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View Poll Results: which drag radials for mostly street?
bfg 255/50/16
33
18.44%
mt 255/50/16
74
41.34%
nitto 245/50/16
54
30.17%
you wont be able to hook with that skinny of tire on street without "warm up"
18
10.06%
Voters: 179. You may not vote on this poll
what drag radials for the street?
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 386
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From: Eugene, Oregon
drag radials for street poll I need some drag radials for the street for my full bolt on ta with 3400 2.1 str stall and wondering what you would recommend for mostly street use. I will be putting about 4k or less on the car per year since this is not a daily driver. I want something that will hook up on the street without having to warm the tires. My biggest concern is to be able to hang with awd cars out of the hole (as least as good as possible).
I have the stock 16" t/a wheels on my car so I think that the widest I can go are 255/50/16 in the bfg / mt tires or 245/50/16 with nittos.
Any advice would be appreciated
Mike
I have the stock 16" t/a wheels on my car so I think that the widest I can go are 255/50/16 in the bfg / mt tires or 245/50/16 with nittos.
Any advice would be appreciated
Mike
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,632
Likes: 2,558
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
I voted BFG, but only because you said the primary concern was hooking up from a dead stop without warming the tires first. I've owned both the nittos and the BFGs, and I've found the BFGs to be stickier, however the nitto is a better performer when it comes to handling/cornering and longevity. I've never owned the MTs.
PS. I was able to get 100% traction with BFG DRs in a 275/40/17 size with a low STR 3500 stall TC and 3.23 gears (but I did have to warm the tires first). I could never get full traction out of the nitto in the 275/40/17 size, even after warming.
PS. I was able to get 100% traction with BFG DRs in a 275/40/17 size with a low STR 3500 stall TC and 3.23 gears (but I did have to warm the tires first). I could never get full traction out of the nitto in the 275/40/17 size, even after warming.
I got the MT 16" on my car, they are pretty nice on the street, They hook for me on the street with no warm up, I usally stall in to about 1500 and let off the gas when it starts to roll, I stomp on it and it goes for me, sometimes it spinns a little, about 2 revolutions and then hooked and goes !
Around here the MT dont last as long under street use...they hook decent though. I see most people running either the BFG'S or Nitto's for their street driven cars. Save the MT for the track...they are much better there.
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My vote is for the ET streets. My buddy has them on his Z28 and with a 3K stall, a 100 dry shot out the hole, and 373s he hooks near perfect. I would get them but the traction will kill my 10 bolt (M6) but I think they are exactly what you are looking for.
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I don't think that ET streets would do too well in the rain and the drag radial version isn't too good either. V8hunter says it's street driven but hasn't said if it's daily driven. I wouldn't recommend those 2 tires for a daily driver, you never know when rain may strike.
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix AZ
interesting post - i wonder if nitto makes a 335/35-18? 
Originally Posted by RPM WS6
I voted BFG, but only because you said the primary concern was hooking up from a dead stop without warming the tires first. I've owned both the nittos and the BFGs, and I've found the BFGs to be stickier, however the nitto is a better performer when it comes to handling/cornering and longevity. I've never owned the MTs.
PS. I was able to get 100% traction with BFG DRs in a 275/40/17 size with a low STR 3500 stall TC and 3.23 gears (but I did have to warm the tires first). I could never get full traction out of the nitto in the 275/40/17 size, even after warming.
PS. I was able to get 100% traction with BFG DRs in a 275/40/17 size with a low STR 3500 stall TC and 3.23 gears (but I did have to warm the tires first). I could never get full traction out of the nitto in the 275/40/17 size, even after warming.
I have driven and raced on a variety of drag radials.
All that I have tried were acceptable on the street. BFG DR's, Nitto 555R's, MT ET Street DR's. All of them handled OK in the rain when they were new or nearly new (ie. with nearly all of the tread still present). Do NOT, however, screw around in the rain on them when they are pretty well used.
Those who have posted here saying DR's feel unstable: put on a pair of full slicks and drive around. That's unstable. Hell, DR's almost feel like a full street tire by comparison.
All that I have tried were acceptable on the street. BFG DR's, Nitto 555R's, MT ET Street DR's. All of them handled OK in the rain when they were new or nearly new (ie. with nearly all of the tread still present). Do NOT, however, screw around in the rain on them when they are pretty well used.
Those who have posted here saying DR's feel unstable: put on a pair of full slicks and drive around. That's unstable. Hell, DR's almost feel like a full street tire by comparison.
Originally Posted by Togo
interesting post - i wonder if nitto makes a 335/35-18?
TWS, you need 2 more camaros, 1 for everyday of the week. Then you'd be offically called a camaroholic
If you've owned them all 3, then, you'll likely go MT ET Street radials for the useage you are indicating. I wore out my Nitto's faster than I did my MT's ... guess 'cause they stick and don't spin so much.
All 3 of them suck in the rain when you get a little wear on them. Go with F1 GS-D3's ... best all-around street tire that sticks dry OR wet and they last awhile longer than any of the other 3 you mention. I voted for MT's of the 3 you polled.
All 3 of them suck in the rain when you get a little wear on them. Go with F1 GS-D3's ... best all-around street tire that sticks dry OR wet and they last awhile longer than any of the other 3 you mention. I voted for MT's of the 3 you polled.
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 334
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by v8hunter
I want something that will hook up on the street without having to warm the tires. My biggest concern is to be able to hang with awd cars out of the hole
(see signature) 
For daily driving, nittos are great. Better in the rain than most regular street tires and they hook pretty good. MT radials work great when its dry, damn near as good as a full slick. BFGs hook a little better than nittos when its dry and aren't much better than MTs in the rain. There are 2 choices in drag radials as far as Im concerned. You have Nittos that are excellent for a daily driver, and MTs for playing. Ive owned all 3 brands ran them hard. As long as there is a decent amount of tread left the MT radials aren't that bad in the wet weather. You just need to be careful and try to avoid the highway. If the car is a daily driver stick with Nittos. If its just a weekend warrior and you have a stronger than stock rear, get the MTs. Just my $.02
Re-iterating, since your main concern is hole-shotting the AWD cars and launching without spinning, the best option is not anything other than the MT ET drag radials or slicks.
The best ALL-AROUND street tires I've had, though, are the Nitto's for sure. With a full bolt-on, stalled, A4 LS1 car, Nitto's will screw you on the holeshot against the KB Cobra's and AWD cars. With the MT's (anything short of a mechanical failure) you'll NEVER see the the AWD cars anywhere but in your rearview mirror.
One KB Cobra walked me BAD from a holeshot when I was only 360RWHP/370RWTQ. I think because he had good sticky tires like the MT ET'S street radials or drags. Another one KB Cobra spun from a redlight and as I heard him hit 3rd with that KB demonic S/C, the next light turned red and I had beat him up to about 40 mph. I rolled my window down and he said that I WOULD NEVER BEAT HIM AGAIN. He had Nitto' 555 extreme drag radials. We tried again and he heated the tires for about 5 seconds and he pulled away from me quick from a standing start. Murdered me pretty badly.
The best ALL-AROUND street tires I've had, though, are the Nitto's for sure. With a full bolt-on, stalled, A4 LS1 car, Nitto's will screw you on the holeshot against the KB Cobra's and AWD cars. With the MT's (anything short of a mechanical failure) you'll NEVER see the the AWD cars anywhere but in your rearview mirror.
One KB Cobra walked me BAD from a holeshot when I was only 360RWHP/370RWTQ. I think because he had good sticky tires like the MT ET'S street radials or drags. Another one KB Cobra spun from a redlight and as I heard him hit 3rd with that KB demonic S/C, the next light turned red and I had beat him up to about 40 mph. I rolled my window down and he said that I WOULD NEVER BEAT HIM AGAIN. He had Nitto' 555 extreme drag radials. We tried again and he heated the tires for about 5 seconds and he pulled away from me quick from a standing start. Murdered me pretty badly.
Originally Posted by JEB99TA
If you've owned them all 3, then, you'll likely go MT ET Street radials for the useage you are indicating. I wore out my Nitto's faster than I did my MT's ... guess 'cause they stick and don't spin so much.
All 3 of them suck in the rain when you get a little wear on them. I voted for MT's of the 3 you polled.
All 3 of them suck in the rain when you get a little wear on them. I voted for MT's of the 3 you polled.