I have some 16x8 rims and 17x11 rims. Which ones will get better traction with Nittos at the track?

 

IMO the 255/50 would be better,with more sidewall it will let the tire "soak" up the shock more and not spin as easily.

 

What he said. 255/50's.

 

Plus, isn't that tire not as tall?? Little bit lower effective gear ratio also makes for a quicker get up and go.

 

The tires are the same height.

I'm trying to decide which is better:

3 inches of wider tread
or
an extra 1/2 inch of sidewall.

 

If you are gonna be running it on the street, the 17x11's will definitely look mean as hell. But traction differenes I dont know.
I would imagine the drag radials would hook better than the street radials, if thats what your situation is.

 

I have both. The 315's hook a little more consistant. Note I have a low HP bolt on car. My 60" was about the same with both. The 315's on ZR1 wheels took a lot of work and a 7/16" spacer and longer studs to fit. The 255's gave a little more mph on top end. The 315's do look mean (fear factor). I swithched to an auto this year and now 1'm running ET Streets 26X10.5-15. I do swithch back to the 315's for "radial tire classes".

 

I get almost as good of traction with my 315 nittos as with my 10.5x16x26 et streets.
my nittos typical 60 is 1.75
et streets typical 60 is 1.70
but I have never tried the"skinny"nittos

 

so what times are you runnin w/the et streets now?
chris

 

I'm still sorting the car out. I just converted to a turbo 400 trans and went to ET Streets this season. On average my 60' is 1.80 with the auto and ET Streets. The car has not been consistant for the last month of racing. Finally the car fell flat on its face.... I think its the opi-crap. I'm installing a new one this weekend with a new coil. Hopefully the opti been causing the problems all along. With the stick and 315 BFG my average 60' was 1.90. I haven't run the auto with the 315's yet or tired lower air pressure in the ET Steets.

 

... tire width versus sidewall height. As a BASIC rule, you need to run as TALL a tire as possible that works with your gear ratio.
More sidewall helps the tire to Flatten out on the track in all directions, increasing contact patch. The wrinkling also is a mini booster to help propel the car forward as the tire unwraps itself.

Shorter/ stiffer sidewalls tend to give you just what you see when the car is just sitting there.

THE ONLY reason I don't vote for the 255's is because of the extra 3" of tread of the 315's. On anything other than a stock type car, the 315's MAY NOT be better. Start modding and making more power and you'll need to get some tires with SIDEWALL, son! Drag Racing + Sidewall = Friend. Short/stiff sidewall tires are made for going around corners at higher rates of speed. The last time I went down the track I had to slow down and take a corner at the end of the track, but pretty slowly!!

I run 28" tall Hoosiers and if I could fit a 29" in without major problems, I WOULD!