Wheels and TiresNeed help with wheels or tires? Need to know if those new wheels you're looking at will even fit a Third Gen? Have questions about tire performance and handling? Ask all those questions here!
Sponsored by Tire Rack
Welcome to ThirdGen.org!
Welcome to ThirdGen.org.
You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our community, at no cost, you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is free, fast and simple, join the ThirdGen.org community today!
Originally posted by 1989GTA350 what do you guys suggest for hooking up at the track, i have nittos in mind but any others???
BF Goodrich Comp T/A Drag Radials are good for 1.7x and even 1.6x 60-foot times. They have them in the 255/50R16 size that fits the stock 16X8 rims perfectly.
I have 91z29 L98 and i just bought a set of nittos and i love them. I had them to the track one time and they did really good. I still need to learn how to drive on them better. Some one told my i was not heating them up enough, but I wil this weekend.
The car is only has k&n and flow master cat back and it ran a 8.95@79mph in the 1/8 i was happy with that.
I just got the nitto 555R drag radials, n took the car out for the first time last night. these are definately the best tire i have ever had. they hook up like no other tire i have seen. they come in 245/50/r16's so they will fit a stock 16" camaro rim. the only down side is they are a super soft compound and can only expect them to last 9-10k miles of normal driving. my friend went to the track 2-3 times w/ them n also raced it on the steet every weekend and they only lasted 4,000 miles. so if ur hard on ur tires u will be replacing these left n right. i feel for the performance u get out of them, can't complain about the fast tread wear.
tell us how the bfg comps. work out, when these tires wear out i might try some others, if another tire will seem to work just as good but w/ longer tread life.
I like the BFG's so far, outstanding. I headed out to the track today to se how they perform, but it poured when i got there (figures) but the 70 mile drive back in the rain wasn't as bad as i thought it would be.
Just got my BFG DR's on today. But no tranny yet so I can't test them
__________________
SOLD 1989 Camaro IROC-Z
355 cid, AFR 190's, SuperRam, LPE 219 Cam, 3.42 gears, 2200 stall Vigilante, BFG Drag Radials (255/50/16)
Milan Dragway: 12.17 @ 111.93 MPH (1.73 60') uncorrected, with ZERO tuning
JUST SOLD 1998 Trans Am, LS1, M6
Milan Dragway: 13.560 @ 109.00 MPH 2.372 60' (airlid and catback with stock RS-A tires)
Current mods: T-Rex cam (243/249 - .608/.613 - 110 lsa) and bolt-ons
umm, nittos outperform just about every other drag radial during track tests, including BFG's. you're gonna use an inferior product and sacrifice performance just cause its made in the U.S.??
ok, i guess. you keep using products made in the US, and ill keep smokin ya
There are cars running 8's with Drag Radials. I haven't seen anyone with Nittos do that. Check out the twin turbo Dodge Challenger in the Mopar magazine from several months ago. He runs 8's with them. If you think you can't hook them up sounds like you don't know anything about suspensions. So I'm spending my money where I make it. USA!
"5L eater" if you think you can smoke me...just bring it on, pal! While your at it why don't you go buy a Honda since you think the Jap Crap is better.
Sorry to flame but this is what is wrong with the US economy. Why can't we spend our money here so that there will be more jobs for Americans? Why would someone want to send their money to Japan on purpose?
umm, nittos outperform just about every other drag radial during track tests, including BFG's. D
Where are these track tests? I've heard BFG's hook better than Nitto's, while Nitto's provide a longer tread life.
__________________
SOLD 1989 Camaro IROC-Z
355 cid, AFR 190's, SuperRam, LPE 219 Cam, 3.42 gears, 2200 stall Vigilante, BFG Drag Radials (255/50/16)
Milan Dragway: 12.17 @ 111.93 MPH (1.73 60') uncorrected, with ZERO tuning
JUST SOLD 1998 Trans Am, LS1, M6
Milan Dragway: 13.560 @ 109.00 MPH 2.372 60' (airlid and catback with stock RS-A tires)
Current mods: T-Rex cam (243/249 - .608/.613 - 110 lsa) and bolt-ons
i have seen some tests too, one was in GM high tech performance mag., nitto 555r's were rated #1, i love mine, but on the other hand i never tried out the bfg's. i have always had camaro's becuase american cars are better, i support U.S. like ur say'n, but i don't think jap tires are a big deal.
I have heard the nittos suck. They are harder compound than the bfg's. Plus with the bfg's you get 255 mm width instead of the 245 in the 16 inch rim. What tires do the nine second cars in classes that mandate drag radials run?? Let me just say not Nittos.
i have heard that the nittos last longer also. i have also heard, however that you have to do a majr burnout in order to make them hook decently. what good does longer treadlife do if you have to waste half of the tire to make it hook for one pass?
__________________ 1991 Trans Am 350 14.11 sold!!!
1994 Firehawk 282 rwhp 13.2 @106
currently piecing together an ls1, and will be looking for a thirdgen soon
We have run the Nitto's and the E/T Streets, with the Nittos we ended up with a lot of tire spin and no breakage, This is on a 1992 RX-7 with 255's change over to a set of E/T Street drags 28x11.5 and broke 3 transmissions, 2 axle stubs and twisted a driveshaft (all at different times) All this on a 1.3 liter rotary engine which are not known for great torque. And this is all on the streets, no VHT no concrete but ****ty asphault and coral dust here in Japan. As far as the comment on not seeing nitto's in the 8 second catagory. Thats because most guys running 8 seconds are not looking for a street tire but a true drag slick. Changing from the Nitto's to a set of E/T drag slicks netted a 1.7 60' compared to a 1.9 on the nitto's. I am not saying the Nitto's are crap, but if your looking for a track performance, then go with a true slick, if your looking for an everyday tire, then go with a normal radial and bolt the drags on when you want to whoop some ....
In any circumstance learn the handleing of the car on the launch, a change in tries can drastically change the demeanor of the car. Especially when playing with air pressure for traction. 12 psi in a drag radial for the track is not going to do you much good on the street, if you are going in a straight line its one thing, trying to do a high speed cornering manuver on the same air pressure... I'll see your parts in the classified section...
My 2¢...
As I've seen it, the general consensus seems to be this:
The Nitto drag radials are a better "all around street/drag tire" due a great deal to their harder compound and road manners. You do have to heat them more than BFG DRs to get them to hook, but they generally don't have quite as much bite (but very close).
The BFGs don't need as much heat as Nittos to hook, but the softer compound wears faster during "normal" driving. You need to be very careful with them in rainy/wet weather. The Nittos do a little better in foul weather. Again generally speaking, the more violent your car launches the better it is to have BFGs. If your car isn't that much of a beast off the line you will be fine with either one.
I have personally seen a car do a wheel stand and run high 8s in the ¼ wearing BFG skins.
The only direct comparisons that I personally have done is when my car was naturaly aspirated.
With Goodyear Eagle F1s the car ran a best 60' of 1.94 two times, and never again dipped below 2.00 and averaged 2.00 - 2.15, Mostly 2.1x.
On BFG Drag Radials, and every thing else unchanged the car ran a best of 1.86 and was very consistant repeatedly running 1.86s. This was all on a completely stock 90,xxx mile suspension.
Also when it comes to two compairable products, and one is made in the good ol' USA and one is not...then you damn well better believe...
<table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5" bgcolor="000000"><tr><td><center> </center></td><td><center><font size="7" color="red">U</font><font size="7" color="white">S</font><font size="7" color="blue">A</font></center></td><td><center> </center></td></tr><tr><td><center><font size="4" color="red">ALL</font></center></td><td><center><font size="4" color="white">THE</font></center></td><td><center><font size="4" color="blue">WAY!</font></center></td></tr><table>
PS: if you really want to hook with Dot legals, and don't "have" to have a radial use ET Streets. They are definately not for foul weather or daily driving though.
Well, most of the time we cannot plan on when we want to "whoop some." It happens as a random event. Basically, if I don't run on the street with decent tires, I get caught with my pants down. So the debate is not for slicks vs. et streets vs drag radials. It is drag radials vs drag radials.
94-6spd: i was not trying to start a flame-fest, so cut the cocky bullsh!t. if we raced on the street or strip, you'd get walked unless that 94 of yours traps above 125. im not here to compare **** sizes with you, i was simply stating that nittos were considered the number 1 drag radial overall compared to kumho, yokohama, bfg, etc. according to GM high performance...who, im sure, thouroughly tested each one.
my point was that if you are buying bfg's over nittos simply because they were made in the US, youre imposing limits on yourself which will be exploited by people like me who will buy a product based on its RESULTS and not because it was made in the country in which i live.
dude, did you read the post?? if not, please do.
We are not comparing road tires for use on a track with turns. Also, there were no actual factual data presented in that article from what I remember. I want durometer tests, wear tests, 60 foot tests, tire adhesion at temp test, burnout time to temp tests. I just never saw a test on drag radials in comparison to other drag radials and am curious to know.
Also, can anyone else not read the three most recent posts??
ya, i know, he was ask'n when GMHTP tested them. i haven't actually seen a drag radial test in GMHTP. just this one on the kuhmo vs. nitto. and that was the issue they were tested.
" im not here to compare **** sizes with you, i was simply stating that nittos were considered the number 1 drag radial overall compared to
kumho, yokohama, bfg, etc. according to GM high performance...who, im sure, thouroughly tested each one. "
So the quote so eloquently written by 5l eater that I posted above is incorrect?? So 5l eater where is this test??
I have a march 2002 issue of GM high-tech and they test nitto 555r's vs. kumho v700's. nitto rated #1
The Victor Racer is not a Drag Radial Smartguy.
Its a Autocross/Road Race Tire. totally Differnt design.
__________________ Ian Moore
1985 Camaro Sport Coupe - TPI
Five Liter TBI Eater -=ICON MOTORSPORTS=- - Motorsports for ignorant people. Need a Custom PROM?
I have no experience with Nitto's, but, I did buy a set of BFG Drag Radials when they first came out. My problem with them was that they picked up evry little rock, pebble, stick etc in the road. It drove me nuts!
Has anyone else had this problem?
So far, the best all around tire that I've found is the Mickey Thompson Competitor. This tire has full tread with a stiff sidewall. It is also "Z" rated for speed. So far I've had a best 60ft of 1.66.
I want to get some big fat sticky tires whjen i put my turbo in, but no way i'd run them nittos, how the hell do you pronounce that anyway. Anybody check if they made the tires on the zeros?
Unfortunately, Mickey Thompson discontinued the Competitor line for our cars. The size I'm using is 305/40x16. Last time I checked with Mickey Thompson, They had one more set left in the California warehouse.
I ahve seen 1.5 60' on a nitto. Also i would not recommend the BFG for a daily car, they have a 0 treadwear rating and u would be lucky to get 2000 miles out of them, less if you are a hard driver.
it's all down to preference but i think the nittos have better treadlife for a daily driver but have to be heated up quite a bit and dont hook as well.. for drag its all mickey thompson but if ya dont plan on launchin from stop light to stop light while daily driving go with the nittos they last longer and have better treadlife.
Originally posted by 94-6spd There are cars running 8's with Drag Radials. I haven't seen anyone with Nittos do that. Check out the twin turbo Dodge Challenger in the Mopar magazine from several months ago. He runs 8's with them. If you think you can't hook them up sounds like you don't know anything about suspensions. So I'm spending my money where I make it. USA!
"5L eater" if you think you can smoke me...just bring it on, pal! While your at it why don't you go buy a Honda since you think the Jap Crap is better.
Sorry to flame but this is what is wrong with the US economy. Why can't we spend our money here so that there will be more jobs for Americans? Why would someone want to send their money to Japan on purpose?
anyone i know with real horsepower cant hook the nittos for ****.
I just got by set of spare rear rims. I plan on getting the BFG's for my car. And it's because they are made in the USA. It's Americans that buy the products that pay my paycheck, so I try and buy American. If we all bought foreign made products then soon we wouldn't make anything except burgers and fries.
__________________ 1989 Pontiac GTA Nighthawk, 389 CID, 10.3:1, Eagle Stroker Crank, Eagle 6 inch rods, KB Dish Pistons, CC XR269-HR-12, Crane 1.5 Golds, Fully Internally Balanced, Ported Exhaust and 1.6 Exhaust Valve Vortec Heads, Headman Ceramic Coated Shorties port matched to Vortec Heads, Ported SLP's, SDPC Base, Ported Plenum, 52mm TB, 30 lb. Injectors, Streetdampr, Crane Hi-6S, Underdrive Crank Pulley, Be-Cool Radiator and dual fans, 450 HP 500 TQ. Vigilante 2800 stall Converter and TCI Steetfighter Trans. Spohn Torque arm w/safety loop, LCA's, Panhard rod and LCA relocation brackets, Aluminum driveshaft, Flowmaster 3" catback, Flowmaster muffler, High Flow 3" Cat, Custom Y-Pipe.
Well not necessarily. Although I love to go with the good ole' U S of A and never bought a foreign product. They still have to pay taxes like when buying a honda and such, so we do get money going to our goverment for their goods. But I like to buy american also.
__________________
91 RS Camaro | 383 LT1/T-56
Stage III ported heads | CC306 Cam | Electric Waterpump
1.6:1 Rocker Arms | SLP headers | 3" Exhaust
Forged Rotating assembly | Whole lot of *** woopin!
Best time (with stock cam on the old 350): 60' 2.396 - 13.733 @ 107.48 MPH
I'll give you guys TWO good comparisons. My '89 GTA and my Buddies '02 GT, both sporting 315/35/17 rears.
I'll explain burnout sequences at the end.
-'02 GT -
Got his Torque Thrust II's, 17x8 fronts, 17x10 rears. Swapped on his 245 fronts and 275 rears off his stock wheels to get him by for a month or two. Kumho rears netted him a tire spinning best of a 2.10 60'. Put on the BFG 315/35/17 DR's. Best 60' was 1.80, launching at 4500, standing on it and dumping the clutch. The tires had more in them, but the clutch didn't. - About 7k later, they're slicks, due for replacement. Puts on the Nitto DR's. 1.82 60' best so far. Same launch, clutch still very unhappy. - Car needs a good clutch.
- '89 GTA -
Got my Coddington Blaster5's. Put BFG 315/35/17 DR's on. Last yellow light comes on, stand on it, dump the clutch and hold on. 1.67 best 60'. 6-8k later, due for tires. Nitto DR's. - best so far 1.77 60'
BFG Dr's. - With an 000 tread rating, much if any stationary burnout was a pointless waste of rubber. Just pull around the water, back up till they just touch it, bring it up to about 4500, dump the clutch and walk to the line.
Nitto Dr's. - 100 tread wear. Stationary a must, but not huge. Just count to 3 or 4 and roll out to the line.
Overall the BFG's were deffinetly a better hooking tire, especially for the spur of the moment whip someone's butt out of a stop light w/o a burnout. But they don't last long on a daily driver. 10k max and only if you grandma it day-to-day. I have 6k on my Nitto's and they still look good. My buddies got around 12 on his, and they're showing it, but not bad. They'll probably go another 6k, and he cuts them no slack. Yes they pick up rocks, any tire that soft is gonna do that...
Price wise, the BFG's were around $100 cheaper for the pair than the Nitto's. - Too each his own, I'll stick w/ the Nitto's until I start driving it less often.
later, justin...
__________________ Jp Shawgo
1986 camaro - 10.5 outlaw/Outlaw 632
1989 lead sled still awating its transformation
- If you can't afford to do it right the first time, can you afford to do it again?
i have street tires. and they are good. dare i say, for the miles i drive, they are great.
when i goto the track, i'll bolt on ET streets.
why you ask? dont i know that people are pulling the same 60 foots now on radials?
simple.
with ET streets, its simple to get traction.. no tweeking, no "just right" stuff, i just have to be close, and i can knock off a great launch.
sure theres guys out there making the same or even better times on radials... but they worked at it and the cars are tweeked to launch perfectly... they didnt bolt them on and go.
so i ask you guys... do you have your chassis and launch technique tweeked to the point to make thoes work, or are you guys in the overwhelming majority who hook good, but not great?
most of you are better off running street tires, and spending the cash one time on some good track tires... my friend has a set that lasted him over 2 years... and he goes to the strip extremely often. he bolts them on at his house, drives to the strip, runs all night, drives home... the next day he swaps the street tires back on.
on the other hand with nittos, BFGs or even mickys new DR, if you got thoes INSTEAD of track only tires, you would ATLEAST be on your 2nd set..... the rims are a cheap one time investment, and the tires last more then long enough to make up for it.
and if you're going to have TRACK tires, doesnt it make sence to get the best ones to hook at the track? not the best potential, but the actual, these-are-most-likely-to-make-me-hook-best tires...
I have tried both and currently have the BFG's and will continue to use them. I definetly got less milage from the Nitto's due to the fact that they HAD to be heated at the track to get the desired traction. Sometimes still got some spin. With the BFG's, I just avoid the water and give it a good punch, pull up to the line, and get almost 100% traction (minimal spin)
milage wasn't a factor for me since my car is only a cruiser/weekend warrior, but I definetly am getting better milage and traction out of the BFG's.
hopfully now i should be able to pull of some decent times
(figures) but the 70 mile drive back in the rain wasn't as bad as i thought it would be. 
and bolt-ons
</center></td></tr><tr><td><center><font size="4" color="red">ALL</font></center></td><td><center><font size="4" color="white">THE</font></center></td><td><center><font size="4" color="blue">WAY!</font></center></td></tr><table>
