[MCaesar]

Despite its 4,562-pound curb weight, those tires hindered the Charger Hellcat's performance at the dragstrip. The 2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat reached 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and finished the quarter mile in 11.8 seconds at 124.3 mph. The 113-pound-lighter two-door 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat matched the Charger to 60 mph and finished the quarter mile one-tenth quicker and 1.1 mph faster.


Dodge claims the Charger Hellcat can run the quarter mile in 11.0 seconds flat. Although that might be possible on a specially prepped dragstrip, our testing is done on a street-style surface. For comparison, several 488-550-hp Jaguar F-Type V8 S roadsters and Coupe R models we've tested hit 60 mph in 3.4-3.9 seconds and ran the quarter mile in 11.6-12.1 seconds at speeds of 120.2-122.3 mph. The Hellcat's 4,562-pound curb weight, compared to 3,873-3,965 pounds for the F-Type models, and its relatively narrow tires (the Jaguar has wider 295/35R20 tires) keep the Hellcat from reaching its true potential.

The Charger SRT Hellcat rides on 20-by-9.5-inch forged wheels wrapped in 275/40R20 Pirelli P Zero tires on all four corners. If those tires sound narrow for 707 hp, you would be correct. To put that into context, a 275/40R17 was the optional tire size (a 245/50R16 was standard) on the 305-hp 1999-2002 Camaro Z28 and was the standard tire size on the 325-hp Camaro SS and the 390-hp 2003-2004 Ford Mustang Cobra SVT. The 2015 Charger Hellcat makes roughly the same amount of power as those two ponycars combined.

Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests...charger_srt_hellcat_first_test/#ixzz3MjGvEJI2

Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests...charger_srt_hellcat_first_test/#ixzz3MjGoRDN7

 

[squishy332000]

So put wider tires on it. Pretty simple. All you do is complain about narrow tires on the srt vehicles. You'll see going from 275 to 305 or even 315 makes very little difference

 

[702RN]

This was a known problem from the get go from all prospective buyers and enthusiasts. It is just now coming to fruition with all these track tests now that the car is more readily available.

I am very surprised that dodge didn't put slightly wider tires on the rear. There is no reason (to me) that they couldn't have slapped at least 295s on the back end. Very doable with a 9.5 inch rim; not factory recommended but still safe. Or they could have made the rear wheels a half inch bigger and then added wider tires...which wouldn't have cost them squat.

There are far more less powerful cars that are designed for all weather conditions that have wider tires out back. A car with 707 hp that weights over 4k pounds should have had wider tires on the rear from the factory, no question.

All in all this is not really an issue. Most folks aren't going to track the car so for street driving and spirited driving (which was SRT's thought) the 275s are sufficient; wider tires affecting launching capabilities aren't going to be a major concern of the average owner. Plus, getting better tires/wheels will be the first mod for the mod nuts...probably the one and only mod possible/necessary besides cosmetic stuff like lighting or vinyl.

 

[Mcharger]

For a car that will cost just under $70K with options it should have come with the larger rubber. Again we're talking $70K here not $30K. Chrysler should not have cheapened out on the rubber.

 

[Mean R/T]

If your going to spend 70k on a car with 707hp you shouldn't worry about the tires they came with you should just buy better ones chrysler didn't cheap out even if they threw 295s on it would still spin this car needs drag radials or slicks to hook

 

[MCaesar]

1. We don't know what size tires even fit comfortably

2. We don't know if the rest of the drivetrain can take the added pressure of more sticky rubber

3. It is inexcusable to have tires this small with this much power. Spinning your rear wheels at 80mph sounds funny in a test but not so funny when you are driving

 

[Ddaddy]

1. We don't know what size tires even fit comfortably

Sure we do, it's a refresh not a new body. The same tires that fit on the last gen fit on this one.

2. We don't know if the rest of the drivetrain can take the added pressure of more sticky rubber.

Again, sure we do. Dodge ran it on Drag radials on a specially prepped track to get their times. The very stickiest street tires won't put even that much strain on the drivetrain.

3. It is inexcusable to have tires this small with this much power. Spinning your rear wheels at 80mph sounds funny in a test but not so funny when you are driving.

Perhaps, but the reality is there aren't any street tires out there that can contain this much power in any size. No matter what they put on there, it wouldn't be enough.

 

[702RN]

I agree with your last statement. But it's still puzzling why dodge went so small with the rear tires. All comparable vehicles have much wider rear tires from the factory.

I think someone in this thread said there isn't much difference when you jump up in width...there is a huge difference. But with 707 hp wider tires won't make a large difference, but perhaps enough to give the driver a little more confidence.

 

[MCaesar]

Ddaddy

No, we don't know

There is a huge difference between slapping on some tires for a few test runs and running that every day for 200,000 miles.

It is ok to love the Hellcat while at the same time admitting that Dodge dropped the ball with respect to tires

Also, it is ridiculous to say that just because the Hellcat can break free from any tires that 275s are acceptable

They are not

Yes, it would also spin 335s on the rear but they would spin a lot less and the driver would have significantly more control

It is a weakness of the car

 

[a14umbra]

No, we don't know

There is a huge difference between slapping on some tires for a few test runs and running that every day for 200,000 miles.

It is ok to love the Hellcat while at the same time admitting that Dodge dropped the ball with respect to tires

Also, it is ridiculous to say that just because the Hellcat can break free from any tires that 275s are acceptable

They are not

Yes, it would also spin 335s on the rear but they would spin a lot less and the driver would have significantly more control

It is a weakness of the car

A weakness that the majority are willing to accept, considering the complete package.

 

[Wheelie]

1) Shouldn't this issue be largely resolved with software?

2) For the life of me I cannot figure out why these two cars were not offered (standard) with AWD.

Or just talk to the Russians. They seem to have figured out tire size and drive line requirements for 1300+ HP. They might be able to help Dodge out a little.

.

 

[Ddaddy]

The 2015 Charge is built on the same platform as the 2011-2014 Charger.

The geometry limits the tire size to 275/40 front and 315/35 rear (on 10" rims). Since Dodge generally doesn't do staggered wheel set ups on cars other than the Viper, they chose 275/40 all around.

Perhaps they could have added a staggered set up...but until they change the platform in the next generation, the choices are limited beyond that.

The truth is that we got a 707 HP supercharged beast that by all rights shouldn't even exist within the reality of the Fiat Merger. If the tire size doesn't meet everyone's expectations, well then boo-hoo.

Buy the car and put wider tires on it.

 

[Mean R/T]

The truth is that we got a 707 HP supercharged beast that by all rights shouldn't even exist within the reality of the Fiat Merger. If the tire size doesn't meet everyone's expectations, well then boo-hoo.

Buy the car and put wider tires on it.[/QUOTE]

Best thing I heard

 

[tacamo01]

I agree with Ddaddy! Dodge has never gone to a staggered setup except for the VIPER. GM and Ford have been doing it for a while. IMO, Dodge did a great job of keeping the price down below what the CTS-V, Corvette (Same options) and new Mustang GT350 is for MY15/16. We get a 4 door 707 hp ride that with proper traction will best these cars on the drag strip in straight line performance.

I have been doing some research and you can put on the larger tires like Ddaddy stated. The platform is the same and the larger wheels/shoes will fit. To give you an idea of what the extra traction would be like with the 8 speed, read up about guys on the Challenger side that are getting great times with the scat pack 6.4L and added traction. The last post I read with time slips to prove it, a Challenger scat pack with 295/35/20 tires ran a 12.2 quarter mile. He will get even lower with more practice on the strip. Most guys are reporting 12.7 and 12.8 with the 8 speed and stock tires.

Keeping the cost down is what Dodge did a great job of. If I get the Hellcat this year the first thing I will be doing is putting on a good set of forged staggered wheels. There will be need to worry about the rear end fish tailing when you punch it at 60mph.

 

[SRT8U]

The 2015 Charge is built on the same platform as the 2011-2014 Charger.

The geometry limits the tire size to 275/40 front and 315/35 rear (on 10" rims). Since Dodge generally doesn't do staggered wheel set ups on cars other than the Viper, they chose 275/40 all around.

Perhaps they could have added a staggered set up...but until they change the platform in the next generation, the choices are limited beyond that.

The truth is that we got a 707 HP supercharged beast that by all rights shouldn't even exist within the reality of the Fiat Merger. If the tire size doesn't meet everyone's expectations, well then boo-hoo.

Buy the car and put wider tires on it.

This....end of story

 

[PlumCrazyDaytona]

The 2015 Charge is built on the same platform as the 2011-2014 Charger.

The geometry limits the tire size to 275/40 front and 315/35 rear (on 10" rims). Since Dodge generally doesn't do staggered wheel set ups on cars other than the Viper, they chose 275/40 all around.

Perhaps they could have added a staggered set up...but until they change the platform in the next generation, the choices are limited beyond that.

The truth is that we got a 707 HP supercharged beast that by all rights shouldn't even exist within the reality of the Fiat Merger. If the tire size doesn't meet everyone's expectations, well then boo-hoo.

Buy the car and put wider tires on it.

I agree!!!

The HellCats are amazing vehicles with no business case to be built at an unbelievable price point. And now we are knit picking things like tire sizes????
Wards 10 best engines list...
Car and Driver raves about the car
Road and Track loves the car..
So many magazines rave about these cars...yet on Chargerforums a few still need to hate and knit pick an amazing car....

I would love to roll back the clock and hear how the same ones would bash the HEMI cars from 64-70........