Click the Nitto banner to see a spec sheet and additional information on the Nitto NT550R Extreme Drag Radials!
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Click the tire to see a spec sheet and info on the BFG Drag Radials!
Our next modification is the addition of sticky compound D.O.T. approved drag racing tires.
The BFG Comp/Ta Drag Radial was our first choice.
PARTS COST:
$310.00 Plus $20.00 to mount and balance
Notes:
If you are not yet familiar with them, drag radials are tires designed with a softer (read:stickier)compound then regular radials.
They will allow you to launch quite a bit harder than conventional radial tires.
These type of tires are a must if you want good, strong, consistant launches, but don't want the hassle of changing to slicks at the strip. They also give predictable handling at the top end. The downside of these tires is that due to the soft tread compound, they will wear out very very quickly if you do too many long burnouts, although the hotter they get the better they hook, so if you are in a big race or want that extra .05 sec, then by all means go ahead and roast them! Also, the reduced tread depths can make driving in the rain an adventure. You will sacrifice a little bit in the cornering department as well, but the bite these babies give you goes a long way towards the win lite.
We did 2nd gear burnouts from the edge of the water box with no dry hops on the way to the beams.
PERFORMANCE DATA:
Launch RPM: 2800 (Highest we could go with no wheelspin)
60 Ft. Time: 1.85
Quarter Mile: 13.41@102.70
ET before this mod: 13.88@102.40
OK, You're asking... "How can a 2 tenths improvement in 60 foot time produce a 4 tenths quicker timeslip?" Very good question indeed. The key here is in the powershift-
Where before we were roasting the stock radials for at least 20 feet between shifts, we are now grabbing very hard in second and third, and there is no longer a "chirp" in fourth gear. This, coupled with zero wheelspin at launch produced the times posted here. This mod has proven to be the best bang for the bucks and we should have
done this after the rear gear swap!
In addition to the BFG drag radials, we also tested several other brands of D.O.T. tires.
Each tire set was put thru a full life cycle, that is we ran them down to the cords!
We cannot stress enough, the importance of sticky tires in the quest to show the taillites to the other guy....
The following Drag racing/DOT legal tires have been tested, along with best 60 foot time we could squeeze out of them:
BFG Drag Radials: 1.85
Nitto Extreme Drag radials 1.81
M/H Racemasters: 1.76
Mickey Thompson ET Streets: 1.68
All are excellent tires, but the nod goes to the Nittos for the best all-around performance/handling. The Nittos also had the longest tread life.
However, if your car is running 12's or better, you may see no better result with the drag radials then you will with your stock radials. There is a point where you simply will overpower the radials. They do not flex at the sidewalls like a slick or DOT cheater slick. If maximum low ET is what you desire, without regard to handling, go for the Mickey Thompson ET Streets. These tires are far and away the 60 foot champion. When I am without them, I feel like I am "wounded". That is, I can't holeshot on drag radials.
Regardless, Sticky tires are a MUST HAVE if you are making serious power. You will lose to slower cars without some hooky.
GET SOME!!!!
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