When it comes to drag radials, hands down Mickey Thompson's hook the best. However, I've heard they don't last long on the street, and you don't want to be caught in the rain. I need a drag radial for my car that hooks good (good enough for an 11.80 Nova), one that can be safely driven daily, and one that I won't kill someone else or myself in the rain. As for treadwear, as long as I can get about a 1/2 a year out of a set between racing and daily driving I'm good. What do you recommend? What's your first hand experience?

1) Mickey Thompson
2) BF Goodrich
3) Nitto
4) Hoosier
5) M&H



Joe

i've gotten a set of the BFG 275/60/15 drag radials; on slicks the car was doing 12.40@108, after only changing to drag radials the car did 12.6x's@110. the 60' times went up but the mph increased also, i think due to less weight of tire, i didn't run the car enought to test more, i try not to drive in the rain, now the tires tread pattern is worn off and they seem to hook quite well.

Aren't DOT rated drag tires rated at 0 for tread wear? Say a Drag radial tread wear rating was 100 (perfromance tire rating), street radial tread wear 200-500. A street radial can last 20,000-35,000mi (estimated) which is 2-5 times longer than a drag radial with a rating of 100 excluding the burnouts.

A summer of drivng and racing, a drag radial would be bald just in time for winter LOL.

I guess about 3-5,000 mi. a drag radial would be done. How many MI daily?

With my 70 Pontiac I drove over 2 1/2 hours to the nearest track and can say they worked great! I've ran 3 different brand drag radials in the same size(275/60R15). Liked the M/T's the best and couldn't drive that far to the track reliably with slicks.

I've never been able to get better 60fts wtih slicks

i've gotten a set of the BFG 275/60/15 drag radials; on slicks the car was doing 12.40@108, after only changing to drag radials the car did 12.6x's@110. the 60' times went up but the mph increased also, i think due to less weight of tire, i didn't run the car enought to test more, i try not to drive in the rain, now the tires tread pattern is worn off and they seem to hook quite well.

your MPH always increases if your 60 ft. is more due to spin.

your MPH always increases if your 60 ft. is more due to spin.

How does that work? Guess its like having more gear since the engine gets in its powerband quicker?

Vince,I can't really explain the dynamics of it,but if you run a 110 MPH with a 1.95 60 ft. and you get the car to hook,lets say a 1.80 ft. the 110 MPH will probably be 109 or a hair less.

Aren't DOT rated drag tires rated at 0 for tread wear?.....

.....I guess about 3-5,000 mi. a drag radial would be done. How many MI daily?

Nitto drag radials have 100 treadwear, but all the others have 0.

I'd say about 20-30 miles a day excluding friday night cruising, burnouts, and goin to the track just about every weekend(trailered).


Joe

I run the M/T drag radials on the street. They seem to wear fairly good. But when I leave the full spool active ( ARB air lock system ) I tear them to pieces. Water is diff no good with these. Fun though :clonk:

your MPH always increases if your 60 ft. is more due to spin.


I have many time slips with wildly varying 60' times and have never had this happen. I can 60' a 1.93 and 130 mph in the 1/8th mile and them go 1.83 and still go 130 mph. Also, when my car was much slower, I would do a 1.9 60' with a 123 mph. A 1.67 60' netted the same at 123 mph.:)

Where have you seen this happen??

I have many time slips with wildly varying 60' times and have never had this happen. I can 60' a 1.93 and 130 mph in the 1/8th mile and them go 1.83 and still go 130 mph. Also, when my car was much slower, I would do a 1.9 60' with a 123 mph. A 1.67 60' netted the same at 123 mph.:)

Where have you seen this happen??

thats because you have a non-n/a car ;)

usually anytime you spin,your MPH is higher

I have many time slips with wildly varying 60' times and have never had this happen. I can 60' a 1.93 and 130 mph in the 1/8th mile and them go 1.83 and still go 130 mph. Also, when my car was much slower, I would do a 1.9 60' with a 123 mph. A 1.67 60' netted the same at 123 mph.:)

Where have you seen this happen??

I agree and my car has always been N/A. I've read several folks stating that mph goes up when you spin, but no one has said by how much.

I have a set of BFG 275/50/15 Dr's, and you can have 'em (for a good price :D )

I cant get them to hook behind the mighty 454HO, but its a stick-thing.

But, I must say they drive like normal tires (cause they are), even at 70-80mph highway speeds.

The slower 123 mph runs were N/A. So I can say that I myself have never experienced MPH fluctuation with 60' times. I know in my case if I ever get the car to hook, the mph should go way up with the lower 60'. This should be because I am experiencing wheel spin through the entire quarter mile. Basically a long rolling burnout.:clonk:

I had Nittos on my Z28 and loved them. Never drove it in the rain, so I can't help you there.

one that can be safely driven daily, and one that I won't kill someone else or myself in the rain.



Joe

why don't you just have 2 spare rims and mount street tires on them, then change them before you race?

why don't you just have 2 spare rims and mount street tires on them, then change them before you race?


Do you want to fund the extra set of 15x10 Pro Stars??:D


Joe:clonk:

Joe -
Not to change gears on ya but - I have 2 Centerline Convo Pro's 15 x 10's (5"bs) for $ 100 each & I pay shipping .....mmmmmmmmmmmmm.... their in the classifieds.....

I keep a set of 50 series radial BFG's in the garage, I used to change them back and forth. I keep the MT Drag radials on now because I might as well have a 300-350HP car with the standard BFG 50 radials on it. I have around 18 months on the MT's. I drive my car to work once or twice a week year round, take my daughter to putt-putt or just drive down the beach now and then, nothing cross country though. They are probably about to loose the 2groves in the next couple of months. I have gotten caught in the rain a couple of times (Saint Pete Florida) they are just ok if you slow down and take your time, kind of un-nerving though. They hook way better than the drag radial BFG's before them but dont last as long.

Joe -
Not to change gears on ya but - I have 2 Centerline Convo Pro's 15 x 10's (5"bs) for $ 100 each & I pay shipping .....mmmmmmmmmmmmm.... their in the classifieds.....


I can't find them:clonk: Could you send me a link??? I may be interested...


Joe

Well, for starters, I don't know who's saying MT drag radials aren't any good in the rain,but that has not been my experience! In fact, wear, wet traction, dry traction, or what you would call all around performance Beats BFG drag radials by leaps and bounds!!!

I've been running mine for over a year(at least 5000 miles)and they're just now getting down to the wear indicators. I've got about a dozen passes on them at the track, a dozen or so gratuitous burnouts, over a years worth of cruise ins/car shows, and 1200 miles of the 2006 HRPT(hot weather/rain/high speeds/fully loaded for travel). Wet roads have not been a problem, I do drive conservstively on wet roads but that goes for regular street tires too. I do have some reservations about them now that the tread is down to the wear indicators but I'll wait till spring before I replace them, yes, with another pair of MT DRs !!!:D :D :D

I can't find them:clonk: Could you send me a link??? I may be interested...


Joe


Sorry ad expired - Reposted in the "All years Performance"

I can relate my experiece with my 2 cars.
A Chevelle in the sig does high 1.60's 60ft. I run an airbag and SSM's.
It is usually a crap shoot whether it will hook depending on track condition an
my Technique. i have found 15psi works best in the 275/50/15 BFG DR's.
The F**D in the sig. has M/T 235/60/15's. This is only an 8 inch tread width tire. I run them at 20 psi, do a short hop and it consitently goes low 1.70's(1.71 best).
This not even close to an apples/apples comparison, small vs big block, leaf springs to 4 link and so on.
I was impressed by how well such a small tire will hook a 3400 lb car. I need some M/T DR's on the Chevelle.

I run Mickey Thompson drag radials and have put 6,000 street miles on them in the past 2 years. I still have 5/32 tread depth, though I do not kill them on a daily basis. Driving in the rain is fine!!! Be smart, stay out of the throttle, and drive knowing that you have slicks on the rear and you should be good. Look at my sig. I run plenty of power to them every day.

I have had really good luck with Nittos. I had them on my 11.50s Grand National and ran 1.70 60fts with a trans brake. I hear the M/Ts hook better, but I already purchased a set of Nittos for the Chevelle. The Nittos are pretty good in the rain on the Grand National, but not getting into the boost the car would be good on just about any tire. The chevelle with a BBC might be a little different, I havent had it in the rain yet. I think I am going to try the M/Ts when the Nittos wear down. If I were you I would probably try the M/Ts
Tony