Finally ..The 18" NITTO Drag Radial is on it's way!

[vstella]

Well I just got off the phone with Nitto Tire North America Corporate in California.Asked them when we can expect the new 18" DR for the C5..and they said.....Expect the production to start next month for distribution by summer(Late May- June ) They told me that discount tire will get the first of production so watch their web site for more information. I'm thinking maybe we can get a GP going to save on the cost since disount tire is a CF vendor..no pricing as yet. This great news!! :hurray: :hurray: Finally a DR that you can run every day.. :yesnod: I'm told there will be a stock size 275x40x18 and one larger sizeavailable....perhaps a 305x35x18...Sounds like they listend to all the e-mails!:D

[Beer:30]

BFGs are here.
295/35/18
:hurray: :hurray:

[jeffsc5]

I was looking on Discount Tire Direct and found Nitto NT 555R Drag Radial in 18's. http://www.discounttiredirect.com/di...=sizes&index=0 Are these the ones you called about? If so, they're early and I'm going shopping. :D :hurray:
Next question...will the 305/45R-18 fit on my stock rear rim :confused:


[Modified by jeffsc5, 4:30 PM 4/15/2003]

[Yano]

vstella

Why do you like the NITTO over the BFG drag radial?

[Beer:30]

Oh, I'm jealous! :eek:

Please keep us posted on the performance for everyday street driving. I've heard that they aren't as good for cornering. Please advise! :cheers:

I will let you all know about the performance. I will get video.
I will only drive them on the track. These are not street tires IMO.
I may drive them around the block once. We will see.
I built my car to handle as well as be quick.
The extra few tenths I am going to pick up on the strip do not justify the losses in handling on the street.

[Evan70]

I've used the Nittos several times in the past and here are my views:

The Nitto DRs are actually a very good street tire as well as a decent drag radial. They may not offer the ultimate grip level of a BFG DR or a cheater or true slick, but you can put them on and use them for daily driver use and drag strip use. They also handle good enough that I've even used them for roadcourse use with good results. They are made with a fairly stiff sidewall, but with a very sticky tread compound, and are acutally the base for the Nitto road race tire (555R II) that handles just as good as the Kumho Victoracer. The only difference is that the 555R II has a little extra sidewall stiffening. The Nitto DRs are probably not quite up to the handling level of say the Goodyear Supercars, but they probably do equal the handling level of a standard street tire (like Nittos regular Z rated tires), but they have much better traction. So while you'd probably give up a little in cornering versus the stock Supercars, the traction coming out of corners and in a straight line would probably equal it out or make up for it. Also, the tires are very quiet, ride very well, and last pretty good as well. For just street use with the occasional drag stip run you should probably get 10-15K miles out of them. If you use them for roadcourse track time, they will obviously wear out faster but still last pretty well. My last set that I had on the 92 Vette have about 7K miles on them and 3 track days and they still have a tiny amount of tread left. At this point they are excellent race tires, but I wouldn't drive them on the street in the wet. With full tread down to about 2/32nds they actually behave really well even in the rain.

[BobA]

I got my 315s mounted today now I need to know what air pressure to run on street and strip. i'm trying them Sat. at Capital.
Bob :steering: :flag

[Todd@Tires.com]

Yes the 18" Nittos will be mid summer.

BFGs are out and ready to order.

Id experiment at the track starting at 22lbs and working your way down. Street Id say around 32psi

[Yano]

Nice writeup Evan. Glad to hear it from someone who has used the NITTOS not just an opinion.