Drag Radials or not?
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Staging Lane
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 77
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From: Va
Drag Radials or not? At what power level did you put on drag radials? I have an '02 procharged Z28 making 525/508. The car is mostly street driven. I am getting ready to order new wheels and tires and I am trying to decide whether to put street tires all around or drag radials back and street tires front? If I do street tires I can get a good deal on a set of hoosier drag tires and rims for the 1-2 times a year I go to the track. If I do drag radials trying to decide between NT05R or Toyo Proxes TQ?
Thanks
Thanks
You could go halfway and get the Nitto 555R. At your power level there's no way I'd be happy with a street tire. I run the NT05R and even at around 450 rwhp na i can light them up pretty easy, and with around 600 rwhp on nitrous ill spin all through 2nd as well. I can't imagine being on street tires lol
TECH Junkie
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,913
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From: White Bear, Mn
I would run drag radials all the time. I have always ran radials from the time I was stock to my current h/c setup. Street tires for you would be absolutely worthless from anything under maybe 60 mph.
If you never drive in the rain you have many options.
These are the radials that I have ran....
- Nt555r
- Nt05r
- Mt ET Street
- currently running Hoosier DR2 which are by far my favorite.
If the Toyo and Nt05r are your options it would be Nt05r hands down. The Toyo is comparable to the nt555r which I was not fond of from a drag racing perspective.
At your power level I would take a good look at the Mt ET SS or even better the Hoosier DR2. They both hook much better then the Nt05r. The Nt05r is a really nice all around radial when you consider handling, traction and milage.
If you never drive in the rain you have many options.
These are the radials that I have ran....
- Nt555r
- Nt05r
- Mt ET Street
- currently running Hoosier DR2 which are by far my favorite.
If the Toyo and Nt05r are your options it would be Nt05r hands down. The Toyo is comparable to the nt555r which I was not fond of from a drag racing perspective.
At your power level I would take a good look at the Mt ET SS or even better the Hoosier DR2. They both hook much better then the Nt05r. The Nt05r is a really nice all around radial when you consider handling, traction and milage.
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,216
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From: Wichita KS / Rancho San Diego
How do you drive the car? If someone challenges you at a stoplight, is it important for you to hook? How important are handling and stability in the curves at high speed?
At about 340 rwhp with a 3600 stall, my car will blow off ANY street tires with any significant throttle from a dig - and most drag radials as well. While Nittos are good on the street compared to street tires, only Mickeys have given me decent traction both on the street and on the strip.
A lot of guys think that they can solve their traction issues by going wider and lower. But sidewall is really more important than tread width when it comes to launching.
That which makes for good launching is antithetical to good handling. So it just depends on what you want. At your power level, you're going to be traction-challenged, period.
At about 340 rwhp with a 3600 stall, my car will blow off ANY street tires with any significant throttle from a dig - and most drag radials as well. While Nittos are good on the street compared to street tires, only Mickeys have given me decent traction both on the street and on the strip.
A lot of guys think that they can solve their traction issues by going wider and lower. But sidewall is really more important than tread width when it comes to launching.
That which makes for good launching is antithetical to good handling. So it just depends on what you want. At your power level, you're going to be traction-challenged, period.
My 500 RWHP 427ci......fried BFG Drag Radials for a 1/4 mile on the street at low pressure. I guess they must only work well on a prepped track.
Went to 315 Goodyear GS-D3's.....much better traction in dry and amazing wet traction.
.
Went to 315 Goodyear GS-D3's.....much better traction in dry and amazing wet traction.
.
NT05r's unless you DD the car and/or drive in the rain. My car is basically stock and I love them. Burning out all over the place gets old, especially as I got older. Seems to a good all around performance tire, I hustle the car around and they feel good. Go well with the NT05 fronts.
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Joined: Feb 2017
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From: Michigan
I am currently running the Proxes on my car and they seem to be working vary well but my only mods are long tubes and xpipe we shall see how the traction is with my 4k stall I ordered. The only radials I have ran on the street were the MT et streets on my fox body and they worked well but when it rained I would not even try to get on the freeway so my plan is just to order anther set of rims and tires for when I want to hook
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I have the NT05/NT05R combo. It's a good compromise. You can still light them up. However, as they've worn down, they do hook better on the street when it's hot as hell. I'm not far off from the power you put down and have a 4K stall. Going to a 3400 stall and adding the Procharger is going to force me to go to a 15" MT radial.
Anything below 80 degrees and over 22psi and they won't hook at all. But they handle pretty well around 24-25psi in the rear (with 315s). I have BMR Springs, BMR 35/25 Sways, and Koni SAs. At 12-14psi on a prepped track, you can see 1.5x with them... but first gear is mostly useless on the street with anything approaching 50% throttle.
Anything below 80 degrees and over 22psi and they won't hook at all. But they handle pretty well around 24-25psi in the rear (with 315s). I have BMR Springs, BMR 35/25 Sways, and Koni SAs. At 12-14psi on a prepped track, you can see 1.5x with them... but first gear is mostly useless on the street with anything approaching 50% throttle.
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Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Turnin' Wrenches Infractions: 005
If its a weekend toy put DR on it and buy your extra set for something sticky. If its a daily, buy a full on street tire (for wet weather) and still buy your extra set. The worst thing I see (and I did myself) was trying to find a magic tire that does everything perfect. It doesn't exist. Once you accept that you'll be much happier. See sig for my non-matching rears.....but it hooks like hell and i can swap out whenever I feel.
^^^
Thats what I did.....Just found two brand new Michelin Pilot Sports PS2 (102Y) 335/30/18 on my widened 18 x 12.5". For daily driving and great wet and dry traction.
My extra set of matching rear rims......18 x 10.5.....305/45/18 size M/T ET Street R drag tires.
.
Thats what I did.....Just found two brand new Michelin Pilot Sports PS2 (102Y) 335/30/18 on my widened 18 x 12.5". For daily driving and great wet and dry traction.
My extra set of matching rear rims......18 x 10.5.....305/45/18 size M/T ET Street R drag tires.
.
I have the NT05/NT05R combo. It's a good compromise. You can still light them up. However, as they've worn down, they do hook better on the street when it's hot as hell. I'm not far off from the power you put down and have a 4K stall. Going to a 3400 stall and adding the Procharger is going to force me to go to a 15" MT radial.
Anything below 80 degrees and over 22psi and they won't hook at all. But they handle pretty well around 24-25psi in the rear (with 315s). I have BMR Springs, BMR 35/25 Sways, and Koni SAs. At 12-14psi on a prepped track, you can see 1.5x with them... but first gear is mostly useless on the street with anything approaching 50% throttle.
Anything below 80 degrees and over 22psi and they won't hook at all. But they handle pretty well around 24-25psi in the rear (with 315s). I have BMR Springs, BMR 35/25 Sways, and Koni SAs. At 12-14psi on a prepped track, you can see 1.5x with them... but first gear is mostly useless on the street with anything approaching 50% throttle.
Last edited by 64post; Jul 14, 2017 at 06:29 PM.
TECH Junkie
Joined: Nov 2013
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From: White Bear, Mn
TECH Regular
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 436
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From: Michigan
If its a weekend toy put DR on it and buy your extra set for something sticky. If its a daily, buy a full on street tire (for wet weather) and still buy your extra set. The worst thing I see (and I did myself) was trying to find a magic tire that does everything perfect. It doesn't exist. Once you accept that you'll be much happier. See sig for my non-matching rears.....but it hooks like hell and i can swap out whenever I feel.
I've had DR's on my car for 6 years now and wouldn't use anything else. It's not driven in the rain or DD. When I put my winter rollers on I can get sideways nailing the gas at 25 mph. So I think of my DR's as a safety feature, a necessity.
What's wrong with radials for M6 cars? For someone just cruising and not actually racing?
i have 315 35 17 nitto 555r on my formula and i'm happy with them . I haven't launched it hard yet or tired to as things just haven't worked out to be able to yet. I got caught in the rain with these and didn't crash so that was nice . When i up the power i will go with a mt et or nt05r
