difference between 18" and 20" drag radials? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Denis · 11-06-2013, 08:56 AM

so i know the obvious differences...less weight, and more sidewall on the 18's. but how much does that really affect your ET and MPH? i mean from the guys that have switched from one to the other, did you notice a big difference? from what i remember the generic formula says that every 100 lbs you loose is a 10th off your ET...but if you're only saving 10lbs or so is it even noticable?
and i get that its unsprung weight so the weigh loss will be more noticable as opposed to just pulling 10 lbs out of say the interior or wherever.

so long story short, is it really worth the extra cash to go from DR's on the oem 20's to 18's? in reality, how much could i gain from it?

Rhino79 · 11-06-2013, 09:11 AM

Only benefit I see is having more sidewall for the tire to work. Weight from the 20's to 18s isn't going to make a noticeable difference on a drag radial I don't think.

Denis · 11-06-2013, 09:12 AM

so if im not having trouble hooking then its really not worth it?

Camarojt · 11-06-2013, 09:49 AM

Once you start adding more power, the hooking part will get more difficult and the extra sidewall will benefit on the 18" vs the 20" but it's not going to be a huge difference between them. Just a slight advantage to the 18".

Pro Stock John · 11-06-2013, 11:57 AM

I hooked on 20" 555R's until I did the converter, and then it was a struggle for me. I went 12.37@112 1.85 -488 DA air, I think I could have gone 12.2 with skinnies or other weight reduction. I went to 18" NT05R's then, still struggling with traction (or marginal tracks really), been 1.66-1.73's.

Denis · 11-06-2013, 12:26 PM

yea the 20" 555R's are hooking right now for sure. so im trying to see if theres a reason to change down to 18's next season.

Camarojt · 11-06-2013, 12:54 PM

Like John experienced, if you go with a stall converter, it becomes a little harder to hook. But when you do hook....HANG ON! Converter is by far my favorite mod.

Assuming you have tires to hold it. Otherwise it's frustrating as hell.

Denis · 11-06-2013, 04:23 PM

Well that might do it right here. I plan on doing a stall this winter.

Denis · 07-15-2014, 10:30 AM

Well I'm gonna revive this thread. Got some 18" Z06 replicas and some 305's for em. We'll see if they make a difference.

thahemp · 07-15-2014, 10:57 AM

Good choice! I never had any 20" drag radials, but just being able to take them off and save the rubber when I'm not using them is worth having an extra set of wheels around. And if you're gonna buy drag wheels... why buy 20s.

Towlie · 07-15-2014, 11:00 AM

That actually looks very nice to me. Let us know how they hook up as I would like to do this at the same time as my stall. Enjoy

Denis · 07-15-2014, 11:42 AM

oh im sure they'll hook up. i was hooking just fine with the 275 20" radials, these new 305 18" radials should only do a better job. plus the more meaty look is pretty awesome haha.

Denis · 07-15-2014, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thahemp

Good choice! I never had any 20" drag radials, but just being able to take them off and save the rubber when I'm not using them is worth having an extra set of wheels around. And if you're gonna buy drag wheels... why buy 20s.

exactly my rational. i dont want to drive on drag radials all the time and eat up the tread. now i have a dedicated track tire and can swap em out as needed.

mrvenicess · 07-15-2014, 12:10 PM

I have a similar setup but run 305/45 18 Mickey Thompsons on my ZL1 that has a Yank torque converter. 1.50 60 fts.

11-06-2013, 08:56 AM	#1
Denis Drives: 2010 SS Join Date: May 2012 Location: Yorktown Heights, NY Posts: 7,695 View My Garage	difference between 18" and 20" drag radials? so i know the obvious differences...less weight, and more sidewall on the 18's. but how much does that really affect your ET and MPH? i mean from the guys that have switched from one to the other, did you notice a big difference? from what i remember the generic formula says that every 100 lbs you loose is a 10th off your ET...but if you're only saving 10lbs or so is it even noticable? and i get that its unsprung weight so the weigh loss will be more noticable as opposed to just pulling 10 lbs out of say the interior or wherever. so long story short, is it really worth the extra cash to go from DR's on the oem 20's to 18's? in reality, how much could i gain from it? __________________

11-06-2013, 09:12 AM	#3
Denis Drives: 2010 SS Join Date: May 2012 Location: Yorktown Heights, NY Posts: 7,695 View My Garage	so if im not having trouble hooking then its really not worth it? __________________

11-06-2013, 11:57 AM	#5
Pro Stock John Writer Drives: 2010 SS / 1967 Camaro Join Date: May 2009 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 7,216	I hooked on 20" 555R's until I did the converter, and then it was a struggle for me. I went 12.37@112 1.85 -488 DA air, I think I could have gone 12.2 with skinnies or other weight reduction. I went to 18" NT05R's then, still struggling with traction (or marginal tracks really), been 1.66-1.73's. __________________ PROJECT HEAVY CHEVY Camaro Now: Mods for the Masses Part I \| Part II 13.15@106 1.95 \| 100% Stock 12.37@112 1.85 \| + Kooks Headers/Cats + 20" 555R + CAI + BW TB + UDP + Tune 12.06@113 1.70 \| + CD 3200 + 18" NT05R + RCR Intake + NE OTR + GPI Tune 11.84@115 1.59 \| + 3.91s + Race Star 17x7 Fronts 10.90@125 1.47 \| + GPI VVT Cam + BW Ported Heads + CD 3800

11-06-2013, 12:26 PM	#6
Denis Drives: 2010 SS Join Date: May 2012 Location: Yorktown Heights, NY Posts: 7,695 View My Garage	yea the 20" 555R's are hooking right now for sure. so im trying to see if theres a reason to change down to 18's next season. __________________

11-06-2013, 04:23 PM	#8
Denis Drives: 2010 SS Join Date: May 2012 Location: Yorktown Heights, NY Posts: 7,695 View My Garage	Well that might do it right here. I plan on doing a stall this winter. __________________

11-06-2013, 09:11 AM	#2
Rhino79 Drives: 2010 Camaro SS L99/Auto Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Cabot, AR Posts: 2,827 View My Garage	Only benefit I see is having more sidewall for the tire to work. Weight from the 20's to 18s isn't going to make a noticeable difference on a drag radial I don't think.

11-06-2013, 09:49 AM	#4
Camarojt Drives: 2011camaro SS Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Allen, Tx Posts: 2,202	Once you start adding more power, the hooking part will get more difficult and the extra sidewall will benefit on the 18" vs the 20" but it's not going to be a huge difference between them. Just a slight advantage to the 18".

11-06-2013, 12:54 PM	#7
Camarojt Drives: 2011camaro SS Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Allen, Tx Posts: 2,202	Like John experienced, if you go with a stall converter, it becomes a little harder to hook. But when you do hook....HANG ON! Converter is by far my favorite mod. Assuming you have tires to hold it. Otherwise it's frustrating as hell.

07-15-2014, 10:30 AM	#9
Denis Drives: 2010 SS Join Date: May 2012 Location: Yorktown Heights, NY Posts: 7,695 View My Garage	Well I'm gonna revive this thread. Got some 18" Z06 replicas and some 305's for em. We'll see if they make a difference. __________________

07-15-2014, 10:57 AM	#10
thahemp Geek Drives: 2012 Black LS3 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Derby, KS Posts: 4,343 View My Garage	Good choice! I never had any 20" drag radials, but just being able to take them off and save the rubber when I'm not using them is worth having an extra set of wheels around. And if you're gonna buy drag wheels... why buy 20s. __________________ 01000111011011110110111101100100001000000110110001 11010101100011011010110010000001110111011010010111 01000110100000100000011101000110100001101001011100 110010000001101111011011100110010100100001 x = ac97968bd3df8f968c8cd3df998a9c94d3df9c8a918bd3df9c 909c94df8c8a9c949a8dd3df92908b979a8ddf998a9c949a8d d3df8b968b8cd1 x = ~x

07-15-2014, 11:00 AM	#11
Towlie Drives: 2013 2SS/RS L99 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 142	That actually looks very nice to me. Let us know how they hook up as I would like to do this at the same time as my stall. Enjoy

07-15-2014, 11:42 AM	#12
Denis Drives: 2010 SS Join Date: May 2012 Location: Yorktown Heights, NY Posts: 7,695 View My Garage	oh im sure they'll hook up. i was hooking just fine with the 275 20" radials, these new 305 18" radials should only do a better job. plus the more meaty look is pretty awesome haha. __________________

07-15-2014, 12:10 PM	#14
mrvenicess Drives: 2013 CRT ZL1 auto Join Date: May 2010 Location: Venice Fl Posts: 1,443 View My Garage	I have a similar setup but run 305/45 18 Mickey Thompsons on my ZL1 that has a Yank torque converter. 1.50 60 fts.