Drag slicks and radials choices

[Breadfan]

OK, so, I want to hit the drag strip some more this year, and I don't see myself getting too far on my standard tires.

I will eventually widen the rears, but in that case I want to go with the street radials, not drag radials as my car is street driven much more, and needs to go in rain.


So, I'm going over my options now. I see three main options:

V6 Mustang wheels - 15x7" - I can get a set of 4 cheap. I hear they fit, know someone else who uses this setup but unsure what size tire they use.

CVPI Rims - 16x6.5" (?) - I think these are a tad narrow...eh?

New 18" aftermarket rims - Considerably more expensive, but I can get the right offset and run a very large drag radial like the 305 Nittos. More costly, but maybe better???



If I go with the V6 rims I have a 7" rim width. I don't care about aestethics at its function over form here. What tires should I get? Looks to me the stock Marauder tire is about 28.6". Anything close to that in a slick that I've found is too wide for a 7" rim. I don't see a 10" tire being safe on a 7" rim. Plus, I'll need slicks rated to handle a 3000lb+ vehicle.

Has anyone done this? Tips?


If I go with the CVPI rims, I know many have done that, but I may be width limited. And the diameter may be smalelr giving me more gear. I've already got 4.10 gears - a smaller tire may not be that helpful to me...or would it?



If I go with aftermarkets, I'll just get Nitto DR's and can drive to the track with them, meaning no changing tires at the track, no carring slicks up with me. I kinda like that, but like I said, in the end it's a few hundred more.



What are my tire options for the V6 Mustang wheels? Should I just suck it up and go with 18" aftermarkets? Won't they be heavier and maybe not as good as dedicated slicks on a 15" rim?

Looking for some advice from the experts here. :)

Thanks!!!

[HwyCruiser]

I have a 18x9.5" 45mm offset Konig Beyond wheel and 305 Nitto DR combo for race day. The setup cost $850 to the door. They fit good and are close enough to the proper height so I don't have any issues with the speedo accuracy or gearing. The nice thing about DRs is you can legally drive them on the street, although they aren't suited very well for daily driving because they get worse traction than a street radial if its wet and/or cool out.

I just finished up putting a widened OEM wheel and 295 Nitto NT street radial combo together for daily driving. It's nice to be able to swap to the right tire for the particular purpose and save unnecessary wear on either, esp. when they're over $200 a pop.

[Tallboy]

I have a 18x9.5" 45mm offset Konig Beyond wheel and 305 Nitto DR combo for race day. The setup cost $850 to the door. They fit good and are close enough to the proper height so I don't have any issues with the speedo accuracy or gearing. The nice thing about DRs is you can legally drive them on the street, although they aren't suited very well for daily driving because they get worse traction than a street radial if its wet and/or cool out.

I just finished up putting a widened OEM wheel and 295 Nitto NT street radial combo together for daily driving. It's nice to be able to swap to the right tire for the particular purpose and save unnecessary wear on either, esp. when they're over $200 a pop.

The wheels JD has on his rocketship have the added bonus of looking phenomenal! :cool:

[Breadfan]

Certainly looks like a way to go. I could get 2 V6 rims for around 50 bucks, add slicks for another 300. That's 500 bucks cheaper.

That's hard to ignore! :)

Has anyone else gone this route?

Thanks for the tips! I found those Konig wheels, you're right with Discount Tire I can have them shipped to my door mounted and balanced with Nitto DR's for about 850. That's a good option - even if the wheels area few bucks more than I can find elsewhere, I'd lose that and more in shipping costs, moutning and balancing, etc. Thanks!! :)

[HwyCruiser]

If you go with Discount Tire, have them heat cycle the DRs. IIRC it's an extra $15 ea. It seemed to work good for me.

Just keep in mind that either with DRs or slicks, they're going to put a wallop on your traction-loc if you still have the stock diff. I just came back from that show.

[glassman99]

You would think by now that the aftermarket boys...Weld, Bogart, Centerline would have spec'd a 15" racing rim for the 2005 Mustang.

[snowbird]

... ... I just came back from that show.
Sorry JD but LOL on this one ! The kind of "show" you don't want to see too often ! :)

[merc]

I was looking at these Mustang wheels from Tirerack before I purchased the Trilogy set that I have now. The Mustang wheels are 18x8.5 with 50mm offset. For tires I would select Nitto P255/45ZR-18 103W in the rear and 235/40ZR-18 91W on the front. A computer change would be necessary.


http://www.tirerack.com/images/wheels/svt/swap/svt_06_mustang_gt_sl_ci3_l.jpg

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/2/3/8/trilogywheels.jpg

[Glenn]

I have been looking and looking for a 15x8/10" steel wheel to use with the MT 15" drag radials - P275/60R15. Will a 4" backspace and 38MM offset reasonably work with our MMs??? Summit has many US Wheels ($40-50.00) - see link
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=USW%2D84%2D5012L&N=4294923107+400354+4294923105 +4294793325+4294906456+4294906 458+4294795084+115&autoview=sku

There must be a 15x8/10" steel wheel that is close to working? Can anyone resolve this matter - HELP!!!

Glenn

[Joe Walsh]

Mike, I bought a set of CV/police 16 x 7" rims for $50.00 from Chris (my friend with the brown 429/C6 LTD.....BTW, I think that he still has two left.)
I bought two BFG P255/50-16 Drag Radials for $280.00 and had them mounted and balanced at Mr. Tire for $48.00.

Total expenditure: $378.00

They are shorter tires than the 28.6" OEM BFGs so my 3:55 was more like a 3:90 at the dragstrip.

They are nice and gummy, street legal, and garnered me a 1.844 60 foot time WITHOUT really loading my torque converter.
I know that there is more to be had when I learn the traction limits of these tires.

[martyo]

I have been looking and looking for a 15x8/10" steel wheel to use with the MT 15" drag radials - P275/60R15. Will a 4" backspace and 38MM offset reasonably work with our MMs??? Summit has many US Wheels ($40-50.00) - see link
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=USW%2D84%2D5012L&N=4294923107+400354+4294923105 +4294793325+4294906456+4294906 458+4294795084+115&autoview=sku

There must be a 15x8/10" steel wheel that is close to working? Can anyone resolve this matter - HELP!!!

Glenn

If I recall correctly, my wheels were custom cut. I will check and let you know. I am using the MT ET Streets in a 15" tire and they are the ****nit.

Let me go get some information and I will report back.