Wheels, Tires, and Gearing For the Strip - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

M3hta1 · 08-12-2014, 12:35 PM

I have been searching and searching many forums and wanted to create a thread for those who might have similar questions.

I am wanting to get into drag racing and have a strip about 20 mins from me. Let go into what mods that I have done to my Camaro.

Comp Cam 227-239 115+3
Kooks LT Headers and Catted Connection Pipes
Factory NPP Exhaust, Fuse Pull
Roto Fab Cold Air Intake
Full Street and Dyno Tune

With that out of the way, I am in the market for some new wheels and tires. I don't want to go out and rush buy something and really want to be able to street the car / perform decently well at the strip.

I do daily drive my car but millage is less that 5 miles round trip to and from work and I work from home some days.

The only other mod I am looking at is 3.91 or 4.10 gears. Would this be too much gearing for almost 500 rwhp?

The thing I want to know is wheels and tires. I think I want to go with 20x11 and a 315 30r20 on the rear but don't know what I should do about the front.

I have the OEM 20x8 and 20x9 wheels and would like to save money by being able to use those tires if possible. So with that are the 315 PZero tires going to be something that can be tracked? That is assuming I keep using the tires from the 20x8 and 20x9 wheels I currently have.

What would possibly be the best wheels size for the front?

BMR Sales · 08-12-2014, 12:55 PM

If you're looking to stay "budget friendly" with this, your best bet is to buy a pair of 18x9.5 (+40 offset) Corvette replica wheels for the rear. Put a pair of 305/45R18 drag radials on them and just swap them out whenever you go to the track. Just keep your fronts as-is and go have fun.

M3hta1 · 08-12-2014, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMR Sales

If you're looking to stay "budget friendly" with this, your best bet is to buy a pair of 18x9.5 (+40 offset) Corvette replica wheels for the rear. Put a pair of 305/45R18 drag radials on them and just swap them out whenever you go to the track. Just keep your fronts as-is and go have fun.

I am looking for more of a permanent wheel and tire combo that will do decent on the strip. I want to get rid of the oem wheels that I currently have. That is a good solution for some drag radials on the vette wheels.

Also looking for the gearing question and will it effect on what size wheels / tires I get.

Jeff_SS · 08-13-2014, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3hta1

I am looking for more of a permanent wheel and tire combo that will do decent on the strip. I want to get rid of the oem wheels that I currently have. That is a good solution for some drag radials on the vette wheels.

Also looking for the gearing question and will it effect on what size wheels / tires I get.

You're going to waste your time going to the strip on street tires.
You honestly need to do what he said and get some 18" vette reps and a 305/45/18 MT dr.

VADER SS L99 · 08-13-2014, 12:52 AM

If you must have just one set of wheels/tires that will be street worthy and perform decent at the strip then you need to get some 305/35R20 Nitto NT555R tires for the rear with some 10.5-11" rear wheels. Better would be the 18 x 9.5 rear with 18x 8 front TSW Nurburgrigs with a 305/45R18 Nitto NT555R tires but of course 18" is not going to look as good as 20" so you just need understand what your willing to compromise. Another thing is that the Nitto NT555R is only going to last 10k max of street/strip use.

In the long run I can guarantee that it is cheaper to have a dedicated drag tire/wheel set up that you switch out for the strip. The reason for this is a long lasting street tire could last you up to 40k miles with 100% street use. Your dedicated drag wheel/tire setup could last 6yrs if it is used on the strip only. Plus you could use a real drag radial like a MT for good 60fts not a street/strip tire like a Nitto Nt555R.

Jeff_SS · 08-13-2014, 01:00 AM

Yeah, don't waste your time or money on triple nickel r's

BMR Sales · 08-13-2014, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff_SS

Yeah, don't waste your time or money on triple nickel r's

That's pretty much my understanding too! I haven't personally used them, but from what I've heard, their performance at the strip is mediocre at best. Probably still better than PZeros or another similar street radial, but using a dedicated set of "good" drag radials at the strip will perform much better for you.

M3hta1 · 08-13-2014, 10:26 AM

Yeah I looked this am and found some vette wheels 18x9.5 and 17x8.5 for a decent price.

BMR Sales · 08-13-2014, 10:41 AM

I'd question fitment of those 17x8.5 fronts. I don't know of anyone who has successfully fit a 17" corvette wheel on the front of a 5th Gen. I'm not saying it won't fit, but I don't know of anyone who has tried it. The 18x9.5 will fit on the rear as long as the offset is +40.

Pro Stock John · 08-13-2014, 04:29 PM

Any videos of your cam?

As for your question, 20" drag radials will help you hook better than your stock tires. They would be a half step to the best solution which I think would be a set of 17's out back.

I have been running a set of 18x9.5 + NT05Rs. I'm auto but have gone consistent 1.66's with them. I'd do better with more converter/ power.

M3hta1 · 08-13-2014, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pro Stock John

Any videos of your cam?

As for your question, 20" drag radials will help you hook better than your stock tires. They would be a half step to the best solution which I think would be a set of 17's out back.

I have been running a set of 18x9.5 + NT05Rs. I'm auto but have gone consistent 1.66's with them. I'd do better with more converter/ power.

Here is a link. I will embed it when I get home. I am on mobile ATM.

http://youtu.be/O_0SyPKEfv0

Pro Stock John · 08-13-2014, 09:21 PM

Thanks sounds good!

Palabraword · 08-14-2014, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMR Sales

If you're looking to stay "budget friendly" with this, your best bet is to buy a pair of 18x9.5 (+40 offset) Corvette replica wheels for the rear. Put a pair of 305/45R18 drag radials on them and just swap them out whenever you go to the track. Just keep your fronts as-is and go have fun.

Can you or someone get me a link to buy corvette replica wheels for the rear? Thank you.

BMR Sales · 08-14-2014, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palabraword

Can you or someone get me a link to buy corvette replica wheels for the rear? Thank you.

Sure, there's a nice set in the Camaro5 classified section right now….

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=363715

08-12-2014, 12:35 PM	#1
M3hta1 USMC OIF 06-08 Drives: My wife crazy! Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: North Carolina Posts: 262 View My Garage	Wheels, Tires, and Gearing For the Strip I have been searching and searching many forums and wanted to create a thread for those who might have similar questions. I am wanting to get into drag racing and have a strip about 20 mins from me. Let go into what mods that I have done to my Camaro. Comp Cam 227-239 115+3 Kooks LT Headers and Catted Connection Pipes Factory NPP Exhaust, Fuse Pull Roto Fab Cold Air Intake Full Street and Dyno Tune With that out of the way, I am in the market for some new wheels and tires. I don't want to go out and rush buy something and really want to be able to street the car / perform decently well at the strip. I do daily drive my car but millage is less that 5 miles round trip to and from work and I work from home some days. The only other mod I am looking at is 3.91 or 4.10 gears. Would this be too much gearing for almost 500 rwhp? The thing I want to know is wheels and tires. I think I want to go with 20x11 and a 315 30r20 on the rear but don't know what I should do about the front. I have the OEM 20x8 and 20x9 wheels and would like to save money by being able to use those tires if possible. So with that are the 315 PZero tires going to be something that can be tracked? That is assuming I keep using the tires from the 20x8 and 20x9 wheels I currently have. What would possibly be the best wheels size for the front? __________________ Comp Cam 227-239 115+3 / Kooks LT Headers and Catted Connection Pipes Factory NPP Exhaust, Fuse Pull / Roto Fab Cold Air Intake / Full Street and Dyno Tune Last edited by M3hta1; 08-12-2014 at 01:39 PM.

08-13-2014, 12:52 AM	#5
VADER SS L99 Drives: 2013 A6 GT 5.0 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Edmond, OK Posts: 2,909	If you must have just one set of wheels/tires that will be street worthy and perform decent at the strip then you need to get some 305/35R20 Nitto NT555R tires for the rear with some 10.5-11" rear wheels. Better would be the 18 x 9.5 rear with 18x 8 front TSW Nurburgrigs with a 305/45R18 Nitto NT555R tires but of course 18" is not going to look as good as 20" so you just need understand what your willing to compromise. Another thing is that the Nitto NT555R is only going to last 10k max of street/strip use. In the long run I can guarantee that it is cheaper to have a dedicated drag tire/wheel set up that you switch out for the strip. The reason for this is a long lasting street tire could last you up to 40k miles with 100% street use. Your dedicated drag wheel/tire setup could last 6yrs if it is used on the strip only. Plus you could use a real drag radial like a MT for good 60fts not a street/strip tire like a Nitto Nt555R. __________________ BLK/BLK 1SS/RS Ordered 11-01-2009 Took delivery 12-22-2009. Heads/cam/converter/bolt ons. SOLD Feb 2015 to fund 6th gen LT1 SS with 8L90E.

08-13-2014, 01:00 AM	#6
Jeff_SS "Cam Only" Drives: 2013 Camaro SS Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 1,709 View My Garage	Yeah, don't waste your time or money on triple nickel r's __________________ 2013 AGM Camaro 2SS/RS M6 \| LSA Blower, 2.5" pulley, 10% lower, FIC1000's, Fore Innovations Twin Pump fuel system w/ Flex Fuel, CMS Custom Grind Cam, Kooks 1 7/8" headers w/ catless off-road pipes, NPP Exhaust, 3.91's, JLT ZL1 Intake, Prospeed Heat Exchanger \| Pfadt Suspension, 1LE Sway Bars \| DSS 1000hp axles \| Tuned by Ryne @ CMS E85: 734rwhp/636rwtq (mustang dyno)

08-13-2014, 10:26 AM	#8
M3hta1 USMC OIF 06-08 Drives: My wife crazy! Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: North Carolina Posts: 262 View My Garage	Yeah I looked this am and found some vette wheels 18x9.5 and 17x8.5 for a decent price. __________________ Comp Cam 227-239 115+3 / Kooks LT Headers and Catted Connection Pipes Factory NPP Exhaust, Fuse Pull / Roto Fab Cold Air Intake / Full Street and Dyno Tune

08-13-2014, 04:29 PM	#10
Pro Stock John Writer Drives: 2010 SS / 1967 Camaro Join Date: May 2009 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 7,216	Any videos of your cam? As for your question, 20" drag radials will help you hook better than your stock tires. They would be a half step to the best solution which I think would be a set of 17's out back. I have been running a set of 18x9.5 + NT05Rs. I'm auto but have gone consistent 1.66's with them. I'd do better with more converter/ power. __________________ 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

08-12-2014, 12:55 PM	#2
BMR Sales Drives: Race Car Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Seffner, FL Posts: 6,226	If you're looking to stay "budget friendly" with this, your best bet is to buy a pair of 18x9.5 (+40 offset) Corvette replica wheels for the rear. Put a pair of 305/45R18 drag radials on them and just swap them out whenever you go to the track. Just keep your fronts as-is and go have fun.

08-13-2014, 10:41 AM	#9
BMR Sales Drives: Race Car Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Seffner, FL Posts: 6,226	I'd question fitment of those 17x8.5 fronts. I don't know of anyone who has successfully fit a 17" corvette wheel on the front of a 5th Gen. I'm not saying it won't fit, but I don't know of anyone who has tried it. The 18x9.5 will fit on the rear as long as the offset is +40.

08-13-2014, 09:21 PM	#12
Pro Stock John Writer Drives: 2010 SS / 1967 Camaro Join Date: May 2009 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 7,216	Thanks sounds good! __________________ 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