Nitto Drag Radials On Road Course 
Nitto Drag Radials On Road Course
if you want to be competitive, i wouldnt suggest it at all,. the sidewall is far to weak for the lateral pressures in cornering. but if you still do, go as high as possible. over 40 psi - and yea tire wear will eat you up at that pressure.
Originally Posted by gator's 99TA
if you want to be competitive, i wouldnt suggest it at all,. the sidewall is far to weak for the lateral pressures in cornering. but if you still do, go as high as possible. over 40 psi - and yea tire wear will eat you up at that pressure.
Last edited by ChitownLS1; May 17, 2004 at 12:41 PM. Reason: Forgot something
Be careful making assumptions, or taking them from those that have never tried.
Nitto drags are fine on a road course, especially the 17's. Several racers I have know have raced on them, and all of us liked them and were fast. I autocrossed on 16's DR's years ago and thought they were a little sluggish. I actually think my car is faster on a road course with Nitto DR's than with Kumho Victoracers in the same size. I run 315/35/17's on 17x11's at all four corners. They last a lot longer than Victoracers. The other thing I love about them on a road course is the fact that they make noise. It is much easier to drive them at the limit.
Photo 1
Photo 2
Video on drag radials
EDIT: I have also owned the 555RII, their road race tire. Actually I still do, and am on my third set of four. They are my street tires, also a nice tire, and basically only offered in a 275/40/17 (and very expensive 18's). They are a great tire, but not very different at all from the 555R.
Nitto drags are fine on a road course, especially the 17's. Several racers I have know have raced on them, and all of us liked them and were fast. I autocrossed on 16's DR's years ago and thought they were a little sluggish. I actually think my car is faster on a road course with Nitto DR's than with Kumho Victoracers in the same size. I run 315/35/17's on 17x11's at all four corners. They last a lot longer than Victoracers. The other thing I love about them on a road course is the fact that they make noise. It is much easier to drive them at the limit.
Photo 1
Photo 2
Video on drag radials
EDIT: I have also owned the 555RII, their road race tire. Actually I still do, and am on my third set of four. They are my street tires, also a nice tire, and basically only offered in a 275/40/17 (and very expensive 18's). They are a great tire, but not very different at all from the 555R.
Trending Topics
Originally Posted by 98_1LE
Be careful making assumptions, or taking them from those that have never tried.
Nitto drags are fine on a road course, especially the 17's. Several racers I have know have raced on them, and all of us liked them and were fast. I autocrossed on 16's DR's years ago and thought they were a little sluggish. I actually think my car is faster on a road course with Nitto DR's than with Kumho Victoracers in the same size. I run 315/35/17's on 17x11's at all four corners. They last a lot longer than Victoracers. The other thing I love about them on a road course is the fact that they make noise. It is much easier to drive them at the limit.
Photo 1
Photo 2
Video on drag radials
EDIT: I have also owned the 555RII, their road race tire. Actually I still do, and am on my third set of four. They are my street tires, also a nice tire, and basically only offered in a 275/40/17 (and very expensive 18's). They are a great tire, but not very different at all from the 555R.
Nitto drags are fine on a road course, especially the 17's. Several racers I have know have raced on them, and all of us liked them and were fast. I autocrossed on 16's DR's years ago and thought they were a little sluggish. I actually think my car is faster on a road course with Nitto DR's than with Kumho Victoracers in the same size. I run 315/35/17's on 17x11's at all four corners. They last a lot longer than Victoracers. The other thing I love about them on a road course is the fact that they make noise. It is much easier to drive them at the limit.
Photo 1
Photo 2
Video on drag radials
EDIT: I have also owned the 555RII, their road race tire. Actually I still do, and am on my third set of four. They are my street tires, also a nice tire, and basically only offered in a 275/40/17 (and very expensive 18's). They are a great tire, but not very different at all from the 555R.
Nice video.
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 Beautiful car BTW. I love silver!
One last thing. I would not suggest running stickies out back and street tires up front on a road course. Our cars tend to push (understeer) stock, and mismatching tires can exagerate this effect. You probably know this, but get a good set of front pads (I like Carbotech Panthers) and good brake fluid (Motul 5.1 or Ford HD), and have the following alignment done before RR:
Camber: max negative, or -2º (about -.5º is all you will probably get)
Caster: max positive, or +5º (lucky to get +4 stock)
Toe: 0. A little toe out will handle better on the track, but is a handful on the street. I run 1/8" toe out and love it.
One last thing. I would not suggest running stickies out back and street tires up front on a road course. Our cars tend to push (understeer) stock, and mismatching tires can exagerate this effect. You probably know this, but get a good set of front pads (I like Carbotech Panthers) and good brake fluid (Motul 5.1 or Ford HD), and have the following alignment done before RR:
Camber: max negative, or -2º (about -.5º is all you will probably get)
Caster: max positive, or +5º (lucky to get +4 stock)
Toe: 0. A little toe out will handle better on the track, but is a handful on the street. I run 1/8" toe out and love it.
I agree with 98_1LE.....Nitto DR's kick *** as a road tire. I got them all around on my Firehawk and love these tires for handling. Don't worry about the sidewall....the only thing you have to worry about is treadlife as the tires are pretty soft.
