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View Poll Results: Driving Drag Radials in the Rain.
Perfectly safe, just like a normal tire in the rain.
5
20.00%
A little more white knuckle, but managable.
14
56.00%
Borderline insanity, it has been done, but a was a bad idea.
5
20.00%
Total Insanity, I am going to die:skull:
1
4.00%
Voters: 25. You may not vote on this poll

Driving Drag Radials in the Rain

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Old Jan 25, 2005 | 10:07 PM
  #1  
AronZ28's Avatar
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From: Chattanoga & Franklin
Driving Drag Radials in the Rain

Just wondering if its a suicidal idea. I drive my Z28 almost everday, and in the rain. Right now my mods are the Magnaflow catback, SLP lid and ram air scoop. I would mount these on the stock 16" chrome rim(245/50/R16). Also, if I go to the strip, how much of a burnout do I need to do?(thinking of getting a line-lock)

Last edited by AronZ28; Jan 25, 2005 at 10:12 PM.
Old Jan 25, 2005 | 10:13 PM
  #2  
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From: Chattanoga & Franklin
Re: Driving Drag Radials in the Rain

How do I modify the poll? I want to get rid of the :skull: thing in option #4. I wanted to have on the poll, but I don't think I can do that.
Old Jan 25, 2005 | 10:13 PM
  #3  
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From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Re: Driving Drag Radials in the Rain

Nitto Drag radials in the rain are 100% fine until the tread gets low on them. Seriously, they are great. As long as you arent trying to be a stop light racer they tread plenty of water.

Now once the tread is close to gone, they are SCARY in the rain. You should get 12k or so miles on them normal street driving.

At the track it depends on your car, the track, temperature etc. Many of my auto friends get away with 18psi and a light smoking. For me to even semi hook i do 12psi and tire fire and then they still arent enough.
Old Jan 26, 2005 | 11:00 AM
  #4  
AronZ28's Avatar
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From: Chattanoga & Franklin
Re: Driving Drag Radials in the Rain

Okay, so I'll get 12K miles out of them before they become bad in the rain?
Old Jan 26, 2005 | 11:19 AM
  #5  
atljar's Avatar
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From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Re: Driving Drag Radials in the Rain

Depending on your driving, ya somewhere in there. 10k-14k is what i would expect before they need replacing as a true street tire. Not so bad if you look at it in the viewpoint that they cost 1/2 what some of the tires cost for our cars.
Old Jan 26, 2005 | 10:24 PM
  #6  
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Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 391
From: TX,USA
Re: Driving Drag Radials in the Rain

I drove in the pouring rain with my 315/35/17 Nitto's and was fine. I did take it easy and was a little on edge, but I think it was all in my head. It's not my daily driver and I wouldn't have them on there if it was.
Old Jan 27, 2005 | 01:55 PM
  #7  
6SpdLT1Z's Avatar
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Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Lenexa, KS
Re: Driving Drag Radials in the Rain

You should be ok if your carefull.
Old Jan 27, 2005 | 04:47 PM
  #8  
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 174
From: W. Lafayette IN
Re: Driving Drag Radials in the Rain

Mine are fairly new, but are fine as long as I stay under the stall speed of the converter. If I flash the converter then things get exciting.
Old Jan 28, 2005 | 02:37 PM
  #9  
TedH's Avatar
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Posts: 3,664
From: Brunswick, Maine 04011
Re: Driving Drag Radials in the Rain

The intent of drag radials is to provide decent traction at the drag strip and to be able to get you there and back in decent weather. They are not intended to be an all purpose tire. They are not intended for rain. They are intended for track performance and convenience.

The less tread on a tire the more it will hydroplane. Drag Radials start out with less tread than normal tires. The rubber compound is softer than on normal tires and wears out sooner. A few burnouts will greatly accelerate the wear. Its your life. Use good judgement.
Old Jan 28, 2005 | 08:01 PM
  #10  
atljar's Avatar
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From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Re: Driving Drag Radials in the Rain

Originally Posted by tnthub
The intent of drag radials is to provide decent traction at the drag strip and to be able to get you there and back in decent weather. They are not intended to be an all purpose tire. They are not intended for rain. They are intended for track performance and convenience.

The less tread on a tire the more it will hydroplane. Drag Radials start out with less tread than normal tires. The rubber compound is softer than on normal tires and wears out sooner. A few burnouts will greatly accelerate the wear. Its your life. Use good judgement.

have you ever driven on nittos in the rain? They are fine.
Old Jan 29, 2005 | 05:31 PM
  #11  
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Re: Driving Drag Radials in the Rain

You're fine if you drive normal...however once it was raining for a while and I was going 75 on the highway and hit a small puddle and had the back slighly hydroplane...nothting big but enought to scare the crap out of me...
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