Various meat

[9SECDD]

So I've experimented with a few different tires and sizes, and thought I'd share my two cents.

This is for those who have added power (JB4 or more) and/or those who want to be able to floor it in 1st or 2nd gear without losing traction.

Let's face it, the stock MPSS's just aren't up to the task. Front tires can be anything that you fancy. Here are the rears I've tried and have attached pics of:

19" x 10" HRE FF01 wheels:
Bridgestone RE71R 285/35R 19
Bridgestone RE71R 305/30R 19
Mickey Thompson ET Street S/S 305 35R 19

18" x 11" Apex EC7 Wheels:
Mickey Thompson ET Street S/S 305 30R 18
Mickey Thompson ET Street S/S 305 40R 18

Bridgestone RE71Rs are great all-around summer tires. They are a bit loud, but the traction increase is well worth it, IMO. Not bad in rain at all. Was jonesin for the 305s to come out, but they really aren't noticeably better than the 285s. Don't really look wider, at least on my 10" wide wheels (one of my pics shows them stacked on top of the 285s). Also prefer the 35 aspect ratio of the 285s I think. I'll call it a tie. These tires do not like cold, however. Spin city come late Oct in NJ and winter tires are then a must.

Mickey's are the shit. These things just stick. While at first I was afraid to daily drive them, they are now my daily drivers. The traction is simply worth it. Not bad in rain either actually, but you do have to slow down a bit more than the Bridgestones. Totally driveable, though. You can floor it in 1st and/or 2nd gear and they freaking hook! Even when a little wet coming out the car wash, they HOOK! If you want your tires to last 15k+ miles, these aren't for you. But if you don't mind dropping $665 for new rears every 5k-8k miles (or less if you race them) in exchange for the best street traction available, then these are so worth it.

Now, let's talk Mickey sizes.

I like the 305 35R 18s on the Apex Ec7 rears the best. They are the right diameter, weight and width. Look good, hook in straight line and also drive decently in twisties. They feel very stable at high speeds. These are what I drive at the drag strip, and wish I had nice looking, wide daily HRE wheel to put them on.

The 305 40R 18s fit, albeit barely, but are too big and heavy in hindsight. I don't recommend them. They also feel a bit squirrely at high speeds (100mph+). I thought they would offer better traction given the bigger sidewall, but I did not find that they did. Also, their mass simply slowed me down at drag strip and led to bad 60' times.

The 305 35R 19s on my 19" x 10" HRE wheels are interesting. The tires are a little too wide for the wheels. They look a bit smushed. Not too bad, but not optimal. They do hook, though. At 640 whp I floor it and no spin. I'm still going to daily these. Just wish they looked better on my 10" wide wheels. Might have to get 11" or 12" daily wheels to make these look right. they also feel slightly squirrely. I can't put my finger on it, but just doesn't feel as solid and planted as the 305/35 18s on my wider 18" wheels.

Anyway, that's it. Figured I'd share my experiences and 2 cents given how much money I've spent experimenting on tires lately. lol

Hope this helps someone.

[mercedesc63]

Thanks for your input, what where the 1/4 mile times?

[9SECDD]

Originally Posted by mercedesc63

Thanks for your input, what where the 1/4 mile times?

Consistent 10.9s @ 130mph+ with the MT 305/35R 18s.
Low 11s with the MT 305/40R 18s.

[shockin330i]

Are you daily driving the street drags?

[9SECDD]

Originally Posted by shockin330i

Are you daily driving the street drags?

Yes. Right now daily driving the Mickey Thompson 305/35/18s on my rear 18x11 wheels. Fronts are 265/35/19s.

Have driven them in rain and they are fine as long as you take it slow. Wouldn't want to hit standing water at high speeds for sure. heh

The traction is so worth the compromise if you've added hp. Car really sticks under heavy load.

[shockin330i]

Originally Posted by NJ-M4

Yes. Right now daily driving the Mickey Thompson 305/35/18s on my rear 18x11 wheels. Fronts are 265/35/19s.

Have driven them in rain and they are fine as long as you take it slow. Wouldn't want to hit standing water at high speeds for sure. heh

The traction is so worth the compromise if you've added hp. Car really sticks under heavy load.

I live in South Texas. Its pretty much summer year round. Worse case I have my jeep for the weather.

[HRE_Wheels]

Looks awesome! Love the thick and meaty look you've got going on.

Nice work, thanks for the write up

[9SECDD]

Originally Posted by HRE_Wheels

Looks awesome! Love the thick and meaty look you've got going on.

Nice work, thanks for the write up

Thanks. Now can you please make some FF01s in 18x11 and 19x11? Pretty please?

[JayKno]

So I'm looking to replace my rear tires with something that will provide as much grip as possible, while also being stable/planted at high speeds.

I'd like to keep the stock 19" wheels.

Do you think the 285/35/19's would be a good fit?

I dont care about wear, noise, or rain. I just want as much traction as possible while maintaining stability.

I think I've settled on the MT Street SS, but I've also considered tires from Nitto and Toyo. Not sure if I should get R tires, and not sure if the NT05r, nt01r, or R888r's would be a better fit.

[Suds]

I have a set of 265/35/19 front & 285/35/19 rear Bridgestone re71's on the stock 437 rims.
Not that you asked but here is a data point.

[9SECDD]

Originally Posted by JayKno

So I'm looking to replace my rear tires with something that will provide as much grip as possible, while also being stable/planted at high speeds.

I'd like to keep the stock 19" wheels.

Do you think the 285/35/19's would be a good fit?

I dont care about wear, noise, or rain. I just want as much traction as possible while maintaining stability.

I think I've settled on the MT Street SS, but I've also considered tires from Nitto and Toyo. Not sure if I should get R tires, and not sure if the NT05r, nt01r, or R888r's would be a better fit.

Define "high speeds".

Mickeys (Street S/S) are the stickiest hands down and hook like no other, but I would not call them stable and planted above 150mph. They get squirrely.

R888rs are the next best tire. Quite sticky, especially when hot. Much more planted and stable at high speeds.

I was not happy with Nittos. Needed to be hot to be sticky.

So if you are talking high speeds of 120mph or so, Mickeys are your tire. If you are talking 150mph+, I'd go with R888rs.

Yes, the 285/35 19s would be great. Do not go to 305 Mickeys if using stock 19" wheels. They are not wide enough and the Mickeys are not stable. I'd stick to 285s with the Toyos as well, unless you got wider wheels.

[John Tanglewood]

Originally Posted by Suds

I have a set of 265/35/19 front & 285/35/19 rear Bridgestone re71's on the stock 437 rims.
Not that you asked but here is a data point.

I am full catless with ESS tune. I managed to fit 265/295 Pilot Sport Cup 2s with spacers and KW HAS. I needed the meat but I love the stock wheels. It grips everywhere whereas on the MPSS I would spin in 4th on occasion.

[JayKno]

Originally Posted by 9SECDD

Define "high speeds".

Mickeys (Street S/S) are the stickiest hands down and hook like no other, but I would not call them stable and planted above 150mph. They get squirrely.

R888rs are the next best tire. Quite sticky, especially when hot. Much more planted and stable at high speeds.

I was not happy with Nittos. Needed to be hot to be sticky.

So if you are talking high speeds of 120mph or so, Mickeys are your tire. If you are talking 150mph+, I'd go with R888rs.

Yes, the 285/35 19s would be great. Do not go to 305 Mickeys if using stock 19" wheels. They are not wide enough and the Mickeys are not stable. I'd stick to 285s with the Toyos as well, unless you got wider wheels.

Thanks for the reply. I would like a tire that is safe at 160 mph+, just in case.

Do the r888r's need a lot of heat to provide a good launch? I'd like a tire that doesnt really require a burn out to be sticky. I live in the south so ambient temps are usually 90 degrees or so.

I'm also worried about snapping axles with the MT's. I'm just running a e30 tune, so nothing too crazy.

[9SECDD]

Originally Posted by JayKno

Thanks for the reply. I would like a tire that is safe at 160 mph+, just in case.

Do the r888r's need a lot of heat to provide a good launch? I'd like a tire that doesnt really require a burn out to be sticky. I live in the south so ambient temps are usually 90 degrees or so.

I'm also worried about snapping axles with the MT's. I'm just running a e30 tune, so nothing too crazy.

No the R888rs do not need a lot of heat. They are not as sticky as Mickeys cold, but they are the next best in my experience. They will totally be fine in 90 degree temps. R888rs are your tire.

[JayKno]

Originally Posted by 9SECDD

No the R888rs do not need a lot of heat. They are not as sticky as Mickeys cold, but they are the next best in my experience. They will totally be fine in 90 degree temps. R888rs are your tire.

Thanks so much! Saving my a ton of money on tire testing

I'll be shopping for r888r's today, hopefully I can get them in time for the event this sunday. I'll post an update later.

I feel pretty good about it since I really dont want to snap my axles. I could get the upgraded axles, but I've alway felt like yo are just moving the weakest link up the drive train. If the axles dont snap, then it will just be the diff or trans.

[JayKno]

So I went with 285/35/19. After a bit more searching I see a lot of people are going with 295/30 or even 305/30. Any input on this?

[9SECDD]

Originally Posted by JayKno

So I went with 285/35/19. After a bit more searching I see a lot of people are going with 295/30 or even 305/30. Any input on this?

If you are launching the car (dragstrip, street race from a dig) then you are better with more sidewall, which you get with the 285/35s. Especially if you are stock width wheels.

In my experience the 305 19s were too wide for the stock wheels and you didn't really get much if any additional contact patch. They did not feel as stable. When I dropped to wider 18" wheels, the 305s were great.

So if you have stock wheels, I think you definitely got the right tires.

[JayKno]

Originally Posted by 9SECDD

If you are launching the car (dragstrip, street race from a dig) then you are better with more sidewall, which you get with the 285/35s. Especially if you are stock width wheels.

In my experience the 305 19s were too wide for the stock wheels and you didn't really get much if any additional contact patch. They did not feel as stable. When I dropped to wider 18" wheels, the 305s were great.

So if you have stock wheels, I think you definitely got the right tires.

Cool cool, thanks again.

[JayKno]

All right guys, went to the track yesterday. I was extremely pleased with the R888R's (285/35/19). No traction issues what so ever, they look good, and seem stable at high speeds. They are slightly noisy, but not bad at all.

Ran twice. First run was 11.6 @ 122 mph. Second run was 11.4 @ 124. No changes were made between the runs other than increasing the launch RPM. 1.9 60 ft. Tires were at 27.5 psi warm.

These tires hook!

There is definitely some delay between when you release the brake for start the launch and when it actually starts, so I need to work on my timing to compensate for that. I also raised my launch RPM to what I think was as high as it would go and these tires just hooked. Looks like my launch RPM was 3600, according to the logs. Does anyone know if it can be raised higher than that?

Shout out to 9SECDD for the help choosing tires!!

[9SECDD]

Originally Posted by JayKno

All right guys, went to the track yesterday. I was extremely pleased with the R888R's (285/35/19). No traction issues what so ever, they look good, and seem stable at high speeds. They are slightly noisy, but not bad at all.

Ran twice. First run was 11.6 @ 122 mph. Second run was 11.4 @ 124. No changes were made between the runs other than increasing the launch RPM. 1.9 60 ft. Tires were at 27.5 psi warm.

These tires hook!

There is definitely some delay between when you release the brake for start the launch and when it actually starts, so I need to work on my timing to compensate for that. I also raised my launch RPM to what I think was as high as it would go and these tires just hooked. Looks like my launch RPM was 3600, according to the logs. Does anyone know if it can be raised higher than that?

Shout out to 9SECDD for the help choosing tires!!

Nice. Congrats! Glad to help.

[///BMW Junkie]

Awesome intel 👏

[Motown65]

I've been using 305/35/18 MT ET SS on Apex sm-10 18x11 +44 but was thinking a 17in may give me more grip? Not really looking at going to a full slick.