Drag radials worth it for a 98 a4?
Thread Starter
TECH Regular
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 427
Likes: 0
Drag radials worth it for a 98 a4? Well I don't know much about em so i figure it wouldn't hurt to ask before I bought them. I was on my way to the track and my car got a flat tire, had to go to the town fair tire in mass (I live in CT) and it was unrepairable. I was thinking since the oppurtunity is here maybe it would be better to get radials now. They showed me bfg t/a's that they could order, they would cost around the same maybe a bit more than the normal tire's I would get anyway. I have an auto 98 ls1 with 107k on it now with longtube's, catback, ls6 intake mani, lid, relocation brackets and lower control arms. It dyno'd 320whp, it was at 297whp before and I ran 13.4 before the ls6 intake and tune that got me 320whp, so I've been anxious to go back to the track but fell into some bad luck today. I'm a little worried about the rear end, since I've heard horror stories about those, but what do you guys think would it be worth it to get those drag radials while I'm changing the tire's anyway, or would it be too much stress on my high mileaged rear end? I've read that the auto is easier on the rear so I thought it wouldn't be an issue but just wanted to make sure and ask the experts.
Thread Starter
TECH Regular
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 427
Likes: 0
Thanks for the quick replies. I used the search function for m/t ET and read a few posts saying they are not that streetable, they say you can make it to the track and back but they will wear out faster and are really bad in the rain. I'm just not sure how the bfg's compare? I read if I wanted streetable to get nitto's but I want a decent drag radial as long as the rear can handle it (I have a stock stall as well). How do the bfg's compare to the mt's?
These are the one's I am interested in:
These are the one's I am interested in:
Last edited by jimmy169; Oct 20, 2007 at 02:23 PM.
I've gotten caught in the rain on a 75 mile trip home from the track with my MT radials and they weren't nearly as bad as I was expecting. From what I hear the BFGs fo last longer though. For an A4 at your power level that may be the better choice if you're looking for them to last longer for daily driving.
i would rather buy a good torque arm and subframe connectors from UMI, BMR, or Madman than worry about drag radials at your current weight/power level. the TA and Subs will provide increased traction all the time in all conditions. DR's would correct your cars need for more grip in a straight line, but they won't help in any foul weather or with the day to day enjoyment of your cars handling.
Trending Topics
If you have to buy tires, there's no better time to upgrade. The rear is certainly the next weak link though, so be aware of that.
Subframe connectors are your friend too... if you don't already have a set on there, get some. Even bolt in ones are better then nothing.
Subframe connectors are your friend too... if you don't already have a set on there, get some. Even bolt in ones are better then nothing.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine
Verdad Gallardo
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin
Verdad Gallardo
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo Thread Starter
TECH Regular
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 427
Likes: 0
Yeah I will consider the sub frame one day it's just right now I need tire's, lol, I have a flat so no matter what I will need some sort of tire, that's the main reason i am considering radials. What about nitto555r's, those look like street tire's but I heard they hook better, I'm wondering if at my power level and all and with the stock rear it might be better to just get those, they look like they'll last a whole lotta seasons.
Thread Starter
TECH Regular
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 427
Likes: 0
Yeah a friend just told me about those, def. something else i'm considering now, they just seem so much like the tire's I have, regular street tire's, I guess regular summer tire's. That may be all I need though...
If you are only going to run one set of tires and you drive a lot just stick to a street tire. (I liked my GSD3's)
However at you're power levels and if you drive under 10k miles a year, I really like the Nitto's for a street tire. I cut 1.6's with nittos I drove on all year. I buy a new set every year and drive on em' street/track.
I'm at the point i need a better tire and will probably go to an M/T setup next year with a 12 bolt swap. However i will run the Nitto's on the street the rest of the time.
If you don't smoke em' off nitto's will last 15k miles of street driving. I order a set from discount tire when I need em' usually $300 a set. BFG's hook better but you will get well under 10k miles on the street.
However at you're power levels and if you drive under 10k miles a year, I really like the Nitto's for a street tire. I cut 1.6's with nittos I drove on all year. I buy a new set every year and drive on em' street/track.
I'm at the point i need a better tire and will probably go to an M/T setup next year with a 12 bolt swap. However i will run the Nitto's on the street the rest of the time.
If you don't smoke em' off nitto's will last 15k miles of street driving. I order a set from discount tire when I need em' usually $300 a set. BFG's hook better but you will get well under 10k miles on the street.
Just like Danno said, Nitto's work great with A4 cars.His ran some great times and I got a call yesterday from another 98A4 that ran 11.7 with a 1.6 60's on Nitto's(cam only,full weight).His car lifts the front driver wheel on launch with stock suspension.
Thread Starter
TECH Regular
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 427
Likes: 0
I believe I am running the stock 16inch wheels. Thanks for the offer man but I am prob just gonna get a set of nitto's or bfg's for now and go from there. Town fair tire had to put on a new tire for me that I didn't want, just to get me home from mass, but told me I could exchange it for what I wanted when I go to a townfair tire by my house as long as it's within 30 days, so I'm gonna have to get tire's through them to take advantage of the exchange.
Get the Nittos. The BFGs and MTs are pretty shitty in wet weather. I've owned all three brands and the Nittos are great daily driver tires that still hood pretty well. They aren't the best drag tire out there, but they're a ton better than your typical street tire. They last a long time too. My last set of MT radials didn't last 3,000 miles. The last pair of Nittos went almost 10k miles. That's with multiple track days and burn outs. They're just a good street/strip tire, especially on an A4 car.
Ive used all 3 brands, never a real issue with any of them until the tread got low (for drag radials). M/T Wore out the quickest but are the stickiest. On my LT1 car, I didnt have enough gear or stall and managed to go from spinning a lil on nittos to an aout right bog off the line.
Those SAME MT on my LS1 with bolt ons and 3.42's did the same, then I got 4.10's and It finally showed with proper burnout what these tires can do.
For you Jimmy, stick with Nitto's, I ran my best LT1 time with them and they do last quite a while for a DR.
Those SAME MT on my LS1 with bolt ons and 3.42's did the same, then I got 4.10's and It finally showed with proper burnout what these tires can do.
For you Jimmy, stick with Nitto's, I ran my best LT1 time with them and they do last quite a while for a DR.
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 361
Likes: 0
From: DE
I'm getting nittos soon but i dont dd but figured it'd help traction but hopefully be easy on my rear than mt's. My buddy had bfg dr's on his lt1 and were were driving in the rain at about 50 and let off the gas, didnt hit the break, and did a 180 on the highway..so i like street tires for reg dd lol
For orgional poster... get Nitto 555R's...
Most Streetable :
1. Nitto 555R's
2. BFG Drag radials
3. M/T ET Street radials
Stickest :
1. M/T ET Street Radials
2. BFG Drag radials
3. Nitto 555R's
Most Streetable :
1. Nitto 555R's
2. BFG Drag radials
3. M/T ET Street radials
Stickest :
1. M/T ET Street Radials
2. BFG Drag radials
3. Nitto 555R's