Hey guys,

I'm getting some 18X8.5 rims for my drag radial setup and need to know what DR tire size would be most beneficial. My car is lowered about 1.5in with about an inch between the top of the tire and the wheel well.

Thanks guys.

Derek,
-DSport Magazine

 

BFG Sizes:
P245/40R18/LL
P265/40R18/LL
P275/35R18/LL

 

My vote goes to the 275's. We run a 275/40/17 on our Supra and it hooks swell. Sam Mahdavi runs the same size on stock MKIV wheels and pulls 1.5 60' fts. Hell, one of my buddies pulled numerous 1.6's in his modded E55 AMG with the 275/35/18's!

Sam

 

I run the 265's on my stock rims. they work great actually pulled a 1.7 60ft. I would get the 275's if they fit. bigger is better. They told me when I bought mine about a year ago 265's were the only size available.
mrtomcat told me you put the picture of my car on dsport mag on the idrc flyer. Pretty cool to be in a mag!Thanks

 

Thanks for the info guys. I'd definitely like to go with the 275's but I'm unsure on the fitment. If anyone has any experience with the 275's on a lowered Z or G please chime in(with wheel size too).

caucasian - Yes, its your car and its a good shot. Thanks for the support.

Thanks,
Derek

 

I dunno, I think you might be better off with the 265s with a taller sidewall than the 275 with a shorter sidewall as far as hooking up is concerned. You should consider what each tire would do to you gearing though (calculate your maximum speed in each gear). It would REALLY suck to buy a tire size that forces you to shift 100 feet before the finish line or something like that.

Fact of the matter is though, you probably aren't going to notice a whole helluva lot of difference between the two. If you can drive well, you are going to be pulling off good 60' times with each tire... if you can't drive well it doesn't matter what tire you're on - you're not going to be able pull off miracles on one tire just because it is 10mm wider or 5% taller or anything. I bet you could make 100 runs on each tire and record your 60' times and not be able to tell a difference between them. Unless you're running 8s in a drag radial only class, I doubt it's going to matter a whole lot.

 

I think either size wont make any difference. The issue I notice is you need to heat them them drag radials up. So you need line locks or do the fuse trick. If its a hot day you will not be able to warm them up enough to stick to the hot asphalt. My 60 ft times are all over the place because I dont do good burn outs. I will invest in some line locks soon and my 60 ft times should be in the 1.7 every run.

 

I'm not saying that heating them up won't help, but they can hook without it. My buddy briguymax has pulled the best DR 60' time I know of on this board for a Z, 1.70s without heating them up and at like 25psi of pressure. He doesn't have line locks nor does he pull the ABS fuse - no burnouts to speak of really. Much of it is just about the driver and his (or her) technique.

 

265/40 is a perfect fit, I have many friends that run that set-up on stock rims.

 

Thanks for the suggestion Alberto.

Does my current wheel and tire setup make a difference in the DR tire size?
Piaa Super Rozza's:
19X9F with 245/35/19
19X10R with 275/30/19

Thanks.

 

i'm running 265/40/18 with BFG drag radials on an 8.5 rim, they seem to be a perfect fit.

To the original poster...if you dont mind me asking, what kind of rims will you be running?

 

They are 18X8.5 Piaa Super Rozza's.(I'm Sponsored by PIAA)

El Zzeta - Is your car lowered? If so how much? What tire size are you running in the front?

 

Any 18X8-9" will be a great fit for a 265/40 DR. No DR's in 19" sizes...

 

I think you'll have traction issues with your power running only 265.
I still have BFG 275/50/15 and I they were ok for 430whp but I won't run those with over 500whp

I'm upping to go to MT ET Street Radials since they are supposed to hook almost as good as the ET Streets

 

I have a set of M/T 275-40-17 and i'm going to see how they fit on the stock rims(base model) I'm not sure if the'll fit or not?

 

Yea my Z is lowered with hotchkis springs and lowered by about an inch ...can't remember the exact reduction in height. in the front im running 245/35/18, but in the rear the size is 265/40 and like i mentioned with about an inch drop

 

Hey man, where and how much were these tires if you dont mind me asking?

 

you won't find a better deal than on jegs.com

 

The 275/35-18s will be much too small in diameter for the rear of the 350Z. I run 295/35-18 DRs and they are still a little small in diameter compared to stock.

 

How wide are your rear wheels? Does anyone even know if the 275's will bit on a 8.5 wide wheel? The recommended size on the BFG website for the 275 size is 9-10.5 wide wheel.