Tire selection on a 1500hp Miata...
 

So I've got this friend who's building a 1500hp Miata and we can't decide on what tires to run. There were many choices but I've narrowed it down to 2...

30x13.5x15 Mickey Thompson Drag Radials OR 31x16.5x15 ET Streets

Fender rolling is NOT an option.
This is a street-driven car and we're on the fence about it, so what do you think?

Ive herd really good things about this tire, and I would recommend it in that size.


http://www.discounttiredirect.com/di...06&rd=14&ar=65





I hope this thread isent serious..

serious as a top fuel dragster accident... the dude building the car is insane, but in a good way.

well in that case no god could even help you get traction. i suggest drag slicks and lots of superglue.

you have to put flares on the car!

1500 horses, no flares, no rolling, street driven.....

:bowrofl::bowrofl::bowrofl::bowrofl::bowrofl:

Good luck

What type of motor is going to be in this car by the way?

:jerkit:

if i recall it's a twin turbo, nitrous fead, 383 stroker. or something like that.

sounds impressive, is fead even a word??

no "a"

I guess it's possible if the 1500 will be reached with nitrous providing he's running a huge freaking shot and staying out of boost and off the spray as long as he's on the street, otherwise good luck with traction....maybe a spare 5.0 in the trunk to help add weight to the back end? :giggle:

Eh im just jelous, id rock 1500 hp in a miata if I had the monies. I could only imangine the feeling of punching it in 5th gear and going sideways...

Seeing is believing.

no use in making all that power if it's not going to have the appropriate body mods to run huge rear wheels.

I'd be more worried about a clutch.

Frank

Why doesn't Mikef85 just post himself and ask?

Meh, probably doesnt want to deal with a bunch of questions.

MT Drag Radials. And he's not gonna roll the fenders.

Anyone care for a bucket of fail? If it were me....I'd be looking closely at replicating the tubular miata....

yeah, i'm thinking epic frame twist

With those tires, IMO it will come down to gearing to determine which performs best. For example, the shorter tire might have him shifting once more during the run vs. the taller tire not shifting that extra time.

0.02

how about he builds the car with 1500 hp and puts it on a dyno like FM's (bolts to hubs) and then decides if he needs tires.

haha, best post evah!!! lol


1500hp and street driven, only in TX. But still, he will not fit a 30" MT under any Miata, sorry.
He better learn how to weld and get busy on re-enforcing the hell out of that car, it will twist like a wet fucking noodle.

So...I never caught on to why no fender rolling or flares?

what ITBs is he running?

Is this Carb'd, TPI, or Holley Pro we are talking about? cause 1500HP is still a f-ton of money and a lot of power from a stroker. I had a 525hp 383 stroker in an older firebird, and that engine was around 5k after we built it. And I doubt strapping turbos, N20 and Injection would have net'd 1500hp. in mine. Just a thought... Don't forget the trans to hold that power (???), the diff to hold that power, and the tires to put it to the pavement without blowing up. Then the frame will have to be heavily reinforced, like, full cage and the some. But, He probably already knows that...
Possible but not Probable. Also, couldn't find the picture, but the fella who ran 180mph at Boneville with a 302 in his miata would be a good guy to ask for traction questions.

I'll post a teaser pic when it gets out of the chassis shop...

i think all of u added an extra 0 to ur post? no?




seriously tho, 1500????!?!?

Alright Mike, I'm holding you to some high standards, but this sounds wickedly cool, especially right before you punch the gas and the car explodes. But here's a more important and somewhat serious question. Drag, Salt, or Circle? I think this car would HAVE to be setup for the salt flats, right? Although that is a bit far from Texas. What internals are you running, Eagle maybe? And Homebrew Turbo or something more big name?
Also, what sort of trans and rear? I really want to find out!
About the tires, though. I can't for the life of me find the red 302 powered miata that ran at Bonneville. I think it was on m.net as Miata of the Month, but I didn't see it there. He had some very beefy tires, but like everyone else has said, I don't see this as viable without rolling/pulling and flares as well. Check out 949's site on their 15x9 6UL's,
Fits 205/50/ 225/45, 225/50, 245/40, 245/50, 275/35 tires.
From their site. I believe they state these tires w/the 9" wheel fits miata's w/out fabrication. I think you're looking for at least 315's right? Hope that helps to start anyway...

Better watch for the guys running turbocharged stock motors if you want to see bangs. This is a much more substantial build then people are realizing. I haven't put this together with scraps. It truely is a very high dollar build. Bryce has seen some of the stuff. Nothing short of breath taking. I will be using this car to drag race. It's what i enjoy doing. I won't be running 949 wheels, I need more wheel width to fit those ET Streets on them. We'll see what times it runs when I am done. I have my guesses, but people wouldn't believe that either. I will not be telling specifics at this time.

BTW, this project is already 6 months in;).

I am humored by the reactions.

Dude, I've got faith in ya. I saw what you did with the 4 banger, I can only imagine what you've got in the works on this one. I'm guessing 7 sec ETs?

Where are you located in Houston?... I'd kinda like to see this beast on of these days.

Bryce is coming down in about 3 weeks to take a look at all the chrome moly tubing work (not just a cage). Along with the motor/trans/rear end in the car. We'll have to snap a couple of pics. The motor bolts directly to the cage via front/mid motor plates instead of motor mounts. When you need that, you know you are making serious power:giggle:.

Everyone, keep in mind I am keeping this car in street trim. Power Windows, Power Locks, Keyless Entry, Convertible Top, Power Mirrors, All Lights still work. Low boost on the street (still good for low-mid 8 second passes).

When I start turning the boost up, leaving on transbrake I should see some high-6 second passes.

I'm not actually in Houston, I live closer to the coast:)

It really sounds like an intense project. I haven't quite wrapped my head around those tire sizes in this car, at least without flares or rolling. Also, are you getting made-to-order 4x100 wheels, or does someone make a wheel that size? I'm assuming 11in or better? What size do you want in the front?

How the fuck are you going to fit those tires? Your going to have to do a rear tube setup! I could not fit a 24.5" Mickey Thompson slick on my 1990 Miata without having serious rubbing issues.

I had 500hp and it was not even usable on the street!!!

He did. ;)

Mike, are you going with 2 turbos?

Regards,

Rafa

Those who doubt are either n00bs or don't remember your old car.. :eek5:

Just one....but it's bigger then bryce's chest.....

Think outside the box. I'm actually probably going to be using 15X12's.

You're getting hot.

I had traction problems at that power level also...but the miata suspension sucks for straight line acceleration, no weight transfer. But, this setup will transfer weight much better.

I highly doubt he is still using the stock uprights... I'd be surprised if he still has a 4x100 pattern.

I are suxxors. Yea, there's no miata diff in the world that can handle 1500hp. Probably going solid axle since its a drag car. I was thinking CTS or the older Cobra IRS would be cool, but as we have all noted, he's researched 100x more than the lot of us combined at the moment. Plenty of learning going on though. I guess I'd rather wait and see what unfolds. And we should have figured he'd tub the rear, for the sizes he wants. Anyway, this got me thinking of a project someone put up on another site, with a few other added complications, including taking a mid engine car and making it front engine. THIS is a guy you should talk to.. hah. I would imagine when he asked about those tires he got similar responses on the fiero forums... 'Monster' fiero even more scary, that think drinks from the bottle too. but its no 1500hp turbo miata.

The CTS-V tranny breaks at stock torque levels in the CTS-V, they are pretty shitty above 400 FT*lbs.

I was talking about diffs... but you still have a good point. Searching a bit, the 8.8 does seem to like to grenade a bit, or so people say...

that fiero is sweet!!

No need to roll fenders. Just backhalve and tub it. There was an old drag Miata from Puerto Rico that was tubbed and backhalved. Built up rotary I think.

I'd imagine he's looking at Strange, Dana, or Moser for a diff.

Frank

Thats got to be crazy.
I had a friend with an old 70 chevy C10. He had a small block 400with 450 hp. Then he added a 200 shot of nos. He was out ran by non-turbo 300Z's. If he punched it at 80 it would light the street tires up. I liked that truck, it was crazzzzy. Gas mileage was terrible though, 4 miles to the gallon.

I can't believe nobody posted that up before. I didn't think about it being solid rear axle conversion and being able to do that.

thats not saying much.

Bryce is small :giggle:



Good luck with it. Bryce has told me about it.

oh bTW. the rotary miata you guys are thinking of was called bambam

When do we get pics of this beast?

I guess it depends on how nice I feel when I get it out of the shop:giggle:

When are you getting it out of the shop?

He should be done the beginning of August...Hopefully I don't have any hold ups.

Been a while since we chatted. Hope things have been going well for you.

Yeah, we got to talk. Everything is good!

Do you miss my dumb questions? :giggle:

I'll email you.

I sure do. Not getting any e-mails is boring.

I'll have to reply with some pictures when I get the e-mail:cool:.

BTW, have you ever seen a T6 turbo? Front mounting that thing is going to suck!!!

No, but my tuner just bought 2 Greddy ones for a drag racing Toyota with a Supra engine he has that look bitchin! I'll take some pics and send them to you tomorrow.

And btw, he also wants to see your setup. He doesn't believe you're going to be making over 1000 whp with only 1 turbo. :giggle:

He hasn't ever heard of a 88mm, 94mm, or 106mm turbo? But, as everyone here should know by now....don't underestimate me:giggle:

Haha, the days of the 61mm are over:)