Drag tires

[Nadine UK GTS]

I want some drag slicks!

My best 60’ times have only ever been 1.8 (street tires) and my best ET 11.6.

I have to ease the gas in the first 2 gears and slip the clutch to launch or I spin. What is frustrating is that in the top of 3rd gear and 4th gear, when running against 10 sec cars, I’m reeling them in / catching them down the track! Maybe their speed or gearing is dropping off a little? I have the power just not the traction initially! I know there’s much I could do to my suspension etc, but don’t want to change that for street / autocross driving. What’s the best drag tires out there available (with and without tread) to give best grip? Are there any that will fit on a 17” Viper rim (front if rears too wide?) or if not anyone know for used drag rims? Thanks.

Meanwhile I dream of 10secs!

 

[AG98RT10]

Have you tried Kumho V700s? I've yet to spin them in second or third... Love my Kumhos!
They do throw a lot of gravel and don't last long, gotta use 3M clear tape on exposed surfaces.

 

[Nadine UK GTS]

Yes, have the Kumhos, really like them for grip, fab for Autocross. But they spin on launch / 1st and 2nd on the quarter mile, I'm looking for a full drag racing tire to be able to hook up with and launch *******!

 

[AG98RT10]

they spin on ... 2nd on the quarter mile, I'm looking for a full drag racing tire to be able to hook up with and launch *******!

Wow! I'm thinkin' you are running some serious HP, Nadine!

Don't know much about drag tires, but have heard good things about Mickey Thompsons - don't know avail. sizes, though. Sorry.

 

[Tim]

Mickey Thompson has some new 17” ET’s that will fit on the Viper. I know in the past the best drag tire were the Mickey Thompson 16” Et’s that were run on Purner wheels. The 17’s should be at least as good and you don’t need to buy the special rims. I do believe the Viper rim is 1” wider than what MT recommends as the maximum width but there are ways around that and on 1” I don’t think it’s a huge issue for a couple of runs down the track but I could be wrong.

Tim

 

[Nadine UK GTS]

Thanks. Looking to get a pair of 17" MT street radials!

If you had 2 'identical' launches in the same car, but, one time with MT radials, the next time with MT bias ply, how much of an improvement in 60' time and hooking up could you expect to get with the bias plys? Thanks.

 

[Skip White]

Nadine the Drag slicks in radial design may not be the best, but I'll tell you this much, the fastest Viper that was at the V-10 Nationals had a set of Drag radial slicks, not to be confussed with drag radials, but full blown slicks. The great advantage to these are that you don't have to change out the fronts, and they drive and handle much better. The Viper I'm speaking about ran 9.40's and I'm not sure what his 60 time was, but they launched great, the front wheels were clearing the ground. I think these can be purchased in 17 inch. This is the way to go. As you know radial tire design has many benifits over bias.

Skip White

 

[Nadine UK GTS]

Thanks Skip.

I did get to stop buy V-10 Nats on my way to VOI8, hey, I'm proudly wearing my t-shirt now (it was on the Tues, and I nearly got be-headed...was checking out a motor / under-hood, when the Vipers owner approached from the other side to close his hood... not knowing I was under there! Luckily a few guys yelled, as I couldn't pull-out quick enough when I felt the hood wheel-arch on the back of my neck!! YIKES!!)

Anyway, please do tell, (PM / whatever please) re the 9.4 Viper tire make / type that you talk of may be available in 17"...and will hook?

Thank you.

 

[FE 065]

Thanks. Looking to get a pair of 17" MT street radials!If you had 2 'identical' launches in the same car, but, one time with MT radials, the next time with MT bias ply, how much of an improvement in 60' time and hooking up could you expect to get with the bias plys? Thanks.

I talked to a guy at the Columbus drags who had a 1.4_ 60' time on Pilots; once. He was sitting at the line thinking about something else when he noticed it was time to go and just went. He hasn't been able to duplicate it again. practice practice practice

 

[Skip White]

Nadine here are the sizes the ET Radial comes in. Sadly the 17 is really a bit smaller than I like on a car. The only solution is to down size the rear brakes and go with the 15's. This would allow you to run a bigger tire. Being these are of radial design, no need to change the fronts, unless you want to go with a set of skinnies. There is an alternate to this, and it's to run the Nitto drag radials I'm running. They are great, and the size is perfect.

3752R† P235/60R15 R2 26 8 26 X 9.50R15 9.5 8.0 26.1 82
3753R† P275/50R15 R2 30 10 26 X 11.50R15 11.3 10.0 26.1 82
3754R† P275/60R15 R2 32 8 28 X 11.50R15 11.1 8.9 28.0 87
3757R† P325/50R15 R2 36 10 28 X 13.50R15 13.0 11.0 27.9 88
3762R† P295/65R15 R2 38 10 30 X 12.50R15 12.4 10.0 29.6 94
3763R† P315/60R15 R2 40 10 30 X 13.50R15 13.4 11.0 29.8 94
3793R† P255/50R16 R2 28 10 26X 10.50R16 10.3 9.7 26.1 82
3743R† P275/40R17 R2 28 9 26 X 11.50R17 11.0 10.2 25.7 82
† Estimated Specifications

Skip White

 

[Skip White]

Nadine that last tire on the list is about half an inch smaller than the oem, and it's around 11 inches wide, so it will work for you and give you great traction.

Skip

 

[VIPER D]

this is my version and its a 345/30/18 (drag radial)

vd..

 

[Skip White]

I wish BFG made the 305/45/18 size, as I think they are a bit better tire. Dmittry, those tires need a light burnout to do there best, but even without they will have great traction. Also know that for every burnout you do, they will release some of there magic compounds, allowing you only about a dozen or so awesome hookups. After that they will still be superior to the Pilots, but no where at there best. Cheap as they are, it's worth it. You may want to keep a spare setup ready to mount for those special occasions. The hookup power when there new is unbeatable.

Skip White

ps, play with air pressure, but I would stay away from some of the ultra low pressures. Tire volume is pretty big on this tire, as well as width, so low mid twenties may be good.

 

[Nadine UK GTS]

Thanks for the replies and info... I've gone and ordered the 3743R P275/40R17