When do I need fatter wheels?

Danimal1209 · 02-07-2010, 08:06 PM

Hello again.

I have the current mods on my car in my signature. I am trying to think when my car will REQUIRE fatter wheels and tires in the rear to gain traction in 1st.

I just installed 4.10s the other day and there is no hope for traction in 1st. I have all season tires currently. In the spring I plan on putting on some nitto 555's.

I have the stock 17 in rims that look similar to cobra rims. I am not sure of the fattest tire I can get on there either.

So, my question is this: With some nittos 555's in the back, do you think I should be able to gain traction in 1st?

stanger00 · 02-07-2010, 08:32 PM

I know for a fact that tires in 40* or less air temps will not get traction at all. The suspension plays alot for traction. The Nitto's will help but it most likely wont be night and day from the change. I think you are going to have to find the sweet spot with launching your car...A 275/40 on a stock 17" rim will help but wont answer your problems.

I dont know what you mean by nitto 555's? they come in street trim and drag radial. The drag radials suck ass in cold temps. They last about a years worth of driving for me and I have gotten 1.70 60fts out of them at the track. Now, those low 60fts were with the help of adjustable upper control arms, lower control arms and a disconnected front sway bar. I will keep buying them for my daily driving rims because they last long and my car hooks pretty good on the street.

in short I think tires will help a little bit. Suspension will be the biggest bang for your buck on this issue.

Danimal1209 · 02-07-2010, 09:27 PM

I am looking to get the street 555's.

For suspension, lcas are a good place to start?

wildride02gt · 02-07-2010, 10:34 PM

First off, there are really multiple things to be addressed here.
1.Tires.
*All-season tires are great for traction never. They are too much of a compromise. You'll never get a set of all-seasons to hook dry, but they do at least allow you to get around in light snow.
*Are you looking for street traction, or race traction? Are you willing to have a set of slicks for the track?
*If you go with 2 sets of rear tires, maybe 3, depending on your location, the following would be your solution- 1 set winter, or all-season, 1 set summer, 1 set slicks. OR 1 set slicks, and 1 set summer.
*Always go with high quality name brands. Cheap tires are just that, cheap tires.
2.Suspension
*For the track, remove front sway bar. Helps with weight transfer on launch.
*You can't have it all. A sick drop looks good, but sucks at the strip. Again, its about weight transfer. What is your final goal? A track vehicle, or a street/strip? The proper suspension components will be determined by your choice. However, good compromises can be had. IE, a great street/strip car will perform GOOD at both, but not GREAT.
3.Weather
*Summer tires, street/strip DOT's, and slicks are not meant to be driven in the cold. Some are even dangerous to drive in the rain. Something like a 555 may perform great in the summer, but will be dangerous below 40*. There's a reason why most "high-performance" tires have a temp/season warning on them.
*An all season may be decent in the snow, decent in the rain, and decent dry, but that is its design. It must do ALL well, GOOD or GREAT. Slicks hook awesome dry, but they'll kill you in the rain. A summer tire is just that, a summer tire. They are usually decent in the rain, but once it gets near freezing, they are rock hard, and will NEVER hook.

So, you must ask yourself-
A. Whats my weather like?
B. What is the final goal for the car?
C. Can I afford to run diff. sets of tires?
D. Can I afford NOT to?
Answer some of the above questions, and we can provide you with further insight as to where to go from here.

Danimal1209 · 02-08-2010, 06:39 AM

The weather here is somewhat nasty during winter. During summer its pretty nice out. Spring and fall are a toss up, some years theyre great and some years theyre terrible.

My final goal for the car is the street. I have never been to the drag strip and dont know if I ever will.

I am thinking to run nittos during the summer and these all seasons otherwise.

Thanks for your input guys!

spike_africa · 02-08-2010, 11:37 AM

Unless you run a drag radial in a manual car you will never really get 1st gear to hook up to well on street tires. Its just a fact. If you are not going to drag race then I can't see spending the money on the Nitto drag radials (the 555R's) cause you won't use them. Get the Regular Nittos and run 245 up front and 275 out back and enjoy the car.

Danimal1209 · 02-10-2010, 08:42 PM

Thanks for the suggestion spike.

Will the nittos upfront make a big difference over my all seasons? If it wont be too much of a change then I will just use the money on lca's or some other suspension mod.

I understand the nittos in back as the car is rear wheel drive. Having them upfront doesnt seem like it would help out a lot. More info please :P

WhiteSnakeMoan · 02-10-2010, 08:48 PM

I hear once you way 240 lbs you will need 10.5's out back to support the weight...

spike_africa · 02-11-2010, 04:14 PM

If your tires are still good don't worry about it. No street tire is gonna hook up well once you have some mods and better gearing.