[396ssrat]

There are different diameter tires for most any wheel.

[detltu]

Originally Posted by newmoon

Listen track selection and prep are not really going to help you much unless they spray superglue for the entire 60' area. You are trying to launch a 650/650 manual car with street tires. If you want to go faster invest in a pair of DRs and stop playing with these street tires and blaming track prep and condition for poor times. $500.00 will get you all the hook you can handle.

I'm in the same boat as OP. Not as much interested in going faster as getting better. After taking the car to the track I can see why people switch to DRs quickly. It just doesn't make sense for me as drag racing is such a small part of what i do with my car. Rather have another set of track tires/wheels than slicks.

[cwebster]

Originally Posted by newmoon

Listen track selection and prep are not really going to help you much unless they spray superglue for the entire 60' area. You are trying to launch a 650/650 manual car with street tires. If you want to go faster invest in a pair of DRs and stop playing with these street tires and blaming track prep and condition for poor times. $500.00 will get you all the hook you can handle.

Originally Posted by 396ssrat

This^^^^^^^^^

Originally Posted by 396ssrat

Unnecessarily boiling the tread off of an expensive set of "street tires" makes no sense at all.

No, not this^^^^^^^^^

Originally Posted by Sven59

I believe he wants to set the best time possible completely stock and go from there. It makes sense, good to have a baseline.

Originally Posted by Sven59

To you, each to there own.

This^^^^^^^^^

Originally Posted by big dave

As was said already, to each their own. OP can do whatever he wants with his car. I would be doing the same thing...trying for best possible times while remaining stock. And yes, track prep does make a difference.

And definitely this^^^^^^^^^

Originally Posted by Can'tHave2MuchHP

Buy an extra set of cost effective wheels and put a drag radial on it. Don't have to go crazy like a 17" and a bias ply, but maybe like an 18 or 20" even with a NT05R would let you get into the 10.9s/11.0s once you get used to them. Or you can take the Goodyears off of your OEM wheels and put a 315/35/20 Nitto 555R or NT05R on it. Doesn't allow you to switch back as easily as a second set but it'll save some coin.

That sounds like a reasonable option. And you managed to present it without coming across as an unreasonable, inconsiderate Hot-Head.

Originally Posted by 396ssrat

Nope.
I can't imagine a street tire on my Chevelle. It just wouldn't be much fun for me but as has been stated, "to each their own". I'd rather make use of the power rather than to just waste it. It bugs me when I spin the tires.

396ssrat: I can see where it would be a waste of time and money for you. You are drag strip focused and you appear to be very good at it. I, on the other hand, am interested in both drag racing and road course tracks. I want to explore both right now.

zl1_tommy: I don't think I've seen these burnout videos. Could you point me to where I might find them?

Originally Posted by Can'tHave2MuchHP

Psych, post number 707 and we're talking about drag radials.

Still on-topic, though. Very relevant to "6th Gen ZL1 1/4 mile".


I've been around for quite a while and I've learned to have some patience with people who believe their way is the only way. I think that deep-down most of us are trying to help each other. Even those who don't appear to be interested in considering other options or opinions feel like they're helping. Sometimes it just takes time for people to realize that choosing your words carefully can mean the difference between getting your point across or making others want to avoid you.

I love a spirited discussion so I'm happy to entertain all ideas - yes, even belligerent ones; so long as were are being respectful to each other. I won't be goaded into a flame war by abrasive comments. If people insist on being insulting, I'll simply ignore those comments.

Thanks for all the feedback and opinions so far. It has been a great help to me and sure to be valuable to future drivers searching for answers.

Enthusiastically,

--Cal Webster

[cwebster]

Originally Posted by 396ssrat

There are different diameter tires for most any wheel.

I'm sure there are, which is why I asked the specific questions:

Is there a Nitto tire that would be a good fit? Why would it be better than, say, a similar Pirelli tire?

It seems you are trying to answer this question by implying that I should just look for a tire matching the stock size and specs. Is that right? Is that all I need to consider?

What's considered the best DR for the 6th Gen ZL1?

What DR gives you the most bang for the buck?

No one has yet come forward with answers to these.

--Cal

[17CamaroZL1]

Originally Posted by cwebster

No, not this^^^^^^^^^




This^^^^^^^^^



And definitely this^^^^^^^^^



That sounds like a reasonable option. And you managed to present it without coming across as an unreasonable, inconsiderate Hot-Head.



396ssrat: I can see where it would be a waste of time and money for you. You are drag strip focused and you appear to be very good at it. I, on the other hand, am interested in both drag racing and road course tracks. I want to explore both right now.

zl1_tommy: I don't think I've seen these burnout videos. Could you point me to where I might find them?




Still on-topic, though. Very relevant to "6th Gen ZL1 1/4 mile".


I've been around for quite a while and I've learned to have some patience with people who believe their way is the only way. I think that deep-down most of us are trying to help each other. Even those who don't appear to be interested in considering other options or opinions feel like they're helping. Sometimes it just takes time for people to realize that choosing your words carefully can mean the difference between getting your point across or making others want to avoid you.

I love a spirited discussion so I'm happy to entertain all ideas - yes, even belligerent ones; so long as were are being respectful to each other. I won't be goaded into a flame war by abrasive comments. If people insist on being insulting, I'll simply ignore those comments.

Thanks for all the feedback and opinions so far. It has been a great help to me and sure to be valuable to future drivers searching for answers.

Enthusiastically,

--Cal Webster

Well said. I tend to agree on all counts.

You can find Tommy's videos posted on this forum and on youtube under his same name. ZL1 Tommy. Here's one to get you started.

[cwebster]

Originally Posted by detltu

I'm in the same boat as OP. Not as much interested in going faster as getting better. After taking the car to the track I can see why people switch to DRs quickly. It just doesn't make sense for me as drag racing is such a small part of what i do with my car. Rather have another set of track tires/wheels than slicks.

Thanks for joining in. I hear ya! I have the itch to race too. I've always been drawn to road racing as it seems more of a challenge for me, using all my senses and reflexes to negotiate constantly changing turns and track conditions.

At this point I am determined to see what this car is actually capable of doing on the drag strip and road tracks, bone stock. Right now my focus is on the drag strip because there are no road courses open and the drag strips are nearer and relatively less costly.

--Cal

[17CamaroZL1]

Originally Posted by cwebster

I did take a look but I'm sure these won't work for the ZL1. For one thing, they'll only fit 18" rims. Secondly, they're wider than stock tires by 10mm. Also worth considering is the vast difference in overall wheel height. The Nitto tire on its 18" rim would be a full 5" shorter with the low profile sidewall than the stock ZL1 wheels. With the close tollerances in the wheel wells, that makes it a virtual certainty that something will rub. Then there's the speed rating (W on the Nitto tires and Y on the Goodyear). Granted, for drag strip purposes this isn't likely to come into play.

Since the Demon is designed exclusively for the drag strip that puts in a different niche than the ZL1, whose focus is road courses but claims to be equally comfortable at the drag strip. If I were to exclusively drive my car at drag strips, something similar to this tire may be an option. However, I want to mainly drive road courses. Right now drag strips are the only things open and are much closer and cheaper so I'm taking advantage of that for now. Still, I am curious about options...

Stock Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3 - Extreme Performance Summer

  305/30ZR20 (99Y)
- --- ------  ---
|  |  |  ||   | |
|  |  |  ||   | +-[Speed Rating: Y=186 MPH (highest rating)]
|  |  |  ||   +---[Load Index: 99=1709 lbs
|  |  |  |+-------[Wheel Diameter (Rims) inches: size rim designed for - 20"]
|  |  |  +--------[Construction: R=Radial 
|  |  +-----------[Aspect Ratio: sidewall height to tread width - 65% of 305mm = 198.25mm]
|  +--------------[Width: tread width in mm - 305mm]
+-----------------[Type: P=Passenger LT=Light Truck]

“Demon-branded” 315/40R18 Nitto NT05R tires

  315/40R18 102W
- --- ------  ---
|  |  | | |   | |
|  |  | | |   | +-[Speed Rating: W=168 MPH (2nd highest rating)]
|  |  | | |   +---[Load Index: 102=1874 lbs
|  |  | | +-------[Wheel Diameter (Rims) inches: size rim designed for - 18"]
|  |  | +---------[Construction: R=Radial
|  |  +-----------[Aspect Ratio: sidewall height to tread width - 40% of 315mm = 126mm]
|  +--------------[Width: tread width in mm - 315mm]
+-----------------[Type: P=Passenger LT=Light Truck]

If I were to buy a set of Drag Radials, I'd certainly like to know the best zero-mod options for the 6th Gen ZL1, based on known clearance limitations.

Is there a Nitto tire that would be a good fit? Why would it be better than, say, a similar Pirelli tire?

What's considered the best DR for the 6th Gen ZL1?

What DR gives you the most bang for the buck?

--Cal

Just wanted to make a few corrections for you. The width is not the actual tread width, it's the widest part of the tire, usually close to the middle of the sidewall. Tread width can actually vary quite a bit from brand to brand and model to model even though they both have the same section width.

Then on the stock tire, the aspect ratio should be 30 instead of 65%, which equates to a 91.5 mm sidewall height. This gives you a 27.2" tire diameter on the 20" wheels, compared to the Demon's 27.9" on the 18" wheel. Not sure if the Demon tire would fit or not. Might be better off with a 315/35/18 which would be a 1/2" shorter at 26.7", or a closer to stock height 325/35/18 which is 27.0" if it's not too wide. The Demon size should give slightly better traction if it would fit, but it would be raising your "gear". The shorter tires would be like gearing down, which is usually better at the strip as long as it will hook and not cause you to shift an extra time. Best results should come from nearly maxing out 4th gear across the finish line.

Of course, this is only if you were considering the option of buying a spare set of 18" wheels for the strip and keeping the stock tires and wheels for street and track, which is something I'm thinking about doing.

[cwebster]

Originally Posted by 17CamaroZL1

Well said. I tend to agree on all counts.

You can find Tommy's videos posted on this forum and on youtube under his same name. ZL1 Tommy. Here's one to get you started.

Thanks! That video is awesome! Turns out I'm already subscribed to his channel. I was entertained by some of his other videos. I just haven't been looking there for answers.

--Cal

[cwebster]

Originally Posted by 17CamaroZL1

Just wanted to make a few corrections for you. The width is not the actual tread width, it's the widest part of the tire, usually close to the middle of the sidewall. Tread width can actually vary quite a bit from brand to brand and model to model even though they both have the same section width.

Then on the stock tire, the aspect ratio should be 30 instead of 65%, which equates to a 91.5 mm sidewall height. This gives you a 27.2" tire diameter on the 20" wheels, compared to the Demon's 27.9" on the 18" wheel. Not sure if the Demon tire would fit or not. Might be better off with a 315/35/18 which would be a 1/2" shorter at 26.7", or a closer to stock height 325/35/18 which is 27.0" if it's not too wide. The Demon size should give slightly better traction if it would fit, but it would be raising your "gear". The shorter tires would be like gearing down, which is usually better at the strip as long as it will hook and not cause you to shift an extra time. Best results should come from nearly maxing out 4th gear across the finish line.

Oh, thanks for the correction. It wasn't clear to me in the descriptions of terms in the below reference where the width was measured. To me the tread width seemed the most likely.

I goofed on the aspect ratio calculation. Based on the ZL1 tire spec [305/30ZR20]. I should have I multiplied 30% (0.30)times the tire width. I think I just forgot to change the numbers in the example.

Goodyear Tire Basics:

Aspect Ratio is the ratio of the height of the tire's cross-section to its width. The two-digit number after the slash mark in a tire size is the aspect ratio. For example, in a size P215/65 R15 tire, the 65 means that the height is equal to 65% of the tire's width. The bigger the aspect ratio, the bigger the tire's sidewall will be.

--Cal

[17CamaroZL1]

Originally Posted by cwebster

What's considered the best DR for the 6th Gen ZL1?

What DR gives you the most bang for the buck?

--Cal

I can't really say what might work best for our cars since I'm still waiting on mine, but my dad has a M6 2011 Mustang that pushes around 650 hp and 600 lb/ft to the tires, and he's tried several different tire setups trying to get into the 9s. He currently has Mickey Thompson ET Streets on it and they've done the best so far. I know he's tried a Nitto DR, not sure what model, and don't remember the others. Of course I could find out if you're interested how he would rank them for his car.

[396ssrat]

Originally Posted by 17CamaroZL1

Just wanted to make a few corrections for you. The width is not the actual tread width, it's the widest part of the tire, usually close to the middle of the sidewall. Tread width can actually vary quite a bit from brand to brand and model to model even though they both have the same section width.

Then on the stock tire, the aspect ratio should be 30 instead of 65%, which equates to a 91.5 mm sidewall height. This gives you a 27.2" tire diameter on the 20" wheels, compared to the Demon's 27.9" on the 18" wheel. Not sure if the Demon tire would fit or not. Might be better off with a 315/35/18 which would be a 1/2" shorter at 26.7", or a closer to stock height 325/35/18 which is 27.0" if it's not too wide. The Demon size should give slightly better traction if it would fit, but it would be raising your "gear". The shorter tires would be like gearing down, which is usually better at the strip as long as it will hook and not cause you to shift an extra time. Best results should come from nearly maxing out 4th gear across the finish line.

Of course, this is only if you were considering the option of buying a spare set of 18" wheels for the strip and keeping the stock tires and wheels for street and track, which is something I'm thinking about doing.

Were I to ever purchase the ZL1 I'd own two sets of tires, one for drag racing and one for road course type stuff. I've seen waaaay too many with their newer high performnce cars crunched into the K rails because they didn't have correct tires. It happens all too often and very quickly when it does. It ain't pretty either. If anyone thinks I'm being mean spirited or condescending you'd be incorrect. Stock type tires are a drag strip aren't your friend and you won't get any true idea of how quick your stock car is. Of course, if you are driving a 200 hp vehicle that likely doesn't apply.

[laynlo15]

I would run a Hoosier Slick with a Manual. You'll find it much easier to launch and breaks less parts. You just can drive them to the track which will be a problem for some. I chose to trailer mine since I've already learned a lesson with M6's and independent rear suspensions. It hurts your wallet, a lot.

[cwebster]

Originally Posted by 17CamaroZL1

Not sure if the Demon tire would fit or not. Might be better off with a 315/35/18 which would be a 1/2" shorter at 26.7", or a closer to stock height 325/35/18 which is 27.0" if it's not too wide. The Demon size should give slightly better traction if it would fit, but it would be raising your "gear". The shorter tires would be like gearing down, which is usually better at the strip as long as it will hook and not cause you to shift an extra time. Best results should come from nearly maxing out 4th gear across the finish line.

Of course, this is only if you were considering the option of buying a spare set of 18" wheels for the strip and keeping the stock tires and wheels for street and track, which is something I'm thinking about doing.

I have actually been considering buying a complete spare set of wheels for the road course tracks. If I'm going to be drag racing too, it might be an option to just get 2 18" rims with DRs and save the stock wheels for road and road courses. The front tires don't wear as fast as the rears except at road tracks, so it might be the way to go.

Is there likely to be clearance issues with the shorter rims? I think I remember reading about others having to "notch" suspension components on their cars. I definitely don't want to do that.

When I think I've gone as far as I can go on stock rubber I'll decide which way to go with the wheels. Thanks for suggesting another option.

--Cal

[cwebster]

Originally Posted by 17CamaroZL1

I can't really say what might work best for our cars since I'm still waiting on mine, but my dad has a M6 2011 Mustang that pushes around 650 hp and 600 lb/ft to the tires, and he's tried several different tire setups trying to get into the 9s. He currently has Mickey Thompson ET Streets on it and they've done the best so far. I know he's tried a Nitto DR, not sure what model, and don't remember the others. Of course I could find out if you're interested how he would rank them for his car.

Don't go through too much trouble but I am interested to know which tires and rims would work best and what the trade-offs are with cheaper alternatives.

Thanks!

--Cal