I need to get drag radials and I was trying to find the cheapest/best way to go. I think that 15 x 10" or maybe 8" steel wheels might fit (I will find out tomorrow, maybe someone can tell me if there is no way) w/o grinding the calipers. I can't afford $150 each for the wheels.

If I get a 15" wheel, then the tires are cheaper, better, have more choices. I think I would run a 275/50/15 (BFG).

My question is: would the added weight of the wheel slow me down or would the increased tire patch/ more sidewall/ rotating mass closer to the center of the wheel be better? Maybe I would be better staying with an extra pair of stock style wheels with 255/50/16's.

These will only be for track use.
Thanks
Dustin

 

Unless you're running in a DR class ... once you go to a 15", track only set up why even mess with DRs ... just go to a DOT such as ET Street or Hoosier QTPs.

As for wheel weight, the 15 will be lighter than the 16 in general, as most 15s are designed to be drag wheels and try to minimize the weight ... and yes there is the rotating mass, which will be considerably less with a 15 ...

Good Luck

 

i would just get slicks....

 

depends..
steel wheels? lighter than 16" alum? hmmmm.. I would think not when you compare the size difference..

so weiight is out...

now price.. from SLP you can buy takeoffs... get two shipped to your door for $130.. thats two wheels with no tires total cost.

Then get your drag radials.. I am currently testing out the Nitto DR and also have a set of BFG DRs that I have waiting thier turn.

So far, I find that I need to learn to use them.. So I cant tell you which is better just yet.. but from what I hear and read they are really pretty even..

For those who suggested slicks.. What is your setup? do you have the stock rear end? I know when I was asking about running ET streets (I even have a pair of those too!) everyone told me that I would grenade my rear soon after.. I never have tried them.. I figure try the drag radials and go from there.. I have yet to see anything less than a 2.0 so I still need to get used to launching.

hope some of this helps!

 

i have had bfg and now have nittos....the bfg hooked really good when they were close to bald....and although my car doesnt come out in rain or snow....it gets caught once in a while and with the bfgs it did better in rain then with the nittos....if u get nittos or bfgs and your car is daily driver...beware of rain....and forget about driving in the snow with them.....

 

The tires will be on a spare set of wheels and only used on the track. The reason I didn't want slicks is that I keep hearing that the rear won't last. It is the stock 10 bolt with 2.73 gears. It is an automatic so that should make the hit softer on the rear.

The car has only a lid, exhaust, and TNT 100 shot. I won't be spraying out of the hole. It seems like I might be best off with stock type 16" wheels and 255/50/16 BFG's. I can get some firebird wheels for $30 each locally.

Are 1.9 60's likely with this set up? My best on stock tires was 2.2x (no spray, and my first trip to the track). I am hoping for mid 12's or lower.

Dustin

 

i was hitting 1.8x's with my bfg's (bald) and i think the best i ever did with my nitto's was a 1.99 or some crap. they still had tread on them but i blew them away off the line.
et streets will hook, no probs. :-)
my car had eibach pro's, and front swaybar delete. that was about it, suspension wise.
my best on bfg's was a 1.84 (12psi)
my best on et streets was a 1.87 (15-16psi)
best on nittos was a 1.99 (~11psi)

stock rearend w/torsen and 3.42 gear. ~380rwhp?

 

As long as they still have tread, they are great in the rain. I just drove 1500 miles with Nitto's on all 4 corners, several hundred miles of it in the rain, and they performed excellent.

 

I had nittos on for 3 seasons and ran consistant low 1.70 to 1.80 60 ft. Have never tried the bfg's though. Good luck