If I go with Drag Radials on the rear...
 

What kind of tires do I run in front?

Regular street tires, whatever you want. Not DR's.

should i try to match the same brand

If you want to, doesnt matter.

Nitto 555r (DR) has the Nitto 555 which is the street tire. So 555r for the rear and 555 for the front if you want to match. It's also the same tread pattern, but the rear's have the typical DR look.

Would it matter if I ran a cheaper tire in front, such as Sumimoto?

Not at all. It's all up to you if you want them to match or not. If you're comparing 245/45/17's the price difference isn't going to be near as big between tire brands/prices as it will be with 315/35/17s.

Well, I'm getting new wheels for Christmas (17 x 9's in front and 17 x 10.5's in the rear). I am trying to keep cost down so I am going with the BF Goodrich T/A Drag Radial in back and then I guess I'll go with the Sumimotos in front to save some money. I'm going with 275/40/17's in front and 315/35/17 in the back. Total I figured it to be about $490 with the DR's and the Sumis.

I just did a quick search and sumitomo is $99 for the front (275/40/17) and then a BFG G-sport is only $125 for the front. So for another $50, a much better tire IMO. Also at least you would match brands. BFG.

On tirerack.com the Sumi's are only $88 for 275/40/17.

I must of looked at a different model of the Sumi's then, because I saw $99. But like I said, it's up to u.

Thats for the HTR Z's. I would really like to match the tire brands, but it's another $75. Its hard to be able to pay for this all at 17, so I'm just trying to be easy on the wallet.

with drag radials it doenst matter. I have $105 falkens on the front and nitto drags out back.

I guess it really doesnt matter because the rears are really the only thing that matters traction wise. Unless you are road racing the fronts don't matter.

What is the grip like on DR's? How much will it improve 60' ft times and ET's?

depends on the car and driver. Expect to loose (i would hope) atleast .2-.3 tenths even if your a bad driver.

Mine dropped me ruffly .4tenths. Mostly from a better 60' and less spining when i powershifted.

Just remember, as far as tires go you usually get what you pay for.. You buy a cheap tire, expect to replace it...

So, IMHO spend a few more bucks and match the front tires with BFG. The guy I just bought my wheels/tires from bought sumi's and he hates them with a passion (he got 17/9, 17/10.5 bullitts.) But as far as the tires go, he got what he paid for.

Im sure others have had different results with Sumi's, and honestly they don't look all that bad, but I can only go by what he has told me as far as wet weather traction etc..

Discount Tire Direct has these Falken w Rated for 108.00 **Free shipping

Tire Rack has the Kumho 712's for 104.00 zr rated. I have these tires and I love them. Tire rack is gonna charge you to ship them too..

So in all reality ordering from tire-rack you'll still have to pay an extra 40-50bucks..

Don't worry about the tires matching... Noone will really look that close anyways.

I think you get what you pay for to a certian degree, Either way you will be replacing the DRs LONG before you start thinking about the fronts. If your old tires are the same size, keep em... I didn't have to buy fronts for 3 years.

Good choice on the BFG, Personally I think it doesn't get any better unless you go to MT ETs. The BFGs hooked like mad for me.

If it were me, I'd do the cheapies up from, put what your saving in the bank becuase in 4-5 months (depending on how much you drive/go to the track) you're going to need new rears.

Those Falken's that were posted are decent tires. I'd had them on all 4 wheels on my old stang. Not bad, but they're horendous in snow. I mean, BAD, not that they're meant for snow, but yea.

eventer289, what size wheels do you have?

MARC!! you already have tires for the front...they are on your stock GT wheels!! and what wheels are you getting? and i still say you do a bigger rim in the rear! 18x10!!!

and for the fronts if u buy new ones...get mine...BF goodwrench GSports

they are nice and have a great treadlife and still ok traction...i have had mine on for like 4-5k miles and they look new

Gsports are what I'm getting next if I need performace tires.

Why do you want DR's. Do you race? DR's were intended for use for people who needed a DOT tire to drive to the track, race, then return home. Once home...swap tires to a regular street tire. If you don't believe me, ask a Nitto or BFG rep.

Before I had my blower, my car pulled 2.0 60 foot times all night long on my crappy sumi's. There are plenty of guys running DR's that can't get a 2 second 60 foot on a stock Mustang.

I currently run 375 rwhp and still run Sumi's.

I just don't understand the love for DR's. I honestly think they are inferior on the street to a street tire except when the roads are perfect. I am not budget limited on tire purchases, and I still buy Sumi's. I don't feel safe putting my kids in the car with DR's and then getting caught in the rain.

When I lived in PA, I had a friend with them. We were both driving home in the rain from a cruise and he did not feel safe going the speed limit in them. I gave him an old set of Sumi's and he used them. Put the DR's on when going to the track.

My comments will not be popular with most around here, but they are honest.

I will say this, the ONLY thing that would stop me from getting DR's is because of rain. Now If I didnt drive in rain, I dont care about treadwear and other stuff.

Hey, that's fine. At least you understant the limitations. Unfortunately, you live in OH and I would imagine it rains.

I don't even drive me car to work except for every once in a while. I pick the days I use it, and I still don't use DR's.

drag radials are great in the rain when they have tread (just like any other tire) when the tread gets low they suck (just like any other tire). My nittos are better in the rain then my goodyears were. And thats not BS they have better traction and hydroplaned less. They will handle a bit more sloppy because they are made with a much softer sidewall setup for drag racing.

And drag radails used to be setup for only to the track and back (then they came out with DOT approved slicks). now days you can use them all year long. over 2 years here on nothing but nitto drags out back. 60's in the low 1.8 rang. And i drive my car ever day 200 miles a week on average.

I am however going to swap the backs out next time for street tires as i dont race as much as i used too and so its not as economical for me to use them year round.

Here is something interesting, the Nitto is 12.13 inches wide, while the Sumi is 11.5 inches wide for the same tire size. That is a pretty big difference.

Also, the treadwear rating on the Nittos is 100, while the Sumi is 160. Honestly, they both suck for treadwear, but let's face it, if you are looking at 315's you aint worried too much about tread wear.

The actual tread when new on the Sumi's is 50% deeper then the Nitto's. Those Nitto's have tread, but it aint much. They come with 6/32 inches of wear. Where I lived in PA before, 2/32 was the legal limit.

I am ordering 17x9/10.5.

And Wnracing, I ordered my current tires from tire rack and I wasn't charged for any shipping ??? Maybe you have to excede a certain total to receive free shipping.

I just checked it again.. Still charging shipping.. I dunno, you've got all the info you need here, just do what you think is best based on the info you have! Good luck, and :kewlpics: or :banhim: !