What rubber are you 400+rwhp guys running
 

Mods - I know this isnt a single turbo question but I thought I'd get a better responce here. There arent as many 400rwhp+ guys in the suspension/tires area.

Ok, so with that out of the way....

I'm wondering what tires you guys with 400rwhp+ are running? Do you run Nitto Drag radials all the time? If so how are they when your just driving around iwth no burnout and nail the gas? Anyone running a normal street tire like a Bridgstone SO3 or similar? How do those do?

I'm fixing to buy tires, I'm probably going to get Nitto drag radials as my BFG drag radials only lasted me 5000 miles with NO burnouts lol. I'm just worried mostly about the rain factor and also wondering if some street tires like the SO3's would actually hook better than the Nittos on the street since I wont be doing a burnout.

Thanks,
STEPHEN

Damn, you mean non of you 400+rwhp guys have tires!!!!

STEPHEN

I've got Nittos 555R. They work great for street use. The only time you're going to beed to do a burnout is if you plan on going from a dig on the street. I do however pop them loose from 1st to 2nd ang then 2nd to 3rd but tire spin is minimal. I couldn't imagine using a regular street tire on the streets. Just too dangerous.

current: Toyo Proxy T1-S's 255x35x18, I say no no no to them...

Waiting for my new wheels and going with the Nitto 555 Extreme II. Drag Radial compound, but has stiff sidewalls (road race tire) so you shouldn't sacrifice any cornering ability over street tires...biggest potential issue is that the Extreme II only comes in one size 275/40-17. Nitto rates them for 15k miles, I'll be happy with 1/2 that.

K

You might want to try Yokohama A032R's. They're basically a wet race tire. With a tread wear of 60, they're not quite as sticky as Victoracers (50) or Hoosers (0, I think). But they also have better wet weather traction and slightly higher wear. However, with monthly autocrosses, and about one track event per set, I'm only getting about 5000 miles (or less) out of them. They also roar fairly bad if that bothers you.

I run Toyo RA-01 225/50 16 on my car...

They SUCK for drag racing due to super stiff sidewalls, but they are good for hard street driving or road course use.

They are NOT wide enough to make any use of 1st gear. Wheelspin the whole way. 2nd will spin them but not TOO badly that you can't keep your foot on it.

I'm going to swap those out for 245/45 16 street tires I think.

Brian

I have minimal traction problems with Toyo T1-S 245/45/16 on stock wheels. I mean I do break them loose, but it not too bad. I think its mostly due to my suspension setup. I have the M2/AD coilovers. It hooks pretty well.

I only got ~370 RWHP on the dyno (12.5 psi), but I've been running a few more psi since then (15-17 psi), so I'm probably over 400.

I run 265/40-17 S-03 tires on the back. They don't hold first gear at all, not even a little. I think you'd need one of those traction control systems to be able to run through first without mad wheel spin consistently. Almost all of the time, if I am going straight and the ground is not wet, cold, or I don't crest a bump in the road, they will hold through second. If they do break loose in second, the car usually keeps accelerating at a good pace (unlike first where they spin to oblivion immediately). Third holds even better, but they will break loose occasionally from hill-cresting, water, cold, whatever. I don't really shift hard, so I don't have a lot of info about traction at the shifts.

Are A-032Rs more sensitive to cold than more street-oriented tires? That wouldn't necessarily turn me off of them, but it is something to consider when making a purchase decision.

I often accidentally spin my 285/30-18 BFG R1A tires at the track when starting out from the pit lane. I'm not sure if it is the short sidewalls or that I am usually starting out on a lot of rocks and marbles. Probably the surface more than the tires. I should go try some launches with them on the street, I guess. They spin easier than I would have guessed from the debris-laden pit lane.

-Max

I use Bridgestone Potenzas 275s. If you dont want to use drag radials, and have the most traction, you should get a wide rim with some over fenders and put some of those monster 315s that the vipers come with on there. My buddy has a Hennessey with 550 hp and he breaks them loose but Rxs will never see that knid of torque and i believe they would hold very nice. I believe the Banzai also uses this exact setup.

what size rims are you all running?

great question stephen...Im to that same point with my car. its tires and rims time. i cant keep the tires stuck on the road... Im running yokohama intermediates on stock rims.


j

I get decent traction on the street during warmer days and when i have had some time to heat them up ( Not burning out just driving for a while) I run 285/30/18 Bridgestone S-03's on back. They rate about a 7 or 8 at best for traction for me. You can NOT launch hard on them or they will just Hop and spin into eternity but I have had some rolling starts full throttle in first gear without lighting them up. Its kinda tricky and would probably be better off with Nitto 555R's on back. Something wide.

whoa kyle..did u just get that 95 r33 skyline? what are the plans for it? :) Must be nice to have that much cash at your disposal. :D

Yoko AVS ES100's here. Im running a 265 35 18's in the rear. 1st and 2nd gear it rips them loose but for the most part there a pretty good tire for the price. Great handling.

toyo!

I think the A032's are a little more sensitive to the cold. They definitely lose some traction on a cold morning, when the tire itself is also cold. By the same token, on a scorching day at the track, when driven hard, they can start getting greasy. But it's the best all-weather tire I've found so far.

Also, I just want to point out that you also have to really consider what you're after. From the ininitial post, drag racing wasn't specified (though now that I re-read, I guess it was hinted at), although the thread has gone that direction. If you do spirited street driving and "track" driving (which I consider a road course, not the dragstrip), then A032s are good due to their stiff sidewall and grip. If you prefer to spend your time racing in a straight line, the stiff sidewall makes them a bad choice because they don't buckle and spring back like a drag tire, and they aren't sticky when they're cold, which hurts you if you don't do a burnout. HTH.....

Awsome, I'm glad all you guys replied.

There is no chance of me getting larger wheels at this time, I'm in the middle of building a new house.

I think what I'm going to do is this....I'm going to run Nitto 555 Extreme Drag radials on the rear with a REALLY REALLY good rain tire up front. I hear the SO3's are a real good rain tire.

What do you guys think of that? Also, is anyone running the 245/50/16 Nitto Drag radial? Does the sidewall look way to big? The reason I ask is I've heard they are going to stop making the 225/50/16 and the only tire we'll be able to fit on the stocker is the 245/50

Thanks guys,
STEPHEN

i am running the 555R Extreme II's in 275/40/17 on my car right now. i like them alot! the handle pretty damn good and are VERY sticky. just driving it picks up every goddamn rock in the road. i have gotten a 1.82 60 FT on them also.... i like them alot. i also bought the tire warranty where i bought them from so when wear out.... i'm gonna have a blowout LOL

nitto tires
 

In regards to the Nitto 555R 225-50- R16, they stopped making these as far as I know quite recently. I have tried to find another set with no avail. But the the 245-50-R16 Nitto's look pretty good.

Better do it before they wear out. They are Pro-rated and the amount you get is determined by the tread thats "unused" when they are damaged.

Stephen, I think that's a very BAD idea. The reason being that, in the rain, you would want the better gripping tire in the rear, to make the car understeer. Otherwise your front end will be sticky with a tail that constantly wants to step out. (Actually, ideally, you would want ALL four tires to have the same grip but....)

I don't think you can run a 245/50 up front, especially if you have a lowered suspension at all. A 245/50 16 tire is more than 3/4-inch taller than stock.

Yea, I was thinking of the SO3's in front in the stock size (225/50) with the Nittos in back with the only size I can get which is 245/50.

I know running a good rain tire ONLY up front isnt ideal but I only have so many options.

I pretty much HAVE to run drag radials on the back and there is only one size that I can get which is 245-50 no matter if its Nitto or BFG...thats it.

Then on the front I can either run a good rain tire or a not good rain tire. I can see where the set up might not be optimal but I'd imagine running the good rain tire will be better than a poor rain tire.

Might be wrong though, it wouldnt be the first time lol

STEPHEN

I have Nitto drag radials on 9.5" wheels 275-40/17 and they fit with no problems whatsoever.

Ken

the tire warranty is regardless of mileage :D

mine are on 9" rims! fits like a glove lol

vosko, how do you like the nitto compare to the bfg?

I got A032Rs in 225/45/17

Ran 11.8@ 118mph on them on 16psi with a 1.7 60ft. A fair bit of spin when cold through 1st and eventual hook up in 2nd, but when they are warm its all good :D

never used the BFG's , i've only used nitto and M&H.... my nitto's had good wet traction though. i drove 500 miles through a monsoon with no problems :)

I use Yokohama A032R mostly I have a set of A048 that I have not run on the car yet. saving them for some kinda of road track day

Stephen: How is the handling with your DRs? When the dust has cleared, my car will make ~350 at the wheels (which, I know, is not the 400+ mark that you stated, but high elevens is good enough for me). I'll be damned if I'm going to spin through first and second, but I do plan on driving this thing fast through curves, too.

On second thought, that jaunt on Grants' Mill the day of the Barber Race should answer my question, but I'd still like your input.

Hell, anybody with DR's, your input would be appreciated.

edit: good lord, that was a hell of a run-on...

Well, I've noticed my drag radials to be fine around turns for some spitited street driving, but I dont think they would be road course worthy cause the side wall just isnt still enough.

For whoever asked about the comparison between Nitto and BFG I can give you some info. I've ran both and my impression is it really just depends on what you want. If your just driving down the road and plant your foot with the tires fairly cold the BFG's are going to hook better. They Nittos require a real good burnout to get a sticky as the BFG's. Here is the down side to that, if you just street drive and dont burn them out and all that the Nittos will last 10K-15K miles......my BFG's lasted 5K with absolutly no burnouts. And when I say they lasted that long I mean I drove them till they were totally bald and look like slicks. The Nittos are harder when driving down the street then when you do a burn out they turn real sticky for about 5 minutes, then turn hard again like a regulat tire. This is why they live longer.

This was my experience anyway and its why I'll get Nittos this time. I daily drive my car and cant buy new drag radials every 3 months.

STEPHEN

Trojan Magnum, my rubber of choice! ;)
Nitto 555R's have my vote for a good all around tire. Go with the BFG's if you only plan on drag racing.

Just get a set of extra rims and swap them when going to the track. No point giving up performance or tire life by daily driving on them.

vosko, won't they get suspicous when you just "happen" to get 4 flat tires every few months?

fdracer: you'd be surprised. My friend has absolutely killed some tires. He's gone through two and a half sets and the people at NTB are like "yes sir those are under warranty sir that'll be $12 for mounting sir"

It's great.

only two tires and there is a reason i bought the warranty thing i want another $400 set of tires after i wear these out lol

Michelin Pilots 335 rear, 245 front

that is RIDICULOUS :)

Yeah but it feels like your driving a little go kart LMAO!!!!!

hah i just want a picture of 335s in the back of an FD

:P

http://grimmy.fbody.com

335/30/18's rear
245/40/18's front

I haven't got a chance to test them with 400hp yet, but my factory twins would start to break them lose in first, but it would about snap your head off when you grabbed for 2nd and the car got traction and tried to straighten itself out of the fishtail.

you got your car for $2k bastard :)

yeah the lawyer I bought it from didn't know what the car was worth at all. LMAO!!!! Now if I ever get it out of KDR, I'll finally be able to put that TO4S to work. :)

need some real tuning ? steve kan is coming to NJ! what is left to do @ kdr ?