BFG Drag Radials-experiences/thoughts?

[MS-75]

Hi Guys,

I've just bought a set of BGF drag radials (275/60/15) and was wondering if anyone has experience with them.ie

What pressures have you run?

What sort of launch have you found effective?

What sort of 60ft time?

How long have they lasted?

General impressions?

Cheers

Sean

Adelaide

[MrBlonde]

Hi Guys,  

              I've just bought a set of BGF drag radials (275/60/15) and was wondering if anyone has experience with them.ie

What pressures have you run?

What sort of launch have you found effective?

What sort of 60ft time?

How long have they lasted?

General impressions?

Cheers

Sean

Adelaide

Sean, what you have is BFG Comp TA DRs, and I reckon they are the dog's bollocks for street legal tyres.

I ran 12-15 psi on mine, but it all depends on your driving style and vehicle. Start at 18 psi and work your way down by .5 psi until your short times stabilise.

You want to launch at the highest RPM you can with near full traction.

[2rismo]

Sean,

The size you mention is exactly what Nabil in 8THSIN uses and they've proven pretty incredible. He has seen low 1.6 sec 60' times and the sidewalls crease up like a spongy slicks!

I have just started using a set of 255/50/16's and can tell you straight off the bat, they feel great. Best 60' to date is a 1.7 and of the 5 runs I've had on them, all of them have been experimenting with pressures.

One thing I have to tell you is that the require STUFF ALL of a burnout to get warm and stay warm. One Victor Bray inspired skid on the brand-spanka rubber and 2 HOURS LATER the tyres were still sticky and the tread felt gooey and melted!!!

As for their projected life-span, all I can say is that I wont be driving on these tyres like I did the Nitto's. They're just too soft for regular driving (and probably not very safe - certainly not in the wet).

Good luck with your new rubber and make sure you keep us posted on your progress.

Adrian

[R33vit]

Adrian

did you use these the last time we where at WSID? and how much champ?

[MS-75]

Excellent-thanks guys. 1.6 sixty was what I was aiming for-and considering the Supra uses IRS, it might mean the clown with the 4 link can dip into the 1.50's. That should put me at 10.85 straight up (1.796 60'' and 11.049 so far)-and that's not including another 5psi, LMS fuel and a new custom plenum set-up.

Something you guys might find useful-I have actually bolted the tyres on with Jeep Wrangler rims. They are a 15x7 lipless steel rim (so they look like 16's) with a 5 stud patten (5x114.3) and an offset of about 30-35mm. My guess is that they would slot under a skyline quite nicely-allowing you guys the option of the 15 inch tyres.

Cheers sean

[benm]

Tell us the price son !

[Russco]

2rismo - would your BFG's fit on a stock 16 inch R32 GTST rim? I was looking at a set myself, how much did they cost??

[dnb]

Tell us the price son !

lmfao!

[2rismo]

If you shop hard, you should be able to get them for $450 each.

They'll fit on a 16x6.5" rim but I really would advise against it. Get some 300ZX stockers @ 16x7.5" that fit perfectly. Mine cost $50/rim.

Sean - John from UAS ran a 1.59 60' about a month ago - AWESOME.

Adrian

[Russco]

If you shop hard, you should be able to get them for $450 each.

They'll fit on a 16x6.5" rim but I really would advise against it.  Get some 300ZX stockers @ 16x7.5" that fit perfectly.  Mine cost $50/rim.

Sean - John from UAS ran a 1.59 60' about a month ago - AWESOME.

Adrian

Thanks Adrian, not cheap but neither are slicks when you add up front-runners - 1.59 60' is pretty solid!!

[MS-75]

I picked up the jeep rims for $100 each-and whilst that may sound a bit much, it turns out that getting your hands on virtually any sort of 15x7 or bigger rim with a relatively big 30+ve offset is virtually impossible. Whilst 15x7 or bigger are around, they are almost purely deep dish style (0-10+ve abouts), and all of the rims with the big offset are all 16inch or bigger.

I paid $342 each for the 275/60-15 Drag Radials from Bob Jane Marion here in Adelaide-so yeah-not cheap, but I don't have to buy x ply front runners to go with them.

Cheers

Sean

[2rismo]

15" Comp T/A's are MUCH cheaper than 16's. They're also a much better option if you can find wheels to fit.

Adrian

[MS-75]

Yeah-that's what I found when I had a look around too. I reckon the Jeep rims would be a perfect match for putting 15's on a skyline (without having to go for custom rims).

What is the offset on an R33? Is it around 30+ve?

[SLO-89]

I am a BF Goodrich dealer in Nth Qld and while i havent had any first hand expirience with them i have it on good authority that in the US some of the supra's are running well into the 9's

Cheers Daniel

[dnb]

$450 each? OMG!

i got slicks and front runners for $1082 delivered to my door!

also the new zoom has a tech article on them

[Boosted Zed]

MS-75 I have the 275/50/15 on Pro Star 15 x 8 in rims which stick out a little with the offset. 60 series are much higher and might be a bit high and rub? Also 7 inch is a bit narrow for this tyre but could get away with it although more chance of turning on the rim with low pressure and big launch. Key is a good burn out as 2rismo showed me then 6 to 6.5k plus launch without dropping it worked for me.

[MS-75]

Cheers for the feedback guys-much appreciated.

John, I thought that the 7inch rims might have been a bit small (by 1/2 inch according to the literature), but I figured I'd try them anyway as the price was much less than custom rims. The tyres fit nicely without balooning much at all actually. If they do move a bit or wear in the centre a touch I'll change to a wider rim-although because the car is auto they will be less prone to spinning on the rims than on a manual (especially a fairly hefty rwd R33 or 300ZX being dumped at 6000+! They must be fun out of the hole!). The car they are going on is my 1972 Toyota Crown 2 door, and the 275/60's do actually fit (just!). I'd better pull my finger out as I've been shoved back to 8th in the HPI list by yourself going into 2nd in the 300Z and an R33 dropping in one slot in front of me. Bugger!

From what I've picked up it looks like starting at 18psi and working down looks like a good bet. It'll probably depend on how the 4-link I put under the car behaves. If I've got my geometry right it should slap the tyres into the track on launch allowing me to run a slightly higher pressure than I could have with the stock toyota set-up.

Take it easy guys

Sean

Adelaide

[DCIEVE]

What would you guys recomend in the way of slicks? Sizes and approximate costs (and suitable rim widths required) , keen to give the drags a serious go. Does everyone run the more expensive radials simply for a shot at the hpi lists or are there other reasons.

[MrBlonde]

What would you guys recomend in the way of slicks?  Sizes and approximate costs (and suitable rim widths required) , keen to give the drags a serious go.    Does everyone run the more expensive radials simply for a shot at the hpi lists or are there other reasons.

I use Mickey Thompson ET Drag on my M Coupe and they are great.

Sizes I'll leave for a Skyline owner to comment since mine aren't relevant to you. Suffice to say you want the tallest and widest slick you can fit.

Drag radials have the advantage that you can drive to the track with them fitted. What is HPI? I smell rice cooking!

[Sydneykid]

What is HPI? I smell rice cooking!

HP = High Performance, 10.775 @134.35 mph yep that fits.

I = Import, well it wasn't made here, so that fits too.

That isn't rice you smell cooking, more like Zwiebelwurst. :wassup: