The tires that I now have mounted on my new wheels are Nitto NT555 Extreme 275-40ZR18 in the rear. Will there be a big difference compared to the stock Potenzas(235-50R17) at the drag strip? My best 60' times have usually been 2.2 seconds.

 

If you let out a little air they might help a hair but you still won't get traction without dr's or slicks....
Jason
www.racemrc.com

 

Those 18s are going to kill you. Smaller stiffer sidewall= bad for drag racing.

 

Even though they will not help as much as DR's or slicks, they will help with traction. When I went to the track on new stock tires(18") I had much more grip then when I went back with balder better tires. So I think your wider 18's will help you more than your narrow 17's...

 

I pulled consistant 2.0 60' times with my stock 18s and stock tires.

I'm going the strip next month when it opens with my snow tires on my 17s...should be able to pull some 1.9s...depends on track prep though.

 

More tread does not automatically equal more traction. Why do you think slicks don't have any tread?

The short times you pulled with your worn out S-03s were probably more due to track prep than the tires. My best 60's I ever pulled in my old car on street tires (97 maxima) were done on 15 inch 4 year old general cr@p tires that were worn out and hard as hell.

I have also found that my 235/50-17 rear Michelin Pilot alpin snow tires grip MUCH better on a launch than my 275/45-18 S-03s do on the street.

 

I am not implying that more tread=more grip I know better, but in his case i think the tire width will help him. That and the fact that almost anything is better than the stock RE040. I too was pulling consistent 2.0 60ft's with the stock tires....as far as you pulling off the line better with your narrower snow tires over wider S03's is weird, but I wouldnt doubt it, you are one of the few people I have respect for in the racing forums, because you know what you are talking about, unlike many of these other guys that have never even been to a track and mag race. I guess S03's just suck a$$ for drag racing.

 

That probably has a lot to do with it. they have REALLY REALLY stiff sidewalls...even more so than the RE040s....

Thanks for the respect...right back at ya

 

Actually slicks have tread....it just isn't designed to move water like a standard radial. The tread is the compound on the slick....which does wear down.

 

ah...mr technical...I MEANT tread blocks and tread pattern....

 

 

 

Well, we'll see what happens this weekend. I got the new wheels and tires because I liked them but not specifically for racing. If they help good, if not, oh well they still look cool.

 

Ok, they helped. My 60ft times where down a tenth and I ran my best times more consistently than ever.