Drag radial questions

Posted By: wedgeheaded

Drag radial questions - 01/30/15 05:34 PM

I've been trying to decide which direction to go with my 80 stepside. My first choice was to buy a SW bed. A buddy had bought it from out west for a project, then decided he didn't need it after all. So I bought it and can probably sell my bed when the time comes. I've been back and forth about using old school wheels, (15") vs something in the 17"-20" range. I just like the old school look on these trucks. So, 15s it is. Now for tires. I'm looking at 325/50/15 drag radials. M/T and Nitto both make a nice tire. My concern is how they wear and how they do in the rain. I go to the NATS and it's 2 1/2 hrs from home and I've been caught in the rain several times. So, what are your thoughts and experiences? I'm planning on using a mid 60s 8 3/4 car rear end. What BS will work best on a 15x10 wheel? Any insights are appreciated. Post pics too if you have them. Thanks guys.

Posted By: an8sec70cuda

Re: Drag radial questions - 01/30/15 05:56 PM

The Nitto will last longer and be better in the rain, but the M/T will hook better.

Posted By: wedgeheaded

Re: Drag radial questions - 01/30/15 07:05 PM

My thought too. I figured the Nittos would be better in the rain simply by having more tread. I can get the Nittos from Discount tire direct for $205. each, free shipping. M/Ts are about $230 from Summit. Basicly the same.

Posted By: an8sec70cuda

Re: Drag radial questions - 01/30/15 09:40 PM

I don't know how much power you have or how fast the truck should be, but the Nittos work very well on cars that run in the 12s or so. Some faster than that.

Posted By: 11secdart

Re: Drag radial questions - 01/31/15 12:03 AM

I have M/T s on my D150 they work well, the truck runs low 15s with low 2.0 60 fts, I don`t really drive it in the rain.

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Posted By: second 70

Re: Drag radial questions - 01/31/15 12:20 AM

Quote:

My thought too. I figured the Nittos would be better in the rain simply by having more tread. I can get the Nittos from Discount tire direct for $205. each, free shipping. M/Ts are about $230 from Summit. Basicly the same.

The nittos work well in rain and a nice ride on the street. Great everyday tire but I get zero traction on my hemi cuda.426 under 600 hp 4 speed 3:54 dana. Radials just don't work with 4 speeds. At the track I left at 1500 rpms and never moved had to shift into second just to move. LOL.

Posted By: wedgeheaded

Re: Drag radial questions - 01/31/15 04:37 AM

I don't plan to race this truck. I want the big tires because I like the look. It will be a cruiser, not a bruiser.

Posted By: scratchnfotraction

Re: Drag radial questions - 01/31/15 04:57 AM

I use the A-body 8 3/4 , it tucks 12" x 4.5" backset rims with a 29x15x15 M/T Sportsman SR radial = 325/50/15 in the fenders.

they wear great on the street, good wet weather traction = mine do daily use 100 miles a day x 4 yrs now.

I just now have to watch it in the rain at speed. no burnouts either.

the rubber compound is for DOT street use on cars/truck that are tubbed out to reduce wear with fattys tucked tight in turns.

my 29x15.5x15 M/T Sportsman Pros only lasted 14 months daily driving same 100 mile route to work. wet weather sucked even when new. lot more traction than SR radial for hook up.

I will be looking to go for another set of the SR radials in 1.5 yrs. and that is well worth the $ for fattys/longevity. IMHO

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Posted By: wedgeheaded

Re: Drag radial questions - 01/31/15 03:55 PM

Quote:

I use the A-body 8 3/4 , it tucks 12" x 4.5" backset rims with a 29x15x15 M/T Sportsman SR radial = 325/50/15 in the fenders.

they wear great on the street, good wet weather traction = mine do daily use 100 miles a day x 4 yrs now. I just now have to watch it in the rain at speed. no burnouts either.

the rubber compound is for DOT street use on cars/truck that are tubbed out to reduce wear with fattys tucked tight in turns.

my 29x15.5x15 M/T Sportsman Pros only lasted 14 months daily driving same 100 mile route to work. wet weather sucked even when new. lot more traction than SR radial for hook up.

I will be looking to go for another set of the SR radials in 1.5 yrs. and that is well worth the $ for fattys/longevity. IMHO

I like the looks of SR best but can get the best deal on the drag radials. Doe the SR tires have a deeper tread than the DRs? That would justify the extra price EZ enough. I found a set of new but never used SR 29/15.00/15 tires for $500 but it's a 3 hr drive each way. Besides, that's just a bit wider than I want. The 325/50/15 specs out at 13.5"

Posted By: scratchnfotraction

Re: Drag radial questions - 01/31/15 04:23 PM

I would think a drag radial is a softer compound rubber for more traction. not sure how that works out for street duty, wet weather, longevity. is that a DOT approved tire? I see a lot of street guys go through a few sets a yr but they do lots of burnouts showboating on the streets.

I know the sportman pros were rated med to high horsepower and 20psi max on air pressure. I ran mine at 16psi and would drop to 12 psi to wrinkle the sidewall a little for max traction ( I could never break them loose on a launch LOL!)

A M/T sportsman is what a lot of the t-buckets use for street duty and they are a hard compound rubber next to a sportsman pro. but the sportsman & sportsman pro do not like the wet weather at any speed. they hydroplane a low speeds 40 mph on my truck.

IMHO, with 20 psi max air pressure/tubeless tires the extra $ for me was how long they have held up to daily driving on my truck. I think I am a little over 1/2 way on tred depth but not to the wear indicator yet.

that's another thing to think about. tubeless or tubes??? the M/T pros called for tubes but I ran them tubeless without issues. same with the SRs.

now I do like the squared edge look of the sportsman pro over the rounded edge look of sidewall on the drag radials or SR tires.

the SRs are about 250$ a tire at the speed shop.

Posted By: wedgeheaded

Re: Drag radial questions - 01/31/15 06:58 PM

I found this article on drag radials, http://www.stangtv.com/tech-stories/whee...t-drag-radials/
The SR tires aren't listed as they're considered street tires. I can't find info on the SR tires for tread wear, etc. The above article shows the Nittos having the highest tread wear in the drag radials.

Posted By: scratchnfotraction

Re: Drag radial questions - 02/01/15 04:14 AM

IIRC, I looked up the SR on M/T web site. talked about rubber compound for wear. speed rating ect. talked about tubed out cars turns/tire scuffing/low wear compound.

yes, it is a street tire not a drag tire. IMHO, it's a med traction tire for the street. Myself I have no NEED for a drag slick or drag radial other than LOOKS, so I do not run one on my truck.

to me they look like a wet-weather tire you see on a INDY500 car. wide with the flame tred pattern.

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Posted By: scratchnfotraction

Re: Drag radial questions - 02/01/15 04:18 AM

another thing on the SR is weight of the tire. it is a heavy tire on the alum weld rim. 30-40 lbs

the sportsman pro on the same rim was super light around 12-15 lbs

might look at that on a darg radial while you deciding

for a drag truck the lighter the wheel the better.

I only mind the heavy SR when I R&R them.

Posted By: 85_Ram_4speed

Re: Drag radial questions - 02/02/15 05:32 AM

Just another thought, use a 15x8 wheel with a real tire on it to drive on (could use a 275/60r15 for instance), switch over to the stickier tires when you go to the track. You have a truck, haul the tires there.

I have a set of 29.5x9 slicks in the back of the truck (stepside) still with plenty of room to put other things.

Posted By: wedgeheaded

Re: Drag radial questions - 02/02/15 03:22 PM

Quote:

Just another thought, use a 15x8 wheel with a real tire on it to drive on (could use a 275/60r15 for instance), switch over to the stickier tires when you go to the track. You have a truck, haul the tires there.

I have a set of 29.5x9 slicks in the back of the truck (stepside) still with plenty of room to put other things.

I have a set of AR TTs om my 75 Cordoba with 295/50s out back. I have thought about robbing it for now. I just think a truck needs a taller tire. It's a good thought and would free up some money for other things though.

Posted By: scratchnfotraction

Re: Drag radial questions - 02/02/15 04:56 PM

MAN! stop right there... dont ROBtake anything off the that Cordoba.

why would you do that?

Posted By: wedgeheaded

Re: Drag radial questions - 02/02/15 06:31 PM

Quote:

MAN! stop right there... dont ROBtake anything off the that Cordoba.

why would you do that?

I know. But, I have the motor out for a cam swap. I thought about putting the Doba motor into the truck to break in the cam. Might as well borrow the wheels too.

It was just a thought. I've thought about selling the Doba but it's worthless. I have too many 1/2 finished toys. The Doba is safe, Probably.

Posted By: Golden-Arm

Re: Drag radial questions - 02/02/15 08:21 PM

you should totally part out the 'doba. think of all the stuff you could buy with the funds.....

fine, don't do it.

Posted By: scratchnfotraction

Re: Drag radial questions - 02/02/15 08:39 PM

Quote:

Quote:

MAN! stop right there... dont ROBtake anything off the that Cordoba.

why would you do that?

I know. But, I have the motor out for a cam swap. I thought about putting the Doba motor into the truck to break in the cam. Might as well borrow the wheels too. It was just a thought. I've thought about selling the Doba but it's worthless. I have too many 1/2 finished toys. The Doba is safe, Probably.

I don't think it is worthless. I would love to find a way to take it off your hands and give it good home.

Posted By: wedgeheaded

Re: Drag radial questions - 02/02/15 11:58 PM

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

MAN! stop right there... dont ROBtake anything off the that Cordoba.

why would you do that?

I know. But, I have the motor out for a cam swap. I thought about putting the Doba motor into the truck to break in the cam. Might as well borrow the wheels too. It was just a thought. I've thought about selling the Doba but it's worthless. I have too many 1/2 finished toys. The Doba is safe, Probably.

I don't think it is worthless. I would love to find a way to take it off your hands and give it good home.

Thanks. I know it's not worthless but it would be hard to flip, and even harder to reclaim my investment. I dig it too much to bust it up. (forever)