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

5spd GT · Sep 21, 2004

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 · Sep 21, 2004

How wide are your tires 7in?

5spd GT · Sep 21, 2004

mackey said:
How wide are your tires 7in?

Sorry...I have the pony wheels (7in)...the tires stick out from the rim...the factory size is 225/55/16's...

mackey · Sep 21, 2004

Nittos run small. You should be fine with 245s. I run 245s all the way around.

5spd GT · Sep 21, 2004

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?

Grn92LX · Sep 21, 2004

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

5spd GT · Sep 21, 2004

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

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)...

N8Miller · Sep 21, 2004

i added nitto drs out back and put the 555s up front. happy with my choice.

Grn92LX · Sep 21, 2004

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.

TheBocSez · Sep 21, 2004

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.

5spd GT · Sep 21, 2004

TheBocSez or Grn92LX - Do ya'll happen to have pics of the front tires? comparison?

I might just go ahead and get the Nittos up front to match?

Grn92LX · Sep 21, 2004

only thing I have is a bunch of side shots of my car.

TheBocSez · Sep 21, 2004

I will get you some tormorrow and email them to ya.

90mustangGT · Sep 21, 2004

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.

5spd GT · Sep 21, 2004

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...

TT91 · Sep 21, 2004

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.

5spd GT · Sep 21, 2004

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 ...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...

Grn92LX · Sep 22, 2004

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

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

5spd GT · Sep 22, 2004

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

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...

Grn92LX · Sep 22, 2004

Japaneese haha :-/ Good tires though, I hooked good at the track (when it was still open )

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

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