I have done lots of searches and read lots of reviews and have narrowed my choices down to 555RII's for $166ea(discounttiredirect) or the Goodyear F1's for about $185 on tirerack.

I will be putting these on SS rims(275/40/17) and want good handling on the street and occasionally on the track. I don't plan on driving too much in the rain so that is not a major issue. I would also prefer a tire that can last around 20k miles. Which of the two do you reccomend? How bad are the Nitto drag radials for street driving compared to the RII's? I might consider those as an option as well.

BTW are there any places I can get either of these cheaper?

Thanks!
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Considering the 555rII is an autocross tire, I'd go with the F1's out of the 2 you listed. Although I've gone through 2 different sets of Goodyear tires (old style F1's and GSC's) and haven't been too happy with them.

 

why are you looking at an autocross tire? or are you going to be autocrossing your car?

I run the 555 Extreme's on the front and they are just as good if not better than the SZ50's that I had on there before. I run the 555R (DRs) in the back and those work great, I got about 12K outta them... that was being fairly rough with them to, but the 555II's won't last much longer I can imangine.. I think they're the same compound, just different tread.

Actually the best place to get Nitto's is Discounttiredirect.com.. actually I've got to order new rears soon for my car.. they're bald in the middle...

 

Hello,

I have the NT555R and I love it. I do not know why people act like you can't drive in the rain on these. I may not quite go the speed limit when it rains but I do not have any trouble. Most of my problems with rain are caused by these wide tires front and rear hydroplaning easier.

They are right about the NT555RII. It is a soft tread compound tire and Discount put them on my car first when I bought the drag radials. I noticed a few days later and there tech department confirmed that the II version is not for drag racing so mine were changed for the NT555R without the II.

If you are serious about traction and street manners the Nitto is the way to go.

 

Thanks guys. By what I understand, the RII is exactly the same as the R except the sidewalls are stiffer to reduce flex and heat buildup. My impression was that the R's would be too flexible for decent cornering on the street- and I liked the fact that the RII's are Z rated. Granted I've only taken my car over 149mph once but I feel more secure knowing my tires are comfortable at speeds that high.

Having said that, I'm still not sure whether I want the drag radials or the RII's! Anyone else? I think I'll be getting one of those instead of goodyear.

 

Any more opinions?

 

(I am thinkin gof getting some nitto 555r drag radials so to the top for ya.. I am curious

 

I had 2 sets of Nitto 555R's out back for the last 2 years. VERY nice in the dry, hooked well at the track (blew up 2 posi's ) although in the rain they were white-knuckle highway driving. things were ok unless you kit puddles or grooves it the road.

If this is a back-roads daily driver, or even just a weekend warrior I'd go with the drag radials (in actualality though I'd probably look at the 555RII's instead... the 555R's are a bit "skuirmy" compared to normal radials).

The F1's are great tires though. I have a set right now that I'm running on the street. I love the tread life and the bite/hook it great considering it's not a <100 tread life tire like the Nitto's, F1 Supercars, Potenza Pole Positions, etc...

Best street tire I've had in all round use... the Firehawk SZ50 EP's would be second. Nitto would be the hand's down winner for dry grip in you don't mind replacing tires each year.

 

Thanks, that was really helpful :P I'm from Olympia originally so I can hear you about the rain! I plan on buying a second car for rainy days or snow so wet grip won't be TOO much of an issue, but I also like taking my Z on road trips so I will have to think about this.

And you have reopened my dilemna on RII's or R's! The squirminess is what I was afraid of on the R's. I wonder what the difference would be at the track...

Have you done 1/4 times on the F1's vs. the Nitto's?

 

If I was to choose between the 555R and the 555RII? R2's no question. One guy on my team mentioned the II's hook just as well and feel much better laterally. Both are made with the same rubber compound from what I've been told so that makes sense.

As for the F1's, the tires I'm referring to are actually the F1 GS's models that Tirerack sells for $200+. I don't have any info on the new F1 GS D3's other than Open Road Racing guys wont touch em. The "long block" design generates/retains too much heat at high speeds (these guys run and AVERAGE of 150mph over a 1/2 hour race, peaking aroun 200 mph for some cars). Yeah it looks cool, and probably does good in the rain, but it's clear by their pricing plan that the F1 GS D3 just isn't on the same level as the F1 GS and the F1 Supercar tires.

The Firehawk SZ50's were nice, but the F1 GS tires STOP great. anyone can break free a tire and say it doesn't hook well, but threshold breaking with a F1 GS is much better than the SZ50's I ran before them.

Unfortunately I don't have any F1 GS times, (or obviously F1 GS D3 times) for you since I only run them up front. On the rear I have 17 x11" ZR1 rims that currently house GSC's that came with my rims. I'll probably put 315 Nitto 555RII's on the rear when they are released later this Fall.

I sent you mail on the F1 GS's as well.

 

Hi,

I had the II put on by mistake and got 1.96 & 2.06 60' next week I had the drag radials and 1.84 & 1.88 60' times. Which would you prefer. If you ask me the NT555R feels less squirmy then the NT555RII did although I only had those for a week.