hey guys...

here is my dilemma: 2 rear combos...

1. wheel = 18 lbs, 18 x 8.5, tire = toyo ra1 245/40/18, total weight 43 lbs.

2. wheel = 18 lbs, 18 x 9.5, tire = toyo ra1 275/35/18, total weight 48 lbs.

car puts down 330 rwhp at this point.

which one will give a better straight line 1/8 or 1/8 mile time? and why? is one significantly better over the other?

thanks!

275 is my vote. I run a 255/40/17 RA1 on a 9.5" wheel in a car with 180 whp. You definetely need all the rear tire you can get with 330 whp. Also the 275 tire will give you a better gearing advantage.

However if you are drag racing you want a taller sidewall for some flex on the launch. I wouldn't use the RA1 for straight line drag racing now that I think about it.

Im also gonna say a ra-1 is very wrong for drag racing

275 is my vote. I run a 255/40/17 RA1 on a 9.5" wheel in a car with 180 whp. You definetely need all the rear tire you can get with 330 whp. Also the 275 tire will give you a better gearing advantage.

However if you are drag racing you want a taller sidewall for some flex on the launch. I wouldn't use the RA1 for straight line drag racing now that I think about it.

eos and vodomagoo...

if i am aiming for 75% street/ (with perhaps a monthly visit to the local 1/8 mile track to see and measure improvements in perf mods made) use (straight line accel) and 25% track, would the bfg street drag radial be a much better tire?

fyi, i have ridden in my car with my mich ps2 (no slouch for a street tire) vs the toyo ra1. the latter was absolutely nuts. a full report is coming soon, but basically the guy who drove my car was taking 20 mph twists at almost 70 mph and my heavy miss piggy of a car stuck like rails! :)

but to go from the ps2 to the ra1 - in my very limited and elementary way of looking at things - 220 tread wear vs 100 - i imagine that the ra1 would (or should?) be at least able to shave off some significant time off the 1/8 or 1/4 mile, no?

in the end, i think i would value day to day handling and having the car stick to the tarmac more than having a dedicated drag race tire. i dont drag race, but only use the time slip to gauge performnace improvements as i mentioned.

btw - you guys have nay idea how much time is shaved by going from a street tire like the ps2 to the ra1 or similar?

:helpthanks.