Nitto, Launches, 60 Feet etc...
 

I'm really kind of at the end of my rope and I need some help.

I started using some Nitto 555Rs at the track this year and my times are actually getting worse! My 60' times especially. I could pull a 2.2 60' on some (nearly BALD) Dunlop SP Sport 5000s last year and run a 14.3 ET, which I'm cool with... But I got thse tires in the hopes that I could improve my 60' times and any time I've used these stupid tires, my 60' are now 2.4 or 2.5 and my ET has dropped from 14.9 to 15.1... This SUCKS!

I guess at the same time, I'm really not sure I know how to use them exactly. I tried them at 22 PSI and then 16 PSI and the lower I got, the slower I got... :-\ I don't burnout in the waterbox. I've tried it with and w/o FTL (Uberdata), although I think my 3,500 RPM FTL may be too low. Do you still try to feather out the launch with FTL or just dump it? I was getting ok grip in first with FTL but then I'd end up spinning in second. Sometimes it would bog too.

I don't know... It just seems like every "great" idea I come up with just makes things worse... The only other thing I can think of is that I have a Z6 with a huge T3 (.60/.63) turbo. I had some lag before and I wonder if that lag is made worse by the drag radials...

Re: Nitto, Launches, 60 Feet etc...
 

You said it yourself; you don't burn out in the waterbox. Nitto's need to heat up in order to stick. They really suck when they're cold. My buddy has them and can get ~1.9-2.0 on them no prob.

Re: Nitto, Launches, 60 Feet etc...
 

yep get a nice burn out with them

Re: Nitto, Launches, 60 Feet etc...
 

Really? I did some searching and the general idea I got was that you don't need to do burnouts with drag radials, just slicks...

What about tire PSI or launch RPM? I've been steadily dropping the pressure to gain traction and it's not working. But I also have had a bad habit of dumping the clutch when I launch. I've gotten better about it, but I think I lay on it too quickly and spin the tires. Even with FTL, I end up bogging a little in first and spin them in 2nd.

------- A, I need to learn how to launch! ;D

If I continue to use FTL though, I don't think Uberdata has a switch to turn it off. So it has to be high enough to do burnout, but low enough to control traction.

Re: Nitto, Launches, 60 Feet etc...
 

i busted a 2.001 with my 300zx on a 130k suspension, and i always do a fatty burnout before. i bet the old school guys are wondering what the SSQ bov sound is.

Re: Nitto, Launches, 60 Feet etc...
 

I've never used FTL, or uberdata for that matter. I would assume that if you used different clutch methods along with the FTL type thing you should be okay.

Now, I assume that FTL lets you floor it, but the engine will stay at a steady RPM rather than climb. If this is the case, dump the clutch in order to do a burnout. If you dump it, your tires will spin (especially if they're cold). Grab for the ebrake to help so you don't fly forward. Once that is done, continue on up and stage. I would do a fully throttle launch, but slowly feather the clutch (don't dump it like you did with the burnout). This is the method that I have used and yes, it does take some practice.

Re: Nitto, Launches, 60 Feet etc...
 

I don't suppose you know if drag radials are supposed to be fully inflated or partially inflated?

I do remember checking Nitto's site and they really don't offer much in the way of info on how to use their tires. 'll have to look again.

And thanks for the comments! Keep 'em coming!

Re: Nitto, Launches, 60 Feet etc...
 

I would put them at about 20-25 psi. They have soft sidewalls, but is you deflate them a bit you'll get a better contact patch. Every domestic and import guy I've talked to has also burned the ---- out of their nittos. I have two friends with F-bodies in the 360 WHP range and they are using Nittos right now. They grip pretty damn good even with they're almost bald.

Re: Nitto, Launches, 60 Feet etc...
 

maybe you're car just sucks now.... its not like stock block turbo hondas last very long.

Re: Nitto, Launches, 60 Feet etc...
 

i put mine at about 18psi, thats when i busted the 2.0, first it was 25 = 2.2 21 = 2.1 18 = 2.001

Re: Nitto, Launches, 60 Feet etc...
 

Oh yeah, I forgot... when things don't work the way they're supposed to, I'm just supposed to give up and say "aw shucks"... :'(

Thanks for the other replies... If I can sneak out of work, I'm going back out Friday. ;D

Re: Nitto, Launches, 60 Feet etc...
 

heat up those nittos and keep launching harder. if you bog out...launch harder and harder, til you dont bog anymore.

Re: Nitto, Launches, 60 Feet etc...
 

i thought u could control it with the a/c switch?

Re: Nitto, Launches, 60 Feet etc...
 

I thought I read somewhere that that was for the FTS, not FTL.

Re: Nitto, Launches, 60 Feet etc...
 

I"m just trying to help you out. I would have thought that you would have tried heating them up already too. so if its not the tires... then its probly something else

Re: Nitto, Launches, 60 Feet etc...
 

slap on some cheap slicks, launch at 7500 rpm, be done.

Proper way to do a burnout.........notice I'm not in the water.......

http://www.bettendorf.com/~mrbone/pi...burnout2nd.jpg

Re: Nitto, Launches, 60 Feet etc...
 

Edgewater?

Re: Nitto, Launches, 60 Feet etc...
 

yeah thats edgewater

Re: Nitto, Launches, 60 Feet etc...
 

both are wrong, it's tristate..........you can see route 128 in the background

this is edgewater.........

http://www.bettendorf.com/~mrbone/pi...hnTA/treed.jpg

Re: Nitto, Launches, 60 Feet etc...
 

Ah, is Tri-State closer to you or just tired of the shitty track Edgewater has?

Re: Nitto, Launches, 60 Feet etc...
 

do you guys ever go to kil kare? we usualy cant run edgewater because the end of the track is to ruff for the bikes.

Re: Nitto, Launches, 60 Feet etc...
 

Haven't in a while, was on second shift in Huber for about a year...now I work in Fairfield and don't feel like driving the 60 miles to Xenia. Once I get the CRX boosted I'll try to make it up there more.
You've probably seen my brothers up there though, one is a sbc Sonoma (maroon) runs about a 12.89 or so, the other is a black Trans-Am with Billet Speciailties wheels running in the 13's.

Re: Nitto, Launches, 60 Feet etc...
 

ive seen that sonoma, is it tubed out with some kind of colored rear end or leaf springs or somthing. and stickers on the back glass? i see lots of trans-ams up there. so i dont rember that

Re: Nitto, Launches, 60 Feet etc...
 

Nope, plain jane sonoma. Daily drives it, time to reubild the tranny though we broke it doing donuts the other day....lasted nearly 100k miles and 150+ drag strip passes so yeah it held up pretty good. Runs Trans Am wheels on it most of the time, I think his stickies are mounted on Iroc-Z wheels.

Re: Nitto, Launches, 60 Feet etc...
 

So do you just completely disregard the idea of tire slippage and go?

Re: Nitto, Launches, 60 Feet etc...
 

if your track sprays down traction compound and its well maintained you shouldent slip if you just have a 14 flat car.

Re: Nitto, Launches, 60 Feet etc...
 

Define traction slippage..........

A rubber compund works BEST when slipping......

When launching my slicks @ 12 psi spin about 1/2 - 3/4 rev and the car holeshots away!!!!!!

Ricewater of Tristate........Tristate preps theie track better, Edgewater won;t ever go back to race on a T&T night. I was told I had to run with the street tire cars which at Edgewater they force you to line up out of the groove. No traction possible.

22x8x13's @ 8 psi, spinning badly on a NA launch. Went back to the old lady who has taken my entry fee for 10 years, she refunded my money and I went home.

If your name isn't Gary Rohe or Dick Weinle son, you get NO track prep. NO VHT even with a oil down. I've even seen people offer $$$ to have some VHT put down.............sorry........

Kilkare and Tristate have about the same bumpy track and SHORT shutdown area.

Re: Nitto, Launches, 60 Feet etc...
 

Made it out for two runs Friday...

First run was 2.2 60' & 14.47 ET, which was very nice considering... Seems like I was either dragging my ass in the burnout box or my E-brake was slipping because my FTL turned off. That sucked. But a 'light" barely smokey burnout & launching at 5,500 RPM worked pretty good.

My 2nd run I swicthed chips to try the BBKA bin with 5,500 RPM FTL. I sat in the box a bit longer and smoked my tires up good... I think a little too good because I got some really crappy wheel hop. I got something like a 2.6 60' & 15.5 ET.

Then it rained, so I went home. ;D All in all, I see much more potential. Thanks for all the tips... hopefully I can get that 60' time lower and work down to 13's... :o

Re: Nitto, Launches, 60 Feet etc...
 

I just picked up a pair of g-force DR's today. I look forward to seeing how they do versus my tiny slicks that could do no better than a 2.0 60ft. I'd be willing to bet the DR's will do better. It's all in that first 60 feet :)

Re: Nitto, Launches, 60 Feet etc...
 

i haven't had too much luck with my 555r's at the track either, but they're nice on the street as my daily driver tires. i've only been to the track with them once so i'm sure i could pull a 2.0 at least with them with some more practice, but slicks are where it's at, 24.5x9, just dump the clutch at about 7500 and hold on >:D