Biggest Tire That Will Fit?
05-14-2018, 10:41 AM
#21
Teching In
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My friend runs a nitto 555r on his bolt on LT1 trans am. But he's smart and runs a drag pack. 15's all around. 15x8 in the rear and 15x4 in the front. Rear Tire size 275/60r/15. Dead hooks every time. And we lost a ton of weight from his 18's. It outruns most other bolt on Lt1's because he and I went ahead and addressed rotating weight first. LS1 driveshaft, drag pack, lighter flexplate went a long ways. Again, if you're after the looks, go with the giant tires and rims. If you want performance, use the smaller wheel/tire setup that still hooks. Best of luck 
05-14-2018, 08:02 PM
#22
On The Tree
Even with poor surface conditions (unless you mean mostly gravel), at your power level you'd be able to make a 275 or 285 hook with a good burnout and launch. Are you currently on a street tire? If so what kind? I remember you saying you didn't want to address suspension, but that is a huge part of getting traction, especially in drag racing. More important than the tire size or brand, actually.
There are some folks around me who have raced on awful surfaces and hooked fine with a good tire, wheel, and suspension setup. I only speak from experience. I had huge drag radials on my car once upon a time when I had around 375whp and it probably didn't do anything but slow me down. If I had taken the time to learn how to launch my car well, and fixed my suspension, I'm sure the 285's I had would have done fine for me. Again, this is just my advice. If you don't think it'll work for your situation then don't do it. However, I can almost guarantee that if you work the launch on a good 275 drag radial, you'll hook with no issues.
There are some folks around me who have raced on awful surfaces and hooked fine with a good tire, wheel, and suspension setup. I only speak from experience. I had huge drag radials on my car once upon a time when I had around 375whp and it probably didn't do anything but slow me down. If I had taken the time to learn how to launch my car well, and fixed my suspension, I'm sure the 285's I had would have done fine for me. Again, this is just my advice. If you don't think it'll work for your situation then don't do it. However, I can almost guarantee that if you work the launch on a good 275 drag radial, you'll hook with no issues.
05-15-2018, 10:31 AM
#23
Teching In
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yeah, there's gravel on almost any road in our area. Even the paved roads, most have a small amount of gravel tracked onto them. And most of the racing we do is very impromptu. And I didn't mean I wasn't going to address suspension, just that I had already decided what I was going to do there. And I did finally figure out a launch that works on our surfaces. Second gear and slip the clutch tends to work very well.
05-18-2018, 10:23 PM
#24
On The Tree
If you want good mileage out of a DR, I recommend getting a Nitto 555r. If you aren't worried about mileage, the nitto NT05r is good, so is Mickey Thompson. Size will be up to you, but I recommend a small wheel (15-16") and a 275 drag radial. Best of luck and let us know what you end up doing
05-28-2018, 02:37 PM
#26
On The Tree
05-28-2018, 09:25 PM
#27
oh ok. I only ask because it was recommended I get a 6" wide front runner wheel since im actually heavier than stock in the front and have to drive on crap *** Dallas streets and freeways. Just wondered if you were in the same boat but getting away with a 4".
05-28-2018, 09:55 PM
#28
TECH Addict
iTrader: (6)
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Ringoes/Flemington, New Jersey
Posts: 2,852
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
I had 315 NT05Rs on 17x9.5" c5z06 wheels. way too much power for my boat anchor. i sold them because it was way too much tire. not much bulging, but as said here, a sticky 275 tire should be enough.
NT05rs are apparently skinny, so thats why the 315s fit. just had to make some love taps in my wheel well
NT05rs are apparently skinny, so thats why the 315s fit. just had to make some love taps in my wheel well
Last edited by ThoR294; 05-28-2018 at 10:25 PM.
05-29-2018, 12:11 AM
#29
On The Tree
he only drove the car a couple times a week
06-04-2018, 03:07 PM
#30
Oh ok thanx. The iron block and power adder I know make the front heavier, and every path on routes I can take to get to the track/street spots are horrible. The buckles in the roads move too, so you try to dodge where it was the last time on that road and BANG, wheel or k-member smacks the ground. They do try to fix them, but a month later, it's buckling or potholed again. Bad soil I guess..
08-14-2020, 02:43 PM
#31
My friend runs a nitto 555r on his bolt on LT1 trans am. But he's smart and runs a drag pack. 15's all around. 15x8 in the rear and 15x4 in the front. Rear Tire size 275/60r/15. Dead hooks every time. And we lost a ton of weight from his 18's. It outruns most other bolt on Lt1's because he and I went ahead and addressed rotating weight first. LS1 driveshaft, drag pack, lighter flexplate went a long ways. Again, if you're after the looks, go with the giant tires and rims. If you want performance, use the smaller wheel/tire setup that still hooks. Best of luck
I'm running some 98 corvette rims. Fronts 275/40r17 and rears 275/35r18.
The rims are super light tho, lighter then my oem abs rims which is crazy.
