmer.
4. Remove these tires from the vehicle and deflate to half the normal air pressure during prolonged periods of
non-use or storage.
5. Do not move a car that is in storage with these tires, as the tires may crack.
The rest of this is about regular street tires. I run a 275/40ZR17. I have tried the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3s. I currently have BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDs. Neither tire hooks up good from a dead stop. Does anyone know of a better street tire? Should I maybe go to a different size on rear? I usually run 32 PSI in the tires. Could I go to a lower PSI for street use?
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Nitto's I have 315 35 17 nitto dr's. One day driving on I 81 during a hard rain, the back passed the front. I completely spun out going 45 MPH. 3 lane hwy and luckily no cars close by. Tires were just under half tread. Last time car was in rain.
Bfgs here. Ive drove them in the rain just have to be really cautious. They dont hook on the street, but on the track they did pretty well. 1.63 60' with stock suspension, no spare tire or rear seats and just regular bolt ons. I was quite suprised.
