fox_305

Hey everyone, looking for some advice on tires. I recently pick up some weld prostar 15x10 5.5bs off craigslist for $200 and now I am looking for a good strip only tire for them. I was looking at the 275/60/r15 ET Street Radial Pro because the outlaw 10.5 guys are going 7's on them. So I was wondering if anybody has any experience with them or could make a recommendation? The car is a 91 TPI 305 t5 car that runs 14 flat at 1.9x 60 foot. Thanks

AlkyIROC

If it's for strip only, why do you want a ET Street? If you don't need a DOT tire then just buy a full slick. The outlaw guys are probably running them because they need to run a DOT tire.

fox_305

I believe if I go to slick I need extended wheel studs. Correct me if I am wrong. I like to keep my car completely stock looking from the outside and I am uncertain is the extended wheel stud would interfere with my stock wheels. Hence the DOT slicks.

LastGTA

iTrader: (1)

First off your stock lugs will not be long enough. I run draglites that are 15x8 5.5BS and with the shank style lugs I couldn't get them to thread on enough with the washer. It was not safe. You will need at least 2" longer studs. They won't effect your stock wheels other that you won't be able to run your lug nut covers.

2nd, the radial pro is a great tire but it will slow you down. If you're running a 305/T5 you should get a 26" radial. I ran a 275/50/15 Hoosier DOT Drag Radial. I could dump my clutch at 5500 on the street and dead hook. That would be your best bet. The Pro Radial is over kill and M/T only makes it in one size for X275.

xpndbl3

iTrader: (5)

ARP studs are required at a minimum for those rims. I ran the 3.5" ones years ago.

plum92_camaro

if your stock wheels are the 91-92 16x8 z28 wheels you shouldn't have any issues with longer studs. those wheels have a really deep hubs and a full center cap instead of the lug caps like the IROC wheels.

fox_305

Thank you everyone for the great advice. My main interest was in DOT drag radials and what was working for everyone. I have Nitto 555r 245/50/r16 drag radials now and was kind of disappointed in there grip at the track. I would give them a quick burn out and run 17psi and still get some spin off the line with a 3500 rmp launch.

Johnny Blaze

iTrader: (15)

MT recommends against using that Tire with a Stick.

Drag radials are harder to hook then bias ply tires as well. It takes those Outlaw guys a lot of work to get them to hook. They only run the DOT tires because the class makes them.

Get some good UHP radials for the street and real slicks for the track.

Then kiss your 7.5" 10 bolt and T-5 goodbye.

plum92_camaro

I ran 255/50r16 BFG DR's on my 92 RS. I loved them. They were very difficult to spin on the street and impossible to spin on the strip. My 305tbi/t5 runs 15.1. Pretty good for the ol' LO3.

I didn't have any issues with my t5 or 10bolt with the DR's but like Johnny Blaze said you may not be so lucky if you got the power for 14.0.

My buddy also runs the BFG DR's on his 69 cutlass with a built 455. He's pretty happy with them also.

fox_305

I know my 10 bolt and t5 are on barrowed time, I am lucky they held up this long. What are your thoughts on Mickey Thompson ET Street? The only problem s they are bias ply tire and I am running a radial tire up front which is a no no to mix the two.

Johnny Blaze

iTrader: (15)

I've driven on ET streets for years. My 55 has a set of 31x16.50's on it now. Have ran radials in the front with them too. No big deal, just remember you have soft tires on the back, don't drive on them like they are KDW's or something.

Again, it depends on what you are wanting to do. Are you looking for a tire that will do it all? Et streets or drag radials are comprimise tires, most run them because they have too.

A bias ply is easyier to get to hook, especially on the street. But they are not the best street tires, and will not last.

A et street or radial will have a very short life, esp if you are driving them on the street regularly. They were made for short bursts, not long haul use.

fox_305

Thanks for the info. I am not concerned with tread life as I barely put 5k on the car each year. The only time I would drive them on the street would be to the local get to gathers to get a shock and awe response from people its real fun to mess with the young guy who think because I have slick tires it must be really fast. Part of the reason I want a dual propose tire is because the nearest track is 100 mile and I would hate to race on the tires I drove there with because if I burn them down to nothing then I am screwed on the trip back home.

Johnny Blaze

iTrader: (15)

ET streets and drag radials are not really 'dual purpose' tires. They are not designed for 100 mile trips.

For a 14 second car, I would just go with some BFG G force sports are KDW's.

fox_305

I know they would not make the trip that's why I have two sets of wheels one for the street and one for the track. I am trying to decide what to get for the track.

Johnny Blaze

iTrader: (15)

If you got a set just for the track then get slicks or et streets.

I wouldn't bother with drag radials.

fox_305

A little off topic but the only thing I have not replaced on my Suspension is my pan hard bar. Would this help me at the track?

Johnny Blaze

iTrader: (15)

Probably would not notice any change at the track.

fox_305

Thanks. That's what I thought hence why I have not got one yet.

AlkyIROC

That's about the life of a sticky DOT tire driven on the street but technically, they'll wear out faster than that. Street tires are designed to go through many heat and cool cycles while driving. Any type of slick including a DOT slick gets heated up in the waterbox to release the compounds to make the rubber sticky. If the tire has been street driven a lot, all the compounds will have dried out and even through there many be lots of tread left, the tire won't hook up properly because it doesn't get as sticky as a tire that's only used at the track.

Having slicks at the track doesn't mean you're fast. It means you want the best traction possible to keep from losing by spinning off the line. A 14 second car can still spin the tires with street tires but throw on a set of slicks providing they're allowed in the class and that car becomes very consistent buy reducing or eliminated wheel spin.

Upgrading your suspension to aftermarket components removes the flex, twist, slop etc of factory components. Every time suspension parts move in a way they're not designed to, it's lost energy that could be used to improve traction of push you forward.

brandoz28

iTrader: (1)

I would put some 26x10 drag slicks on it and call it a day

t-top89

iTrader: (3)

I would be cooler to see you run on radials @14 sec. Learn to set up and drive the car on street tires.

fox_305

Come see me run 14 @98 at Spokane raceway or renegade. Most people don't think I have a 305 when they see me run and I do it on stock wheels with nt555r driving it 70 miles there and 70 miles back.

LastGTA

iTrader: (1)

At your power level a nice set of radials will be your best best. Do not mix radials and bias plys. That's just asking for problems. A low 14, high 13 second stick car will have more than enough hook with a radial. Both the ET Street radial and Hoosier DOT radial are great. I prefer the Hoosier because they hook on ice. I ran many 1.55's with they're 275/40/17 radial.

cuisinartvette

Get a junk set of wheels put your drag radials on it. Wth a stick car sometimes a little bit of spin is good. Thinking a 255+- can keep you planted plenty;14 sec car simply doesnt need a slick;youll get less power to the ground, too

Run the narrowest rubber you can get away with and still hook youll go faster. Wider isnt always better

nossbc

iTrader: (1)

the 275 et street radial pro is not a dot tire....the et street radial is....if you just going to use it at the track only...it will be faster tire than the dot radial and slick, but car has to be tune for it, at 14 sec you should be fine.
those pro tires are soft ...softer than the dot radial...that's why they are not allowed in x275 class, only in outlaw.
and they have run high 6's on them already!!!