MO,
The Nitto tires are a value, price-wise, compared to the other DOT Drag
Tires but do not hook as well as others such as Mickey Thompson, M&H, and
Hoosier; according to the multitude of users comments...each car is slightly
different but generally speaking, the Nitto has a 100 treadwear rating vs. the
other “sticker/softer compound” tires with a 00 rating; meaning, the Nittos are
the longest lasting Street/Strip tire with an estimated 10,000 mile lifespan
with a mix of street & strip. The Mickey Thompson, M&H, and
Hoosier are more Drag Strip/Track suited with their soft compound and may only
last 3000-5000 miles with mixed street/strip use.
The Nitto compound and rain groove design allows for more street use under
varying conditions while the other brands, while “barely” DOT approved, would be
very dangerous in wet or damp conditions. All Drag Radials are recommended
for automatic transmission use because of less rolling resistance which creates
launch challenges with clutch/manual transmission equipped cars. A
bias-ply Drag Tire is recommended for clutch/manual trans cars for this reason
as well as having a stiffer sidewall when running tubes which increases the
contact patch for better traction.
Bottom line, if you will be doing more street-time than track time, go with
the Nitto for street mileage & street safety; or the BFG Drag Radial, if you
can find them.
For more strip use than street, a Mickey Thompson Drag Radial has the most
tread thickness of the lot and is reputedly the “best” or stickiest Drag Radial
out there.
I have a set of Mickeys for my 340 car and BFG Drag Radial for my Stroker
Poly.
Gary Pavlovich
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