New Mickey Thompsons - man what a difference

[Shootnride]

Originally Posted by JohnnyRay

Sounds like MT SRs are the right tire for road and track use?
I see that there is a range of front tire size being selected throughout the tire threads - 235(/50)s in this instance, 245s and 255s for others. Comments on this? Might as well chime in on 275/60 vs 295/50 for the rear while we are having the discussion. What really fits best on each end?
Also wondering if MT offers a white letter option? I have old Goodyears now, and like the look of the white lettering. I don't think I am interested in doing a billboard conversion on my own...

I have had the MT SR's and ST's on my car. With the SR's I had the 26x10x15 on front and the 28x12x15 on the rear. I was never able to get the rear ride height lowered to my satisfaction without having rubbing issues. I ordered a pair of the 26x12x15's for the rear but never put them on because the height of the tire was shorter than I wanted. I ended up buying the 255/60-15 and 295/55-15 ST's which are on my car now and I've been very happy with them. I feel that the SR's were a little stickier (MT doesn't give them a TW rating) but I have autocrossed with the ST's and they work pretty well. (ST's have a 440TW rating). Also, you said you like the white lettering. The ST's do have white lettering, the SR's do not.

Ted

[JohnnyRay]

Originally Posted by Shootnride

I have had the MT SR's and ST's on my car. With the SR's I had the 26x10x15 on front and the 28x12x15 on the rear. I was never able to get the rear ride height lowered to my satisfaction without having rubbing issues. I ordered a pair of the 26x12x15's for the rear but never put them on because the height of the tire was shorter than I wanted. I ended up buying the 255/60-15 and 295/55-15 ST's which are on my car now and I've been very happy with them. I feel that the SR's were a little stickier (MT doesn't give them a TW rating) but I have autocrossed with the ST's and they work pretty well. (ST's have a 440TW rating). Also, you said you like the white lettering. The ST's do have white lettering, the SR's do not.

Ted

Thanks Ted! If the STs are good enough to keep a Cobra planted, then they sound like what I am after...

[cycleguy55]

As the OP indicated in post #10, he's running M/T ET Street S/S. These are NOT drag radials, and the M/T site includes this:

ET Street S/S
A street tire that can be driven on the track....
ET Street S/S from Mickey Thompson is a high performance street to strip tire with radial construction, R2 compound and more; 15- to 20-inch fitments.

• D.O.T. approved for street use.
  
• Equivalent Tread Void as the ET Street Radial II, redistributed for improved hydroplane resistance while providing plenty of tread contact for excellent dry traction.
• Proven R2 compound, the same proven compound used on the quickest "drag radials" on the planet provides superior traction at the strip while little or no burnout required.

More at https://www.mickeythompsontires.com/...tem=ETStreetSS

[undy]

Originally Posted by cycleguy55

As the OP indicated in post #10, he's running M/T ET Street S/S. These are NOT drag radials, and the M/T site includes this:

ET Street S/S
A street tire that can be driven on the track....
ET Street S/S from Mickey Thompson is a high performance street to strip tire with radial construction, R2 compound and more; 15- to 20-inch fitments.

• D.O.T. approved for street use.
  
• Equivalent Tread Void as the ET Street Radial II, redistributed for improved hydroplane resistance while providing plenty of tread contact for excellent dry traction.
• Proven R2 compound, the same proven compound used on the quickest "drag radials" on the planet provides superior traction at the strip while little or no burnout required.

More at https://www.mickeythompsontires.com/...tem=ETStreetSS

Yes, they are drag radials. That's what the R2 compound is. Drag radials are also DOT compliant. I've been running them for 20 years...

Just a bit improved over the non-S/S

http://www.mickeythompsontires.com/strip.php

[cycleguy55]

Originally Posted by undy

Yes, they are drag radials. That's what the R2 compound is. Drag radials are also DOT compliant. I've been running them for 20 years...

Just a bit improved over the non-S/S

Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels

There's far more to a tire than just the rubber compound. While both the ET Drag Radials and the ET Street S/S use the same compound, that doesn't make them equivalent tires.

Interesting that your drag radials are DOT compliant, while the M/T Web site says they're not. Must have made a mistake on their Web site. Go figure.

[flipper35]

The ET Street *.* tires are all tires meant for the strip. Syntax aside they are effectively drag radials and are all DOT legal tires.

[1795]

DOT designation does not mean all tires are road legal. Many vintage racing groups require DOT tires, which means they are not slicks and have some minimal tread, but are not road legal. The reason that many of these DOT tires are not road legal is that they have poor handling characteristics on wet pavement, and virtually no handling on snow. Most of these tires will have some form of disclaimer stating that they are not road legal.

[cycleguy55]

Originally Posted by 1795

DOT designation does not mean all tires are road legal. Many vintage racing groups require DOT tires, which means they are not slicks and have some minimal tread, but are not road legal. The reason that many of these DOT tires are not road legal is that they have poor handling characteristics on wet pavement, and virtually no handling on snow. Most of these tires will have some form of disclaimer stating that they are not road legal.

What, no good on snow? No way I'm putting them on my Cobra.

[Bernica]

Originally Posted by cycleguy55

What, no good on snow? No way I'm putting them on my Cobra.

They do make cable chains for 15" tyres, should you need to scoot to the market some time in the snow! Report back on how dat works out!

[cycleguy55]

Originally Posted by 1795

DOT designation does not mean all tires are road legal. Many vintage racing groups require DOT tires, which means they are not slicks and have some minimal tread, but are not road legal. The reason that many of these DOT tires are not road legal is that they have poor handling characteristics on wet pavement, and virtually no handling on snow. Most of these tires will have some form of disclaimer stating that they are not road legal.

Verbiage used by M/T when they announced the ET Street S/S (Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels):

Stow, OH - 07/01/15 - Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels announced today the availability of its next generation tire from the ET Street Radial line - the ET Street S/S - an impressive performance radial street tire that’s drag-strip ready.

The ET Street S/S (S/S is for street-to-strip) combines the proven R2 drag tire compound with polyester-ply, steel belted, tubeless radial construction to deliver an exceptional combination of dry-traction performance, strength and reliability.

Verbiage used by M/T when they announced the expansion of the line to include additional sizes (Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels):

Stow, OH - 01/13/16 - The popular ET Street S/SET Street S/S tire line from Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels has been expanded to include 12 additional sizes, and is now available in a range of 18 15- to 20-inch sizes.

The ET Street S/S is a performance radial street tire that’s drag-strip ready. It combines the proven Mickey Thompson R2 drag tire compound with polyester-ply, steel belted, tubeless radial construction to deliver dry-traction performance, strength and reliability.

"The ET Street S/S is a truly incredible street performance tire that looks fantastic and is ready for the drag strip on the weekend," stated Jason Moulton, Product Development Manager for Mickey Thompson.

D.O.T. approved for street use, the ET Street S/S is recommended for dry traction. To review the complete list of sizes or buy now, visit MickeyThompsonTires.com.

It's interesting that, in both news releases, M/T referred to them as "street tire that’s drag-strip ready", not as a "drag tire that's street legal." Also of note are "truly incredible street performance tire", "D.O.T. approved for street use" and "recommended for dry traction."

What, not an approved snow tire? Damn.

[MaSnaka]

I have the 15" ET's on all 4 corners and am very happy with them on the street. Keep in mind our Cobras are lighter than a full size muscle car in the turns. I like them at 26psi front and 24 psi rear. I found at 30psi the rears don't get nearly the grip as with the lower pressure. I think too low pressure will cause the sidewalls to be squishy. I try and avoid driving on the wet stuff but the snow...sounds like fun. I think the tire you have has improved street capabilities which I would be curious to try although I am happy the way things are. Stay safe.

John

[1795]

Ok, enough of the snow jokes. I mentioned it because some people use DOT approved racing tires on other cars other than cobras, and besides, I know of at least one cobra owner who drove his cobra all winter long in some pretty substantial snow. I have also seen pictures of cobras in the snow. But, enough of that. The critical thing is that, as others have mentioned, these cars are light and the likelihood of hydroplaning on wet roads is increased over other types of cars. The issue that makes some of the DOT tires not suitable for the road is that they are made for dry pavement and do not have adequate tread to prevent hydroplaning.

Most people do not drive in the rain, but you never know when you will be caught in an unexpected downpour or even a slight drizzle. If you do get caught in the rain with less than optimum rain tires, use a racers trick, do not drive in the common tire paths as that is where the most oil and rubber will be imbedded in the road and therefore the least amount of traction in wet conditions. Move a few inches to one side and be prepared.

[flipper35]

I have driven in 4" of fresh snow. A friend was up from OK in November to visit in the upper midwest so I took her for a ride while it was snowing. It was cold and even 4th was miserable.

[cycleguy55]

Originally Posted by flipper35

I have driven in 4" of fresh snow. A friend was up from OK in November to visit in the upper midwest so I took her for a ride while it was snowing. It was cold and even 4th was miserable.

The only time I drove the Cobra in snow was when I was putting it into storage. The length of my driveway, across the street, then the length of the neighbour's driveway where I was storing it - a total distance of perhaps 300 feet. It took a very light touch on the throttle and brakes - I certainly wouldn't want to be driving it very far.