From my experience, I have to say that I agree with buttercup 100%.
Also, just to clarify, F1 cars do not race on full slicks.
The new road & track has an interesting article on tires & tire tech in F1 racing.

 

I have the same size tire 245/50/16s and I did notice a difference in cornering a little bit. Compared to my Z rated Cooper Cobras before, these tires for sure have a softer sidewall. Steering is still pretty responsive though and off the line they are great on the street. Now I just need to figure out how to launch on these suckers. I always bogg down or spin at the track...<--6 spd.

Aaron

 

Actually, a great drag radial still won't hold a candle to an even somewhat decent road race tire. Also, the idea really isn't more rubber on the road, it has to do with rubber compound...simply put a smaller size drag radial will stick better than a big size regular radial due to the soft compound in the tires. The full slick tires that NASCAR uses are NOT drag slicks, they are specifically designed with great sidewall strength to handle the turns...the same tires would not be as good in a drag racing situation (not enough "wrinkle"). Wet conditions are bad period for drag radials...you would be shocked how much the grooves/sipes/etc in a tire help out with wet conditions, standing water or not...

Seriously, find some good regular radials for the street and save the DR's for the track...too expensive to wear down and too risky if you get caught in a sudden downpour...

 

Too risky? it's called slow down or pull over if you have to. I frankly don't give a crap if traffic backs up behind me when it's raining. i would still play it safe even if i had the best rain tire out there in a high horsepower rear wheel drive car. I have a lowered fbody with bald BFG comps on the front and nitto dr on the back. The traffic doesn't ever really back up behind me, i just don't tailgate (wet or dry). Drive like they teach you in drivers ed, I don't think it's an issue as long as you drive sensibly and understand that water is a lubricant on the road surface. Nitto drags RULE!

 

In that video did you have the Nittos on there? I think you had a pretty good launch there. Do you have the stock 7.5'' rear?

 

I drove with BALD nitto 315/35/17s in the pouring rain. Now that I think about it, it wasnt very smart of me, but I wasnt really thinking about it. I was going 65 on a highway n hit a lil puddle and shifted over about 2 feet, coulda been bad. So after that I went no faster than 55. And was totally fine, maybe the slightest movement, but barly noticible, and this was on bald nitto's. Look on my website, 3rd picture down I believe, you will see the no tread. Now I have brand new ones, but still will not be going over 55 in rain. But there is no reason why I wouldnt feel safe driving with treaded nittos in the rain.

 

You must be running at KK there. I was an Oshkosh Native until a year ago and used to run my bike up there. Moved to Florida here and hate it, will be moving back to Oshkosh August 18. The only good thing down here was I bought a super clean Z that I will be bringing back home. I'll need to take her KK to see what she runs. Hopefully, a cam this winter first though.