What tires are you fast guys running at 200+ at Wilmington?

[FoundSoul]

Trying to find some tires with some size options so I can step up from the 225/50/15 drag radials that I ran last week to something that gives me at least a hope of hooking up and staying straight. 

Hoosier R6? 

Michelin Pilot Super Sport?

Drag Radials?  (a lot of you run MT D/R's right?)


I'm making right at 758whp to the tire, and couldn't use much throttle at all at last weeks event without blowing the tires off.  I ended up with a best run of 177mph, but the car has a lot more in it if I can hook up and keep it straight, part of that equation is more tire.  Part of it is suspension and aero work. Trying to sort the tire now....

I know a lot of guys run drag radials-- but I've heard of blowouts occurring due to using them outside of spec-- has that been happening? 

What are the safest tires that will actually grip and I can run with 750+ whp on tap and at speeds of 200+mph?  Probably looking for something right around 275 wide, maybe a hair more.  Probably 26" tall max. 

[greenjunk]

most everyone runs a Mickey who has anything fast.  It seems like if you stick with a 15"-16" they do ok.  Mickey will say you cannot run their tires.  My opinion for liability sake is anything but a nascar tire will kill you.  That being said, we run a 275/50/15 around 27psi.  The max at 44psi proved undriveable in other cars (ive never had the balls to try).  I know of 3 other cars that run between 25-30 psi. What i do know is based on the picture at the finish line, when we would run around 20, we would get the wrinkle in the sidewall pretty hard which is bad for sustained periods.  the higher pressure seems to hook as good but does not cause the wrinkle which also stabilized the pressure for us from the beginning of the run to the end.  We used to start at 20 and finish at over 30.  Now we start at 25-27 and don't go over 30, seems better, but i'm just giving you our experience and not making any suggestions as what you should or shouldn't do.

[FoundSoul]

Thanks for the feedback David, that's exactly what I was looking for.  Thanks for your thoughts on what you do that you'd never recommend anyone else do . 

I can tell you what greater than 44psi feels like with those BFG T/A Drag Radials...  scary!  I didn't feel comfortable any faster than 155mph until I brought the pressures down for my last run to 42psi and went 177, still squirrely but better.  And I now know that was still too much pressure...  I'll fit a fatter tire (those BFGs were also just 225's) and try out some lower pressures in that 25-35psi range--  then if we dial in the suspension a bit better we should be able to step it up a good bit at the July meet, which is the next time I plan to make it out. 

Thanks again!

[FoundSoul]

Looking into Mickeys...  which tires do you run that you would never recommend anyone else run but that work fine for you? 


Mickey ET Drag Radials appear to all be too tall for my car, start around 29" tall. 


ET Street Radial (or Radial II) have lots of sizes available. 


ET Street Radial Pro    -- basically a radial slick, only available in one size: 275/60/15  (which might fit, gotta check)

[redhotracing]

The Mickeys we run are ~28" tall. I mentioned
them on your FB post; brand new set for sale @
295/45/17... PM me if you're interested.

We run an identical set to those (ET drag radial)
at over 200 with no issues. Definitely not max
PSI, but not drag PSI either. 25-30 depending
on track temperature.

[Truckedup]

 Are there any street tires rated for 200 plush MPH?  I assume like bike,car tire speed rating has to be at least equal to the class record ?

[bearingburner]

Rule book says VR,WR,YR or ZR are good for up to 225 MPH

[MIKE MATY]

These...

http://www.mickeythompsontires.com/strip.php?item=ETStreetRadial

[redhotracing]

Correction- ours are Street Radial II's,
M/T has an OD of 27.2"...

[FoundSoul]

Thanks Mike/Luke--  and Luke I'll let you know if it looks like I can fit a 295, that might be tough, will measure soon....

[FoundSoul]

Looks like the biggest tire I can fit will be a 275/50/15 unless I lift the back of the car some and let them hang out, which I'd rather not do.  I think that 275 should do alright though.

Talked to Diamond Racing Wheels today, they're going to make a set of wheels in the proper offset to fit these.

Still working through tire choice...  these three are available in 275/50/15


Mickey Thompson ET Street Radial  -- I'm afraid these are a hair too tall  -- 26.2".  I'd have to raise the rear a bit to fit these to keep them from scraping the fender arches if I hit a bump...

Nitto NT555R - 25.71" tall

Hoosier R6 - 25.7" tall

Either of those should fit I think, might be close, if I have to lift the rear it won't be much.

Thoughts on these Nittos and Hoosiers? 

I called Nitto, his corporate response was not to use them over 1/2mile.  I asked for his personal thoughts and he said I'd be fine.  Haven't talked to Hoosier yet, but I expect they'd say similar.

[greenjunk]

nitto's are shit, crap, dookie, poop, ice skates, ice cubes on an ice rink.  buy the mickeys make them fit. I dead hook with 800hp with LEAF SPRINGS on my mickeys.

[Ted Hlokoff]

At Mojave Mile the only tires allowed over 200mph is the ZR with the Y in brackets (Y).  Tech allows those to run up to 220mph.  If the Y is not in brackets then the tires is disallowed over 200mph.  Hoosier R6s were OK to 240mph.

Drag Radials are not allowed over 200mph as they have the slower speed designation (no brackets).

When I spoke to Hoosier they told me that THEY do not recommend any of their tires over 200mph and the R6s and R1s they don't recommend over 200mph. 

Goodyear said their drag tires are unsafe for more than 1/4 mile racing and not approved for 200mph+.

Maybe you guys can run those slow rated tires but ...     http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=35

shows the only street tire rated for more than 186mph is the ZR (Y) tires.  Tire rack has the ratings and meanings on the linked page above.

Not sure of Wilmington ...  Hope this info helps?

[redhotracing]

nitto's are Subaru, crap, dookie, poop, ice skates, ice cubes on an ice rink.  buy the mickeys make them fit. I dead hook with 800hp with LEAF SPRINGS on my mickeys.

^^^ Truth. If you can't fit a 26" drag radial you won't be
able to fit most LSR specific (salt) tires, either. Shoehorn
those suckers in... I've run the same Mickey's for years,
they still hook like crazy.

[jacksoni]

Remember also that the tires will grow some at speed. I had Bonneville Mickey Thompsons grow 1-1.5" diameter at speed with 75lbs air in them. You need radial clearance for that all around the wheel well, not just at the top for bumps.