Here's the deal I want to get 17 x11 rear wheels for my 95 TA, Right now I have SS wheels all the way around. I need traction really bad.

Which route should I go???

#1 17x9.5 wheel with a 275/40 Nitto Drag Radial= $320

#2 17x11 wheels with 315/35 Dunlop SP8000's= $290 ( wheels) + $540 tires= $830

I want traction but I also want longevity. I suppose if the Nittos are better on traction I could get 2.5 sets of those for the price of switching to 17x11's.

 

why not 315/35 bfg drs? Theyll hook

edit: theyre only $151 ea at tire rack i paid that for my 255/50s 4 monthes ago

 

I recently got a set of BFG Drags, 315, for 160 a piece. I bought them through my work so I got a little discount but not the Tire Rack deal...

 

like he said in his other post, he doesnt want new tires in 2 months with his daily driver...


i would get the wider rims, even if it ment waiting for more cash to come in... or get the rear rims now and fronts next paycheck or somthing...


with how you want to hook on street tires, its not really somthing you want to compromiseon.

if you get the wide wheels and bad tires, you're going to regret it as soon as you get it... ( i have ZERO knowlage of thoes tires, for all i know they're great, but im just giving a example)

and if you get the narrow wheels, its bearly going to give you more traction, i mean the tire will help some, but you will always know that you coulda got a lil more... that always drives me nuts..

 

Yeah, I don't know how long they will last. Not long by just the looks of em. My friend runs Nitto 275/60-15s on his 'Stang. He runs those tires down to nothing in about 3 months. Oh well, thats the price of having a strong hook off the line I guess.

 

The 315's SP8000's will be be worse than the setup you have now. Drag Racing tires need a soft, flexible sidewall to absorb the shock of launching. Construction totally different from a low profile cornering tire.

I Hillclimb....which starts out as a Drag Race style launch ....but from an incline. This is one tough SOB to hookup.

I normally run a Kumho 265\45x16 V700 Autocross tire. This combo consistantly puts down power better than the 275\45x17 tire....which has a shorter sidewall.

This year I ran Kumho 315\35x17 tires on 17x11" wheels. Car was faster in the high speed corners ( where I was running out of grip and road at 100+ mph!! ) but I lost a full second on the launch. Too wide of a tire and just no compliance in the sidewall. Car did not brake as well on the 315's either...again no compliance in the sidewall.

Stick with your present combo for street use. The Pole Position tire is excellant for street use and cornering.

Buy an extra set of wheels to mount up when you go to the strip. I'd recommend going to a higher aspect ratio than a 40 series. Either the P275\50x15 in the Nitto or BFG. BFG also makes a P255\50x16. If you check out BFG's homepage...you will note that they carry a lot of 60 series, 15" tires. There is a reason for that...the tall, soft sidewall....

BFG Drag Radial Specs

 

The 17x11 wheels I'm talkin about are ZR1 style wheels, I already have them all the way around in 9.5 inch. So I can get the rears shipped for $290. The tires are the prob. 315 or 335 series is big bucks. The last thing I would do is get the wider rear wheels followed by a drag radial I'll have to change twice a year.

Looks like I'm better of keeping what I got, and my tires are getting pretty bald so I'll just get some 285/40 Kumhos and be done with it. I don't really race all that much, and there isn't much competition around anyway that I can't handle.
I'm gonna do the torque arm anyway, one of the ones that moves the instant center back a bit, I think it'll help a tad.

When I get the cash, I'm just going to get some 15x8 or 15x10 rears and put some slicks or DR's on em' for a trip to the track.

Thanks for the help guys. i appreciate the input. Let me know if you guys want to see pics of the beast.

 

Stop by your local track (Fontana), You will find more than you can handle.

Jerry

 

Right....Street cars with street tires???? I guess, i have no problems with Z06 vettes, haven't had a chance yet to get dirty with a Viper....anyway, I know there are plenty of cars that can give me a whoopin',..... chances are the only place I'll see them is at the track, or on the street one Sunday a Month. I drive my car EVERY DAY.

 

Yes, street cars and street tires at a street legal only track.

Jerry

 

No kiddin' huh????? That's cool. So what is the cut off with e.t.'s, I mean how fast can you be???

I would only be able to run once before they kick me off the track for not having a cage anyway. Shoot I don't even have a helmet. In Hawaii if you are in the 13's you need a helmet, or maybe it was 12's.

Anyway with slicks the car will run mid 11's so I'd get booted after 1 run.

 

Only one way to find out. The last trip to Fontana was a one pass night for me ( no roll bar)11.61 @ 115.44 I don't think you can hang with that kind of time.

Jerry

 

I suppose you are callin' me out so i come over to Fontana and run....

You are right, on STREET tires I can't hang with that. That's fast for a radial tire. I would estimate my time on the current setup to be 12.1-12.3.

I will be getting a supercharger very shortly.

I don't think you can hang with my car after it's blown.

 

Get the blower quick. The iron 5.7 will be out soon and a new 6.7 all aluminum Rodeck is going in. The heads have one more trip to the flow bench than it's ready to go in.

Jerry

 

I WILL NOT RUN A DRAG RADIAL.
This is my only car, and I can't buy new tires every 4000 miles.

Have a change of heart? Why not just buy another set of used rear rims and put some dedicated drag radials on them. Then just change the tires when you go race.


Oh nice short block Jerry:hail:

 

Are you looking for a setup you can use for both drag and twisties? Each use would require a different tire for the best performance. So I think its pretty much impossible to get the best of both in one setup. I say if you are just interested in getting good traction for dragracing you get a set of 15's for the rear and use them for drag only. According to BF Goodrich, a 315/60/15 drag radial will fit on a 15" wheel between 8.5 and 11 inches wide. And with a 315 wide DR I'm sure you will get much better traction that your current 275 setup.

 

Look above, I already said that's what I am going to do.

Yeah Crazy, I'm going to do what you said, but I'm still going to try to hook best I can on the street cause that is where I will race most of the time. If I go to the track, I'll get kicked off after 1 run cause I don't have a cage.

And Jerrywho.......you planning on over 650hp with that new setup you are putting in???? I'll be impressed if you are.

 

Nitto 550 Drags 315/35/17 will help, but if I were you, I would use your stock 16 inch rear wheels and put some 26x9.5x16 ET streets on the them and only use THAT rear set to race. Then you could choose the best longevity street tire for everyday use on your 17 inch wheels.

 

I don't have the stock wheels. I bought the car with the SS wheels already on it. I'll probably buy some cragar street stars or something for the back off ebay or something....

 

id still get a new rear before a new supercharger.


edit:

if you're worried about the cost of tires, wait till you see how much new rears cost when you need them every 4k

 

My rear has 2000 miles on it. It has fresh Motive 3.73 gears an Eaton Posi in it, and a T/A cover/girdle. The axles are also hardened pieces. Parts and labor on the receipt which I got when I bought the car totalled $1800 using the stock rear but all new internals.

With the amount that I race ( not much ) I am confident it'll hold.

 

wait til I post pics of the new motor going into my 91 RS. Not aluminum, but man it's gonna be sexy!!!!

 

I will make you a money back offer.....If on your first pass you run in the 11s I will repay your entry fee. (twenty bucks)

The last time it was on shavers dyno at hit 730hp and 640 ft lbs and that was N/A Now I have removed the AFR 227s and installed a set of Pro-Action 220s also droped 3 points of compression and 20 degrees of cam so I hope that will drop it in to the high 500s and that will give me the room for my three stage 400 hp nitrous system.

Jerry