New drag radial choices

[TTUhouston]

It is time for new radials on my mustang. The MT ET S/S are worn and I am hoping for some 10s as it gets cooler this season. Suspension mods are next but I am going to start with the tire and a viking drag shock (not sure if crusader or warrior series, right now leaning crusaders).

The current wheel/tire combo is AMR 18x10.5s with MT ET S/S 305/40/18s so a 28" tall tire. I am now shifting into 4th at about 120 and trapping 128 or so in the heat, expecting closer to 130s when it cools off. That is leaning me towards a 26" tire. This is a car I drive to work 2-3 times a week on the same tires so that probably rules out most slick style tires but I am open to that approach. My 60's are terrible because I am not launching in boost with stock stall. Tire hasn't really been an issue spinning. Next season I will be adding a stall but want to start with tire/shocks first to see if that helps any.

Options:
1-315/35/18 MT ET S/S - will these even fit?
2- 275/40/18 MT ET S/S
3- switch rim to a 15 or 16? Will a 15 even fit?

 

[oldstv]

If a 15 fits will depend on you brakes. Stock GT brakes, a 15 should fit. I have a 315/20 MT SS on a 10" rim but run a 275 pro on a 15. I don't know why you aren't in the 10s now with what you are saying.

 

[TTUhouston]

1.91 60' is why plus spinning on the 1-2 and 2-3 pretty substantially. Hoping new tires and shocks will help with all of these issues.

 

[Brutal Metal]

there's better tires than the SS, go with the ET R,M&H, or Hoosier.

 

[MG0h3]

^^^I agree. The SS does not hold like the ET Street IIs did even though they claim its the same compound and construction just with a couple extra grooves.

 

[TTUhouston]

Crap, edited my post above. My rims are 18s not 17s which limits the tire selection a lot more. Not finding much for 18" DRs other than the ET SS, NT05R and Hoosier drag radials which seem to be my options unless I go with a new 15 or 16" rim for a bias ply.

 

[TTUhouston]

ended up just buying the MT ET SS 305/35/18s. The ET Street R's are only in 15s or 17s. This should allow me to shift into 4th at 115 mph instead of ~121 mph on my 128 mph trap so give me a little more 4th gear boost.

I also got the viking warrior shocks. Pretty pumped for Oct 20 Cleetus and Cars in Houston.

 

[termcobra281]

If you ever wanted to do 15s for slicks they will work I just done my cobra, but i do have sea ya will need low profile brake lines from mm, and grind a bolt it is very tight but it will work

 

[termcobra281]

But ya will need ***

 

[Riddick]

With your current set up I think you bought the right tire. Once you add a converter I would consider switching to a 15 with a 295 MT S/S tire on there. If you dont plan on driving it in rain I would highly suggest the 275/60/15 ET Street R as that tire will hold quite a bit of power.

The 15s will fit but you will have to install relocation brackets for your swap bar or swap to a different sway bar such as the Whiteline. You could always install a ARB but for a car that sees a lot of street duty I would advise against it. With a ARB installed there will be no give in the back which is good for racing but on the street it gets old fast.

 

[TTUhouston]

Thanks Riddick, that matches what ive been seeing online as well. Stall may be another year and may be earlier so thats when i will get serious on the launching. For now it is more of a daily so these tires make sense and can maybe break i to the 10s w them.

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[clinton2003]

1.91 60' is why plus spinning on the 1-2 and 2-3 pretty substantially. Hoping new tires and shocks will help with all of these issues.

a shorter tire will make it harder for it to stick on 1-2, and 2-3. will also promote more wheel spin on launch. essentially you are now running a much shorter gear which is like gaining torque. I'd start off by lowering your launch speed and seeing how it does.

you would have been better off putting a 15x8" wheel with some 275 MT Pro Radials or better yet a full slick (or some hoosier QTP's that are a bias dot tire that work well) and just swap them at the track.

 

[TTUhouston]

Thanks Clinton for the feedback. I went the tallest tire I could and didnt like the end of the track performance. I may end up going a 26" slick in the future but my last race car had to be towed to and from the track. That is my main thing I said when I got this car is it needs to be streetable.
I may next get a separate set of rims next but still needed the streetable tires. My burnouts on the last set were too mu h but I went from 11.90s to 11.29s on this set in 1 year. If I can get to high 10s on these tires Ill be happy.

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[TTUhouston]

Also Clinton, I am not spinning at all on the launch which to me says I can handle more tire. Looking forward to this saturday, hopefully it doesnt rain for cleetus & cars!! I will post up the 60' and 1/4 if I do get a few runs in this weekend with the new setup.

 

[clinton2003]

If your bogging on launch you need to launch harder. Little tire spin is optimal. Just dont want it blowing tires off.

 

[TTUhouston]

it isnt bogging. It is an A6 with 3.15 gears and stock stall. I have a lot of posts about this topic so sorry for not explaining further. I am e-brake launching and still not getting close to high enough RPM for my launches currently. Best 60' was a 1.89 so far because of this problem. The boost comes in hard about 3500 RPM and I cant launch any higher than 2200RPM even with the e-brake. There is no bog or spin just easy going until the boost comes in. Then sometimes is chirps but not every time.

I am going to give "streetish" tires one more chance this next season, come on 10.99 in the cold!!

 

[TTUhouston]

vikings set to 4C 10 R and feels awesome, hopefully it doesnt rain for the race track tomorrow.