can't hook up with 18's

[fast02gt]

I can't hook up with 18's. I have the nitto 555's with 285-35-18's out back. i have to launch from idle and it is really slowing me down. What psi should i be running and does anyone have any suggestions. By the way , this is without using the nitrous. will the nitto 555r's hook up alot better. should i just spend the money and get them or is there a better brand

 

[Red2000GT]

You can air them down a little but it won't help much(not enough rubber vs rim to deflate). You should do a short burn out to clean the tires and put a little heat in them. Then walk it out of the hole. The R's will help somewhat too.

 

[Slider]

Just do yourself a favor and get a set of 15" rims and DR's/slicks for the track. You will never hook well on 18" wheels even if you are running DR's. I bought some 15" steel American Racing rims from Summit Racing for $40 a piece, and slapped some 275 BFG DR's on there. My 60' times went from inconsistant 2.3-2.1 down to solid 1.8's.

 

[300bhp/ton]

You can air them down a little but it won't help much(not enough rubber vs rim to deflate). You should do a short burn out to clean the tires and put a little heat in them. Then walk it out of the hole. The R's will help somewhat too.

You don't really want to put to much or any heat into regular tyres, they are not designed to work like that, if you do a burn out and heat them up they will start and desintigrate due to being pushed beyond their operational envelope.

DR's, semi slicks and slicks all use a different rubber compound designed for higher temps that is way people do a burn out to bring them upto temp.

with regular road/performance tyres it is a good idea as you say to spin them over a couple of times asa this will clear any grit on them, but anymore than that and you are just waering your tyres out and making them LESS sticky.

 

[02mingreyconv]

I can't hook up with 18's. I have the nitto 555's with 285-35-18's out back. i have to launch from idle and it is really slowing me down. What psi should i be running and does anyone have any suggestions. By the way , this is without using the nitrous. will the nitto 555r's hook up alot better. should i just spend the money and get them or is there a better brand

Street tires do not hook that well at all. Doing a burnout for more than 1 second is pointless. And letting the air out is also pointless and will actually harm you more than it will do you good. There is no sidewall flexing to speak of, the only thing it will accomplis is a lower trap speed.

 

[Joel's98GT]

18's are not racing tires, duh.

 

[back_in_black]

if you want to stick with the 18's, try bfg dr's, you won't be dissappointed, first time out I went 1,8 60' in my KB'd auto no traction issues at all.

 

[Blue Blurr]

yea, do yourself a favor and get some BFG DR's