Best Drag Tire Set-up

[erm324]

after yesterdays struggle with traction @ the track I've decided to get a rear drag tire/rim set-up. What are you guys running, and how do you like your setup? What do you guys recommend for lighest wheel/tire set-up with max grip....I'm thinking hoosier with kosei K1's...would this work? What size and offsets do you recommend? FWIW im running 9.5 bbs lm up front, not sure if the front set-up needs to be taken into account or not...thanks

[m33]

Originally Posted by erm324

after yesterdays struggle with traction @ the track I've decided to get a rear drag tire/rim set-up. What are you guys running, and how do you like your setup? What do you guys recommend for lighest wheel/tire set-up with max grip....I'm thinking hoosier with kosei K1's...would this work? What size and offsets do you recommend? FWIW im running 9.5 bbs lm up front, not sure if the front set-up needs to be taken into account or not...thanks

[erm324]

LOL^ I think me, you, and akash can benefit from this thread haha

[flipm3]

man you guys are hardcore!! i say run...

APEX ARC-8: 18x10.5 +25
MT ET Street Radial: 305/45/18

i just wonder if it'll fit with that offset, LOL

[akh23456]

Originally Posted by erm324

LOL^ I think me, you, and akash can benefit from this thread haha

+1 will be reading it closely.

[Dave07997S]

The Nitto 555R and NT05R is being used on 600+rwhp Mustangs, Vettes and Vipers and they have them in a multitude of sizes.

Whats nice about them is you can drive them to the track.

You can run either a 285/40/18 or a 305/35/18 for either one of these.

For the fronts you want as light as possible to let the weight transfer to the rear..if you are running an adjustable strut set it to full soft up front.


Dave

[DLSJ5]

Originally Posted by Dave07997S

The Nitto 555R and NT05R is being used on 600+rwhp Mustangs, Vettes and Vipers and they have them in a multitude of sizes.

Whats nice about them is you can drive them to the track.

You can run either a 285/40/18 or a 305/35/18 for either one of these.

For the fronts you want as light as possible to let the weight transfer to the rear..if you are running an adjustable strut set it to full soft up front.


Dave

Well said Dave.

The Nitto 18" 285 555R DR is plenty of tire for bolt ons, and most likely SC'd cars as well. Some of the faster C63's are running the Nitto 555R's, and they make more TQ than we do. That E60 M5 that hit 10's running nitrous ran 275 DR's, and he hit the nitrous on the launch.

[akh23456]

what kind of rims do you recommend?

[erm324]

Drew you have a PM, I think I'm going with the Nittos - just have to pick rim and offset

[DLSJ5]

Originally Posted by akh23456

what kind of rims do you recommend?

I used the VMR CSL reps for all of my E46 and E92 runs. Just recently picked up some MT1's. I need to go back now that I can do a burnout. With DR's you really have to heat them up good for them to work well on the launch, otherwise they're not much better than decent street tires.

305's I think are overkill, especially for just bolt on's, Divexxtreme ran 305 Nitto's on his 900whp 996TT at 22psi on the street and hooked, lol. Nothing wrong with using 305's on our car, but the wider the tire the slower you go, albiet probably not by much when comparing 285 vs. 305, but every little bit counts, go with a skinnier tire up front too, if you are going with a dedicated drag setup on all 4 wheels.

[Dave07997S]

Originally Posted by erm324

Drew you have a PM, I think I'm going with the Nittos - just have to pick rim and offset

Keep in mind the Nitto D/R's run a tad narrow vs. their non D/R's. Nitto Invos run wide while the D/Rs run more narrow. I have seen 305's on a 9.5" rim with the Mustang GT500 crowd.

Who said drag racing isn't fun...

Dave

[Dave07997S]

Originally Posted by DLSJ5

I used the VMR CSL reps for all of my E46 and E92 runs. Just recently picked up some MT1's. I need to go back now that I can do a burnout. With DR's you really have to heat them up good for them to work well on the launch, otherwise they're not much better than decent street tires.

305's I think are overkill, especially for just bolt on's, Divexxtreme ran 305 Nitto's on his 900whp 996TT at 22psi on the street and hooked, lol. Nothing wrong with using 305's on our car, but the wider the tire the slower you go, albiet probably not by much when comparing 285 vs. 305, but every little bit counts, go with a skinnier tire up front too, if you are going with a dedicated drag setup on all 4 wheels.

Remember Lee Rutter with the skinnies on his E46 M3..he ran 12.25's with a slipping clutch in that thing.

Dave

[Dave07997S]

Originally Posted by DLSJ5

Well said Dave.

The Nitto 18" 285 555R DR is plenty of tire for bolt ons, and most likely SC'd cars as well. Some of the faster C63's are running the Nitto 555R's, and they make more TQ than we do. That E60 M5 that hit 10's running nitrous ran 275 DR's, and he hit the nitrous on the launch.

Thanks Drew,

Yea, 305's would be best for the really low end torque monsters ala. Mustang GT500's and such.

BTW erm, Drew gives good advice regarding the D/Rs. They need to be hot to stick good so a good burnout is needed. I personally liked to skip the water box as water would splash up and drip in front of the rear tires at the line.


Dave

[DLSJ5]

Originally Posted by Dave07997S

Keep in mind the Nitto D/R's run a tad narrow vs. their non D/R's. Nitto Invos run wide while the D/Rs run more narrow. I have seen 305's on a 9.5" rim with the Mustang GT500 crowd.

Who said drag racing isn't fun...

Dave

Good point I believe the HPF guys are able to fit MT 305's on a 9.5" CSL rep rim.

[DLSJ5]

Originally Posted by Dave07997S

Thanks Drew,

Yea, 305's would be best for the really low end torque monsters ala. Mustang GT500's and such.

BTW erm, Drew gives good advice regarding the D/Rs. They need to be hot to stick good so a good burnout is needed. I personally liked to skip the water box as water would splash up and drip in front of the rear tires at the line.


Dave

Lee is such a great guy and heck of a driver. I rememember I kept getting low 13's to 13 flat in the E46 M3, then I bought his SSR 18" wheels, and finally hit a 12.8, lol. I wonder what he's up to these days.

[E90///M3`]

great post... will be taking a lot of this advice into consideration when i buy drag wheels and tires. i kinda want to run slicks though

[DLSJ5]

Originally Posted by E90///M3`

great post... will be taking a lot of this advice into consideration when i buy drag wheels and tires. i kinda want to run slicks though

lmao, NO slicks.

[E90///M3`]

Originally Posted by DLSJ5

lmao, NO slicks.

ok, seriously now... to sum-up, a 285/40R-18 NT05R will be alright on a 18x10.5 rear... i need to find a great lightweight rim for the drag set-up. I really like the new Advan TC-III that came out and they fit BBK

[Dave07997S]

To be honese I would be wary of slicks..you may wind up with broken half shafts on blown cars.

Dave

[Boosted-M]

BMW E46 M3 18"x9" Rear Wheels BF Goodrich Drag Radials P275/35R18LL is what I used for my runs.. E46 wheels even fit with H&R wheel spacers..
Had the tire pressure @ 20 psi for 2 runs.. My last run I ran 15psi.. Next time to the track I will heat up the tires in 2nd..

[prodigymb]

Nitto 555r is a good drag tire for the street. for the track Mickey, Hoosier, BFG are all better then the Nittos.

[DLSJ5]

Originally Posted by prodigymb

Nitto 555r is a good drag tire for the street. for the track Mickey, Hoosier, BFG are all better then the Nittos.

All great choices Mark, but the BFG's and MT's were no better than the Nitto's in my experience with both the E46 SMG and E92 DCT, in fact the MT's I had more problems with getting traction and it was a wider tire, others may have a different experience though. If I were able to heat them up at the time they may have worked better. It's not always the tire, track prep is a big factor as well.