SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: Drag setup and launch
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Joined: Dec 2015
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2005 SL65
Drag setup and launch
What's the best tire setup for 1/4 mile drags? I'm thinking a set of DRs, but wanted to check in with others who have done this.
Also, what are the electronics settings and launch technique do people use for best ET?
Thanks!
Also, what are the electronics settings and launch technique do people use for best ET?
Thanks!
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2003 SL55
Ive always heard 295 rears, highest suspension setting, esp off, gas it from idle over the course of 1 second, full throttle click in as soon as it catches grip
I get major wheel hop if i try it with esp on.
I get major wheel hop if i try it with esp on.
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From: Long Island New York
2003 SL55,2020 GTC ,2017 GTS sold ,2002 G500 Sold,2003 SL500 Sold,
Dead punch off idle ,traction off,highest susp position ,drag radials ,dead hook
Last edited by cnterline; Apr 4, 2016 at 11:03 AM.
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From: Miami, FL
2003 CL 600
Higher suspension allows for more weight transfer onto the rear tires, which you want for a car with this much torque off the line. It's also a heavy car so the transfer is significant.
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2003 SL55
Cnterline might be able to dead hook from idle with good track prep and good drag radials, but i think he forgets other people are mere mortals sometimes :p
Haha ive never run anything but street tires on this car so far so i cant comment.
Last edited by m-svt-amg; Apr 4, 2016 at 07:26 PM.
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CL65
The V12TTs seem to spin about 150 ft off the line, as rpms go up and boost builds. The 55s power delivery is different allowing them to launch differently. I found my best 60ft times with drag radials were from launching at a higher rpm, as much as the brakes can hold. Launch in manual mode and let the car shift through all the gears,the 65 will shift at red line. Leave it in dyno mode otherwise, it will go into limp when doing burnouts. My experience with feathering it off the line, before WOT, always results in wheel spin around 30-40mph with street tires. A 265/40/18 Mickey Thompson drag radial has been enough for me to get a 1.57 60 ft with a hard launch.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 146
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2005 SL65
The V12TTs seem to spin about 150 ft off the line, as rpms go up and boost builds. The 55s power delivery is different allowing them to launch differently. I found my best 60ft times with drag radials were from launching at a higher rpm, as much as the brakes can hold. Launch in manual mode and let the car shift through all the gears,the 65 will shift at red line. Leave it in dyno mode otherwise, it will go into limp when doing burnouts. My experience with feathering it off the line, before WOT, always results in wheel spin around 30-40mph with street tires. A 265/40/18 Mickey Thompson drag radial has been enough for me to get a 1.57 60 ft with a hard launch.
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2003 SL55
With the long gears, id expect you want shorter diameter tires for faster revs and wider for more traction.
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CL65
Any time you put on a different size tire overall diameter needs to stay very close otherwise the wheel sensors will pick up the difference and throw a code. Slightly less will give you better gearing, but probably nothing noticeable in the quarter mile, let alone the 1/8. The 65 rear calipers do not allow for a wheel smaller than 18", so tire sizes are limited. You could probably fit a 305/35/18 on an 18x10 wheel, which will give you similar tire height, but unless you have a ton of modifications the narrower 265, will provide enough grip and be less weight to spin. I run 305/30/19s in the rear as my normal street tire. I recently attended a 1/2 mile event and the wider tire was no match to the narrow drag radial. I couldn't get traction even trying to launch softly, I kept getting wheel spin, on and off the throttle all the way passed 60 mph. I put on the drag radials and I managed to get much better launches. It wasn't a prepped drag strip so it still resulted in some wheel spin, but much less.
So in the end wider is not always necessary when drag radials have a much softer compound and are design for a burnout to get sticky. They also don't come in a million different sizes so 265/40/18s become a popular fit event if you can fit something else wider. Getting an extra set of wheels for the tires is the easiest way to go. You will see the results are day and night difference when you can launch with no spin.
So in the end wider is not always necessary when drag radials have a much softer compound and are design for a burnout to get sticky. They also don't come in a million different sizes so 265/40/18s become a popular fit event if you can fit something else wider. Getting an extra set of wheels for the tires is the easiest way to go. You will see the results are day and night difference when you can launch with no spin.
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2003 CL 600
Tire compound really helps, on my nismo I ran a 285/35/19 on stock wheels in an RE-11 and it held well on the street with a nice shot. On my dedicated drag wheels (mustang stocks lol) I ran a 245/50/16 IIRC, just a standard 26" radial, it was a toyo proxes TQ on that car. The setup was ~25lbs lighter than the stock rears, smaller overall, and still hooked up better and let me run quicker times. A dedicated tire is always superior and if you don't need a big tire, it's just wasted energy.
Look at the times some of the drag cars get out of a 10.5"/275 tire. It's plenty if you use it right.
Look at the times some of the drag cars get out of a 10.5"/275 tire. It's plenty if you use it right.
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2003 SL55
Tire compound really helps, on my nismo I ran a 285/35/19 on stock wheels in an RE-11 and it held well on the street with a nice shot. On my dedicated drag wheels (mustang stocks lol) I ran a 245/50/16 IIRC, just a standard 26" radial, it was a toyo proxes TQ on that car. The setup was ~25lbs lighter than the stock rears, smaller overall, and still hooked up better and let me run quicker times. A dedicated tire is always superior and if you don't need a big tire, it's just wasted energy.
Look at the times some of the drag cars get out of a 10.5"/275 tire. It's plenty if you use it right.
Look at the times some of the drag cars get out of a 10.5"/275 tire. It's plenty if you use it right.
Let me rephrase: shorter is better unless you run out of gear or cause problems with the ECU. Wider will provide more grip, but add weight. Typically you will want to run the shortest narrowest tires that can hold all your torque off the line for optimal launch. Unfortunately, im not sure what tire that is for the sl65.
That said, i think i will be switching from 295/30/19 to 285/30/19 if i can find a pilot super sport in that size. They werent available last time i bought tires.
Thanks for the info on the 18 inch wheels. I assumed brake calipers would be the limiting factor as far lighter wheels. The lightning community grinds down their rear calipers to run 15" bogarts, bajas, and racestars.
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From: Oldsmar, FL
2005 E55 Wagon, 2017 C63S Cab, 1986 560SL
Don't think the 16in rims will fit over the SL65 brakes.
I run on a poorly prepped 1/8th mile track. Easing into the throttle than flooring it once it hooks is best, but hard to repeat. I spin a lot more than I want.
I run on a poorly prepped 1/8th mile track. Easing into the throttle than flooring it once it hooks is best, but hard to repeat. I spin a lot more than I want.
