DJazidca

Apparently Toyo and Nitto are discontinuing every good R-compound tire that fits stock C5Z wheels (17" front and 18" rear). I loved the Nitto 555RII, but it's gone. The NT01 appears to have been discontinued as well. I can't find the RA1 in sizes that will fit the stock wheels. I need an R-compound tire that is DOT legal because I have to drive to my events for awhile. Hoosiers do not appear to be DOT legal. I can't find Kumhos in the right sizes.

Does anyone have a good source for an R-compound tire that is DOT legal and fits the standard 17"/18" C5Z wheels?

0Anthony @ LGMotorsports

Looks like you can still get R888's that would be close enough to run

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....el=Proxes+R888

autoxer6

Hoosier A6 and A7 are DOT legal and much faster than the other tires you mentioned.

FASTFATBOY

Run an 18 square setup

0Anthony @ LGMotorsports

Not to friendly if you have to drive it in the rain though.

Ludeaem

Where did you hear that they were discontinuing the sizes?

CeeFiveZee

I know for sure that the Nitto 555RII's have been discontinued. The NT01 is the same compound with a different tread pattern, however it's not available in all the sames sizes as the 555RII was.

FWIW, you can still find 555RII's available, best to search using the tire number rather than the size.

Soloontario

Whatever happened to the Hankook TD? Seems to be very limited availability. Looks like an 888 but depending on compound, is WAY faster. Not sure what is going on for C5Z sizes.

DJazidca

I called a couple of dealers who claimed to carry the NT01, and both told me it was discontinued. That doesn't make it true, but that would explain why they are constantly on "backorder".

The Hoosiers looks like they would be a little (or a lot) scary in a rainstorm on the way to or from the track.

I've seen random 555RIIs at some dealers, but they have typically been sitting around for four years. Not the freshest rubber...

CeeFiveZee

I've run several sets of 555RII's and when they were in production, I was getting 12-14 month old tires and had zero complaints. I bought a set of 4 online in August and they were 3 years old. I was concerned.
I used them on day 2 of a two day event. Heat cycled them Sat morning first session and then ran them Sunday. They were as fast as any I've ever had and wore great.

Ludeaem

Interesting... I was just at SEMA and talked a rep at the Nitto booth and even have the 2016 brochure and it has the NT01 in our sizes available.

I did ask if they were going to update the NT05 and he said he believes it is in the works and should hear something 'soon'.

Side note I spoke with Toyo and they said nothing was in the works for an updated R888.

ZedO6

I was at SEMA as well and talked to one of the NITTO USA sales managers regarding their comp tires. He told me the 555RII was discontinued and that the NT01 tire was the replacement, same compound with a better tread design for high hp and heavy production cars.

He also said coverage for the discontinued 555RII sizes might be carried over to the NT01 if there is demand, but that sounded like a big if.

The NT01 is not backordered at DTD

http://www.discounttiredirect.com/di...%2FPerformance

SunnydayDILYSI

I'm also looking for alternatives that will keep me alive on the drive to the track and provide best performance on track. Have been running NT-01 / R888. I like the R888s when they are in optimal temp zone, but they get greasy ~15 min into a session. Anyone try the Kumho ECSTA XS? Goodyear F1 Supercar? Michelin PS2? Are any better than the R888?

DJazidca

Thanks Zed06. When I searched Discounttiredirect for NT01s a couple of days ago, the site told me no tires were available and that I should contact my local store. Today it let me place an order with no problems.

Hopefully the order goes through and I don't get the dreaded "these tires are on backorder" email.

spdislife

I think you'll find the R888s or the NT01s a stickier choice. My experience was with the F1 Supercars when I started HPDE and there's no comparison.

strano@stranoparts.com

The newest generation of "200 Treadwear" street tires are getting super quick and have tread. If it were me, I'd skip the NT01 stuff and either pony up for Hoosier's, or run something like Rival S's or RE71R's.

Scooter70

Another option is the Hankook R-S3. 255/40-17 and 285/35-18 would work well on the stock 17/18 wheels and they're a lot cheaper than the Rival S/RE-71R.

JLZ06TR

Sam, are you saying that the rivals or RE71R would be faster than a NT01?

strano@stranoparts.com

I haven't tested that, I have no use for NT-01's to bother trying. But let's just say while 200 might be on the side they wear more like softer tires (but better than full out race stuff in general), and have tread. And how old is the NT-01? Not new, technology improves tire performance, and there is a freaking tire way going on that the NT-01 isn't a part of.

So yeah, good chance they are as fast or close to it, and have tread too.

troyguitar

NT01 is likely a little slower than RE71R/Rival-S but with better heat resistance, plus you can actually buy a 275/305 combo for stock wheels in the NT01 and are stuck with 255/275 in the RE71R or 255/315 in the Rival-S.

Old tire == still made in sizes for old wheels which is nice.

NT01 is also a lot cheaper. If you don't care about rules or what is the absolute fastest tire, NT01 is probably the way to go.