OK here is the deal. I've been running nitto's for about 4 yrs with excellent results of nailin people out of the hole. I got some y2k's about a month ago and been waiting to find tires. i called nitto and they said they will be coming out with a 305 35 18 in november. arrrrrrrrhhhhh! so i have got to wait that long for drag radials,damn it Jim!can anyone tell me a good sticky tire that comes in an 18" that i can use and won't be dissappointed in. Keep in mind I've been runnin the Nittos for a long time.. thanks for your help. ( if you are going to give me an uneducated opinion, don't.)I need an answer from someone who knows.

 

come on someone's got to know an answer, ok i'll take uneducated guesses just someone please help!

 

why would you want to drag race on 18's?

just get an extra pair of 17's, like up front, and mount drag radials to those.

 

Hoosier makes their road racing "Sports Car DOT - Radial" in 18" sizes - 275/35-18, 285/30-18, 305/30-18, 335/30-18. They are similar to a drag radial, with a soft, sticky tread, with very little depth. They will definitely hook better than your typical street radial. Of course the tread life is short, and they are not "wet" friendly.

Hoosier Road Race Tires

Click on "Road Racing", then click on "Specs". Scroll down toward the bottom of the page.

Tread Pattern

I agree with Aeromaks.... the taller the sidewall, the better the "hook", at least for running the 1/4-mile. I use the BFG DR's, 315/35-17 on 17x11 wheels for the street, and go to the super tall 28"x11.5-15 Hoosier QTP's for the track.... tons of sidewall for good "hook". An 18" tire is a compromise.

 

I agree. The reason drag racers use the smallest wheel possible is because the more sidewall the better. Having a 18 inch wheel wont really work for racing because 35 series tires have very little sidewall. Besides, you might as well use your cash as firewood because you will be goin through tires like a hot knife through butter, and 18" tires aint cheap.

 

all right maybe i didn''t explain. I run my drag radials all the time cuz the car only goes out on weekends when i need my end week dose of addrenalin. and i only go to the drag strip to make sure she's running good. most of my business is done on the streets. plus my car is the same on the blvd. as it is at the drag strip cuz that is how i run it any other time.I was hoping some one would tell me that F1's r great or don't get kumo's ECT,ect. i simply don't know a decent alternative to the nitto's in an 18" and would rim size really hurt my E.T? hey Injuneer how much work to fit the Nt555r305 45 18 (28.78 diamiter)

 

You would need a can opener.

I run Hoosier QTP 28x11.5-15's at the track, and the 28.0" outside diameter just fits in the wheel openings. I found at anything over 125MPH, the tires were growing in diameter enough to start to hit the front edge of the wheel opening, which is sheet metal. I had to move the axle back about 1/4" so when it hits, it hits the soft rubber bumper cover instead.

28" QTP's

And of course, you would probably need to go to a higher numerical rearend ratio to make up for the larger diameter... since you have 4.10's now, youd have to go to a 4.56 to keep it pulling as hard as it does now.

A buddy of mine just went to a 29.5" drag tire on his 30th SS Convert, and he had a substantial amount of body work done to fit them. (Those are 28" tires in the pic, not 29.5's):

Body work on rear wheel openings.

 

thank's for the reply, I think may be i'll try BFG g-force kd's does anyone know if that is a good alternitive choice. nitto is going to make one that fit's sometime by november so until then i try the g- force kd'''s or if any one has a better suggestion it's much appreciated. ( not sure about the hoosiers probally too short of life span for the $$$$$)

 

I would like to upgrade to 18inch wheels from the 17x9.5 & 17x11 to maybe 18x9.5 & 18x11. the only problem is that noone makes a 315/30/ZR18 except Pirelli...and those suckers are $380 a pop! Tire rack has a 335/30/ZR18 in stock for $178!!!! So I was thinking hmm.... HRE 547s with 18x13s in the rear...what would be need to get these to fit? Its an additional 20mm in tire width to what I have now.

-B