Traction Problem
01-20-2003, 10:10 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 13
Hey I know that there was a similar topic started somewhere else on the forum but to my horrible luck I could not find it. I just wanted a good recap of what kind of tire to buy. I want the best possible traction without worrying about the price. I know the supra's are the tire for the money.. But I dont want to be screachin out of every gear. Also whats a good size? I mean I have heard people say that getting bigger tires/rims have a direct effect on your 1/4 miles times. Is this true? I just need some clarity, and again I am sorry for posting out of category.
01-21-2003, 02:02 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Columbia,MO
Posts: 656
For your stock rims, a 225-50-16 Nitto 555R Drag Radial will be the best for street racing purposes, they hook up fairly descent and can still be driven on to the store or to a friends house. No deal. If you alter the rim size then you need to try and keep your Rolling Radius roughly the same as stock. Taller tires will create taller gearing, and vice versa.
For track racing, MT ET streets can't be beat and they are still DOT approved tires. Which are legal for public roads even though they provide little to no wet traction at all. Dry payement only for safety sake. If you want a wider tire a 245-45-16 will also work and not change your RR too much.
When tires are measured the first number represents tread width, the second number represents sidewall height, via a percentage of the tread width, and the last number of course is wheel size.
So a 225-50-16 is 225mm wide, and the sidewall height is 50% of 225mm.
Which equals a 112.50 sidewall.
So a 245-45-16 is 245mm wide, and the sidewall height is 45% of 245mm.
Which equals a 110.25 sidewall.
So the difference in these tires is 2.25mm for each sidewall which equals 4.5mm for total height difference. So roughly 1/4" difference between the two.
If you switch wheel diameter then the same will apply but the wheel will be an inch taller as well so you must account for it when you figure your RR.
For track racing, MT ET streets can't be beat and they are still DOT approved tires. Which are legal for public roads even though they provide little to no wet traction at all. Dry payement only for safety sake. If you want a wider tire a 245-45-16 will also work and not change your RR too much.
When tires are measured the first number represents tread width, the second number represents sidewall height, via a percentage of the tread width, and the last number of course is wheel size.
So a 225-50-16 is 225mm wide, and the sidewall height is 50% of 225mm.
Which equals a 112.50 sidewall.
So a 245-45-16 is 245mm wide, and the sidewall height is 45% of 245mm.
Which equals a 110.25 sidewall.
So the difference in these tires is 2.25mm for each sidewall which equals 4.5mm for total height difference. So roughly 1/4" difference between the two.
If you switch wheel diameter then the same will apply but the wheel will be an inch taller as well so you must account for it when you figure your RR.
01-21-2003, 08:01 AM
#4
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 13
Ok, so I should stay with stock rim sizes correct? Ok that said and done, is their any advice on Yokohama's tires like their avs's or their parada's? I would like to get the best grip of the street but not have to freak when water is on the ground.. Driving slow would be a must.
01-21-2003, 08:20 AM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Bayou-self Louisiana
Posts: 947
Yes I started it in single T but like yours it was moved but a saved the info on my file so here is the highlights of several post put together:
have had alot of different tires. To answer some questions here. The Potenza S-02 PP are great tires but too expensive. I actually liked the S-02's more than the S-03's. The Kumho Ecsta Supra 712 is a good cheap tire. It will actually wear pretty descent, over 20,000 miles of regualr driving. But for racing, they suck ***. Someone once said it was like racing on buttered glass. That's about right. I had them on my Eclipse GSX and spun them through 2nd in an AWD car.
I run the Nitto 555R's on the back of my car right now. I really like them alot, they still spin but you can definately tell the difference between them and street tires. My friends all run the BFG drag radials, they all like them, but they do not build a size that I like. A 245-50-16 is the closest size and it is a bit too tall for me. I run the BFG G-Force TA KDW for street driving. I have not tried the new KDW2's yet but they look nice. Yokohama AVS Sports are almost as nice as the Potenza S-02's but not quite I didn't think. They have just as good Dry traction but the S-02's did better in the wet.
try the Gfrorce kds or yoko A032s.
have had alot of different tires. To answer some questions here. The Potenza S-02 PP are great tires but too expensive. I actually liked the S-02's more than the S-03's. The Kumho Ecsta Supra 712 is a good cheap tire. It will actually wear pretty descent, over 20,000 miles of regualr driving. But for racing, they suck ***. Someone once said it was like racing on buttered glass. That's about right. I had them on my Eclipse GSX and spun them through 2nd in an AWD car.
I run the Nitto 555R's on the back of my car right now. I really like them alot, they still spin but you can definately tell the difference between them and street tires. My friends all run the BFG drag radials, they all like them, but they do not build a size that I like. A 245-50-16 is the closest size and it is a bit too tall for me. I run the BFG G-Force TA KDW for street driving. I have not tried the new KDW2's yet but they look nice. Yokohama AVS Sports are almost as nice as the Potenza S-02's but not quite I didn't think. They have just as good Dry traction but the S-02's did better in the wet.
try the Gfrorce kds or yoko A032s.
01-21-2003, 12:02 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Columbia,MO
Posts: 656
Nice post. Sounds like me talking. :bigok:
About the A032R, they are Road Race tires and will wear really fast. The Nitto 555R Drg Radials still claim to wear for up to 15,000 miles. I highly doubt that but they do wear pretty descent as long as you do not do burnouts alot. Burnouts are not needed for street tires or drag radials while racing. All it does is lose even more traction. For thses tires, just air them down to around 15-20psi or so and clean them off when you go to the line, just a little spinning to get the rock, dirt, etc.. off of them, then pull up to the line and go. Avoid the Water Box unless you plan on hazing your slicks. If not, then you will lose even more traction. Alot of people do burnouts on there street tires but I love when they smoke them and I just roll up to the line nice and gingerly and they think I don't take them serious. It is sort of a mind game I play with my oppenents. Where I just want the best traction possible but I think it helps mess with there concentration.
My choices.
Potenza S02 PP - if you have alot of extra cash
Yokohama AVS Sport - if you have lots of extra cash
BFG KD - good tires, not too expensive, dry only for you Las Vegas people
BFG KDW - good, tires, not too expensive, dry or wet conditions
BFG KDWS- good tires, not too expensive, dry or wet or snow conditions
Kumho Supra 712 - cheap tires but descent for the money
Michelin Pilots - too much, not worth it
I have never had Toyos so I can't judge them, I hear they are really good though.
About the A032R, they are Road Race tires and will wear really fast. The Nitto 555R Drg Radials still claim to wear for up to 15,000 miles. I highly doubt that but they do wear pretty descent as long as you do not do burnouts alot. Burnouts are not needed for street tires or drag radials while racing. All it does is lose even more traction. For thses tires, just air them down to around 15-20psi or so and clean them off when you go to the line, just a little spinning to get the rock, dirt, etc.. off of them, then pull up to the line and go. Avoid the Water Box unless you plan on hazing your slicks. If not, then you will lose even more traction. Alot of people do burnouts on there street tires but I love when they smoke them and I just roll up to the line nice and gingerly and they think I don't take them serious. It is sort of a mind game I play with my oppenents. Where I just want the best traction possible but I think it helps mess with there concentration.
My choices.
Potenza S02 PP - if you have alot of extra cash
Yokohama AVS Sport - if you have lots of extra cash
BFG KD - good tires, not too expensive, dry only for you Las Vegas people
BFG KDW - good, tires, not too expensive, dry or wet conditions
BFG KDWS- good tires, not too expensive, dry or wet or snow conditions
Kumho Supra 712 - cheap tires but descent for the money
Michelin Pilots - too much, not worth it
I have never had Toyos so I can't judge them, I hear they are really good though.
01-21-2003, 12:15 PM
#7
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 13
Just asking since I am pretty new to the scene, but what effect does a larger tire have on traction the cons and pros. I mean I would really like to have the "Sleeper" effect going so all the better to stay with stock sizes but do I loose any traction by staying on smaller sizes..? Any and all information will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.