Traction HELP

[another69]

I have BFG 255 40 17 tires in the rear of my 1st gen camaro with hotchkis springs, and I have a pretty serious traction problem. When I launch, I really need to take it easy, and my motor is not that crazy. Weight is 3160#, 55% front, 45% rear. My rims are only 8" wide, but I was thinking of going to 9" wide with 275 wide BFG drag radials. My question is will there be a noticable difference between a 255 vs a 275 tire? and what is the best DOT tire to use on the street for hookup? I'd like to stay away from dedicated drag tires, and my wallet would be happy if I kept the existing 8" wide rims. I'm not opposed to having a low treadwear rating, I just don't want soft sidewalls or strip only use. Possible pilot sport cups? I would appreciate any input, trial and error gets pricey!

[ProdigyCustoms]

If it is not a G Machne BFG Drag Radial will work pretty good, and yes, a 275 is nearly a full inch more tread then a 255, so about 10% more foot print.

[another69]

I don't know if I'd call it a G machine, I really don't road race or autocross it (I'd like to), but handling is pretty important. I've heard that you want similar compounds on front& rear to keep it predictable. Right now, though my main problem is traction when I launch- what is the stickiest DOT tire, is it the drag radial?

BTW- are the drag radials useless for lateral traction? I pull .87 now (if you belive a gtech) and would like to improve that eventually

[another69]

If treadwear and traction rating is the same, would a track type tire hook as well as a drag radial on the street?

[Yoda4561]

Nope, mostly due to differences in sidewall design.

[another69]

I know that most drag specific tires have soft sidewalls that wrinkle, but what about the drag radials like the BFG? The low profile ones like 275/40/17 and 315/35/17 can't have much wrinkle, can they?

[Procharmo]

I had a 1000hp+ SBC and ran both M/T 315/17/35 DRs and Kumoh Ecstas Track day 315/35/17 on 17 x 11 TTII's. Both tyres needed to be either warm or hot to enable a little grip on the street. Lateral grip was slightly better on the Kumohs. Grip from a roll or a dig was substantially better on the M/T's with or without a burnout.

Both tyres picked up every stone or piece of grit due to their compounds but the M/T's even more so.

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However, I feel the ideal set up is for me to sell one set of 17x11 wheels and purchase a pair 15 x 10 Weld Magnum Pros with double beadlocks with 295/55/15 MT/DR's and run a set of Toyo R888 315/17/35 on the 17/11's.
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If the 15" wheels will not fit over the 12" rear Baer brakes I could go to 16" M/T's.....If any one knows let me know if they will fit?
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There is little to no sidewall crinkle on MT 315/35/17, you need the 15/16" M/T DR's to experience that...

Having said that there are many people who use timing, boost control, lots of power and suspension tuning to go 7's on MT 15" 275's or 8's on MT 17" 275's D/R's...

[Procharmo]

If treadwear and traction rating is the same, would a track type tire hook as well as a drag radial on the street?
No.

[sinnner70]

What exactly are the traction problems you're experiencing? Is it just spinning, or are you pulling to one side as well (I'd imagine you are), any wheel hop?

I experienced all of this at one point. I put on Slide-a-links and Nitto DR and eliminated all of it. The Slide-a-links are tunable so you can set them up to eliminate the pull to one side and there is zero wheel hop. Matched with the 555 fronts, the Nittos handle and corner very well. Prior to the new line of road race/autocross tires Nitto has put out, I had read of guys using the 555 DRs in autocross events with some success. I have a 45 sidewall which is tall, but it certainly doesn't even come close to crinkling and as stated corners very nicely for spirited street driving.

Don't know if they'd help you improve on your existing .87 but they'll definitely give you a nice best of both worlds scenario.

Vince

[4086D9]

Some 275/40/17 Nitto DR's will pretty much fix your problem. They will work fine on your 17x8's. The Nitto's run a bit narrower than others so the 275's fit like 255/265 sized BFG's.