cj68

I am looking to buy a set of Nitto 555 RIIs, since I want to be able to drive to and from the track. Who has the best price and should I have them heat cycled?

Also, what alignment specs should I run if I want to keep the same alignment for the street and track (I run Kumho MXs on the street)?

Thanks,

cj

bobmoore2

I wouldn't get heat cycling unless I was also getting them shaved. And if you're driving them to the track, then shaving is not a good idea.

Search some old posts and you'll find a set of alignment numbers that are a good street/track compromise. I think it's in one of the stickies at the top of this section. The main alignment change you want is more negative camber, front and rear.

I use MXs on the street and trailer some Toyo RA-1s to the track. (I've been told that RA-1s are similar to 555 RIIs.) I think I've got about -2 degrees camber in front and about -1 1/2 degrees in back. I think this was about all they could do on a C5 without camber plates. (It's been a few years since I had the alignment done, so I don't remember all the details.)

Even with those alignment numbers, I notice that the outside edges of the RA-1s still wear faster than the inside edges. After one or two track days I have a tire shop move the right side tires to the left side wheels and vice versa. Eventually they wear to the cords and that is always near one of the edges. I'm willing to accept this wear pattern on my race tires, because a pure race alignment would cause abnormal wear and handling on the street tires.

Bob

MungoZ06

Got mine at Discount Tire ... still available there.

yakisoba

The rear of the C5 will go to -1.1 (or so) camber on either side, if you don't lower the car. If you lower it, you will get a bit more negative.

jlucas

Just FYI, the Nitto engineers say to go with the NT01s The 555 were designed for drag racing.

NT01 compound = Toyo 888 compound

cj68

Lowered on stock bolts... so I need to go max negative camber on front and rear? I just need to know what to tell the tech doing the alignment.

Thanks,

cj

MungoZ06

There are two 555's, one for drag, one for road course:

Nitto NT 555R Drag Radial
Nitto NT555R II Extreme - "A unique fusion of stiff sidewall construction and Nitto's popular Extreme Drag Radial tread design makes the new NT555RII an exceptional road course performer."

And of course the Nitto NT-01 - "Introducing the Nitto NT-01, the pinnacle of Nitto Tires technical excellence. The NT-01 is a D.O.T. approved competition radial with an asymmetrical, non-directional tread pattern optimized for dry racing conditions."

Difference, besides thread pattern between the 555 RII and the NT-01 is that the RII comes in a 305/35/18 and the NT-01 comes in a 315/30/18 (both come in a 275/40/17 front)
All three tires are UTOQ 100 rated

zcobra1

Try discountedwheelwarehouse.com for prices on Nitto's.