how well do drag radials work on the street especially when its raining, i want to buy 2 tires for the back, but not sure what to put on since i'm getting a new 3500 stall converter...people been saying to go with drag radials for good traction, but do they work decent on the street???
thanks for the help

 

When I ran Nitto Drags, I had very good wet traction, even under heavy acceleration...actually won a very short race on wet roads against a lightly modded 4.6 GT......but thats beyond the point, I should have won no matter, lol. Dry traction is also just as nice. They don't feel any different than a regular radial to me. Until you launch the car, then you will notice a difference.

The only thing I noticed is when they were cold, they were very slick, and I could get sideways at part throttle quite easily.

 

My nittos are crap on anything but dry pavement.

I run nothing but DR's on the street. But I don't drive my car in any bad weather.
Couple times got stuck in some rain...regreted having DR's on it. Not hard to drive, but you have to be careful. They will spin easily.

 

WHEN IT IS COLD, they aren't fun to drive in the rain, but when it is warmer in normal LIGHT rain conditions, they aren't bad. Actually they suck in the cold when it is dry too.

I drove all over Southern California this past weekend on a set of 275/40-17 Nitto DR's, and it drove like normal, and it was raining off and on the whole weekend.

 

It will probably be the best wet drag radial, as none of the others have the grooves for water channeling...

 

Yes, I would agree that Nittos are probably the best wet drag radial. However... That doesn't mean they are great tires in the rain - just better than other drag radials, because most drag radials suck in the rain!

Light rain - where the streets are a wet are fine - new Nittos have very good traction on wet roads as long as it is not cold - Nittos in cold weather don't have great traction in any conditions...

Heavy rain is where your Nittos are going to have problems or be downright scary compared to good street tires. As the limited tread wears down it gets WORSE.

I once got caught in a torrential downpour that lasted for hours on a long trip with Nittos - standing water on the road - it could not run off fast enough - that was one SCARY trip... They were hydroplaning often - I could feel the rear end sliding around. I finally tried to follow some 18 wheelers so I could drive in the tracks left by their wheels - but they were often driving too fast for me - above 45mph... Granted these were extreme conditions, but I don't think I would have had a problem driving 60 - 70 on my Goodyear GS-D3 street tires in the same conditions.

Several people have totalled their car driving on Nittos in heavy rain.

 

Yep, suck in the heavy rain and any cold. But I've been using them for 6 years now. I also have another car if the weather's that bad.

 

They really have to be heated up when it is cold outside if you want them to hook.

 

My Nittos did fine in the rain, but it was summertime when I had them on.

 

Mine have always sucked unless it's summertime, cold weather can be especially scary.

 

any comments on highspeed highway handling on nitto drs ????? (above 120mph)

 

I got cought out in the rain with BFG drs going to Dallas last summer, and it was the most damgerous ride of my life. And that was doing way less than the speed limit. Hydroplanning very dangerously.

 

Highspeed highway handling(120+) will be very good on Nitto DRs - provided it is WARM (80+ degrees) and NOT raining! see above posts..

Highspeed highway handling (120+) in very cold weather or torential downpour may result with you totalling your car in a ditch...

 

so is there any other tire that will still hook up a stalled auto that isnt dangerous to drive? maybe goodyears f1, or gsd3? how bout pirellis or other brands like that?

 

and how long do you think nittos will last as a daily driver..saying i keep my foot off the throttle..

 

I used to buy a pair in April and then drive on them all the way until October. By the fall they were pretty well trashed and downright scary in the rain. I would drive the car almost everyday, and it went to the track a couple times a month.

 

You can probably squeeze 12K miles out of them, maybe upwards of 15K.

 

I drive the RII's. They arent that bad in the rain. Worst thing about them is they dont like cold weather. They need to be warmed up and then they grip. Cold rainy day, you can drive them but you also need to adjust your driving habits. They wont allow you to accelerate quickly. Mine dont hyroplane in the rain either. You need to keep them fresh if your gonna drive in the rain with them. They dont come with a whole lot of tread to begin with so when they are worn down they arent as good in the rain.

 

I agree. Same here with BFGs, MT ET st radials where even worse when I got caught coming back from the track. The biased ply ET streets and skinnes I have for the track now are very vague and lifeless, and have no feal IMO. Turns and brakes...fogetaboutit I have heard nittos all around are a great street tire.
Dave

 

I drove on MT Street Radials for two months on the street and they still looked new when i traded them. I never drove in heavy rain, but the rain i did drive in they did alright. And believe it or not they are the best tire I've ever driven in the snow in with an Fbody. The dr/skinny combo owns in the snow.

I've driven on slicks on the street and thats not advisable lol. They'll scare you on the highway.