will drag radials break my rear or car?

[jin1481]

I want to start hitting the track, more then likely atco, and i want to run with drag radials on the stock salad shooters (16x8 ). I'm talking about the 1994 Z28 the car has 185,XXX miles but has been babied until it got into my hands and i'm ocd about keeping it in top running condition.

OK, basically what i'm wondering about is how high are the chances that im goin to break something on my car if i run it on drag radials and who suggests what brand of tires?

thanks ahead for any advice.

[jin1481]

so far all i have found are nitto 555r's

[WildBillyT]

I don't think you will, I don't think you are making that much power. But you will be close.

In order of traction:

Mickey Thompson ET Street Radial
BFGoodrich Drag Radial (Comp T/A?)
Nitto 555R

[jin1481]

I feel the same, but i broke my transmission mounts when i went to the 18's with kdw2's. I think it was more likely due to the weight difference though.

[Mike]

Originally Posted by jin1481

I feel the same, but i broke my transmission mounts when i went to the 18's with kdw2's. I think it was more likely due to the weight difference though.

that was most likely due to the age and mileage on the mount, not the change of wheels....

i know your cars an a4 but whats all done to it? bolt ons, stock converter?

on a bolt on stock converter a4 car, a nice set of bfg's wouldnt hurt the rear too bad too fast.

[Rich189]

i have a stock rear and bfg drs and havent broken anything yet running low 1.8's

[Mike]

Originally Posted by Rich189

i have a stock rear and bfg drs and havent broken anything yet running low 1.8's

and you probably have 40-50 more hp than his lt1

[jin1481]

sweet you guys are awesome, the only mods i know about are the ones i've posted.

[1_Hot_SOM_WS6]

You should be fine. I have 16" BFG DRs - good tire - I would def. recommend them.

[jin1481]

tire rack didn't have any, where should i look for them

[Tru2Chevy]

Jegs and Summit both carry all the popular slicks and drag radials. You could also try any local tire shop that carries the brand that you are looking for. It's not likely that a local shop with have the DRs in stock, but they should be able to order them for you.

- Justin

[EchoMirage]

how often are you going to hit the track. a few times a year is alright. if you go very often.....like every week/weekend during a season, you might want to upgrade. being an auto and LT1, its somewhat safer then a stick LS1. if you go or will start to go fairly often, it wouldnt be a bad idea to start a seperate saving accnt for a new rear.....just in case.

[98tadriver]

Originally Posted by jin1481

tire rack didn't have any, where should i look for them

GOOGLE SEARCH em! LOL

ive used a few different brands of DR's

Nitto 245/50/16
BFG's 255/50/16
M/T 255/50/16 and currently on my drag wheels, 275/50/15

nittos hooked up fine for me on the street and track. handled great in the rain (drove up the parkway in a downpour @ 50mph) and they lasted quite a while for a drag radial- IMO, best all around drag radial. dry burnouts dont tear these up either.

BFGs hooked up pretty good, didnt last long at all, kinda sketchy in the rain and they dont like dry burnouts

M/T's by far the best drag radial ive had, as long as i dont have to drive in the rain. absolutely horrible in the rain. (as in 5th gear @ 50mph step on gas a lil and go sideways..) and they hate dry burnouts treadware was faster than the nittos, a lil slower than the bfgs

[Jersey_TA]

I've only had BFG DRs when I first started racing. The first time out on them I cut a 1.799 60 in a stock stall auto with gears, intake and exhaust.....and full weight with heavy TT2 rims up front

[JSPERFORMANCE]

if you race your car, stuff will break, GUARANTEED.

[Batman]

Originally Posted by JSPERFORMANCE

if you race your car, stuff will break, GUARANTEED.

Yup, everybody can speculate but I've seen slicked cars with stock 10 bolts do fine for years and I've seen 10 bolts blow up with street tires on a low powered car. You should be OK but you never know. I would at least invest in some c-clip eliminators since that seems to be what busts the most often.

[jin1481]

sweet guys thanks. i'm not planning on it being an every weekend kinda thing but ive also never hit the track before.

[98tadriver]

Originally Posted by JSPERFORMANCE

if you race your car, stuff will break, GUARANTEED.

hahaha this is so, so true!

[EchoMirage]

Originally Posted by 98tadriver

hahaha this is so, so true!

if Ron drives a car, things will break, GUARANTEED

[Batman]

Originally Posted by EchoMirage

if Ron drives a car, things will break, GUARANTEED

Ohhhhhh SNAP!

[BonzoHansen]

Originally Posted by Batman

Ohhhhhh SNAP!

Yes, that is one of the noises you may hear....

[JSPERFORMANCE]

[Tru2Chevy]

Originally Posted by jin1481

sweet guys thanks. i'm not planning on it being an every weekend kinda thing but ive also never hit the track before.

I say you should go at least once or twice before you spend any money on tires or anything else for the track.

Make sure you like it first. Then decide what to buy based on how into it you want to get.

One of our friends decided to take his car to the track once, and figured it might happen a few times a year....soon he was going nuts on the car, doing everything he could think of/afford in hopes for a lower ET.

- Justin

[jin1481]

i need new tires for my stock wheels anyway

[Tru2Chevy]

Originally Posted by jin1481

i need new tires for my stock wheels anyway

Go to the track on what you have first to see if you enjoy it, and how much you enjoy it. That alone will influence what you should be buying....

- Justin