Wheel/tire conundrum - 18s or 17s?

[KrisR]

So I currently have 18x9" wheels with street tires (255 and 285 Goodyear Supercars). I've wanted to stick with street tires (no drag radials) for as long as I could, but after driving the car with the turbo setup at the end of last year (close to 600rwtq), I think my days of street tires are over. 1st and 2nd gear are both useless and 3rd hooks half the time with 3.55s.

So, for safety's sake more than anything else, I'm gonna switch to running drag radials all the time. Trouble is, 18" drag radials are of course expensive, and I'll probably go through them relatively quickly now, as I drive the car around 10k miles every car season (April through November basically).

So do I just bite the bullet and get 18" drag radials (285/40 Nitto NT05Rs probably) or switch back to 17" wheels (9" or 10" in back) and go for 295/45-17 M/T drag radials for the best hook? The M/Ts are about $100/pair cheaper and will work better I'm guessing. But I do really like my wheels.

Hmm........

 

[Charlie Sheen]

Possibly a third option...

http://www.mandhtires.com/store.php?crn=70&rn=378&action=show_detail

 

[KrisR]

Possibly a third option...

http://www.mandhtires.com/store.php?crn=70&rn=378&action=show_detail

Thanks, I've seen those too. Still gonna be $600/pair after shipping and the M/T 17s are $450/pair shipped on Ebay.

 

[stkjock]

17s will be less costly then 18s. The NT05s are said to hook very well. Near on par with MTs

 

[Mike K]

Why not 555r's? I've put decent mileage on mine last year and still have decent tread left and they will hook alot better than street tires

 

[KrisR]

Why not 555r's? I've put decent mileage on mine last year and still have decent tread left and they will hook alot better than street tires

My buddy's dad's C5 has 285/40-18 555Rs on the back and he spins in 1st gear with around 400rwhp/390rwtq. Not impressed. I've used 555Rs before with lower-powered cars with some success. Since they will be my only tires (I'm selling my track setup), I need something that will hook decently in a stick car with close to 600rwhp/tq.

 

[Mike K]

Gotcha was just tossing the idea out there. I've seen a 550rwhp gt500 out at rock falls hooking with no problem on NT05's and he said they hook well on the street

 

[Kona6Stang10]

Is this JUST for a DRAG setup.....if so do some 15x10's with some fat ass M/T's.

If it's a street setup, just do 18's.....anything else will look pretty failtastic IMHO.

 

[iceguyb14]

yeah i say do 18s. id suggest some better tires. the goodyear eagle f1 supercars arent the best from what ive heard. have you tried the continental extremecontact dw? they have them in 285/40/18s and ive heard they have great grip.

 

[KrisR]

Sorry, I should have added some more info.

I do have a set of 15" wheels with ET Streets that I only use on the track, but I'm selling them, so I'll be driving on my 'street' tires at the track as well, thus the drive to get as sticky a tire as possible/practical on my 18" (or 17") wheels.

The Supercars actually worked pretty well with the old Vortech setup, since the midrange torque wasn't nearly as violent as the current turbo kit, especially before I put the 4.10s in. They are insufficient now with the turbo and 3.55s.

Another problem I have with the 18" drag tires is the lack of options in the 27-28" diameter. None of the 18" Mickeys (that I'm aware of) are larger than 27" diameter. M&H do offer a couple (as linked above). Nitto has a 285/40 and a 305/40-18 in the NT05R, but the 305 is probably a bit wide for my 9" wheels.

 

[Wyo07gt]

I'd say stick with 18s and find some better tires. I can't help much with that choice but If you have the money I think that 18s will look better.

 

[stkjock]

If you want the best straight line traction for the lowest costs go for the 295/40/17s from MT IMHO. They look good on a 9" rim, I had a buddy who had them and did well with them on the track as I recall.

 

[Liftedbronco]

when I ran drag radials, (et street) in 26" tall 275 wide on stock 17's I didnt find them to be all that great. maybe after you get em hot, but for normal driving they didnt hook particularly great. They also got torn to shit pretty quickly (deep gouges in the tread) and that scared me. So im anti-drag radial on the street.

I was thinking about running a taller tire in the back for my next setup. That might help you. something 28" tall. Plus dont turbos like the taller final drive?

 

[stkjock]

I've run MT ET SRIIs on the street for nearly 3 years ~8000 miles never an issue

 

[Liftedbronco]

yea i got these cuts in like 2 weeks ~100 mi driving. Maybe it was a freak.

 

[KrisR]

I was thinking about running a taller tire in the back for my next setup. That might help you. something 28" tall. Plus dont turbos like the taller final drive?

Yep, anything in the 27"-28" range is fine with me. Only 27" plus 18" drag radials that I know of that will work on my 18x9 wheels are the M&Hs (275/45-18 and maybe the 325/40-18s since they run narrow), which are at least $600/pr. The M/T 295/45-17s are $450/pr.

If anyone knows of any other 27"-28" options that will work on my 18" wheels, feel free to post them.

 

[007SHELBYGT]

nitto nt05r 285 45 18 ......27in tall 11 wide ...thats what i am putting on my SGT...

 

[KrisR]

nitto nt05r 285 40 18

(size fixed)

This is one of the options, yes. I wonder how they would hook compared to the M/T 295/45-17s?

 

[Liftedbronco]

either the same or worse now that you mention it. i didnt do the math but they seem like almost equal sidewall and almost equal width.

but for a streeet car to feel like its hooking, sidewall isthe key for sure. rather than width.