MardiGrasMax

iTrader: (14)

I have been considering trying some slicks or drag radials at the track. But I cant decide which to go with. I dont do much if any street racing, mabye a hand full of drag track events per year. I'm going to use a 15" rim and an try to lower the gear ratio of my current setup. I currently run Dunlop SP5000's 225/50-16's, I have had decent 2.1 60' times at the track with these. I'd like to see 1.9's. I am concerned that with slicks and a LSD trans I will break trans parts if I launch too hard, if ya wan play ya gotta pay, but lets try to keep the bill low On the other hand drag radials are not quite as good as slicks

I have been looking at some Mickey Thompson 22.0/8.0-15(203/65-15). These are a little smaler in diameter than my current tires and they are full slicks. They offer a 1.5% lowering of my curent gear ratio.

Then their are the radials, both BFG Comp/TA Drag Radial and Nitto NT555R are very popular. They come in many sizes. Some of the smaller sizes are 205/45-15 205/50-15 and 205/55-15. These are small enough to offer a signifigant lowering of the gear ratio, 8.8% 6.4% & 4.8% respectivly. With these though is the 205 width just too small for hard drag launches?

Their is also a 225/50-15 size in the new BFG g-Force/TA Drag Radial. The only info I could find on these was at the tire rack. They offer a 4.9% improvment in gear ratio.

Right now I'm really torn between the BFG g-Force Radials and Mickey Thompsons Slicks.

Any of you racers got some input for me?

Thanks!!!

Tai Mai Shu

Just go for these, BFG Comp/TA Drag Radial just make sure, you dont drive in the rain enjoy!

Nismo

iTrader: (18)

or you can get the G-Force comp drags. Plus they are street legal so you can drive them to the track

theblue

several different people have told me that drag radials are plenty for a maxima and that while slicks have a clear advantage on rear wheel drive cars, on front wheel drive they are not much better. I would say pick up some good drag radials and see what happens

Synki

Yep, this is what i was told too. DR's are good enough for our cars. Slicks will put more load on teh tranny, at least that is how i feel.

DR's and you will be good for some faster times.

VQdriver

i have a question. if you lower the overall gear ratio then won't you hit the rev limiter on 3rd gear before crossing the finish line? will the improved launch overcome the extra time you need to shift into 4th? my car, on stock size tires, hits redline on 3rd gear just as it crosses the line.

theblue

I'm no expert (somebody confirm or deny) but won't lowering the gear ratio with smaller tires mean that you spend less time in each gear and therefore end up using the peak HP area in 4th gear and getting a better 1/4 time. (downside is a shorter 1st gear)

MardiGrasMax

iTrader: (14)

You will have a lower MPH but with much quicker ET's. The lower gear ratio does help the 60' times allot. Just look at Dons 12.2 ~103?mph. Every tenth off on the small end reduces over all ET by ~ two tenths.

I'm torn between 225/50-15 BFG g-Force radials or 205/45-15 Nitto 555R radials. The Nittos have a lower gear ratio and they seem to be more liked than the BFG Comp/TA radials.

Would 205 be enough width or should I go with the 225? onsidering I'll have the Quaife installed soon I will be using both tires fully mabye the 205's woiuld be ok?

bullseye

My street set-up is Michelin Pilot 225/50-16 XGT-Z4 tires on O-Z Racing 16 x 7.5 Monte Carlo wheels, both front and back. I change the front set-up only for the strip: BFG 205/50-15 Drag Radial tires on Kosei K-1 wheels. Before I switched to the BFG DRs, my best 60' times were in the neighborhood of 2.2 to 2.3. After the switch, my best 60' time is 2.123. Before, I could finish the race in 3rd gear, but I'd be bumping up against redline. If I shifted into 4th, I could feel the car lose momentum/time, and it showed on my timeslips. After the switch, I could shift into 4th gear much sooner, and I could feel it start to PULL(!) again before I hit the finish line. My ets dropped, and my speed through the traps dropped, too. At the track, I inflate the backs to 44-lbs psi. I inflate the fronts to ~ 22-lbs psi. A side benefit to the switch is the front-end of the car is lower than the back. I can't help but think this arrangement helps prevent a huge transfer of weight off the front under hard acceleration. Who knows?

Since then, I had installed polyurethane engine mounts, an aluminum flywheel, a JWT Stage II clutch, and Cattman/Quaife ATB differential. Before next spring, I am adding a NOS 70-shot dry kit, the JWT NOS controller and upgraded ECU, a Walbro fuel pump, and a [brand?] fuel pressure regulator. These mods should shave off some time, huh? We'll see...

theblue

your car sounds fast... what's your best 1/4?

MardiGrasMax

iTrader: (14)

So 205's should be ok?

Any reason why a 45% profile might not work?

The 205/45-15 is an ~8.8% reduction in ratio from my 225/50-16's
The 205/50-15 is an ~6.8% reduction in ratio from my 225/50-16's
The 225/50-15 is an ~4.9% reduction in ratio from my 225/50-16's

My best 60' with the current set up is 2.153. Based on your reduction of ~0.12 seconds with just drag radials the addition of the Quaife and drag radials should net me 1.9xx 60' times. This should perhaps result in a ~0.4 reduction of my ET. Slap a 25hp shot of intercooler in a bottle on top of that and 12.999 should be no problem!!! Thanks guys.

bullseye

I dug out my time slip, which I "just happened" to keep...

My quickest 1/4 was in April this year, soon after I switched to the BFG DRs. R/T= .516, 60'= 2.123, and 1/4= 14.697 @ 93.12 mph. I have not been back to the track since. With the mods I added this summer, plus the mods I am adding this winter, I wonder what times I'll run next spring? Low 13s...? We'll see... JOO better look out!

theblue

if I can get your 60" time then I'll run a 13.9 second 1/4 can't wait to see what you can do.

bullseye

Hey, we start popping 60' times under 1.900, and we're definitely going to turn some heads out at the track. If we stick a super quick r/t of .510 or so on there, too, we're gonna leave some RWD domestic iron in a huge cloud of dust. Who woulda thunk it? bye-bye!

Nealoc187

iTrader: (23)

If I were going to shell out the money for dedicated drag tires, I'd get slicks.

VQdriver

i'm getting excited over all this thinking about racing setups! hmm, can i get better than a 14.32 or what?

SteveChicagoSC

I ran with the 205/45/15 nittos at the track. They still spun quite a bit and were inconsistent. Maybe with your LSD you've have better luck.

Go with the slicks just dont come out at 5000rpm. You will be much more consistent at the track once you dial in your tire pressure.

I ran the mickeys all season(auto). I think they are the 23X8.

MardiGrasMax

iTrader: (14)

Thanks Steve.

You didnt have any problems with stock axles handeling the stress? What are you stalling at for launch? What kinda 60's did you get with the MT's?

RedMax95

im rolling on drag radials, nt555 minus the r but they are quite similar, i think they hook up pretty good, but ive never tried slicks

SteveChicagoSC

I'm coming out of the hole at 3000 rpm with my foot to the floor so I can build boost before the light turns green. I'm getting 2.04 short times. Axles are still together...knock on wood!!! I've got at least 30 passes with the slicks on.

Cumalot

iTrader: (8)

In another word, you launch at 3k rpms? Is that hard on the auto tranny?

Synki

Are you getting those 60 fts w/ slicks or DR's? I am running consistent 2.2 60fts on an auto with stock TC but when NOS kicks in, i get wheel hop and then through shifts my tires spin. I am hoping DR's can fix this.

Any opinions from anyone who uses DR's.

Will DR"s also improve my 60fts though im still using stock TC?

I feel slicks just put way too much stress on the axles of our cars and the fact that we dont lay down enough power to need them.

SteveChicagoSC

I ran those 60's with slicks. Stalling up the trans does increase trans temp. I do have a trans temp gauge along with a cooler and haven't run into any problems.