[Formulajones]

Originally Posted by joes455

255/50/17 may fit nice from pics Iv'e seen and no one makes a decent size DR .I may just keep my vintage rally 10x15 and 8x15

Well that's at least a 27" tire so you do get some sidewall, that's a plus for a drag tire, but I'm guessing not a popular size for drag racing hence the reason no drag radials available. Odd because I find them in a BFG drag radial, Nitto drag radial, and MT drag radial in something like a 275-40 which is very short, hence no sidewall to speak of making it a poor choice for dragstrip work for any car that makes at least some decent power. Weird, they'll make those, then jump right to a 28" tall drag tire

In this case I'd either set the car up to run with a 28" tire (IE: trans, converter, gear ratios chosen accordingly) or just run your 17's with your favorite street tires and get a pair of 15" wheels just for drag racing with the drag radial of your choice.

[HWYSTR455]

Plenty in 40, 45, 50, and 55 series:

https://www.summitracing.com/search/...drag%20radials


Might have to play a little with the aspect ratio, but still available.

.

[Formulajones]

Originally Posted by HWYSTR455

Plenty in 40, 45, 50, and 55 series:

https://www.summitracing.com/search/...drag%20radials


Might have to play a little with the aspect ratio, but still available.

.

Yep, and I didn't check M&H, good call. I like their vintage stuff for Day 2 cars.

I was specifically looking for the 255-50 he asked about, those seem to be unobtanium. Going to have to make a compromise somewhere.

[HWYSTR455]

Yeah, might have to do a 245 or something, maybe a 275, but sure you can make something work.

Or haul an extra set of drag-only wheels & tires with you to the track.


.

[glenn911]

Well I never ran DRs but with a good burnout those nittos will hook hard!

[HWYSTR455]

I ran the 555 DRs before, they required a big burnout to hook 'ok', went away fast, and were terrible in the rain or any other weather except dry summer. I remember some white-knuckle moments during flash summer showers, refuse to use them anymore. Even morning dew on cold tires were a challenge.

I drive a lot, and most of the year, so, DRs are not an option for me for the most part. I now limit my tires specifically to all-season types. Thankfully, the tech on those have drastically increased, and many decent options.

At my power levels, even DRs are 'not good enough', so, there's that too.


.

[Formulajones]

We run drag radials full time on the GTO and the Chevelle and they see more street miles than dragstrip. To put it simply these 2 cars are extremely ridiculous with anything resembling a regular all season tire on them. It's nothing to haze tires at 60 mph and at those speeds even a seasoned driver has their hands full. Not something I care for, especially as much as we drive these things, so they get drag radials and a good suspension setup to plant those tires. They do a very good job on the street and zero issues at the track.

We have occasionally been caught in rain with them, even a very heavy down pour with near zero visibility. Sometimes that stuff pops up out of no where. Still able to cruise at 45-ish mph without trouble. Just have to be careful. Not like that happens every day around here.
But we use nothing but the M/T S/S drag radials on both cars, and both are 275/60-15's. They've both been that way for at least 25 years.

[HWYSTR455]

Yeah those are pretty good, more street than DR, and hear many get OK miles out of them. They are not that soft though, and close to some of the all season 'ultra performance' tires. I like like the M/Ts.

I was going to do some G-Force Comp-2 all seasons on the 'bird this time around, have been hearing from folks they work well.

I have the General G-Max AS on the GTO, only slightly less sticky than the G-Force, I'm happy with them, great tire for all around.

You can get away with summer tires in the winter to a degree, and the Goodyear F1s are really sticky, pretty much a DR, and are affordable. They work great, lot of vette guys like them, and they drive in the cold around here in VA without a problem. One 'dusting' of snow though, and they are done.

Like I said, at my power levels, nothing is 'really' going to hook, so, considering I may see an ice patch at night when temps dip, I personally am better off with an all season. Most would be surprised how close they are to stickies, and you're not changing them at the end of each summer.

Here in VA, you cross over a ridge, and the top half may have some ice, so elevations should be considered as well.


.

[Formulajones]

They are the same R2 compound used in the now popular radial pro tire. Before the pro there were a bunch of guys running 7's on these things in the 275 radial classes. They hook like gangbusters with a proper working suspension. Now guys are in the 6's with them.

Even as soft as they are, I get a few years of street use out of them with some track trips mixed in. So they aren't terrible on wear as long as I drive sensibly.

[TxSportCoupe]

275/50R17 drag radials measure 27.8 inches. Seem to be plenty around. Fat tire, w/sidewall to wrinkle for your Bandit wheel.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk