Best street tires for drag racing
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,237
Likes: 2
From: Miami, FL
C63 AMG(sold), 2009 CL550, 2010 S550 Majestic Black, 2010 ML550, 2006 C230, 2009 Venza
Hi guys,
A few weeks ago I took my C55 to the dragstrip and despite my best efforts I just couldn’t get any traction with my 19” Renntech Monolites/Toyo Proxies T1R combination. I’ll be going again but this time will be using my OEM AMG 18s to do this. Currently I have 225/40/ZR18 92y Continental Sport Contact2s on the fronts and 245/35 ZR18 92Y Continental Sport Contact2s for the rears. I don’t want to go with dedicated drag radials yet as I use my stock 18”s when I go on road trips etc. I am looking for recommendations for a good street tire that hooks up reasonably well for drag racing – probably in the range of 255/35 ZR18 size for the rears. I think hooleyboy was running with Continental Sport Contacts for a bit and said they were ok for this purpose but lets have some opinions…..
A few weeks ago I took my C55 to the dragstrip and despite my best efforts I just couldn’t get any traction with my 19” Renntech Monolites/Toyo Proxies T1R combination. I’ll be going again but this time will be using my OEM AMG 18s to do this. Currently I have 225/40/ZR18 92y Continental Sport Contact2s on the fronts and 245/35 ZR18 92Y Continental Sport Contact2s for the rears. I don’t want to go with dedicated drag radials yet as I use my stock 18”s when I go on road trips etc. I am looking for recommendations for a good street tire that hooks up reasonably well for drag racing – probably in the range of 255/35 ZR18 size for the rears. I think hooleyboy was running with Continental Sport Contacts for a bit and said they were ok for this purpose but lets have some opinions…..
Former Vendor of MBWorld
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,935
Likes: 5
AMG
You DESPERATELY need to try a REAL set of high performance tires. PS2s are junk compared to Dunlap Z1 star specs. I usually throw my PS2s away or just give them to a buddy, they aren't even in the same performance league as the Z1s (not even close).
MBworld Guru
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 22,058
Likes: 19
From: Diamond Bar, CA
W206 PHEV AMG
we're talking about street tires with more street in mind. NOT tires like the RE11, Z1, AD08, that's designed and intended to be used a lot on tracks while being able to run on the street.
Last edited by FrankW; Aug 18, 2009 at 03:38 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,342
Likes: 11
From: PA
S600, GL450, GLC 43
Gentlemen:
Keep in mind EVERYONE has his/her own favorite tire for one reason or another. The BEST advice I can give you, besides RE 050 PP's
, is GO to your favorite track, Drag/Road corse/Auto XX and see what tire is winning on YOUR car. Okay, YOUR car might not be there, but you can pick a similar platform.
I did this back in the 90's and guess what, the Goodyear tire I saw win at Nelson ledges, dropped my time there by almost 2 seconds. Tried this again at Beaverun a few years back, whola, the Bridgestones dropped me by OVER 1 second.
You can use this same knoweledge at the drag strip but look at their 60' times. EVERYTHING else for draggin is MEANINGLESS in tire selection, aka ET or Trap speed for a street tire.
Good luck
Keep in mind EVERYONE has his/her own favorite tire for one reason or another. The BEST advice I can give you, besides RE 050 PP's
, is GO to your favorite track, Drag/Road corse/Auto XX and see what tire is winning on YOUR car. Okay, YOUR car might not be there, but you can pick a similar platform. I did this back in the 90's and guess what, the Goodyear tire I saw win at Nelson ledges, dropped my time there by almost 2 seconds. Tried this again at Beaverun a few years back, whola, the Bridgestones dropped me by OVER 1 second.
You can use this same knoweledge at the drag strip but look at their 60' times. EVERYTHING else for draggin is MEANINGLESS in tire selection, aka ET or Trap speed for a street tire.
Good luck
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Mercedes SL55 AMG
Running kumho tyres all around
Mercedes SL55 AMG 2004 64,500 miles
MODS
X pipe
Piper cross x panel filters
Half a tank of Fuel
RT 0.827
330 FT 5.380
1/8 88.21
ET 12.5
112.24 MPH
More to come This Run Was AT Santa Pod 08/04/2017
SL55 AMG FAT GIRL RULES
MODS
X pipe
Piper cross x panel filters
Half a tank of Fuel
RT 0.827
330 FT 5.380
1/8 88.21
ET 12.5
112.24 MPH
More to come This Run Was AT Santa Pod 08/04/2017
SL55 AMG FAT GIRL RULES
