AaronC

What have you guys run on at the track?
The only appropriate tires I have found are the Nitto NT555R in 255/40/17. Have you guys had any luck finding anything? I would like to find a 255/35/17, so the final drive ratio will be a bit better, since it is smaller in diameter.

BlackC230Coupe

I am also looking to get drags radials soon. There is nothing that i am aware of in 255/35/17. I have heard better things about the BFG's, but they don't have anything that good in 17s for the C32 stock wheels.

AaronC

I have found several drags in 275/40/17, including Hoosiers, but I dont know if they will rub or not.

BlackC230Coupe

Drags right? not drag radials? 275 is most likely gonna rub. Being a 40 series tire, i am sure it will.

AaronC

Well, drag radials, not slicks. Luke@tirerack said that some guy told him he ran the 275/40/17s without rubbing, but he said that he did not know whether to beleive the guy or not, and was leaning twoard the Not. Since I am lowered I imagine that it probably would rub. This really kinda sux.

BlackC230Coupe

Oh ok. Slicks would just be crazy, lol. Yeah u will rub for sure with that size if you are lowered.

AaronC

I am wondering how much better these would be then my PS2s at the strip:

Yokohama A032R Soft Compound
255/40 ZR17 or 245/40ZR17
Tread Life: 60 unless shaved


Hoosier A3S04 or R3S04:
245/40ZR17
Tread Life: 40

BlackC230Coupe

Its a good question. I am not sure how they would do on a drag strip. I know they would own on a road course though.

nukblazi

Built for very different purposes then a drag tire. Good grip, but def not as good at the strip as a drag. Even if the Hoosiers rub, it's only rubbing for a half mile, and you can always gut the wheel wells for clearance.

AaronC

I see that Nitto makes their 555R drag tires in 245/45/17. That would give plenty of traction, but would reduce the effective final drive, which might hurt times. What do you think?

MBAMGPWR

Most Viper guys who have the 17" OEM Wheels run Kuhmo's on the rear. In fact, they make the C32 size for you all. I would suggest using them...

Kumho Ecsta Supra 712
255/40ZR-17

AaronC

Those are Road Race tires right? I guess that brings up that same issue of whether Road Race tires will give significantly better times then street tires at the strip.

430

Unless they have changed the compound for the Kumho Ecsta Supra 712 these are not anywhere near R compound tires. They offer great bang for the buck and are a good tire but the PS2, T1, amoung others will offer more grip. I belive the Kumho tires you are referring to are the Victo Racer R-700's and their replacement (which I can't remember the designation but they came out about 1.5 years ago).

AaronC

The Kumho ECSTA V710 looks like their Stickiest R tire, and is available in 245/45/17. Here is a pic:

Zeppelin

Do you plan on using these tires on the stock rim's or are you buying new rim's. You can also use a 16" and maybe a 15" rim on the back, that will give you more tire choices.

AaronC

I am going to use them on the stock rims. If I was gonna get new wheels too the choice of tires would have been simple. MTs all the way.

BTW, I have been doing lots of calling around on this, and it appears the best tires in the stock size for drag racing are the Hoosier A3S04 in 245/40ZR17. From what I was told they are VERY sticky, and the compound in the A version of the tire warms up very quickly.

Zeppelin

You will be better off using a street tire on the strip than a road racing tire. Road racing tires just don't grip like a drag radial on all that built up rubber.

AaronC

Actually, I asked about that. They said that a sticky Road Race tire will greatly outperform any street tire at the strip. Despite the fact that the sidewalls dont flex, the compounds in the tire are sticky enough to make a large difference. At least that is what Frisby Race Tire and The Tire Rack reps told me.

430

Keep us posted. I had just started to look for a Drag Radail option when you created this post.

Bux

i use nitto drag radials 17" on stock c32 rims and they grip awesome ...about the diameter being to big ..ya i worred about that also but also ran my fastest time on them

AaronC

Which ones? The 245s?

AaronC

Ok, I just got off the phone with Hoosier. They said that their minimum buyin, to get a custom tire size made, is 50 tires. If we could get 25 guys together who would want drag tires we could do this.

Also, I asked him if the A3S04 would be better then a street tire at the drag strip, and he said that it would most definitly be better. He said that the compounds would be such that it would get great traction, way better then a street tire ever would.

430

How much $$ are we talking about for a custom sized tire?

AaronC

From what I understand it would be the normal cost of of a drag tire, which is ~$200. We just have to get 50 to make it worth their while. Judging from the response on the forum, I dont think we could do it.

Maybe The Tire Rack would be interested in doing this. I know that there has to be some other car that runs a 245/40/17.

Bux

yes