Questions about high speeds and NItto tires.

[Sierra]

I will be mounting my Nitto 555R drag radials 270-40-17 on thursday. I have heard they are not very good at high speeds. I am curious if I can get that up to 130 mph with out worrying about the tires?

I know this isent a safe speed at all but I would like to know. A friend has a few mile strip of Private land that is paved and I would like to push it to 130 mph.

Should I not push it over 120 mph ?


I totally know that high speeds like that kill very easy and rolling at that speed would be the end. So mechanically will the Drag radials in the rear be fine at that speed?

[Grifter]

whats the speed rating on the tires?
i dont know anything about them really..

[Macs Stang]

If they are Z rated then you should be good, but i wouldn't push the tires too much. why would you want to get up to that fast of a speed anyways with out any safty equip like a cage?

[theduckylittle]

well, considering guys will clear the trap speeds at upwards of 170 mph with a set of nitto's I think taking them to 120 will be fine.

But I'll restate, they will wear like mother fuckers on the highway. They don't come with a tread warranty for a reason.

-Duck

[mnstang]

your tires will be just fine at that speeds.... they SHOULD be rated well over that, and that is for sustained speeds, so short speed runs shouldn't be a problem. hell, i even had my old 15" bfg radial t/a's that fast for short periods of time. (which by the way are STILL for sale, along with the turbines)

[SVT5LITER]

The drag radial is basicly a shaved street tire... but stickier. None the less... still a radial performance tire.
You should be fine, and I would trust mine at that speed as long as they're at a street psi.

[Sierra]

Well guys took the car up to 120-123 the other day for about 4 seconds. I was not very happy with how the car was handling at all.

Is it because of the tires or is it just the mustang characteristics. When I was driving that fast I felt as if I had no control at all and could easily slide off the road or slide to the right or left and roll the car.

Is it aerodynamics or is it the tires? Maybe its because of the larger tires (270 40 17) in back that made the car higher and less wind resistant?

I dunno maybe I should just drive with someone and show them what it feels like, maybe its normal maybe its not?

I dont plan on going over 110-115 with my car now...

Your input is helpful guys

[/-/awk]

>Is it because of the tires or is it just the mustang
>characteristics. When I was driving that fast I felt
>as if I had no control at all and could easily slide
>off the road or slide to the right or left and roll the car.

I would wager that it is either the tires or worn suspension components. Either can cause ill handling which is amplified by speed.

My '03 GT and previous '89 5.0 LX were rock solid at those speeds. Feels more like 75 than 120.

[SVT5LITER]

worn suspension components is a very good possibility. Also, what tire psi are you runnung at for the street?

[Cobra-R]

I agree with /-/awk and tim. The areodynamics of our cars really isn't that bad.
There wasn't a strong wind by any chance, was there? That certainly wouldn't give a person a good feel.
:smoking

Brian

[Avio]

Yeah dude, those tires are fine, I ran my truck up to 108 on goodyear all-terrain tires without any worries, I even ran 100+ with the firestone explodo-tires. As for the wobbly feeling, its probably not aerodynamics...yet. 120 isn't enough to really mess you up, but higher speeds might be a problem. I mean like 150+ because Ford has no reason to study the aerodynamics that high, but at 120 its probably something else, a tire imbalance or messed up suspension or possibly warped brakes if they are really really bad and then they would be useless to you at that speed so I hope thats not it.

[Sierra]

Well I didnt notice any wind but the road was pretty crappy. I just felt like if I were to go to 130 the car would have slid to the left or right, lifted off the ground and rolled 9 times

9 times = dead. Im not a huge fan of high speeds but our cars should be capable.

The nitto's were running the correct pressure that was on the side of the tire. Maybe I should take someone for a ride sometime and have them tell me its normal. Atleast when I goto the track the speed I will reach will be around 101-105.

[SVT5LITER]

how many miles d'ya gots on tha nine seven?

[Sierra]

I bought it with 23000 miles.

It now has 28200 miles on it.

[SVT5LITER]

boy that just doesn't seem like enough miles to have substansial bushing wear though...