opinions on summer performance tires...what you using?

[90GT]

So...need to replace the meats on the stang this summer...currently have Toyo Proxes ra1's 275/40/17's all the way around...fronts rub, all are bald... never really had a chance to try them as they came with the rims and pretty much used up. Rims are 17x9 with a 26mm offset. Im currently looking at...

Nitto - NT05's 255/40/17 front, 275 rear

Hankook - Ventus Rs3's 255/40/17's al the way around

Toyo - Proxes Ra1 255/40/17 front, 275 rear

also.. Ive been reading a lot about the Dunlop Direzza ZII star - something rather- tires lately. Seem to be a lot of good reviews on them!

OK, so what is everyone running..?? mostly looking for street tire with maybe a couple auto x's a year.. maybe?.. Looking for educated opinions, links, anything...!

Post 'em up!!

[ZR]

Make mine a vote for Nitto 555.
Running 315 on 10.5's and 275 on 9" fronts.

[TheMustangShow]

That RA1 you have is a nasty tire, but it is more of a Track Day or Comp tire, won't last long if you run it on the street...

I run the Nitto INVO on the Street and happy with those, 555 great tire too, but Nitto don't make my Fitment in that tire.

Michelin Pilots SS are great too.

[ZR]

Dunlop Direzza ZII star

Not sure on a heavy car but work very well on a pair of customers running them on Miata's.

[tulowd]

1) 255/40/17 tire is what is made for a 9" wide 17" rim. The 275 is too wide, and the car will understeer. Having the same sized tires will give you app 50% more total tire life because you can rotate them instead of burning the rears off at 2-3x the rate. Will depend on your power level and driving habits, obviously.

2) the Nitto NT05 is not the best tire for a Fox I've heard, neither is the Invo. Both appear better suited to heavier cars. I run NT01's at the track (255's on 17x9's all around) and they are stellar. Have NT555's for the street on 17x9 and 17x10.5 (255 and 275) and they are great value for the money but not very sticky for track or autocross duty in my opinion. They are also skinny for their size - a 275 NT555 can work ok on a 9" wheel.

3) I was going to buy the Ventus as they seem to be the best $$ value for a sticky dual purpose tire; the Toyo R888 is the other one I was looking at.

4) Calculate your expected mileage per season and then decide. I only drive 5000 km/yr, so I don't care about tire wear moving forward. Sticky for dual purpose and with some kind of tread so the po po are happy is my plan. A super sticky autocross tire is likely no good for anything else, as they are designed to heat up super fast. Not exactly ideal for street or Mosport, unless you wanna wear a set out in a day, lol.

5) I would go with a tire of 200 or lower UTQ rating as that is likely to be sticky and very hi performance oriented. Road force balance them as well. Consider wet traction if your car is a daily driver. Hydroplaning sux, unless you're name is Ayrton or Michael.

Pls let us know what you end up doing.

[Intmdtr]

I wouldn't say that a 255 is a perfect tire for a 9" rim....03/04 cobra came with 9" rim with 275/40/17 all around. I run 9" rims front and back with Nitto 555's.....255 front 275 on back

[tulowd]

I wouldn't say that a 255 is a perfect tire for a 9" rim....03/04 cobra came with 9" rim with 275/40/17 all around. I run 9" rims front and back with Nitto 555's.....255 front 275 on back

Almost every 255/40/17 tire listed on Tire Rack website shows the ideal width to be 9". My understanding is that tire and wheel size was originally developed for the back of 911 Porsches several generations ago.

The smallest 275 tire lists a 9.5" wheel as ideal width. You want to have a properly shaped sidewall, not a bulge or a pull out for best traction in corners and for crisp turn in. The Cobra likely came with the wider tire for some additional sidewall height and ride comfort.

Drag race guys have a different opinion on stuffing a big tire on a narrower rim because their primary concern is launching/traction.

[Intmdtr]

The nittos do run slightly smaller....

[ZR]

Not a fan of 255 on a 9" rim either, looks right on an 8 or 8.5 though. My 275 Nitto's have an almost perfectly flat sidewall on the 9" rim.
I just sold my extra set of Cobra rims with original 275 tires on em, flat n square sidewall as well.

[RedSN]

Yeah, 275 Nitto fits well on a 17x9

I use the NT05's as my track tire, and I like the 555's for the street.

[ZR]

The NT05 works pretty decent, the better the car the better they work.

[Not4you]

Make mine a vote for Nitto 555.
Running 315 on 10.5's and 275 on 9" fronts.

Same here.

And as Tulowd said ... the RA1 is a track tire.

[TurboFox]

I have hankook rs3 on my car right now.

They seem like a decent tire but they dont hold too good at my power level. That being said, i do notice they get stickier with some heat in them.

Ive had several sets of 555s and 555r and they were always decent

[fast Ed]

NT05 are a decent compromise for the street and occasional auto-X / track duty. Just don't expect much grip on colder days, or in the wet once the tread depth is down a bit. Bridgestone has their RE-11 extreme performance street tire, which has better street manners than the NT05, and more wet grip. They also have a new RE-71R coming, which has a similar tread pattern (or lack thereof) to the latest Dunlop Direzza Star Spec. On my 95 SHO I had the first gen Star Specs, they were phenomenal performers on a wet or dry on track, but a bit hard and loud on the street.


cheers
Ed

[Stephen06GT]

Another vote for Nitto555s. 255 on my 8.5" wide Bullitts.

[Speedtospare]

If your on a budget like i was this past summer look at Nankang NS2R. I was leery about buy them and there biggest in 18" was 255. I run a 255/35/18 on a 9" rim and they fit dead square. They are not the best in really bad rain but in dry and light rain they grip like crazy. I'm actually impressed. There soft and only have 180 tread wear but oh boy do they grip. Top top it off they were super cheap. I was under 260 taxes in for a pair. Cool tread pattern :)

http://auctions.wing.c.yimg.jp/sim?furl=auctions.c.yimg.jp/img265.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/users/3/2/7/5/rid2048-org-1417272014423681&dc=1&sr.fs=20000

[fast Ed]

The Nankangs are available in 255/40R17, I think that's the largest 17" size that they offer. I've heard similar feedback to what Ryan has offered.


cheers
Ed

[OldSchool]

The falkin 615k. Is another great dot tire. Great alternative to the NT01s. Which are a great tire as well. I have had both and have zero complaints. Do exactly as adverstised.

[mazzon]

I have nitto NT555's on my stang... they hook pretty good on the street.

I ended up buying mine off walmart in the US, and drove down to pick them up. Cost me $129 a tire for a 275/55/18 i believe compared to a whopping $350 each that KalTire wanted.

[fast Ed]

The 555 is another one that works fairly well, as long as the temps are above 50ish F. The PO of my 07 had a set of them on the car a few years back, I remember driving it at Shannonville on a very cool fall day, and the lack of grip made it pretty awful to drive. So anyone running these tires would just have to be cautious with them early or late in the season in the cooler weather.


cheers
Ed

[98snake]

I put a set of BFG Sport Comp 2's on my convertible last summer....245's up front and 275's out back. I couldn't get them to hook too well at the drag strip with 410's...mainly due to my inexperience at the track...but I'm happy with their overall performance thus far.

[Nsty04SVT]

Running 295/45 R18 NT555's on the Lightning and love them going to throw some on the Cobra as well come spring time.

[RedSN]

^^^that's what I had on my F150. They transformed the way that truck handled.

[NickD]

I would also suggest googling comparisons between any of the nittos and hankook ventus v12
I got mine after reading that most vette people have been racing their pilot super sports with them and they are like half the cost