DerekFSU

I am thinking about trying slicks when these DR's where out (which won't be long). I can't powerload beyond about 1,600 rpms for a launch on DR's. The DR's are awesome but I want more. Anyone use slicks? Would they be too hard on the tranny or drivetrain?

DFW01E55

I remember reading somewhere that an electronic measurement is recorded when you exceed the traction limitations of street tires and when they run the diagnostics program it allows them to deny a tranny/rear end claim.
Disclaimer: I've never seen it myself so it could be a legend.

Jakpro1

I've been looking and looking and the only slicks I see for 18inchers are autocross style.

Largest I have seen are 16inch I believe....(it all got blurry after an hour of looking)

Autocross slicks would suck because of stiff sidewall correct? Then my question would be, even if it's butt ugly, could we fit 16 inch rims on our cars just for track and if so....where would we even look.

Here is a Mickey Thompson ET Street 17 Inch tire...all other full drag slicks are 16 inch....anyone have any different info please share.

part3743 compound M5 tire size 26X11.50-17LT weight 21 measuring rim 9 sidewall width 11.5 tread width 10.0 overall diamteter 26.0 Tubeless circum. 82

nukblazi

Unless you have rear brake clearance issues, you should get 16s. They will provide with the most traction. You can get a cheap 16x8/9 steel wheel for cheap and swap tires at the track.

housclass

16's and smaller are the only slicks i know of...best thing to do is find a wheel that looks like the fronts in a 16 inch and put on some 8" slicks...

the harder you launch, the harder it is on parts...you're bound to break the tranny or an output shaft sooner than later!

best of luck!

john

Kompressor Man

Though it's not a true "slick", the MT E/T drag radials are quite the sticky tire. They're a bit better than the BFG drag radials, so you might want to check those out.

DerekFSU

Cool. As for them denying a claim, I'm well past the warranty stage.

R. Range

I don't know, but I have assumed the reason no one has run a bias-ply slick like the MT ET Street is due to the front brake clearance problem. (sounds strange but bear with me) I think you could put 16" slicks on the back without a problem (or possibly even a 17" one as I've heard MT is coming out with a 17" version of the ET Street). The problem is you do NOT want to run bias ply slicks on the rear and radials on the front (unless you're ready for death or serious injury, anyway) because the car will be all over the track. Thus, the real problem: the front brakes require an 18" wheel for clearance, and there are no 18" front bias ply skinnies. Someone jump in here and correct me if I've missed something.

Jakpro1

Really ?!? Is that true....how so. Guess I just never thought of that.

Anyway...here is 16 inch rim that would fit our cars....we have 5-112 pattern correct. Yeah it's Ugly, but would this technically work?

Ugly wheel link

Jakpro1

WOW, from Michelin website.



Can I mix tire types on my car?
Tires of different size designations, constructions, and stages of wear may affect vehicle handling and stability. For best all-around performance, the same type tire should be used on all four-wheel positions. It is also recommended that you NOT mix radial and non-radial tires on a vehicle. However, if mixing tires is for some reason unavoidable, NEVER mix radial and non-radial tires on the same axle. If two radial and two non-radial tires are to be installed on a vehicle, the two radials MUST be installed on the rear axle and the two non-radials on the front axle.

For four-wheel drive vehicles, if no instructions for tire mixing appear in the vehicle owner's manual, adhere to the following guidelines:

* Do not mix sizes. All four tires must be branded with the same tire size.
* Do not mix radial and bias-ply tires. All four must be either radial or bias-ply.
* Be sure that the outside circumference of all four tires is within 1-1/2-inch of each other.
* Do not mix tread patterns such as all-terrain and all-season.

R. Range

Michelin's info is generally consistent with what I've always heard from old hands at the track. IOW, you can run drag radials (or stock radials) on the rear with bias plys on the front, but you do not want bias plys on the back and radials on the front. And remember, Michelin is coming at the issue from a general driving standpoint--the tracking problem this causes is greatly multiplied at the track in a high horsepower, quickly accelerating vehicle at WOT.

Beowulf

Mickey Thompson makes an ET Street Drag Radial in a 275/40/17 size with a 25.7" overall diameter.

See: http://www.mickeythompsontires.com/s...et_radial.html

Note the 16's are a little tall at 26.1".

If they hook as well as the bias-ply ET Streets, they'll be superior to the BFG DR's.

DerekFSU

Do we know anyone who has compared the BF DR's and the MT DR's?

dgussin1

These are the tires to get. My friend has them and got a 1.55 60' in his IRS Cobra. They HOOK. And he says they handle well on the street too when cruising around.

Beowulf

Some input from stangnet:

http://forums.stangnet.com/archive/i.../t-517978.html

The MT's are relatively new compared to the BFG's, thus fewer reviews/comparos. I think you need to test a set!

Jakpro1

Can anyone steer me in the direction of a set of rims that would fit those Mickeys....I am pretty bad at the whole rim size to tire thing.

Doesn't matter the look...I just wanna get a rim size....then I can take it from there.

Thanks you guys....and thanks for saving me from death....TOTALLY would have run Bias Slicks on the back. Sure would have been a video legend on the forum eh?

DJE55

I've had both BFG's and MT's and I thing the MT's are much better. I don't know if this was said earlier but, you will have to go with a 16" tire to really launch the car. The 17 or 18" tires just don't have enough sidewall to flex and hook up. As far as mixing tire types, it doesn't matter. You are talking about using it for drag strip use only. Go to the track and you'll see guys running 130-150mph in the 1/4 with different tires. It's not recommended for street use but is almost normal at the drag strip. Go get a set of 16" wheels. MT's and watch the ET's drop. Good luck!

Jakpro1

Cool, thanks for the info DJ....can someone steer me with a link or just post a rim size (16") that would fit our cars. We do need a 5-112 bolt pattern rim right...that was what was killing me today when looking.

Last thing...when you said "different tires"...you meant Bias AND radials right?

Lemme know what you find out.

Thanks again

Kompressor Man

I couldn't have said it better myself!

Jakpro1

Would these fit on the 55.

Yeah yeah, ugly....again just trying to find the right size.

http://www.cheapwheels.com/xcart/cus...3&cat=8&page=6

DJE55

Yes I was reffering to radial or bias ply. As far as rim size I have no idea. I haven't looked at backspacing or lug patterns for these cars. Good luck finding the right wheel that will work. When you do, post some pictures and info so the rest of us can cheat off of your home work.

Fikse

I ran M&H slicks on my 1993 RX-7 with radials up front... no problems at all.... just take it easy the first few times on slicks.... the handling can be tricky at high speeds....

if you can find some 16" wheels to fit on the back, you'll be all set..

Stephen04E55

As long as you don't mix the radial or bias ply tire on the same axle then you will be fine. I raced my Z06 with e.t. street M.T.'s with stock tires on the front and it was fine. Trap speeds were over 125mph. The car felt stable and planted with no wandering. You will get wandering at the top end of the track if the tire pressure is very low in the rear tires. I think their recommendations by the tire manufacturers are for street applications and not for the occasional 1/4 mile jaunt. Mickey Thompson makes a 17" e.t. street tire that supposedly hooks great (I think 26x11.5-17). I am sure a cheap 17" wheel can be found to fit the MB for track use with these tires.

R. Range

JMO, but that's rather like saying cigarettes are safe because my grandfather smoked unfiltered Camels for 50 years and died of old age at 93. Not everyone who runs radials in front with bias plies in the back is going to have a problem, but I think you'll have a hard time finding many serious drag racers who will recommend the practice. I can definitely put you in touch with a few people who say the mix almost got them killed when the rear started wandering at high speed while the front stayed firmly stuck to whatever groove the radials were tracking. Not worth the risk IMO.

dgussin1

tons of people do that. I don't know what you're talking about. Go to the track and look for the street cars that run with slicks. Most all run with et streets in the back and factory radials up front. Driving with skinnies in the front is "more dangerous" because they are much more unstable and harder to control.