I am going to the drag races pretty soon and I want to run a drag slick or something with good traction in the back. I have been looking at 15x8 Weld Draglites with a 5.5 backspacing and running Mickey Thompson ET Streets with those. Is 5.5 the right backspacing for a 2002 mustang gt, and what size tire should i run with that rim?

 

What mods do you have? If you've got your basic bolt-ons and maybe a N2o setup....your more than likely going to break something running on an ET street. you'de be better off on a BFG or Nitto drag radial tire, they will bite good.

 

Well, I have BBK 75mm TB/Plenum, K&N FIPK2, Flowmaster Catback, 4.10's, and before the races, I will be getting Full Length Headers and an offroad H-pipe, an SCT XCAL2, and I'm getting the Venom 1000 nitrous kit. Oh and I have a auto tranny!! Will Nitto's or BFG's be good enough to grab?

 

Considering most of the 17's have 6 plus inches of backspace, you should be ok if you keep your tire diameter to 26 inches. A Mickey Thompson Sportsman Pro 26-10.5 (about 8" of tread) would be good, or a 275 50R 15 DR.
If you HAVE to have a no kidding slick, use a 26X8 or 9 (10inch slicks need A LOT of motor) and start with about 25psi, run, drop some psi, compare 60 ft times and repeat until short times start going up again. Don't be suprised if you run 15-19 psi in gummy slicks.
Another thing with slicks, NHRA rules require a drive shaft loop, so does common sense. Happy motoring.

 

With the mods you have, i'de just go with a BFG drag radial, I'm on them and they hook great right off the line with spray! all you will need to do is run them at about 10-14 psi..yea they will look flat but will hook, and do a scuff through in the water...then do nice burnout just out of the water. Trust me you wont be disappointed by the BFG's.

 

You won't break anything off the line with an automatic and a stock convertor.
Don't waste your time on any drag radial other than MT's.
5.5 is the correct backspacing. I run 15 x 8.5 Weld draglites and a 275/50/15 tire.

 

OK, that sounds good to me! What are you running in the front? And which MT do you run, the ET Street Radial?