15" or 17" Drag Radials...which size?

[elite130]

I'm going to be getting some Drag Radials here soon for next year's drag race season. I need your input on what size to get. I currently have 17x9 and 17x10.5 Black Bullitts for my street tires. The only time the Drag Radials will be on is driving to and from the track. So...which direction would you all suggest going?

Options:
1) 315/35/17 BFG DR's on 17x10.5" Black Bullitts

2) 275/40/17 Mickey Thompson DR's on 17x9 Black Bullitts

3) 275/50/15 Mickey Thompson DR's on 15x8 or 15x10 steel rims

4) Suggest something else

Thanks for your input :SNSign: !

 

[BooWFO]

I've had 275/40/17 bfg dr's they were ok but it was either they hooked or they blew off.
I'd suggest a 15" rim and tire for drag racing, gives you more sidewall to flex and help launch the car.
I run a 26x10.5/15 et street ( the bias plys) for drag racing, and driving around on sometimes. They are DOT approved, hook hard on the track and the street, and they flex alot. Allowing for a repeatable launch, and IMO a softer hit to the drivetrain.

BTW I was told by a total of 4 different tire reps. Manual cars Bias plys, auto cars Drag radials.

 

[elite130]

I've had 275/40/17 bfg dr's they were ok but it was either they hooked or they blew off.
I'd suggest a 15" rim and tire for drag racing, gives you more sidewall to flex and help launch the car.
I run a 26x10.5/15 et street ( the bias plys) for drag racing, and driving around on sometimes. They are DOT approved, hook hard on the track and the street, and they flex alot. Allowing for a repeatable launch, and IMO a softer hit to the drivetrain.

BTW I was told by a total of 4 different tire reps. Manual cars Bias plys, auto cars Drag radials.

I forgot about the ET Streets. Is the 26x10.5/15 the best size for the 2v? What size rim should those be mounted on, 15x8 or 15x10?

Seeing that I'm staying N/A for a while and I have 4.10's and a few other little mods, I want the best tire for the set-up that I have.

 

[OV10stang]

I'm using P275/40R17 Mickey Thompson DR's now and my 60 ft's are in the 1.7's. I had P275/50R15 on 15X10 Weld wheels before and the extra sidewall didn't make a difference in my 60ft or ET, with me only having 251hp.

 

['01 Steed]

...
I'd suggest a 15" rim and tire for drag racing, gives you more sidewall to flex and help launch the car.
....

Bingo! More sidewall allows you to load them up.

 

[blackink00]

i use a 15x8 weld rim for my 275/50/15 DR. i love it. i get to much traction if that makes sence

 

[stangGT97]

I would think a stock GT with 4.10s wouldn't need any more than a 15x8 wheel, with 245 rubber on it. Otherwise you will just bog

 

[BooWFO]

15x8 works well.
IMO a 26" tire is good N/A with 4.10's and using stock rev limiter.

 

[madmatt]

Go with the 15's since you wont be daily driving them anyway.

 

[FoxRod87]

You need to get a 15x10 weld wheel with a 26x11.5 et street. My buddy has those and he drives it almost every day.

 

[Jackie Chan]

i would go with a dedicated setup. for a mild bolton car at your elevation, i would suggest the mickey thompson dr on a 15 or 16 inch wheel. there are a lot of options out there, ranger wheels, crown vics, older stangs (5 lug of course) some jeep wheels. all kinds of stuff. i would stick to a stockish width.
a 15 inch dr will hook just fine at you power with 8 or so inches of contact patch. you probably dont need a bias ply tire and going with a radial will keep you from having to acclimate to top end sway.

 

[Jackie Chan]

you can go with a 235/60/15. that should be fine on a 7-8inch wide wheel

edit. or you could be like me and go with the bias ply et streets on 17's. they are 26x11.5x17. with a bad susp setup, i am in the mid 1.6s

 

[elite130]

you can go with a 235/60/15. that should be fine on a 7-8inch wide wheel

edit. or you could be like me and go with the bias ply et streets on 17's. they are 26x11.5x17. with a bad susp setup, i am in the mid 1.6s

so are you saying the 275/50/15's are too much for my set-up?

 

[Jackie Chan]

no not at all, just not needed IMO

 

[9musTang9er]

I'm using P275/40R17 Mickey Thompson DR's now and my 60 ft's are in the 1.7's. I had P275/50R15 on 15X10 Weld wheels before and the extra sidewall didn't make a difference in my 60ft or ET, with me only having 251hp.

same thing i got!!! mine were daily driven (hard) for 4K miles and still have plenty of bite. and i've raced OV10stang at the track many of times