Drag radials

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Ironmike

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My third pair of MT drag radials are done. Need new tires, but wondering if there is a drag radial type tire the lasts longer than the Mickey's. I drive primarily street, but occasionally run street drags.
With my set up, a standard TA Radial type tire will just spin like I'm on ice. Any suggestions?
 
I’ve had good results with the Nitto 555R radial. They are harder than the Mickey’s so they last longer but the trade off is a little more likely to spin. I run them on my street/strip Duster with a 422” W2 motor with 4spd and S/S springs. On a prepped track they bite very well but on the street they will spin through first and second if I really pour the coal to it.
 
SSG_Karg said:
I’ve had good results with the Nitto 555R radial. They are harder than the Mickey’s so they last longer but the trade off is a little more likely to spin. I run them on my street/strip Duster with a 422” W2 motor with 4spd and S/S springs. On a prepped track they bite very well but on the street they will spin through first and second if I really pour the coal to it.
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I've heard that about the Nitto's. They would not work for me on the street. Where I live, almost every time a guy takes his hot rod out, he get challenged. It's been that way here since the 70's. There are quite a few known "safe spots". Gotta uphold your rep!:)
 
Ironmike said:
I've heard that about the Nitto's. They would not work for me on the street. Where I live, almost every time a guy takes his hot rod out, he get challenged. It's been that way here since the 70's. There are quite a few known "safe spots". Gotta uphold your rep!:)
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I’d say you’re probably stuck with the Mickeys then.
How much power and what rear suspension? CalTracs and adjustable shocks would probably improve the performance of the Nittos.
 
600HP, 4 speed Demon with 430 gear. Home made caltrac type bars. Definitely hooks great with Mickey's but I only get around 3000 miles on a pair. About 2 summers.

Some dude I met last year SWORE by his M&H racemasters......but as he was leaving the cruise I watched him spin like crazy with the good old squeal sound. My buddy who is a bracket guy says if the squeal, they stink.
 
SSG_Karg said:
I’d say you’re probably stuck with the Mickeys then.
How much power and what rear suspension? CalTracs and adjustable shocks would probably improve the performance of the Nittos.
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whats the problem ?

the 555s are literally a drag tire
look up some comps on them
 
I run regular tires on the street and save my MTs for the strip.
But I drive my cars on the street nearly every nice day .
Cheaper in the long run .
 
The 555r may be good, but the 555 g2 tires suck on my charger.
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The 555s on my Duster seem to be very sensitive to tire pressure. Hook best at 24 psi. 16 or 18 they go up in smoke. Probably due to the stiff side walls. I probably won't buy them again.

Cley
 
Clelan said:
The 555s on my Duster seem to be very sensitive to tire pressure. Hook best at 24 psi. 16 or 18 they go up in smoke. Probably due to the stiff side walls. I probably won't buy them again.

Cley
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What size wheel are they on?
 
Don't want to hijack but I'm looking for drag radials myself. I'm running hp levels close to the members above with 99% street use. I've always heard that drag radials don't work well with four speeds? Any truth to this, or is it an old wive's tale? Thanks!
 
I may have missed this, are you “heating” the tire before you try and launch? If not, the normal street driving it not going to get the rubber hot enough for the tire to be sticky enough to not spin them every time you launch….
 
When I am at the track with the Nittos I drive around the water box and back up almost to it. Then do a short “dry hop” and if it spins I’ll do a second dry hop. On a prepped track that is usually enough to dead hook.
I don’t race on the street but I do know that doing burnouts with the Nittos on asphalt will SEVERELY shorten their lifespan.
 
Ironmike said:
3000 miles on a pair. About 2 summers.
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That's about all you can expect, be happy with 3000 miles, mine usually last for 2000 miles.
Road heat eats them up. Big burnouts really eat them up.
Hoosier, M&H don't last long either.
 
The Nittos definitely last. Mine have at least 5000 miles on them and there is lots left. Only burn outs are at the track, but they would have at least 75 passes on them too.

Cley
 
Nitto 555's have a relatively narrow temperature range they like. Exceed that, and they feel greasy. Don't have enough heat in them, and they feel hard and spin. Get them in the sweet spot and they hook pretty good. They make both my Mopars safer to drive on the street. Radial T/A's feel like I'm driving on snow. Tall sidewalls help too. I use chalk to determine air pressure needs.

Best thing about them is that they are rated to 186 mph, so you can speed in relative safety. My fronts are only V rated so I keep it under 150 mph.
 
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