Time for the 10s.

phunk

18s will give you better grip.

wheel diameter does not effect surface area on the ground, that is tire diameter.

smaller wheels give you more sidewall, and more sidewall gives you more grip. This is because it allows the tire more compliance. More sidewall also increases drivetrain cushioning, softening the blow to things like your axles.

The advantage 19" has over 18" is less/stiffer sidewalls and less compliance. This is ideal for responsive handling, but the opposite of what is ideal for drag racing. 19" is going to hook up worse and be more likely to break your axles... but it will feel more sporty and confident in the turns.

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Arrvaxx

That makes a ton of sense. So it is the sidewall of drag cars that makes them so sticky, not the actually diameter. Interesting. Thanks.

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phunk

Its both!! Its everything! Diameter and Width create the available contact patch. Alignment determines how much of the available contact patch you get to use. Lots of sidewall gives the tire more compliance to smush into the ground and increase surface area while reducing drivetrain shock by absorbing energy that it releases/unwinds as you go.

Many other cars with the same HP as mine wouldnt need the 28" drag tire on 15" wheels. But the 370z cambers so hard when it squats that I need the big sidewall's added compliance to regain some of that lost contact patch. I am hoping it will smush down into the road and let the car grab some pavement for once.

With a proper drag racing suspension, these 28" tires on my Z are WAY overkill. The guy down the street from me who bought my old dyno is running high 7's and low 8's on the same exact tire with his Mustang.

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