Drag radials

[wreckwriter]

I realize some of this has been covered here and elsewhere but I'm hoping to get some solid specific answers all in one place.

I know I'm going to need DR's before too long but a lot of the wheel and tire sizing stuff confuses me (offsets and such). i don't want mixed sizes, 19s on front and 18s rear etc and I don't want to use the DRs for every day driving. I see a few options:

Option 1- trade my stock 19s for a set of stock 18s plus buy 2 more stock 18" rims for DRs. (are the stock 18s wide enough? Maybe not I think)

Option 2- buy aftermarket wheels, 2 for front, 4 for rear. (what sizes will fit without dicking around with fenders and such?)

Money is a factor of course but performance and decent look also factor in, probably higher than cost. Please be specific on sizes that will work etc.

thanks for any tips!

[Chewy]

What about a set of winter tires? Like Blizzaks?

They are soft as hell and wear incredibly fast on the street... I wonder if they would grip better on the track too?

[GeorgeInNePa]

What about a set of winter tires? Like Blizzaks?

They are soft as hell and wear incredibly fast on the street... I wonder if they would grip better on the track too?

I still have the Blizzaks on my Camry. ( it's for sale, stop laughing!) They have crappy warm weather traction. They just wear fast.

[EcoBrick Bob]

How about buying a slick set of wheels that you can use your 19's on the front and have 18' drag radials on the rear... Try ROH or have some custom 2 piece wheels set up for your car. Also try Tire Rack.

Lots of cars have diff. sizes from front to rear, like Corvettes for instance. As long as you are using the same outside diameter, there should be no problem.

RRM

[wreckwriter]

I still feel hinky about putting 18s on back with 19s on front but please give me some specific sizes so I can look further into it. I really know shit about sizing...

[-Ray-]

I still feel hinky about putting 18s on back with 19s on front but please give me some specific sizes so I can look further into it. I really know shit about sizing...

Tom, the key is to stay as close to your nominal tire diameter as you can. There are quite a few tire calculators on the web. You want some sidewall on your DR, so 17 or 18 will give you that. As we know, the 19's have very little side wall.

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

[wreckwriter]

Thanks Ray, i'll check it out.

[EcoBrick Bob]

Wreck,

You can also check tire sizing at TireRack. Start with Bridgestone 245-40-19 RE 050's. If you go to the Spec's area, you will see the diameter, width tread width etc. You can then match up wider tires with same height. For instance, I am planning on getting a new set of wheels that are staggered. The fronts will be 8" or 8.5" wide and rears between 9" & 10". TireRack suggests 275-35-19 rears, but the 285-35-19's are closer in height, so will probably use them ( same tire - diff size) when they go off backorder. You will also need to get Tire Pressure Monitors for your new wheels, unless you remove them from your present ones. Wheel weight is also important. If you get a wheel and tire package from them, they road force balance the combos for free.

As for 18's, my guess is that the drag radials would be from 275-305 width, and have a 40 sidewall height, though have never sized them. Would think you could adjust your rear gearing by changing the height size. If you want to stay in 3rd gear thru quarter mile, you will have to make them taller if your rpm goes over 6400. Charlie or others can probably give you the right size info.

This brings me to what will happen with GXP, with higher gears,it will likely have to shift into 4th unless it's rev limiter is nearly 7000, which could hurt it's times.


Rob

[-Ray-]

245 40 19

[wreckwriter]

For some reason this stuff makes me feel pretty dumb