looking to buy some new back tires for my iroc for the street and maybe an occasional trip to the track .. probably a high twelve second car .. tire is going on stock iroc 16 inch rims ..

 

Depends on how much life you want in a tire.
I've found that even a high 12 second car needs a decent tire compound if it's going to hook at all. That limits you to the usual suspects. And once you narrow it down to a 16 x 8 rim, the Mickey Thompson Street Radial is about it. Problem is, you'll probably only see one driving season out of them if it's your only street tire.
Any real street tire isn't going to give you any traction at the track. For what it's worth, probably the best street tire out there (that I've found and would purchase) is BFG's Sport Comp II. I've got 245/50/16 and 255/50/16 for the front/rear respectively. I'd never race them at the strip though. I have my old MT ET Streets for that and the MT radials I mentioned above are next years racing tire of choice.

http://www.mickeythompsontires.com/s...tem=ETStreetSS

 

how are they in the rain ?

 

Which are you referring to?
The Mickey Thompson's have a new tread design which has a greater number of grooves cut into it (I wouldn't call it a tread exactly) for better traction in the rain. That said, it isn't a rain tire really. It is better than the old MT radial which is still available at Summit etc. so be sure to check that you're getting the new design (and new name) rather than the old MT radial.
If you're asking about the BFGs, I'd say the wet traction is second to none. It really is one of the best tires out there that is made in a 16".



MT ET Street SS

 

Keep in mind these are my experiences. Others out there may have different offerings. To me, when you say "trip to the track", I think track duty tire.

 

have you ever tried the nitto tires ?

 

The only Nittos available in 16" are the NT01 which is a DOT road racing tire and the NT555R which is a DOT drag racing tire.
I haven't any experience with the NT01. The NT555R we found did not perform as well as the MT. They do last a little longer on the street, which would make sense.
If this is the same car that has a thread (by Orr), depending on the miles you intend to put on it, the Nitto might not be a bad choice. I had an IROC with similar RWHP numbers and it needed help at the track with it's basically stock suspension. Managed to 60' in the 1.7x range with some old McCreary dirt track slicks.
Personally, with the miles I put on a vehicle in a driving season, which is a lot, I couldn't afford to keep myself in a drag radial for street use. As it is, I can burn up a set performance street tires, like the BFG Sport Comps in a 20,000 miles or so. The radials might do 1/4 of that. Depends on when, where and how you you drive.

 

Toyo makes a drag radial. That is what I'm going to try. They are reasonably priced and have heard they hook well and are good in rain. they are between the MT and the Nitto 555r. They are called Proxes TQ

 

The Nittos were pretty good for me on my last car. Good grip (dropped 8 tenths from my first tirespinning 1/4 run on street tires) and they lasted or should I say held up for a good while. Cant tell you how good they were on wet roads because I try not to drive my cars on wet rainy days.