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MarauderTJA
08-20-2006, 06:52 AM
Well I have some bad news. I have been in constant touch with a tech at MT anxiously awaiting the release of their super sticky MT ET Street Drag Radials for our cars (305 X 45 X 18) and the Ford Lightnings scheduled for September 1st. Spoke with them the other day and now the project has been put off until the end of the year or early next year due to production problems:mad2:. Looks like another set of Nitto DR's going on before SSHS6 and MV IV:dunno:.

The other option would be to still get the MT's, but go with a 15" or 16" size, but determine the same tire height as with our wheels/tires without having to mess with the tranny shift points. I am going to require some serious traction for the track with my new forged motor combination. I have the entirie rear end set up for better traction with Metco CA's & Watts link, QA-1's, Detroit TrueTrac and 31 spline axles...I guess there is also the option of slicks. I really would rather stay with the DR's. Anyone have any ideas:help:?

SergntMac
08-20-2006, 06:57 AM
That is bad news, a real bummer. I know you know the problems associated with a full racing slick, and that's not any better of a choice. At least the Nittos are not going to break your budget.

MarauderTJA
08-20-2006, 07:52 AM
That is bad news, a real bummer. I know you know the problems associated with a full racing slick, and that's not any better of a choice. At least the Nittos are not going to break your budget.

Yeah Mac, I agree with the slick option. Not really in the overal plan for me. For serious competition I'll just have to change out the Nitto's more often.

Glenn
08-20-2006, 07:59 AM
I mentioned in June that my new set of Nitto DRs seemed to be very sticky, but could not be sure because it was my first set. I would like to hear from any other new buyer of the 305 DRs and get their opinion of the tire. I found them to be very good on the strip. I had a 1.768 60 foot time.

Now that there is a good inexpensive 18"x10" wide wheel from mustangtuning.com (2005+ Bullitt Deep Dish wheel - order blemished wheels they are very reasonable) that fits the MM the tire is even more attractive to use.

Glenn

Cobra25
08-20-2006, 08:12 AM
That is real bad news.

MarauderTJA
08-20-2006, 08:17 AM
I mentioned in June that my new set of Nitto DRs seemed to be very sticky, but could not be sure because it was my first set. I would like to hear from any other new buyer of the 305 DRs and get their opinion of the tire. I found them to be very good on the strip. I had a 1.768 60 foot time.

Now that there is a good inexpensive 18"x10" wide wheel from mustangtuning.com (2005+ Bullitt Deep Dish wheel - order blemished wheels they are very reasonable) that fits the MM the tire is even more attractive to use.

Glenn

I have had two sets of Nitto DR's on my car. They are a good tire and sticky when new. (I also got a 1.7 60 foot with them.) I just find that the traction does not last very long with a limited amount of drag racing.

Cobra25
08-20-2006, 08:24 AM
Ok, So your saying If one plans on doing some Serious Drag Racing Let's say at MV4 a new set of Nitto DR's sticks much better. Thank You .

MarauderTJA
08-20-2006, 08:51 AM
Ok, So your saying If one plans on doing some Serious Drag Racing Let's say at MV4 a new set of Nitto DR's sticks much better. Thank You .

Absolutely:D

Marauderman
08-20-2006, 10:45 AM
I mentioned in June that my new set of Nitto DRs seemed to be very sticky, but could not be sure because it was my first set. I would like to hear from any other new buyer of the 305 DRs and get their opinion of the tire. I found them to be very good on the strip. I had a 1.768 60 foot time.

Now that there is a good inexpensive 18"x10" wide wheel from mustangtuning.com (2005+ Bullitt Deep Dish wheel - order blemished wheels they are very reasonable) that fits the MM the tire is even more attractive to use.

Glenn
.......and those new wheels fit with the OEM shocks I beleve too--correct Gleen--so no widening of wheels anymore is necessary---BTW--those wheels---no special of set---they come ready to slide on--:lol:??

SergntMac
08-20-2006, 01:21 PM
I have had two sets of Nitto DR's on my car. They are a good tire and sticky when new. (I also got a 1.7 60 foot with them.) I just find that the traction does not last very long with a limited amount of drag racing.I hear you, Tom. Seems that's the way it goes. The stickier the compound, the quicker it wears out.

Back in late '04, I bought a set of BFG drag radials in 265/35-18, and although they were not an ideal size for a heavy car, I would do better than with Pirelli street tires. Took them on the road with me to EAM-III in '05, and tried them out at US 42. Took about 10-11 passes and I burned them up, just too small for my RW power.

Now it gets funny...I traded the 18X9 Marauder compatable wheels with burned up drag radials to another member here for a set of full size OEM spares (wheel and tire). He had a N/A Marauder, and though these drag radials didn't work for me on the #1x Marauder, I thought they would be a good start over street tires on a N/A Marauder. Besides, the deal to get into this wheel/tire combo was cheap for me to begin with, and the trade out was fair.

Now theses wheels and tires are back here, Zack picked them up in more trading among members. I don't know if they are home to haunt me, or, try again. I'll prolly try them out on my #3 N/A Marauder, just to see if my expectations were correct. I'll let y'all know if this combo works on N/A Marauders, it may be a less expensive approach the traction problem.

MarauderTJA
08-20-2006, 04:06 PM
Mac,

I know some time ago you and I discussed other wheel size and tire OD combinations for drag tires. I can't find the PM or thread on this. Was there ever a combination we discussed that could be substituted so we could attain the same tire height for a drag radial as the widened Marauder wheels with Nitto 305 DR's with 15"-17" wheels for our cars? If I remember correctly there were some offset issues....

I would like to revisit this so I can still get the MT's ET Street Drag radials for the track. MT offers several 15-17" sizes for their street dr's.
www.mickeythompsontires.com (http://www.mickeythompsontires.com)

FordNut
08-20-2006, 05:23 PM
The 295/65-15 would be a good one if you can find some wheels. I was thinking about trying the new Cragar SS wheels to try and find something with the correct offset but more pressing issues are keeping me occupied.

MarauderTJA
08-20-2006, 05:29 PM
The 295/65-15 would be a good one if you can find some wheels. I was thinking about trying the new Cragar SS wheels to try and find something with the correct offset but more pressing issues are keeping me occupied.

Thanks Brian. I can seriously relate to more pressing issues right now as well:depress: . The closer I get to completion of my new motor, the more issues seem to come up that costs $$$$.

Glenn
08-20-2006, 05:37 PM
Marauderman --

The mustangtuning.com 2005+ Bullitt Deep Dish 18x10 wheels are indeed a good fit. Shock clearance is close to an inch. The wheel does stick out alittle, but only an inch or so at the rear - not bad. Big plus is the 10" inch width which fits the 305s great. Plus they are a really good looking wheel.

Glenn

FordNut
08-20-2006, 05:39 PM
Get this...
My house has no ceilings or insulation and the ducts are stripped out from the heat pump as well as all the furnishings moved into storage. Mold was discovered between the old ceilings and the dropped ceilings and it had spread through the duct system to the whole house. We live in a camper out in the driveway until new framing is done, sheet rock hung, new ducts installed, all the furniture moved back in, etc. Insurance won't cover it, $13k so far. Really changes the priorities.

SergntMac
08-21-2006, 03:52 AM
Mac,

I know some time ago you and I discussed other wheel size and tire OD combinations for drag tires. I can't find the PM or thread on this. Was there ever a combination we discussed that could be substituted so we could attain the same tire height for a drag radial as the widened Marauder wheels with Nitto 305 DR's with 15"-17" wheels for our cars? If I remember correctly there were some offset issues....

I would like to revisit this so I can still get the MT's ET Street Drag radials for the track. MT offers several 15-17" sizes for their street dr's.
No Tom, I never found just the right combination myself. The sizes I mentioned here (18x9 wheel, 35mm offset and 265/35-18 tire) "fit" the car, but with a 26.10" tire height. At least they did not stick out past the wheel well, and if the tire gave me the grip I needed, my investment (400 bucks balanced) was a deal for brand new stuff at that time. They do set off both ABS and Traction Control alarms, but I never meant to drive them on the street anyway.

This is now just IMHO and not to be read in conflict with any other opinions.

Glenn has developed the almost perfect combination for us (thank you Glenn). I say "almost" because the wheels do not match the Marauder wheel, but they look good and fit correctly. One could always buy a set of four and look sharp. Moreover, moving up to an 18x10 wheel may reduce the tire height of the Nitto 305/45-18 ever so slightly, but that considered, they look to be an almost exact size match for the OEM BFG tires. At least now, you can load all the Nitto tread you pay for squarely on the ground.

On a cautionary note, a local friend of mine, Ernie, drove on a set of MT drag radials last season on his '03 Cobra, in 275/40-17. As attractive as they are as a racing tire, the MTs don't wear any better that what I have read here, or, have seen myself from the BFG drag radials. This may be the reason the 18's are not coming to market in a reasonable time. MT may be regrouping for a new compound, the '05 and up loaded Mustangs they are intended for, is heavier and building more power than they expected. Nothing could be worse for MT than a season for unhappy customers.

Therein lies the problem with grip and wear. The Marauder is a heavy car, and the more you do to it to build power, the more elusive traction gets. Something has to give, right? I don't think anyone should expect more than 1 season from drag radials, and this is just the drag radials driven on the track only. The question is, how much racing will you do?

martyo
08-21-2006, 04:04 AM
I think my switch to Mickey's was one of the best upgrades to my car and I am making plenty of power.

Marauderman
08-21-2006, 08:18 AM
Marauderman --

The mustangtuning.com 2005+ Bullitt Deep Dish 18x10 wheels are indeed a good fit. Shock clearance is close to an inch. The wheel does stick out alittle, but only an inch or so at the rear - not bad. Big plus is the 10" inch width which fits the 305s great. Plus they are a really good looking wheel.

Glenn
Thanks alot my friend--that seems to have solved my problem---now it seems I will have an extra set of OEM wheels to sell.....

MarauderTJA
08-21-2006, 05:38 PM
I think my switch to Mickey's was one of the best upgrades to my car and I am making plenty of power.

Marty, what size MT tires / wheels are you using?

fast Ed
08-22-2006, 07:17 AM
M&H now has some 28" tall drag radials, but not in 18" rim diameter ... only 15", 16", and 17".

http://www.mandhtires.com/store.php?crn=70&action=show&show_products_mode=cat_click


cheers
Ed N.