I am kinda new to this so please don't be too harsh. I was wondering if you can run drag radials on the rear all the time for street driving and for the track? I just want a good tire that will grip it's *** off on the street(even in the rain) and be able to be heated up at the track to get awesome traction. I don't want to have to buy another set of rims for another set of tires to alternate before going to the track. Any suggestions on what tires?

 

if the tires say approved by D.O.T. than you can use them on the street.

 

However, using drag radials on the street in the wet is not necessarily a good idea. Also, they tend to wear much faster than typical street tires, so more $ in the long run. Diminished cornering capacity as well, and possible odd oversteer/understeer situation with the different grip factors between the front and rear tires.

All that said, I do know some people that run them during the dry season fulltime, so depending on your location you might find doing so yourself is no problem.

 

I know a bunch of people who run them on the street. Beware though on Nitto's for example an expected tread life is around 15,000 miles or less. It all depends on you habbits and how much you heat them up,etc. Probably best to expect less. Also I've heard Nittos are pretty good in the rain until you start getting lower on the tread then they aren't so great. If your willing to get new tires about every year then you'll be fine.

 

The 2 most common ones that i have heard about are the BFG's and the NItto 555r's. And like everyone said whether this is a daily driver all season or just in the summer, your driving habits will tell you whether or not DR will be the best for you.

 

I run the BFG DRs all the time, but the car isn't my daily driver...When they are new they are tolerable in the rain, but hang on after 1000 miles or so....I only put 5000 miles a year on the car and I replace them every year...would not recommend them as a daily driver tire....Now I did drive the car from Daytona Beach, FL to PA in off and on rain storms and I didn't die...pissed myself a few times, however....
--Alan

 

I use to run Nitto drags full time in the rear, but after a while the tire wear was just to great. I now have a spare set of wheels to mount my 2 drags on the day I head out to the drag strip.

 

I suggest picking up a set of wheels from someone here on the board and mounting the DRs on them for special use (when you feel the need for them). Keep your street tires on for everyday driving. DRs suck after so long in the rain for sure.

 

Do you understand that water is a lubricant and you need to drive responisbly in the rain? If so, you can run them all the time(well, not snow). I don't think i'll ever run anything else ever again.

-brent

 

i love how my firehawk sz50s hook on the street.

and the tread wear is pretty darn good, as is cornering. and the wet weather handling is phenominal.

 

I never had any troubles with my Nitto DR's on the street, but I'm a very safe driver in the rain. The Nitto's will hook like mad when they're hot. In the cold, forget about it: they're hard as a rock.

 

dont be ashamed we have all done that at one oint ir another in these cars

 

I drive my Yoko's on the street.
Great tires - great traction.

 

Nittos are the best for daily driver cars. I drive ~80 miles/day on them, and they last me about 14-15k miles. They are fine in the rain as long as your careful, even with lower tread.(Don't believe me, I've got a video doing 60+mph in pouring rain with a set of nittos with 13k miles on them. ) Although, I had a friend lose control in light rain with some brand new nittos. Your driving habits/experience is the key though.