Question about wheels/drag radials

[Mango Daytona]

I want to get a nice set of wheels for the car, and really don't want to spend money on two sets of wheels and was wondering how much slower would I be to have 20" wheels with drag radials on them over a 17" wheel? The wheels I want are the Viper competition grey wheels which would be 20x9 in the fronts, and 20x10 in the rear which is 2.5" wider than the stock wheels. Thoughts?

[dudeiwin86]

aside from the extra weight, and taller effective gearing from the tires...
whats going to break your balls is tire options.

id say the Hoosiers are good for a couple tenths over Nittos (on a car that can effectively use the hoosiers)
and hoosiers dont come in a 20...
so the biggest thing you will be giving up is tire selection. which is a BIG one

[robsrt]

aside from the extra weight, and taller effective gearing from the tires...
whats going to break your balls is tire options.

id say the Hoosiers are good for a couple tenths over Nittos (on a car that can effectively use the hoosiers)
and hoosiers dont come in a 20...
so the biggest thing you will be giving up is tire selection. which is a BIG one

Agreed.

I've run both tires. The 20" Nitto and the 17" Hoosier. Without a doubt, the Hoosier is a better drag radial. However, the Nittos can be dual purpose. They worked well on the street. The ride was as quiet at the Nitto Invos I had. They will hook somehwere between a regular radial and the Hoosier.

[ujokin2]

Don't forget there are 18 inch rims and DRs available but they run $70-90 more per tire.

M&H and M/T are the only ones that offer DR's in the 28 inch or taller.
Though the rumorville is that the Hoosier 17X10 28 inch tall DRAG SLICKS will be out any day now.

[PPP-Justin]

Don't forget there are 18 inch rims and DRs available but they run $70-90 more per tire.

M&H and M/T are the only ones that offer DR's in the 28 inch or taller.
Though the rumorville is that the Hoosier 17X10 28 inch tall DRAG SLICKS will be out any day now.

where would you hear a rumor like that

[BlaKDeviL]

well Hoosier may not have a 28x10x17 slick out right now but Mickey Tompson does make a DOT slick and its what I run. They make their E.T. Street in a 26x11.50x17. Actual tire height is 26.5" and tread width is 9.5". Just for info, hooks real good especially on crappy track conditions.

[Mango Daytona]

I really don't want to have to switch wheels just for racing, ya know? And if I have my normal wheels on there and catch someone on the street and want to have fun since they would be different sets they wouldn't be the D/R's. That's why I am torn on what to do, theoretically over my stock 18x7.5", would 20x10" with a drag radial be better than the stock wheels/tires? Seeing how it's a D/R, and at least wider?

[budoboy]

20" wheels with Nitto 555rs - best ET 12.20 w/ 1.77 60'
17" wheels with 275/40/17 Hoosiers - best ET 11.95 w/ 1.80 60'

DAs were about the same. Overall wheel/tire diameter makes a difference.

[Mango Daytona]

Ugh, at this point since this is a daily driver I am considering going with the 20" viper wheels (20x9, 20x10 in rear) with street tires for now. I am curious though, I know going to a 20" over my 18" stock wheel will hurt my times, but will going wider at least keep it similar?

[dudeiwin86]

Ugh, at this point since this is a daily driver I am considering going with the 20" viper wheels (20x9, 20x10 in rear) with street tires for now. I am curious though, I know going to a 20" over my 18" stock wheel will hurt my times, but will going wider at least keep it similar?

yes it will help a bit.
but thats only if youre having problems hooking the 18's
if youre already hooking, it will hurt the times.

a street tire that will work at the track is the Nitto555 or the softer shorter life Nitto555R.

as mentioned above, it wont cut you times like hoosiers, however for a mostly stock R/T it will be pretty adequate.

[Mango Daytona]

yes it will help a bit.
but thats only if youre having problems hooking the 18's
if youre already hooking, it will hurt the times.

a street tire that will work at the track is the Nitto555 or the softer shorter life Nitto555R.

as mentioned above, it wont cut you times like hoosiers, however for a mostly stock R/T it will be pretty adequate.

Would the Nitto555's be my best bet for a street performance tire?

[budoboy]

Ugh, at this point since this is a daily driver I am considering going with the 20" viper wheels (20x9, 20x10 in rear) with street tires for now. I am curious though, I know going to a 20" over my 18" stock wheel will hurt my times, but will going wider at least keep it similar?

No, as you can see from the times I posted my 60' times were about the same for both. A wider tire wouldn't make a difference if you already have traction.

[Heavy H.P.]

20" wheels with Nitto 555rs - best ET 12.20 w/ 1.77 60'
17" wheels with 275/40/17 Hoosiers - best ET 11.95 w/ 1.80 60'

DAs were about the same. Overall wheel/tire diameter makes a difference.

Huh?
Something had to be up. Cause the Nitto's gave u a better sixty than the Hoosiers. But the ET was faster yeah.
What was your mph on both runs?

[budoboy]

Huh?
Something had to be up. Cause the Nitto's gave u a better sixty than the Hoosiers. But the ET was faster yeah.
What was your mph on both runs?

I've run 4 different drag radials and never got better than a 1.77 60' I usually run between 1.77 and 1.81 with a good hook. I really need a higher stall converter to drop my 60' times lower.

The 555r's hook great when it's warm. Plus they were brand new when I ran them. When it cools off they spin like street tires. I was able to get nice burnouts with them as I wouldn't hit limp mode like I do with the shorter tires/wheels.

MPH with both was around 115-117

[dudeiwin86]

I have run the 555's on the street and LOVE them.
the best performance tire ive used yet.
they hook and handle significantly better than the Vredesteins.

the 555's are a street radial with 300 treadwear
the 555R's are a drag radial with 100 treadwear

theyre expensive tires, in the range of 2-300 dollars a pop depending on what size you have (285/30/20 are 290$)

and you cant expect more than 15k miles out of them, and definately less if you drag race on them.

you wont be able to find any tire worth racing on that is going to last a long time, especially if driven on the street, and it will become costly

Huh?
Something had to be up. Cause the Nitto's gave u a better sixty than the Hoosiers. But the ET was faster yeah.
What was your mph on both runs?

better effective gear ratio, less weight on the 17's