Best choice 26" or 28" drag radials for 1/8 ?

[Pierre Lucas]

Not sure if this is the best forum to post this ? Looking to buy a set of drag radials. What would be best choice 26" or 28". Mostly for 1/8 mile. 98 cobra vert... it is Pro charged on Dyno made 431whp @ 6200rpm. 4.10s with Maximum Motorsports lower control arms. Try to do some searches but nothing came up. Any advice is appreciated.

 

[Shadow Grey 03]

Based on the blower type, power numbers, and gearing I'd personally go with a 26" tire.

 

[Pierre Lucas]

Thanks, appreciated.

 

[351stang]

28" will provide more traction, but a 26" will be sufficient. The main factor would be eliminating the 3-4 shift if your gears are making that happen before the 1/8th traps. (Unlikely)

 

[Pierre Lucas]

Thanks...appreciated. Looking for more recommendations?

 

[351stang]

Do a search and you can read about specific tires for hours. A lot depends on how much street driving and if ever seeing rain is a possibility.

Mickey Thompson ET SS and Pros have pretty good reputations. I just got ET SS tires and like them more than the Nitto 555Rs that I used to run, but the car is no longer a daily driver.

 

[Pierre Lucas]

Thanks...must not be using the search correctly. Not a daily driver. Never sees rain. Does see some highway driving. I am leaning towards the Nittos NT05 or MT Et Street S/S...size 315 35 17???

 

[Five-o-Joe]

What transmission do you have and what is the max rpm you can turn? With this info, we can give you a better recommendation on the tire

 

[Pierre Lucas]

Yup... T45 tranny...6300rpm safely. Can go 7000 might blow???

 

[Five-o-Joe]

315-35-17 will work really well for you at ~25.7"

26" will be ideal for you at 90mph at 6300 rpm in third gear. With a 315-35-17 you'll be at ~6400 in third gear at 90 mph pulling through the 1/8th in third gear without needing a 3-4 shift.

With a 4.10 gear and the 315 tire, you should be able to run 90mph in third gear in the 1/8 mile.

I used 431 rwhp and 3800# weight as my assumptions. The calculator indicates that at this weight you could be able to run 90mph in the 1/8th and 113 in the 1/4

 

[Pierre Lucas]

Thank you..greatly appreciated.

 

[WhiTriCobra]

Me personally, I do better on the 60' with more sidewall. I'm going to say 275-65-15, 28". I use to take my 05 Mustang GT, stock valve train to 6800rpms. Had stage 3 cams and they shined on the top end and made power at 6400rpms.
4V cobra's love to rev too. Taking yours higher than 6200rpms to trap around that will be fine. I just wouldn't take it over 7000.

 

[Pierre Lucas]

Thanks...Got a Procharger and stock bottom end currently, which limits my rpms right now.

 

[twin62cobra]

Run a 26X10 slick or a basis ply ET Street. Don't waste your time with running a 17 inch drag radial with a stick car. I run 9's in the 1/4 on only 26 inch tire.

 

[Five-o-Joe]

You can go 10s on a 17 inch drag radial with a stick pretty easily as long as everything else is optimized and your only significant limitation is the 17 inch radial. I've been 10.50s on a MT 275-40-17 and a stick but it took some practice. Even still, the car goes 9.80s on a 26" slick so I'm giving up quite a bit when running the 17" radial. Even after a lot of practice and figuring out what the car wanted on the 17" radial, the ET is inconsistent on the 17s.. I'll go 10.50s one pass, then 10.80 or 11.0 on the next, then back to 10.50s. The slick is way more consistent with the stick and in certain ways, much less frustrating. Even with the frustration, I enjoy the challenge of running quick with the 17" radial and stick....