At the end of August, a bunch of us are driving out to Sturgis, SD from the Twin Cities, MN for the 10th Annual Mustang Rally. My Cobra has Nitto NT555R drag radials on the rear. I have the stock Good Year Gatorbacks on the front and have to be replaced before the trip.
My question is, are the drag radials safe in the rain? The previous owner put them on and he lives in Las Vegas. I've never driven my Cobra in the rain yet, but I'm sure we will run into some on the drive.
I have no problem replacing all 4 tires and selling the drag radials, as they look like new. But if they are ok in the rain, no reason to spend the extra money.
I would strongly suggest not using drag radials in the rain. The $$ you'll spend for a better set of tires for street use is a lot less than what it may cost if you lose control of your car running drag radials on a wet road.
03 COBRA Black with VMP
93 COBRA Black #3754 (RIP)
89 GT Black/Scarlet Red (SOLD)
86 GT Bright Red/Gray (SOLD)
Z282SLO wrote:I would strongly suggest not using drag radials in the rain. The $$ you'll spend for a better set of tires for street use is a lot less than what it may cost if you lose control of your car running drag radials on a wet road.
Pretty much the replies I was thinking I would get. But on the Nitto site, the drag radials got a mid-level rating for wet performance. That's why I thought I would ask.
Plus, I don't drag race, so these probably aren't the tires for me anyway. I think I'm gonna go with the BFGoodrich g-Force Sport COMP-2 tires.
I guy I know darn near died driving his supercharge Boss 302 in the rain with drag radials. He hit some standing water, spun out and hit a telephone pole broadside on the driver's door.
The Nitto's do better than most. I have a set of BFG's on my red car and got caught in trying to beat the rain from a car show. It wasn't fun at all, like driving in snow. The tread depth on them from the factory is minimal, and not many grooves to start with.
Goose17 wrote:I guy I know darn near died driving his supercharge Boss 302 in the rain with drag radials. He hit some standing water, spun out and hit a telephone pole broadside on the driver's door.
That's what I've heard as well. I have a friend with a supercharged Saleen and he had drag radials and said they were horrible and scary in the rain.
I ordered some BF Goodrich G-Force Sport Comp-2's today.
I have been running the BFG Sport comp2 for a few years now.
I am on my 2nd set. They are ok in the rain, I do have problems getting going, they spin on me from a dead stop in the rain.
My car hardly ever sees rain, but I have been out couple times in thunder storms on the way home.
I will also add if it is cold out, like under 40F and for sure if it is 25f or lower, they get hard and traction really sucks.
I have 3:73 out back, aluminum heads, a blower, so traction can be a problem on a nice day!
Depending on temps out and the road, they can hook real well.
I have had NT555r's on my 02 SS and now my 1993 Cobra, was caught in rain numerous times with the Camaro and never had a issue with them. Now my mickey thompson radials was a different story. Dont exceed 40 mph on them
