[fr34k]

So what wheels and street tires combo are you guys using to get good traction on lower gears?

Just got done with GT42 turbo installation and i cant get any traction on 1st and 2nd gear even on pump gas tune. Im now using only 10" wide rear wheels with t1r 275 tires which was good enough for the stock turbo, but not now. Really liked the ccw classics wih 11.5" rear wheels but the fronts wouldnt clear my AP racing brakes. Any suggestions for some sick and wide wheels? I think i would need 305 for the rears to get good traction on lower gears. Please show me what you got!

 

[Seattle Express]

Tire compound is more of a factor for straight line traction than the width. I would go with MT drag radials for the rears if you're not hooking with the t1r.

 

[Wreckless]

I would personally avoid drag radials, particularly on a big power 6-spd car. They hook violently, and it likes to break shit.

A lot of guys have gone to Toyo R888's and really enjoyed them for street traction with big power.

Another thing to consider is your alignment and camber. If you are lowered and using stock alignment specs, you have way too much negative camber in the rear, which mean the tire is rolled slightly sideways off of its contact patch, and this seriously affects traction in straightline acceleration.

Consider a set of adjustable rear upper control arms from Titan or PHR. That would allow you to dial out that excess negative camber and keep your tire's contact patch flat to the ground. For every other aspect of the alignment, start with the 'Lance' Alignment found on mkiv.com : http://www.mkiv.com/techarticles/lance_alignment/index.html

 

[fr34k]

Thanks for the responses. I would like to avoid drag radials and stay with street tires.

Wreckless: so are u saying that with 275 rear tires it'll be good enough if it's alligned properly?

What wide wheels (>= 11") are you guys using?

 

[Hukhuksupra]

If you are making 700+ you arent going to hook a street tire worth a shit in 2nd gear. Try a toyo R888 in 305/35/18 with 10" rear rims. If not go straight drag radial. If you are a 6spd dont launch the car from a dig on the street with a drag radial. On a roll the risk of breaking stuff with a drag radial is far less.

 

[HellBringer]

A regular radial that will fit without significant fender mods isn't going to consistently hook for shit in the lower gears. Even with my rear camber pushed out as far as the stock hardware would allow (nearly 0) I can't hook up a 295 street tire in 2nd at anything more than 19-20psi (about 550WHP). On a MT drag radial, however, I can hook 26psi (about 670WHP) in 2nd up all day long. Don't waste your time on a regular radial as they will be worthless unless you're running around on low boost. The R888's are probably the best balance of a soft compound that will hook up well with a stiff enough sidewall to maintain good handling quality.