Getting Nitto Drag Radials (245/50/16's)...what tires for up front?

5spd GT

"the 5.0 owns all"
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Aug 7, 2002
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Well after adding the new power I'm going to get some drag radials within a few weeks...what tires should I get up front...the reason why I ask is because I understand that the drag radials appear "skinnier" than the same size radial tire (245/50/16's)...because I don't want my front tires to look "fatter" than my drag radials in the back...but I like the look of the wider tires...

I'm currently running 245/50/16's G-force radials all around...they actually grab good...

Any ideas...you think I ought to just get some Nitto 555's (non-drag radials) up front?

What do you guys run with the Dr's in the back...
 
mackey said:
Nittos run small. You should be fine with 245s. I run 245s all the way around.

I know I'll be fine on the fitment...I run with 245/50/16's all around right now...When I get the new tires (both front and back) I just don't want the "small" Nittos to appear smaller in the back than the front...So would the regular Nittos' be my only "real" option to combat that small in back and bigger up front?
 
I run stock size up front. I went to my friends shop and told him to order me the cheapest chit he could get and he did. I dont even know what brand they are, sonco or some crap. Im not recommending them, but I am suggesting stock size up front. Less rolling resistance and less change of rubbing on a full turn. I personally would buy a 225/55 tire thats made in america and call it a day. Mine arent which is their down fall. Thats a pet peve of mine, I like keeping the money here.

I just went to autozone and picked up that brass cap and rotor kit we talked about last night and of course its made in mexico :rolleyes:
 
Grn92LX said:
I run stock size up front. I went to my friends shop and told him to order me the cheapest chit he could get and he did. I dont even know what brand they are, sonco or some crap. Im not recommending them, but I am suggesting stock size up front. Less rolling resistance and less change of rubbing on a full turn. I personally would buy a 225/55 tire thats made in america and call it a day. Mine arent which is their down fall. Thats a pet peve of mine, I like keeping the money here.

I just went to autozone and picked up that brass cap and rotor kit we talked about last night and of course its made in mexico :rolleyes:

I pondered the "stock size" idea...but I like the beefier look...I have the slightest rub if I do a real hard sharp turn...

So what makes that brass cap and rotor kit better than the OEM...because like I said I'll be replacing that soon also...(Mexico?...lol)...
 
5spd, the terminals are brass which I guess is a better conductor of electricity and/or longer lasting. MSD cap and rotor kits are brass as well and the ford motorsport kits.
 
245/50/16 rear
225/50/16 front

Looks good, happy with it, and when looking at them, you can tell the rear is wider but not too much. If its true that the drag radials run smaller, this may look balanced. Just my thoughts.
 
Not the same size but the same principle. I run 255/40R17 Kumho 711's up front and 275/40R17 Nitto DR's in the back. You can see them in my cardomain site, they are the same width, Nitto's run thin and nothing looks gayer than a beefier tire in the front. Thinner tires have less weight and friction so put those up front.
 
Does anybody got pics of their 225/55/16's up front...compared to their 245's outback...

I'm probably going to the Nitto 245's up front to match the Nitto DR's in the back...
 
im not even going to bother reading the entire thread, but a 245 belongs on the front of a car, not the back...thats a small tire, drag radial or not, ur not going to get "traction" from a 245.
 
sirsureshot39 said:
im not even going to bother reading the entire thread, but a 245 belongs on the front of a car, not the back...thats a small tire, drag radial or not, ur not going to get "traction" from a 245.

Well like I said I think I'm going to go with the 245/50/16 Nitto's up front to match...

Surprisingly I get good traction with my tires...it won't spin in second gear under WOT...but 1st it will for sure...and these are on radials...I know before I added the h/c/i...these same tires that are on currently (when I had all the bolt-ons, full exhaust, and 373's) wouldn't spin in 1st...it squated down and went...but everytime I read about people with 373's on the same size tire they say that 1st gear is useless...not for me :shrug: ...now it is....I think a 245/50/16 DR will be fine for my everyday driving...I don't beat on the car or do "smokey" burnouts...and I have 7in wheels...

Sorry guys I posted two similar post...I didn't think the first one went thru...
 
sirsureshot39 said:
im not even going to bother reading the entire thread, but a 245 belongs on the front of a car, not the back...thats a small tire, drag radial or not, ur not going to get "traction" from a 245.

Dead hooked out the hole on my tiny 245 nitto's on the street with 430 ft/lbs when I had the nitrous in the car :) He has 16" pony rims, obviously not looking for a 15x10" weld with et drags :D

David, I say put a stock size up front for the reason myself and 90mustangGT said. Just look for an american tire, not a stupid made in tiawan tire like I have
 
Grn92LX said:
Dead hooked out the hole on my tiny 245 nitto's on the street with 430 ft/lbs when I had the nitrous in the car :) He has 16" pony rims, obviously not looking for a 15x10" weld with et drags :D

David, I say put a stock size up front for the reason myself and 90mustangGT said. Just look for an american tire, not a stupid made in tiawan tire like I have

Is Nitto american? :)

I think I'm going with the Nittos...