I am signed up for the mile next week and I am trying to figure out what tires and wheels to use. I am currently AWD and have a tiptronic with a high stall torque converter set to ~3200 RPM. I have never tried RWD on this car. I have alpha 28's putting out ~600 to 650 AWD torque at 3500 RPM.

I am currently rolling on stock turbo twists (not hollows) with Pzeros that have plenty of tread, but are very old. I have only tried launched the car (since having the high stall converter) installed with these tires. I just sit in place when launching at 3,000 RPM. These tires will not work and are not safe for the mile.

I have a pair of Nitto 555R 305/35/18 that BHT gladly sold me, but there is simply no matching front tires that can properly run AWD (within rolling diameter constraints...closest is like 5-6% off). I can convert to RWD and use these tires, but I am concerned about my launch without AWD. I am not sure if the stickiness of these nittos will offset the benefits to launching in AWD.

I also have a set of HRE C20 (currently for sale) with toyo r888s (235/40ZR18 91Y and 295/30ZR18 98Y. I planned on selling the HREs because the R888 are more a road/track car (and I need the $), and I need straight line. The r888 are just about brand new, so i would hate to waste all the tread on a drag race.

1) convert to RWD and use nittos for my rears
2) stay AWD and use HREs
3) find another set of tires/wheels with drag radials ASAP seeing that the mile is just a few days away (I would find a set of hollow twists and just get the right drag tires for an AWD car)
4) any other ideas?

Any help is appreciated. Thank you!

 

Its probably too late to convert car to RWD. This requires alot more than just taking off front diff. The car would also need new coilovers and a GT-2 spec alignment to be safe even on the street much less at the mile. Check the sizes on your R888s. I hope the fronts are 225s to match rotation of the rear 295s. Check Toyo site to make sure the circumferences are close. Assuming they are, I would run the C20s and the R888s. You will barely use any tread off of them with a few AWD mile runs. The C20s are much lighter than solid twists and that will also help. The R888 is a Y rated tire that can take terminal speeds at the mile with ease. I have run R888s my last 2 times and plan to run them again this time (the same set as last time too and the car is a DD).

See you there!

 

thank you for the response. I am looking forward to meeting you at the mile as well.

My toyo (not nitto, apologies) r888 are 235/40ZR18 91Y and the rears are 295/30ZR18 98Y. The fronts are 25.5" and the rears are 25.1"

I wish the rears were taller than front because they will wear much faster.

 

it says I need a fire extinguisher...I don't have one. Is this something that I can borrow from someone else while I am up there, or is that something that needs to be more a permanent install?

 

Easy and cheap to get at most autoparts stores. Has to be securely mounted in car where you can reach it. I just zip tied mine to the base of my seat and it passes tech every time.

 

You also need an approved helmet and driving gloves.


If you think the car will go faster than 190 you will need a crap load of additional equipment!!

 

man, I am not prepared. No race suit, no harnesses, no hotel, no helmet. I am on a plane back from Paris in 5 hours and need to get it figured out.

I have a running car with a roll cage, but stock seats so harnesses are not possible....****

I doubt I will go over 190 though. Is it like a drag strip, where if I do one run at 190+, everything will be required if I want to run again? I wonder if I have everything else and use 4 pt harnesses....

 

Best of luck on the Texas mike Ben. I'm sure you'll have lots of fun.

 

Dont sweat it too much Ben. Yes, if you run over 190 they will make you stop. They claim that they can fine you and not publish your runs in the results. I ran over time before last and they just asked me to get future runs below 190. If you happen to run over just be polite and apologetic. Make the point you have never run the car before and had no idea it was so fast! You are unlikely to draw any additional fine or nonpublishing of your results if you take that approach. Then go and brag to everybody!!

As far as the hotel, since you are in Houston, I would just drive down on the day that was most convienient and then drive back. You can get enough runs in one day to pretty well abuse the car and get a definite idea of what she can do. You could also look for a fellow racer to bunk in with of course...

 

Thanks for the info!

I agree...its not like my racing team is there to make on the fly changes

A few runs and I should be set. I am sticking with my alpha 28's because if I move to 30's I would have to change a lot (intake, i/c etc..) so I doubt I will be getting past 190 anyway.

Also, I am still very new to the high stall torque converter.