Semi Comps VS Street Tyres

[KiWi]

OK guys after a failed attempt at a PM i will post it in Here

Are Semi Comps worth buying for the drag strip in my car or am i worth just running my street tyres with good tread. There has been huge debate regarding they dont get warm enough etc etc So your opinions would be much appreciated

Thanks

Simon

[Emre]

Semi comps will definitely provide you with more traction. They show their worth more with the lateral grip they have, rather than straight line grip but would still perform better than the street tyres at the lights.

If you wanna use it on the drag strip why don't you get a pair of slicks...?

[Fabio's CV8]

It realy depends on how serious you want to get bloke!

Do you plan to go down the cam path one day?

If you have aspirations of going quicker and quicker then semi comps would be a good investment as you would use them over and over again. If you just gonna stay as a bolt on your only going to use them once and then there gonna gather dust.

[KiWi]

im trying to work out if they are going to provide me more grip for the quarter mile off the line cause with street tyres i found i lost to much time with street tyres just spinning them up on launch.

I have considered slicks but i want to get to street trim as much as possible :wave:

Simon

[Pooga]

You can get some 2nd hand semi comps for like $50 each at Manson dude. I would give them a rip before buying new ones. They even have street legal 2nd hand slicks like what Grassy used for his 13.6 pass.

[KiWi]

Would that be the Mansons in Bayswater on Mountain Hwy??

Simon

[AndyP]

Yes Simon, thats the one.......


....and you will love semi-comps on both the street and the strip. It was one of the best things (non-power enhancing) i did on my car, and you will relise that on your first twisty run ;)

[AQICLS3]

Best of both worlds Simon I just got these

Bidgestopne Potenza RE 070 (http://www.honda.co.jp/NSX/nsx-r/challenge/image/02th_img04.gif) :nyuk: :nyuk:

Only problem, I was lucky to get them of an import cannot buy them in Australia. Carnt even find anything on them in english.

I have a second hand pair of Semi-comps I use at Heathcote not sure how well they go didnt get enough runs last time.

Cheers Erik

[KiWi]

OK i rang them and with Easternats just gone he said it would be hard to get some. 15's might have to be the go.

Simon

[Pooga]

I dont think he is the only one with them. May pay to ring around. Try Canterbury Wheels and tyres I think they willl be able to help you.

[HRT.2FAST]

If you wan't traction How about a set of M+H g60's street legal grooved racing tyres
They will go straight on a 15x7 interceptor wheel and won't rub any guards and will give you all the traction you need
Aswell you can drive to and track on them
Cheers Tim

[SchrgdVSV6]

Originally posted by HRT.2FAST
If you wan't traction How about a set of M+H g60's street legal grooved racing tyres
They will go straight on a 15x7 interceptor wheel and won't rub any guards and will give you all the traction you need
Aswell you can drive to and track on them
Cheers Tim

Have you got any prices on these tyres? I also called Manson Tyres and they had no s/h 17" semi-comps, so Im on the lookout for alternatives.... unless someone can source them from elsewhere?

[SchrgdVSV6]

Actually, Manson Tyres do sell the RE540s in a 225/15" size for $330 new :eek: or $100 each second hand.... :)
Sourcing some cheap 15x7 interceptors is my next task (not an easy task!).

[evil_weevil]

are these good just for straight line stuff? (1/4mile)


or can be used for some twisty work / the occasional track day as well?

[Craig]

Originally posted by weevil_LS1
are these good just for straight line stuff? (1/4mile)


or can be used for some twisty work / the occasional track day as well? They are made for twisty/track work :D

[Dane]

Originally posted by AndyP
....and you will love semi-comps on both the street and the strip. It was one of the best things (non-power enhancing) i did on my car, and you will relise that on your first twisty run ;)

.... So the Deawoo handled well then ? :D

Semi comps will offer better traction at the strip if when warmed up, otherwise stay to the road tyers dude. :thumbsup:

Semicomps are designed for track use, thus the hard side walls, the best drags tyers flex in the side wall. Eg: Hoosies. :burnout:

:cheers:

[VTSS]

What kind of an improvement have you guys had for example doing the 1/4 on B530s and then semi comps?

Eric

[QIKMIK]

Originally posted by SchrgdVSV6
Sourcing some cheap 15x7 interceptors is my next task (not an easy task!).

I know we don't like to pay retail, but $50 each from Holden ain't that much.

Mick

[SchrgdVSV6]

Originally posted by QIKMIK
I know we don't like to pay retail, but $50 each from Holden ain't that much.

Mick

I thought they were like $80+ from Holden (15x7 ute rims), last time I checked, but I might be mistaken.

[Mr.Senator]

How much are the Falken Azenis worth new each? and Emre which tyres are you running? And what is tyre wear like if you drove the car around on the streets, not nesecerily every day but often? And those who do use azenis or other ones do they come in 18 inch? and is there a noticable diffrence in traction from street tyres?

[Emre]

I run Bridgestone RE 540 semi comps... I've had them on my car for about 15k kms now and the rears are looking a bit shot now. Fronts have a little left in them.

They are an excellent choice on the circuit and i love the way they grip around the corners on the street, but they are a bit of an hinderance on the drag strip for me as i am not able to warm them up properly. They have very hard side walls and you notice it in ride quality especially if you've done some suspension work already. They are fairly noisy as well.

Matt uses Falken Azenis ST115's on his car and he ran on them on the weekend. Falken also makes semi comps, they are meant to be quieter and come in 18's but i've never used them. I can't imagine them being much inferior to 540's on the street or strip.

If you asked my advice on the tyre choice, i'd say go for good quality tyres on the street and opt for some sort of slicks on the drag strip. If you are planning on doing some circuit work or very spirited street driving then go for the semi comps but still use slicks on the strip. You are trying to get the best possible time out of your car on the strip and semi comps won't the job the slicks can. On a rear wheel drive set up, i'd say you would get less milage then me on the street as well.

Emre.

[VTSS]

I just tracked down interceptor rims at wreckers in Melb.

Brand new 15x7 225/60/15 ER30 Bridgestone Set of 4 $520 Moorabbin 9532 1112.

or

New rim only.

15x6 $22 each
15x7 $45 each

[SchrgdVSV6]

Originally posted by VTSS
15x7 $45 each

$35 each at Factory Direct ;)

Im not gonna bother with 15x7s at the moment, trying to find a second hand set of slicks/drag radials to fit is nearly impossible and getting them new is bloody expensive (Im sure they are worth it though).

Im gonna go for a set of second hand semi comps to suit my 17" rims. These are more readily available, if you know where to look :p

[VTSS]

Originally posted by SchrgdVSV6
$35 each at Factory Direct ;)

Im not gonna bother with 15x7s at the moment, trying to find a second hand set of slicks/drag radials to fit is nearly impossible and getting them new is bloody expensive (Im sure they are worth it though).

Im gonna go for a set of second hand semi comps to suit my 17" rims. These are more readily available, if you know where to look :p


It's a catch 22. I thought of getting semi comp but then I'd have the added cost of two 17x8 rims to buy. I was thinking that the interceptors were the cheepest way to get better grip for now. :D


"If you wan't traction How about a set of M+H g60's street legal grooved racing tyres "

Hi HRT 2FAST, do you know where you can get these M+H tyres? Can you get them second hand and what would they cost?

Cheers

[SchrgdVSV6]

Originally posted by VTSS
It's a catch 22. I thought of getting semi comp but then I'd have the added cost of two 17x8 rims to buy. I was thinking that the interceptors were the cheepest way to get better grip for now. :D

Youre right about the catch 22 situation.... My plan is to get the semi comps put on my current 17x8" rims (remove and store the street tyres on there currently) just before I go up to Heathcote next weekend. :)
Im gonna leave them on (as they are street legal) and use them as much as I can (track and street duties). After I've worn em past thier "use by" point, I will ditch them and put my street tyres back on. By then the car wont be seeing any more track days... it will be retired to make way for a new ride (well thats the plan anyways) ;)
However, for the long term you should definately go for the 15s (with a good drag radial) and chuck em on the back when you need to.

[Space Pope]

I hear that BF Goodrich is about to (or has) released a drag radial that will be ok to get you to and from the track and race. DOT rated. Michelin owns the BF Goodrich brand.

The yanks may hate the french right now but they love these tyres.....anyone given these a shot yet ?

[Craig]

Originally posted by Space Pope
I hear that BF Goodrich is about to (or has) released a drag radial that will be ok to get you to and from the track and race. DOT rated. Michelin owns the BF Goodrich brand.

The yanks may hate the french right now but they love these tyres.....anyone given these a shot yet ? Sounds like the ones Cam was talking about a while back...

Not sure if he decided to get them or not.

[strife]

http://www.vpwmailorder.com/asp/product_page.asp?sub_cat_id=1022&manu_id=

BFG-96724 225/40ZR18
BFG-22700 235/40ZR18
BFG-27878 245/40ZR18
BFG-63422 265/35ZR18
BFG-56372 255/35ZR18

[SchrgdVSV6]

Two Drag Radials from BF to choose from (g- force and comp T/As) :)

http://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/bfgapp/catalog/index_1.jsp

[Hymee]

So these Drag Radials... I assume that would negate the need to have cross ply front runners?

[GOKU]

Semi Comps give you more traction over the norm street tyres. Two disadvantages that i can think of is fast tyre wear and noise. Other than that its an excellent set of tyres to go for. Just my 2cents worth.

[CALDIR]

To Hymee

Yes having the BFGoodrich drag radials do negate the need to have front runners and is why I purchased them. I currently have the BFgoodrich comp drag t/a's on 15" interceptors.

regards,

Richard
CLUBVX

[strife]

on the 18 inch wheels

Comp T/A and g-Force Drag Radial T/A are not currently available in Australia.
They are expected to arrive in the country towards the end of the year. Please
keep checking with www.bfgoodrich.com.au for availability and sizes. All
information will be posted as it becomes available.

thanks for the inquiry.

[RichardM]

BFG Drag Radials (http://www.bfgoodrich.com.au/products/racing.asp)

[Hymee]

Originally posted by RichardM
BFG Drag Radials (http://www.bfgoodrich.com.au/products/racing.asp)

These g-Force thingies- aren't they some sort of video card for the computer ?:stupid:

Cheers,
Hymee.

[CALDIR]

Hi

Just to let everyone know that the BFGoodrich Comp Drag T/A's that I have on my 15" interceptors are also due in December 2003 but I have had them since January 2003. My tyres were specially imported from the US via Stuckey Tyres in Sydney Rd Brunswick. The Comp Drag T/A's are marketed as the Ford/Holden muscle car rear tyres for street use.

The G-Force model of BFGoodrich tyre is better suited too skylines/200sx's etc and is also for street use.

I liked having a 235 on a 15" interceptor and the Comp Drag's came in a 235/60/15 where as the G-Force had to be 235/50/15.

regards,

Richard
CLUBVX

[strife]

Looks like CnC has nittos in stock

I now have Nitto NT555R's in stock!. For those of you who unfamiliar with these tyres they are commonly used in street tyre d#*g racing categories. For more information please see http://www.nittotire.com/tire_nt555r_overview.asp

Pricing:

NT555R 275/50/15 $433.05
NT555R 275/60/15 $405.48
NT555R 245/50/16 $410.50
NT555R 245/45/17 $438.06
NT555R 275/40/17 $455.61
NT555R 315/35/17 $515.76
NT555R 305/45/18 $636.06


Prices are in Australian Dollars and are inclusive GST. Shipping can be arranged to your door at extra cost.