15" wheels worth it?

DAVE

Specialist
Feb 19, 2017
73
22
0
Dallas, TX
Ride
135i
OK guys, I'm currently running 245/40/18 Hoosier drag radials and to be honest I'm not that happy with them. With my old M&H drag radials in the same size I was able to pull a best of 1.67 60'. With these the best I have been able to get is a high 1.7 on a great day. Most of the time I am just spinning.

With that said I'm looking for a new drag tire setup and I'm wondering if there is any proven benefit to going to a 15" setup. If so what were the results and if not what is the best set up? I'm tired of having great MPH but horrible 60's.
 
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Itsbrokeagain

Corporal
Jan 28, 2018
199
71
0
Strong Island
Ride
E70 X5d, E39 528iT, E46 325xi
Not sure 15s will even fit. 17s will work with stock brakes, but to drop down to 16s you need to do a 328 brake conversion, and even then I think you still need to modify something else back there (although my memory escapes me as to what)
 
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Dec 27, 2016
134
81
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Ride
2010 e90 335i
OK guys, I'm currently running 245/40/18 Hoosier drag radials and to be honest I'm not that happy with them. With my old M&H drag radials in the same size I was able to pull a best of 1.67 60'. With these the best I have been able to get is a high 1.7 on a great day. Most of the time I am just spinning.

With that said I'm looking for a new drag tire setup and I'm wondering if there is any proven benefit to going to a 15" setup. If so what were the results and if not what is the best set up? I'm tired of having great MPH but horrible 60's.

Is your car auto or manual?

Benefit of 15s is obviously more tire. Need to change breaks for it. Not many people have them and post at the track. 17s seem to work well on other platforms, 17 could be more versatile too.

Id love to see a real side by side comparison of 17s vs 15s same car same tune only change the wheels
 

Itsbrokeagain

Corporal
Jan 28, 2018
199
71
0
Strong Island
Ride
E70 X5d, E39 528iT, E46 325xi
Also keep in mind with that kinda wrinklewall, you are going to load your drive line quite a bit more and your chances of breaking an axle or the like increase.
 

Sshec152

Corporal
Nov 3, 2016
213
118
0
Aston pa
ive built 8 second mustangs using a 17" radial but they can fit a 315 tire whereas we can only fit a 275, so for us every little bit helps. if youre manual trans id do the 15" wheel with a bias ply tire and 328i rear springs so you can fit a taller tire as well.
Also keep in mind with that kinda wrinklewall, you are going to load your drive line quite a bit more and your chances of breaking an axle or the like increase.
Its actually the opposite.
 
Dec 27, 2016
134
81
0
Ride
2010 e90 335i
ive built 8 second mustangs using a 17" radial but they can fit a 315 tire whereas we can only fit a 275, so for us every little bit helps. if youre manual trans id do the 15" wheel with a bias ply tire and 328i rear springs so you can fit a taller tire as well.

Its actually the opposite.



15s with a rinkle wall on the street...how bad of an idea is that?
 

colinod

Private
Aug 13, 2017
48
20
0
Ride
2007 e92 335
I drive daily on 275/50 15 mt et street on 25 psi. It works fine and more comfortable, and the sidewall doesnt make the handling hazardous. And on an 8" wide wheel
 

colinod

Private
Aug 13, 2017
48
20
0
Ride
2007 e92 335
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