I'm sure this question has been addressed but I can't find it. The sportsmans I have on my car are old and hard, not hooking well on the street. My engine builder doesnt think they'd even hook at the track, so I'm looking for new tires.

I know the M/T et street radials have better sidewall support, and I have an auto. Problem is they jump from 275/60/15 to 325. I can't fit a 325 and 275 seems a bit small for my hp. Roughly 7-800 crank hp.

The 28x12.5 bias ply tires would give me an inch and a half over the 275 radials. The car is street driven sometimes, so I'm looking for optimal traction on and off the track.

Suggestions?

 

What wheel size do you have?

 

15x10, tires currently on the car are 29x12.5. 13.0 sidewall width. Just a tad too wide.

 

Sounds like you already know the answer to your question....

What's stopping you from using 325's? Just the wheel well opening right? Time to start tweaking it eh?

 

Gah. The bulge sticks out past the lip a bit. I've already got the inside cut and beat.

Here's some current pics of the stick outtage.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...06-08_2013.jpg
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...06-08_2014.jpg

I think they stick out a little far. The tread width on the radials is wider and I'm kinda worried about the fender lip with the 325s, even if I roll it. 325s would be kick *** though.

The 325 would be .1 wider than what I have now. But an inch wider tread area.

 

I have been running 275/60/15s and have cut 1.40 60ft times and bottom 10 sec passes. And from the pics it looks as if you need a rim with more backspacing 5.5'' to 6.5'' are the best looking with a stock rear and 10'' wheel.

 

I know there are guys running 275 tires down into the 9's, but I need good traction on the street too. I have 5.5 bs. I should have gone with 6 or 6.5.

 

Yea, just because some guy has done 9's on 275's, doesn't mean it's easy. Big suspension mods, air bags, v6 front springs, perfect track conditions, moon lining up right with the stars, etc etc. The wider the tire, the easier it would be. Then you don't have to worry as much about the other conditions.
Well, play around with the LCA'RB angle too. It could be too steep.

 

There are cars on the west coast going well into the 7's on a 275/60. I have personally been 8.90's on them and went 1.27 60' on them. My car works really well on the street with radials but every car is differant. In my opinion even the 275's will be way better than the sportmans ever were.

 

Well thats good news to me. I'm gonna try the 325, its about the same as what I have now, sizewise, just an inch shorter. Should work well, now if only I can find someone that can get them here before mid july......seem to be short on supply.

I'm dreaming of street wheelies......

 

Separate the two. All of the DOT drag tires say "Not intended for highway use". I know a lot of people drive them on the street, anyway, but it just doesn't make sense to me. First, I don't want to risk road debris damage to my expensive track tires; second, I don't want to wear them out using them for something for which they weren't designed.

When I was getting tubes installed in my QTP DOT's, there was a guy getting his Street ET's changed out to BFG DR's because he said the M/T's wouldn't hook on the street - my thought (unspoken) was, "Well, duh. . ."

Run street tires on the street, and drag tires at the track.

 

I figured the M/Ts would hook well on the street. Its a 40 min drive to the track too.

So I guess my next questions are, how do the et streets in fact hook on the road and,

How long would they stay in good track condition if I drove the car 20-30 miles a week....

 

those MT's will wear FAST driving on the street. They hook AWESOME on and of track. I run 275/60's i dont think you'll have a problem

 

Coming from a guy thats probably making 8-900hp, thats solid. 275's even, hell. I think I'm set on the 325s then. I know they wear fast, but replacing them once a year wouldn't be too bad.

The radials have some tread on them, so they are a little safer if I get caught in the rain.

Pure drags are in the future, but I dont have the cash to buy another set of wheels and tires yet. Also shouldnt afford a car trailer so the car needs to stay "legal" to the track.

 

The M/T 325/50's are actually a hair wider than the tires you have now. the sidewall width is 13.1. I'd go with the 275/60's. They are the same diameter of 28" with 11.0 sidewall width which will look better as they won't buldge over the rim. They are just a tad bigger than a 28x10.5 slick. and they are 4lbs lighter a piece than the 325's.

 

I know, but I'm just a little unsure of how the 275s will grab on the street. Thats where I do most of my driving, its important.

1Bad406, what rear tires do you have? Looks real good.

 

I run the M/T ET drags stiff sidewall 28x10.5 on a 9" wheel.

 

Thats a fine car man, is it all motor? Pulling the wheels with a powerglide? Transbrake?

I've decided to go with the 275's. The sidewall width on the 325 doesnt bother me, but the tread width is another inch on top of my 29x12.5, I'm worried about smashing the fender. Why the @$#$% dont they make a 295 or 315.

 

295/65R15 then would be a good choice, just a tad taller than what you're running now.

 

Wouldnt that be a 30" tire? The 29 I have on there now, clear but expand a lot. The rear gfx are almost an inch away from the tire, and when I get back from a burn, (roughly only 100mph), the gfx are clearly contacted. Rubs the inside of well slightly too. They are really squeezed in there, at 130+ I cant imagine how much they'd grow.

I know radials dont grow nearly as much as bias ply. A 28" (figuring 28.5 at end of track) would work nicely with the new set of gears I'm putting in.

I think I'd be happier with a 295/55, but hey its not offered.

M&H's 325 has a 12" section width, an inch less than the MT's. But they are considerably more expensive than MT, I can't find too much good reliable info on results and street manners.

 

radials shouldn't grow much if at all. The 325 is a lot of tire, I wouldn't expect perfect traction on the street regardless.