Drag radials

[kelseysautobody]

With our cars getting close to and some exceeding 500whp the need for drag radials is here. I'd like to start a thread to share experiences and get some info on options out there. I only go to the dragstrip a few times a year and it's a 3 hour drive each way. As my car has got faster, getting a consistent fast launch has become much more difficult, somewhat taking away the enjoyment of going. Not that I don't like a challenge but for the most part I've maxed my car out and I'd be lucky to get .1 faster with the stars aligning on street tires. Going with drag radials at the track seems like my next logical step for ET's and my overall enjoyment.

I recently found out my old set of 17x8 ET35 OZ Ultraleggera's clear the stock brakes. With the wheels weighing 17.2 lbs and 245/45R17 DR's weighing 21-24lbs I'll be under or near 40lbs per corner. That's around 15lb savings over my stock Peeler/Goodyear set up! That alone should be good for some ET improvement but I'll definitely end up doing some same day testing in the Spring when the track opens back up and I make a purchase.

I'll list all the options I can find here but I think I've narrowed my choice down to the Hoosier DR2's or the Nitto NT555R's. The Nitto's have a strong price point but the Hoosiers are very popular with the RS3 crowd. My main concern is getting enough heat into the the tires before runs. I've always gone around the water box and I actually don't think I've ever seen an AWD car, even with slicks, go through it at New England Dragway. I'm sure conditions play a factor but will not doing a burnout hurt traction that much?

Below are all the dedicated drag radials I could find in sizes that would definitely work for our cars. There are some 275/40R17 DR's available but that might be overkill and possibly not clear. Only some 17" wheels will clear stock brakes so keep that in mind as well. Big brake people needing 19's might not have any options without massive spacers. Other dedicated track tires I bet would work nicely at the strip so if you have experience with those it'd be good to hear about it.

245/45R17

Tire	Hoosier DR2	Nitto NT555R	M&H DR	MT ET Street R
Tread Width	9.2"	unk	9"	7.9"
Section Width	10.0"	9.69"	9.3"	9.6"
Height/Diameter	26.0"	25.7"	26"	25.7"
Weight	21lbs	23.52lbs	24.58lbs	24lbs

245/40R18

Tire	Hoosier DR2	Nitto NT555R N/A	M&H DR	MT ET Street R N/A
Tread Width	8.8"	NA	9"	NA
Section Width	10.3"	NA	9.6"	NA
Height/Diameter	26.0"	NA	26"	NA
Weight	21lbs	NA	24.3lbs	NA

[Loe]

stickied, this is great information

[UkuRiSh]

I love my set 245/40/18

[hjaaamjb6]

I have 245/40/18 M&H Racemasters. Haven't been able to test them in warm weather. Otherwise, definitely an improvement, but still spin fairly easy in this cold weather

IMG_0850.jpg

[kelseysautobody]

I love my set 245/40/18

Are those DR2’s or A7’s?

[UkuRiSh]

Are those DR2’s or A7’s?

DR2 ! Btw this set is for sale

[vpls4]

that's pretty bad 4$$ looking Oleg!

this is the first time i've actually seen a pic of your whole car discounting avatar pic as too small

[kelseysautobody]

Just a heads up Jegs has Hoosiers on sale right now in 245/45R17... Ordered my set!

https://www.jegs.com/i/Hoosier/522/17328/10002/-1

[GandalfTheIbis]

The neuspeed sale just ended and the Hoosier sale starts. Somebody has been watching us.

Edit: Oh boo, I was hoping for DR2s but I didn't see them. I need to wrap some 18s

[evil35r]

What wheel offset for drag radials 18x8 wheel? +35 or +45...

[GandalfTheIbis]

I bought 18x9 et 40, but I think either option you listed would work fine. I'd probably prefer 35 but it's just appearance. Both should fit with a 245/40r18 if that's the profile you're going with.

[hjaaamjb6]

either or will fit. Im running et40 with the same size slicks.. and with 13/15mm spacers. Im on air but even without air i think id have zero rub

[Phil.Lmbrt]

Anyone knows what 18 inch wheel spec would clear the Q5/Macan calipers?

[evil35r]

Has anyone tried running zestino tires? How do they work vs DR2’s

[GandalfTheIbis]

Anyone knows what 18 inch wheel spec would clear the Q5/Macan calipers?

It depends on a combo of spoke design and offset. The caliper would be in danger of hitting the back of the spoke with more conservative offsets, and that offset wouldn't be the same across wheels with different spoke designs. Generally, you'd be fine with offerings from motorsport companies like enkei, bbs, neuspeed, etc.

[kelseysautobody]

I got the DR2’s mounted and test fitted on both cars today. The weight savings alone should be good for some ET improvement.

[Stopsign32v]

This could be a dumb question but drag radials need to be heated up. How are you guys managing that?

[kelseysautobody]

This could be a dumb question but drag radials need to be heated up. How are you guys managing that?

I was wondering the same thing but after a little research it isn't as much of a concern with AWD. Things like tire pressure and your launch method are going to be more important than maybe 30* difference in tire temps. Even if you go through the water box and are able to do a AWD burnout you're not going to get THAT much heat in them due to the short duration of the tire spin. Unless it is below freezing and the tires are hard as a rock you'll have more traction than street tires. I'll probably skip the water box at first unless the tires pick up a ton of debris in the staging lanes.

[wrxkyle]

are 245's really enough? even street tires 255 or 265 seem to fit granted lower profile. or is this just to stick with stock rims? what are the top drag time guys running tire width/type? i'm bbk but can fit 18's ("small" forge bbk) looking for a cost effective drag/street drag setup.

[SeniorCypress80]

Iv been bargain shopping for drag/ auto x setup and came up with these, Hoosier R6 255/35/18 going on VMR 810 18x9.5 et42. Rims weigh 21lbs vs stock peelers 28 ish if I remember right.

Not the ideal tire for either but we will see how they do.

IMG_1798.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine

[wrxkyle]

would enkei rpf1 18x8.5 et35 be a good rim fitment wise? still learning about pcd's. would want to run a 265/40/18 tire if possible for the strip.

[Fr3nchy524]

Anybody running drag radials on 19s?

Looking at 245/35/19 Toyo r888r

[Albertaholdings]

Anybody running drag radials on 19s?

Looking at 245/35/19 Toyo r888r

I'm confused. Are you trying to say r888r are drag radials?

[tpivette89]

Anybody running drag radials on 19s?

Looking at 245/35/19 Toyo r888r

Those aren't a drag radial... they're more like an autocross/road race tire. I am running 265/35/19 R888Rs on the stock S4 wheels. Will tell you how they perform in 2 weeks when Cecil County dragway opens (weather permitting).

I can tell you this... they make the car look pretty awesome with their slightly wider profile and aggressive tread pattern. They are pretty sticky, also... my neighborhood is under construction and these tires pick up all kinds of dirt/rocks and throw them all around the wheel wells.

[Fr3nchy524]

I'm confused. Are you trying to say r888r are drag radials?

Originally asking if anyone is on 19s with drag radials. I misspoke saying r888r are drag radials.

Being that 19s are kinda difficult to find sizes for. The only tires I can currently find That are stickier then street tires are r888r. So just seeing on that since most people were posting 18s and 17s.

- - - Updated - - -

Those aren't a drag radial... they're more like an autocross/road race tire. I am running 265/35/19 R888Rs on the stock S4 wheels. Will tell you how they perform in 2 weeks when Cecil County dragway opens (weather permitting).

I can tell you this... they make the car look pretty awesome with their slightly wider profile and aggressive tread pattern. They are pretty sticky, also... my neighborhood is under construction and these tires pick up all kinds of dirt/rocks and throw them all around the wheel wells.

Hope to see some good data from this! I just picked up a set of 19 inch s3 wheels. So looking for stickier tires in the future to put on them.

[Albertaholdings]

Originally asking if anyone is on 19s with drag radials. I misspoke saying r888r are drag radials.

Being that 19s are kinda difficult to find sizes for. The only tires I can currently find That are stickier then street tires are r888r. So just seeing on that since most people were posting 18s and 17s.

- - - Updated - - -



Hope to see some good data from this! I just picked up a set of 19 inch s3 wheels. So looking for stickier tires in the future to put on them.

I run 245/45/17r NT01. I want to switch to DR2.

[tpivette89]

Hope to see some good data from this! I just picked up a set of 19 inch s3 wheels. So looking for stickier tires in the future to put on them.

Just got back from the track, and had very good results with the Toyo R888R’s (265/35R19). Previous best 60ft was a 1.69, and after mounting the Toyos, I went 1.55! This was on a conservative launch of 2500rpm. May not be apple to apples, as I went to E40 and the accompanying 034 tune after swapping tires (previously was on an APR 93 octane tune).

Looking to go back next weekend and up the launch rpm a little and see if I can do even better, but so far I’m very pleased with the outcome.