Tires, what do you guys think?

[braumab]

Right now, I have a set of pirelli's that are horrible for what I want. They came with the car ... I've come to the conclusion that they don't like to heat up, they just enjoy hydroplaning in and out of traffic when it's wet and spin in one spot when it's dry .. Though they look nice, don't get me wrong. Anyway, I'm interested to see as to what kind of tires you guys are pushing... I'm interested in running the quarter mile and that's about it. I'm look at a set of Nitto's NT555RII. Look like they'll catch well. What do you guys use? If Goodyear has some good tires that heat up, I may go that route ... only because I know a guy...

[PureVenom]

You won't want the RII's for the strip. Those are for autocross type stuff. If you want rears that are sticky, go with the 555R drag radials. You will get about 15-20k miles out of them and they do well in the rain. They run about $160ish or so apiece depending on size.

[braumab]

That isn't bad at all. I might go with those.. Get together eh? Hmmm..

[PureVenom]

Originally Posted by braumab

That isn't bad at all. I might go with those.. Get together eh? Hmmm..

Yeah, the panama one fell through, but there will be another in the spring/early summer I believe and I am trying to get one together to drive up to NY for a national car show.

We have been trying to have at least one regional get together for the past couple years. it has been working out so we will probably continue.

[hottcobra]

I second the NT555Rs for the rear I had them and they worked well on the street. But I had to step up to M/T drag radials for the track. If you do get them you need to get a set of NT555 for the front to complete the look sense the stockers are so tall

[hottcobra]

Rob let me know when the NY meet is. thats sounds like a great road trip

[Thomas91169]

haha 555R's + anything but warm weather = SUCK!

the compound is nice and sticky in warm weather which makes it hard to break traction unless you really want to (even in 1st), i can outlaunch and out corner my buddies WRX(he has some racing clutch, built tranny since he blew his stocker, stronger shafts and KDW2's all around), however in cold or rain, the compound hardens and all of a sudden you are getting squirrely in 3rd. Rain? the tread pattern is not designed to sheet rain away (such as compared to a KDW2 or something) so no, its definately not a weather tire.

I have 555R out back (315's) and i have to be careful in the rain because it is very easy to get the rears loose, just about anytime i build boost they break loose. I really want to get another set of rims and throw some KDW2's on that set and reserve my 555R's for drag and fun days (ie spending the day in the mountains) and use the KDW2's for all around driving. Plus they last alot longer than the 555R, and dont leave black on my rear bumper just from normal driving and the compound dusting my rear bumper, especially freeway driving, i can wash the car, hop on the freeway for 10 minutes, not do anything but normal driving, and stop and my rear bumper will be blackened a bit.

[braumab]

I guess it's going to be hard to find a good sticky that does well in the rain... perhaps a set for the weekends would be ideal. I can swing that. So the suggestion is 555R all around then?

[PureVenom]

No, you don't need the 555R's in the front. They are too soft and not really meant to be used as a front tire. You would use the 555R's in the back and then the regular 555's in the front.

How much power are you making in reality? Not up on what your car is off hand. The 555R should be plenty...I have no problems with them down here in the rain at all. The only time they got squirly on me in the rain was when I had practically no tread left on them at all.

However, currently, they are not enough for the street anymore. I break them loose all the time and need to bump up to the Mickey Thompson drag radials.

[Aidan_04]

I like tires. I just want some in my house to smell em.

:dunno:

/weird.

[slostang]

ever thought about the BFG KDW's? Had those on my vette and loved them! They had great dry traction and wet.

[slostang]

[hottcobra]

I thought those were made for FWD cars

[PureVenom]

Originally Posted by slostang

That style is only for 18's....the 17 version is just like regular tires.

[lowflyn]

They make that tread in a 225/45-17...

but I'm gonna be running those in the 295 on the rear starting wed.

[PureVenom]

Originally Posted by lowflyn

They make that tread in a 225/45-17...

but I'm gonna be running those in the 295 on the rear starting wed.

Yeah, and who is going to run 225 on a 9" rim? Or even on an 8" rim?

Always pissed me off that they didn't make that pattern in any usable 17" sizes.

[hottcobra]

thats what I'm saying a 225 is a sport compact size

[Thomas91169]

they make KDW's up to 295's IIRC. i couldnt find any in 305 or 315's when i was looking last year.

[PureVenom]

Originally Posted by Thomas91169

they make KDW's up to 295's IIRC. i couldnt find any in 305 or 315's when i was looking last year.

Yes, they do, however they do not make that pattern....

the drag radials are pretty much 18's only....unless a 205 15 will work for you
Tire Sizes - Discount Tire Direct

the KDW NT's come in 225's at most for 17" rims....

Tire Sizes - Discount Tire Direct

The regular KDW comes in usable sizes...but might as well get nittos as the patter is the same and it will save you $20ish per tire....
Tire Sizes - Discount Tire Direct

Unless you can order those other ones special, I have never seen any in 1 usable 17" size.

[MarkuzLS1]

I ran regular 555's on the back of my TA and Falkens on the front. The Falkens were cheap as hell, since that car would wear out a front tire in no-time. The 555's stuck fairly well, for a street tire. For the track, I had an extra pair of wheels wrapped in ET Street radials. Those things would really grab. That car had 275x40's all the way around, btw.

[bbunt302]

The old style KDW’s are a much better tire than the Nitto 555s. I’ve had both and would highly recommend the BFGs.

[fear1]

Well that answers some of my questions, I always ran BFG's and hated Goodyears. How are the KDW's for roadnoise and what kind of mileage can you expect from them. I don't race, but every now and then I do get a little spirited. I guess with the Pypes out back the noise won't be as much of an issue though.

[braumab]

wow, the replies have stacked up since yesterday afternoon. heh ... I haven't dyno'd my car but I ran with a GTO last night and I kept up, of course .. he might have been playing with me, but that isn't the point. I guesstimate around 340hp off hand so in reality, I guess around 320 to 330ish? maybe more, I don't know, I don't lose very often if we race from a coasting start. To answer the question way up, so then, 555R's on the back and 555's on the front for nitto's, and BFG's!? nice. I'll also look into KDW's ... what types or KDW's to consider? Thanks for the all the help fellas.

[Y2E0L0L5OGWT]

I run Toyo T1R Proxes....thats my street tire of choice...

*edit* With the mods you listed to your car previous, you are probably seeing around 325-330 hp at the motor, which equates to about 295-300 hp at the wheels for a manual tranny...significantly less, maybe 280-285ish at the wheels for an automatic...a bone stock GT dyno's around 270 at the wheels...and a stock GT with a good driver can run dead even with a GTO that makes about 400 at the motor and 360 at the wheels...The reason for this is WEIGHT...and a few other things like gearing, hp/torque curve, etc...but my point was that an 05+ GT and GTO are more or less about even as far as performance...But the GTO is significantly more expensive...Hence the reason it died a horrible death lol...but good job keeping up, now beat him next time...(assuming his is stock)

[braumab]

hah. Thanks! I will try my best. It was more or less a "chase each other" kind of deal. I pulled in front, hit 130 and tried to dust him, he was on my tail, then we got in traffic, he passed me and then I chased him. I Think I'm a natural. :] Toyo T1R Proxes all around? Or just back?

[Y2E0L0L5OGWT]

Originally Posted by braumab

hah. Thanks! I will try my best. It was more or less a "chase each other" kind of deal. I pulled in front, hit 130 and tried to dust him, he was on my tail, then we got in traffic, he passed me and then I chased him. I Think I'm a natural. :] Toyo T1R Proxes all around? Or just back?

all around

Toyo Tires - Proxes T1R™

[braumab]

Heats up well? Quick?

Wouldn't keep me spinning through third?

[Y2E0L0L5OGWT]

Depends on the size you are wanting to run...I run a 285 wide on a 20" wheel in the back...I can't spin 2nd gear at all...although that's due in part not only to the tire but the added weight for a 20x10" rim...but I like them a lot...

[SpectorV]

^^ stock is 260hp/270tq at the wheels for a manual or right around there on 05+ gt's. I watched 3 dyno back to back now to long ago and all were right there.

The GT0 vs the 05+ GT its not much heavier than the GT... the GT is about 3500lbs~ or a tad more and the GT0 isnt that much worse.

[braumab]

hm, i never would've guessed gto's are pretty equal to the mustang.

[braumab]

- They look good, I'm not big on spinning the traction off ... if they heat up quick, I'm sold. Reviews claim that this tire is the perfect summer tire, and it RARELY gets below 40 here, so this might be what I'm looking for? Unless anyone knows of a tire that heats up REALLLLLY fast.

[PureVenom]

Well, it is all up to who you talk to mostly. I swear by the Nitto stuff for moderate HP levels like you have. I had them on my GT and on my Cobra...but now the cobra is way more than the nittos can handle.

Nitto 555 radials all around would not be bad for you. They get good traction and do very well in the rain and are not defening loud on the road. The 555R drag radials will also help you out and be plenty for what you need and they do warm up fast and you get decent life out of them...they are one of the longest lasting DR out there...

On my 555's, I put over 30k miles on them and still had plenty of tread left.

I think there are about 10 different tire opinions on this site, just like when it comes to exhaust setups...it is going to come down to how much you want to spend combined with what you are hearing from actual users here.

If it is any consolation....my 02 GT will also be seeing Nittos once I get around to replacing the rims.

[braumab]

ah, nice .. you do have a point . What's your Cobra pushing if I may ask? And I hate to ask this question but .. how do you determine when the car is to much for a tire? When there's so much power that the tire can't possible grip?

[PureVenom]

Originally Posted by braumab

ah, nice .. you do have a point . What's your Cobra pushing if I may ask? And I hate to ask this question but .. how do you determine when the car is to much for a tire? When there's so much power that the tire can't possible grip?

I decided I am beyond the limit of the nittos when, at a 20 roll, even just rolling into it, I can't keep the tires from spinning when I hit WOT...in hot air.

In this weather, I am good for spinning through third gear without any problems. It was time to upgrade.

As for power, right now, the car is putting out right at 500 hp and 500 tq to the wheels. The 315 nittos are begging for mercy.

For me, it is time for some MT ET Streets...

[braumab]

That car is a beast and I'm jealous...