Lets Talk Dot Drag Tires

Chuckman · Jan 24, 2015

So i'm getting to point now where i need to start thinking about race tire options for the fox. My g-force sports are not at all up to the task, although they run almost as good as my old nitto 555r's did, i know theres LOTS of room for improvement (average about a 2.1 50'). looking to be able to swap on a pair of wheels/tires on a Wednesday afternoon, drive 40 or so miles to track, air down, put down about 5-10 passes, air back up, and drive home.

Probably going to be on a 15x8 prostar with 5.5" backspace. i've been looking at either a 255/60 or 275/60 mt radial, but unsure of how well these will work with the rest of the setup i'll be running, and wondering if i should instead be looking at a bias-ply option?

basic specs on the car:
302 with tfs kit and boltons (hopefully around 300+ rwhp when done)
tko 5-speed with mcleod super street pro clutch
4.10 gear
mm xd lowers
frrpp b-springs and tokico blues
no quads, fenders not rolled

A5literMan · Jan 24, 2015

MT ET streets ftw! Nittos nt05r tires would work also.

A5literMan · Jan 24, 2015

Your suspension will be a limiting factor for maximum performance. A good radial and proper launch will get you well under 2.0 60ft though. I'd expect somewhere around a 1.7 60 ft with your set up. A mid 12 sec et is very possible depending on track,altitude,your ability,and the tire you choose.

elarm1 · Jan 24, 2015

I made the NT05R choice on my Cobra wheels. I thought it was overkill for me to purchase a dedicated track set up. Maybe some time down the line I will get a big and little setup but they aren't cheap!

Chuckman · Jan 24, 2015

Im staying away from the nittos, either going mickey thompson, or Hoosier depending on offerings. The et street radials have a good reputation as do the bias ply versions, and the qtp's also seem to be popular. Im just worried with it being a stick car how well a radial will take a hard launch, and if a bias ply tire (et street or qtp) would be more ideal for my given use.

elarm1 · Jan 24, 2015

Should be all you need to know!

http://www.stangtv.com/tech-stories...101-what-you-need-to-know-about-drag-radials/

A5literMan · Jan 24, 2015

I've run the Hoosier dot bias tires in the past. Very good track tire. Cut 1.6-1.7 60ft-12.00's@116-118mph with a nitrous/stock suspension(other than southsides lca) and launching around 4500 clutch dump. If there is even a hint of moisture on the road be very very cautious they react like an ice skating rink.

Chuckman · Jan 24, 2015

well, from the sound of it, for my situation it looks like a radial (et street) seems to be the better option.

Next question is size. With the gt40 motor and the 245/45-17s ive been running, ive been trapping about 100-101 mph with the tach showing 6500-7000rpm (which is bs, the math shows closer to 5500 iirc for that speed). Im betting a 26" tire (275/50-15) will be about in the same situation. i would love to run a 275/60 (28"), but then im wondering if thats a bit too tall (and if it would really fit without more clearancing). A 255/60 is right in the middle (27"), but loses some section width. opinions?

A5literMan · Jan 24, 2015

You could use the "ball bat" trick to roll the lip and a bfh on the inner wheel wells for all the clearance you'll need. If you don't want to do that run the 255/60. They'll fit. With 4.10's/TFS1 combo I would imagine the quickest tire would be the 27-28" tire. Max peak power is usually around 5600 rpm with a 58-6000 shift point.

Sharad · Jan 24, 2015

26" ET Street (not ET Street Radial... ET Street bias ply) is a better option for traction. Hoosier Quick Time Pros are also good.

RangerJoe · Jan 24, 2015

I have a set of 15" V6 wheels with a set of MT ET Street Radials in the small 235 size, they are 26" tall. I have a basic all weather tire on the car for everyday use. I use to run a 245 555R on the daily wheels.

The 235 MT don't hook for nothing with a 5spd, and I will put 555r's back on the car for daily use once these are used up. My next set of dedicated drag radials will be a biasply, probably the Hoosier based on the reviews.

Joe

madspeed · Jan 24, 2015

ET Streets hook just fine with a 5 speed. It's just finding thesweet spot between air pressure and launch rpm. Once you do, hold the fck on

Chuckman · Jan 24, 2015

I've had 275/40-17 555r's on this thing before, back when it was closer to stock (just gears and exhaust) and i could never get it to NOT blow the tires off the line, hence why i don't want to go that route (that, and they're japanese and I'm trying to stay as much into the made-in-usa stuff as i can).

i would, in a second, spring for a set of the bias-ply et streets or qtp's if i KNEW that they would survive for any length of time, and be safe, on an 80-mile weekly round trip on the horrible roads between the house (west county stl) and the track (east stl). with that up in the air though, makes it a bit tough to decide.

A5literMan · Jan 24, 2015

I wouldn't drive a bias ply on the streets again personally. Not on a highway. Across town under 55 yup. Hoosiers work like a slick imo for the track AND the street. Mushy,wobbly,disconcerting on the street at highway speeds especially around curves etc. I'm not talking about spirited driving just normal speeds. If you take it easy they are doable but again any rain and they are helpless and dangerous. You could take an extra pair of wheels/tires to the track with you. Usually can swap them and chain lock everything together somewhere out of the way if you're by yourself. Personally driving nearly 100 miles and racing with a pair of really sticky tires is a crap shoot. If you really hook there is a high likelihood of parts failure. In the past I've broken an axle,blew up 3rd gear,and nearly got clipped by another car who lost control of his vehicle. Sh it happens at the track.

Chuckman · Jan 24, 2015

apparently im still thinking im at my old house, from here its only 24 miles each way to gateway. either way, youre right, thats a lot of miles for a bias ply in my mind, which is what i was originally thinking, but i wanted to see if i was just being too paranoid about it.

theres really no place there to chain a set of street tires up either, and i've been lucky with parts breakage, so far only a heater hose and a water pump gasket since i started going back in '06. of course, other than 2012 i've never made it a weekly thing either, and was lucky to get there once a month for a midnight madness on a friday where i was even luckier to get two or three passes in. now that i work days, and have some disposable income, i can change that.

25thmustang · Jan 25, 2015

It sounds like the best way to do what you want is to run a good (going to need to ask the DR guys) drag radial. I tried Nittos, and found my street tires as good (only ran Nittos once at the track but didn't 60' well). I have heard the BFGs are a bit better and the MTs even better. I doubt your going to be dropping the clutch at 5000 RPM with them, without a well set up suspension, but you should be able to launch hard and make some good passed.

addermk2 · Jan 25, 2015

If you're running a 5 speed car, you really want a bias ply tire. stiff wall radials kill manual transmissions. 24 miles on a bias ply is not a big deal.

FWIW, 2.1 60' on a drag radial is pretty terrible. 90% of your problem is likely in your suspension.

madspeed · Jan 25, 2015

addermk2 said:
If you're running a 5 speed car, you really want a bias ply tire. stiff wall radials kill manual transmissions.

Did you just make that up?

addermk2 · Jan 25, 2015

madspeed said:
Did you just make that up?

Absolutely not. infact... Mickey Thompson markets their ET Street radial as "specifically designed for automatic transmission cars"

It is a well known fact that a manual transmission car "shocks" the tire or "hits" the tire significatly harder than an automatic. Even those auto's with a trans brake. Having some extra give in the sidewall of the tire (like using a wrinkle wall slick) will ease the driveline shock that occurs. Which ultimately reduces the likelihood of part failure.

Ask around in any real racing community. like YB, HC5.0, TB and NB.

addermk2 · Jan 25, 2015

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IanYDRGWCwY

Forward to 0:50

Lets Talk Dot Drag Tires

Chuckman

GTFO you fat, heavy bastard

A5literMan

At least it is lumpy...

A5literMan

At least it is lumpy...

elarm1

Chuckman

GTFO you fat, heavy bastard

elarm1

A5literMan

At least it is lumpy...

Chuckman

GTFO you fat, heavy bastard

A5literMan

At least it is lumpy...

Sharad

ALWAYS choose the V over the P!!! Wait... what?

RangerJoe

I leave the horn on while driving

madspeed

Colonel Mustard

Chuckman

GTFO you fat, heavy bastard

A5literMan

At least it is lumpy...

Chuckman

GTFO you fat, heavy bastard

25thmustang

Mustang Master

addermk2

madspeed

Colonel Mustard

addermk2

addermk2

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Lets Talk Dot Drag Tires

GTFO you fat, heavy bastard

At least it is lumpy...

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GTFO you fat, heavy bastard

At least it is lumpy...

GTFO you fat, heavy bastard

At least it is lumpy...

ALWAYS choose the V over the P!!! Wait... what?

I leave the horn on while driving

Colonel Mustard

GTFO you fat, heavy bastard

At least it is lumpy...

GTFO you fat, heavy bastard

Mustang Master

Colonel Mustard

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