which Drag Radial will give me the best traction? Nitto NT-555r or M.T. ET Street Radial II 265/40-18? if Nitto what size?

Mickey Thompson, hands down. Nitto's are better in the rain/daily driving.

+1 Absolutely correct!

which Drag Radial will give me the best traction? Nitto NT-555r or M.T. ET Street Radial II 265/40-18? if Nitto what size?

widen your wheels by and inch and go for the 305 M/Ts. Nittos blow.

I'm running 275 BFG DRs til I get my wheels widened this winter.
bj

so the 305/45-18 MT would be the best tire for traction to go with?

I'm probably going to buy M/T et street tires. M/T only makes two 18" tires that are approved for a 9.5" rim. A P265/40R18 with a 26.5"dia.(my current stock tires are 26.5" dia.) and a P305/45R18 with a 28.8" dia. Remembering I have a 3.73 gear, would the taller tire hurt the lower gear?
M/T's current web site shows P305/45R18 approved rims 9.5-11.0.
So what should I buy?

so the 305/45-18 MT would be the best tire for traction to go with?

That is too tall, IMHO. That is the tire for the SVT Lightning truck... 28+" tall...that will not be great for a Mustang, IMHO, especially if you have stock gearing.

I don't know how the MT's compare to the BFG DRs, but I wouldn't put BFG DRs on ANY car that you want to take around corners at even a moderate rate.

I know everyone says the Nittos aren't any good, but I use them on a 460rwhp/550rwtq Lightning and a 605rwhp/594rwtq Z06 as the daily tires. They do not hook in 1st gear in the Z06, but unless I ran a pair of slicks AND heated them up... nothing would. That doesn't make the tire bad. The thing is, the Nittos handle extremely well. I don't just want my vehicles to go quickly in a straight line. If I did, I'd get a full drag suspension and buy some ET Streets and go run around on those. But if the tires are warm, they plant just fine in 2nd gear, which certainly beats a stock tire.

Now maybe the MT DRs handle ok, too. I don't know. But if you are more concerned with hooking up from a roll-on, then the Nittos will be just fine and you will not compromise handling much at all... unless you are doing some serious corner-carving.

Nitto says they make a 305/40-18. This is ~27.5" tall and would be the best size, I believe, for these cars. MT and Nitto also make a 305/35-18, but at 26.4" tall, they are shorter than your stock front tires. So unless you swap to a lower profile front tire, that won't work very well, either.

However, I'm not convinced that a 305/45-18 is the way to go, since it is over 1" taller in the rear than your stock rear tires, and really could use a wider wheel to get the entire footprint planted.

I'm probably going to buy M/T et street tires. M/T only makes two 18" tires that are approved for a 9.5" rim. A P265/40R18 with a 26.5"dia.(my current stock tires are 26.5" dia.) and a P305/45R18 with a 28.8" dia. Remembering I have a 3.73 gear, would the taller tire hurt the lower gear?
M/T's current web site shows P305/45R18 approved rims 9.5-11.0.
So what should I buy?

If this is a tire for drag racing only (and I assume it is, since ET Streets really are not a good tire to be doing a lot of real street driving with), then I would think the taller tire would be ok. It will basically negate the net gain you achieved with the 3.73 gear swap, but if you're running 26.5" tires now, you're effectively running a 3.85 gear or so anyway, since those are a bit shorter than stock.

If you swapped the 3.73s to gain the advantage at the track, then I'd try and find a shorter tire than a 28+". While I think you'll be ok doing it, it will hurt the lower gear and the advantages you get from that from a performance standpoint. Then again, the shorter/narrower tire may not be able to handle the additional power/tq multiplication anyway.

Sorry... but you may end up having to do some trial-and-error testing to find the right combo.

Or instead of wasting time and money with "trial and error", try this



http://www.tciauto.com/Products/TechInfo/Calculators.asp#12


You're welcome. And friends don't let friends race on Nitto DRs.


Happy New Year

bj

You're welcome. And friends don't let friends race on Nitto DRs.


Happy New Year

bj

:rofl: :rofl:

Or instead of wasting time and money with "trial and error", try this



http://www.tciauto.com/Products/TechInfo/Calculators.asp#12


You're welcome. And friends don't let friends race on Nitto DRs.


Happy New Year

bj

Great link... for him and all of us. Thanks.

As far as the "trial and error" comment I made... anyone who has drag raced _seriously_ knows that the effects of small tweaks to a combination aren't often something you can figure out with a mathematical formula. While the theoretical differences should always be considered, we both know that until you put it to the ground, the outcome is not always known for certain. Everyone knows the effective ratio just went down numerically with the taller tire. Until I know the combination of power/suspension/tire being used, there is no way to accurately forecast the effects.

As far as the Nittos go... to each his own. I do have a question for you... in your experience are the MT tires like the BFG DRs from a lateral grip/handling and straight-line hook perspective?

Great link... for him and all of us. Thanks.

As far as the "trial and error" comment I made... anyone who has drag raced _seriously_ knows that the effects of small tweaks to a combination aren't often something you can figure out with a mathematical formula. While the theoretical differences should always be considered, we both know that until you put it to the ground, the outcome is not always known for certain. Everyone knows the effective ratio just went down numerically with the taller tire. Until I know the combination of power/suspension/tire being used, there is no way to accurately forecast the effects.

As far as the Nittos go... to each his own. I do have a question for you... in your experience are the MT tires like the BFG DRs from a lateral grip/handling and straight-line hook perspective?

Math is math, revolutions are revolutions. At the speeds we're running in even the most modified of streetable GT500s the only variables are going to be driver ability, conditions and traction. All things being equal, these calculators are going to let you know where your rpms are in what gear at the end of the line. I run 3.73s and the BFG DRs. I am at 6100 at the lights in 4th. Exactly where I want to be.

In terms of stickiness and straight-line performance, I've found the following to be true:

Nittos are like snot on a doorknob under most conditions and absolutely will not hook on a standard day (56f @ mean sea level) with a launch beyond 3,000 and more than 500 rwhp. Been there, tried that...watched lots of other try it. That said, they are absolutely the best of the three choices when it comes to any sort of cornering. A fine example of compromise.

The BFGs are significantly stickier than the Nittos under the same conditions. Depending on conditions, I run between 13-18 psi in them.
They leave a lot to be desired when it comes to going left and right. You don't want to bop into a decreasing radius off ramp at any kind of speed. Again, a compromise.

I've used the narrower M/Ts and just like the BFGs, it's a matter of compromise. The 305s will bow on the stock 9.5" wheel and at street psi you'll end up eating the center of them. As I stated before, I'm having my stock wheels widened to 10.5" for correct fitment of the M/T 305s. They'll bring my effective ratio down to around 3.45 or so. That should bring me back up to the 122 or so I was seeing before swapping to the 3.73s (now around 120 at the lights). The 60' won't be as numerically (ratio) quick but the bite will make up for it. They're not great in turns, but FAR superior to Nittos in a straight line.

So, for the original poster/question.....you have to ask yourself exactly what you wish to do and what you're willing to give up. If you go to the track once or twice a season, buy an extra set of wheels and mount the M/Ts on it and drive it to the track on a dry straight road. If you're looking for more bit for your Saturday night show-off at the root beer stand, buy the Nittos. Better for the street...not good at the track.

If you simply want a better all around tire that will let you play at the track if you wish, but grips like a mother in dry and does very well in wet, try the BFG KDW on all four corners. You'll swear you traded cars. The stock Goodyears are the biggest pieces of crap on earth. You can often find them on sale at Tire Rack. There's a reason why. Take a look at see what they use on the Mustang Challenge races out at Miller's in Utah. They ain't Goodyears and certainly not Nittos.



bj

VNMOUS1... how much power are you making to run 120-122 through the traps?

FWIW, I agree with your assessment on Nitto DR vs. BFG DR. When I race from a dig, I'm leaving at 1500-2000 and rolling into the throttle with the Nittos, and even then it takes a deft right foot through 1st gear (and this is after heating them up). As you said there are compromises to be made. I do 95% of my acceleration runs from a 20mph punch in 2nd gear.

:cool:

VNMOUS1... how much power are you making to run 120-122 through the traps?

FWIW, I agree with your assessment on Nitto DR vs. BFG DR. When I race from a dig, I'm leaving at 1500-2000 and rolling into the throttle with the Nittos, and even then it takes a deft right foot through 1st gear (and this is after heating them up). As you said there are compromises to be made. I do 95% of my acceleration runs from a 20mph punch in 2nd gear.

:cool:

Right at 545hp/530tq at the tires on 105 octane when it's cooled. Should be able to do an 11.2 with the right 60'. I've never done better than 11.5 and change with the BFGs and walking it out.

bj

widen your wheels by and inch and go for the 305 M/Ts. Nittos blow.

I'm running 275 BFG DRs til I get my wheels widened this winter.
bj

You driving your car daily, rain or shine, on those tires?

Time is about up for the stock tires for me. Still can't decide, except no more Eagles.

In looking at tire specs, I don't really understand what all the specs mean, esp approved wheel/rim width (they give a range) then mounting rim width. It seems that even widened to 11" the 555 Nittos that JCThorne did are still recommended to be mounted on a wider rim - is this going to cause problems in hard corners with rim and tire separation?

Then I started leaning toward stock size BFG KDW 2's.

Then I thought about BFG DR, Nitto DR, and still thinking about maybe the MT Street ET II (not sure which size though...)

Ideally, I'd like the best of everything - wet performance, low noise, awesome traction, and awesome handling. The only thing I really don't care about is treadwear, except I don't want to be cleaning melted rubber off everything!

Maybe we ought to start a poll on this....

TD

Ideally, I'd like the best of everything - wet performance, low noise, awesome traction, and awesome handling. The only thing I really don't care about is treadwear, except I don't want to be cleaning melted rubber off everything!

TD

Ok, if you want the best all-around (especially since you mentioned wet performance, which tells me you drive the car everyday), then the Nitto DR is the winner. They will also outhandle _by far_ the MT DR or BFG DR.

I run Nitto DRs on my C5 Z06. I didn't buy that car to drive just in a straight line. It doesn't pull 1g like it did with F1 Supercar tires, but it is still very close with the Nitto DRs. There is almost no sacrifice in handling.

Sure the Nittos are not the absolute best when racing from a standing start... no one argues that. But you can drive them in the rain, if necessary. My Lightning truck used to be my daily driver and I drove it in the rain when I had to. Nittos on it.

I'm getting Nittos on my GT500 once my Fikse wheels arrive. It's an excellent all-around tire. It is not the best for drag racing, but you can live with it all the time, anytime, and the car will still handle extremely well.

Then again, they just suit my driving style.

When it comes to sticky I would rate Nittos, then ET Streets, then ET Street IIs. I have used each over the past 18 months and have the same consensus as others on these tires. Want long street use and reasonable traction go nittos. Go to the strip occasionally and can stand buying a set a season get the ET Streets, Go to the strip a lot and not on the road much or willing to swap out go with the ET Street IIs. I have no experience with the BFGs but I hear they are the best thing for the street.

By the way. The ET Street IIs are SOFT. Here is what one burnout will do for your tires...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQklp6WXjhY

Oh... Here is the burnout that left that mess.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThG4BxtUbU4&feature=related

You driving your car daily, rain or shine, on those tires?

Time is about up for the stock tires for me. Still can't decide, except no more Eagles.

In looking at tire specs, I don't really understand what all the specs mean, esp approved wheel/rim width (they give a range) then mounting rim width. It seems that even widened to 11" the 555 Nittos that JCThorne did are still recommended to be mounted on a wider rim - is this going to cause problems in hard corners with rim and tire separation?

Then I started leaning toward stock size BFG KDW 2's.

Then I thought about BFG DR, Nitto DR, and still thinking about maybe the MT Street ET II (not sure which size though...)

Ideally, I'd like the best of everything - wet performance, low noise, awesome traction, and awesome handling. The only thing I really don't care about is treadwear, except I don't want to be cleaning melted rubber off everything!

Maybe we ought to start a poll on this....

TD

Yeah, in the summer I leave them on, but I don't intentionally drive them in rain. Not enough channeling. Big hydro problems just like any other DR.

I run KDWs on all 4 corners for street tires. Nothing like them. Nothing.
bj

Yeah - I think its gonna be BFGs for me. Can't afford to lose control in the rain just to have max street traction. I can always get a second set of tires for the strip or track - less money than totalling the car....

As far as size - I know they make a stock size tire. Are bigger tires an option with the KDW on the stock rims? I can't figure out how to interpret those sizing charts (specifically the approved and the mounting sizes - whay aren't they the same?)


TD