New Tires
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 49
Likes: 3
From: TEMECULA CA
New Tires
Finally going to get new tires on my '88. The car is still riding on god knows how long on what I got when I purchased to car. W/o asking whats the best tire I am just looking for a generally good tire and was looking at the Sumitomo HTR Z2. anyone riding on these? Trying to keep the cost under $600. I live in Souther California so don't need to worry so much about rain and snow. size on all four tires is 275 / 40 / ZR17
Also cant wait to burn out the old tires.
Much appreciated
Also cant wait to burn out the old tires.
Much appreciated
Last edited by david1988c4; Jun 2, 2016 at 05:53 PM.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 6,314
Likes: 508
From: South-central Missouri
Another vote for Nitto 555s (and 555Rs)! I just put my 3rd set on the Z, and had them road-force balanced. I don't often track my Z, but sometimes I do drive aggressively on twisties. And, the 555Rs (drag radial) do a fair job of getting 430+ rwhp to the ground on the drag strip 
.
I just paid just under $700 + tax for 275/40/17s (front) and 315/35/17s (rear), including mounting and road-force balance (at Discount Tire). Tires for your car should be (I'm guessing) in the mid $600s "out the door".
No sense installing "so-so" tires on a Corvette, IMO, especially since quality rubber is available close to your price range. And, the Nittos are just short of dedicated track rubber: very tough to beat performance wise at any price. And, they also make a 555 G2 series tire for more traction on the wet, provided you're willing to give up a little (dry) drag radial performance.
.I just paid just under $700 + tax for 275/40/17s (front) and 315/35/17s (rear), including mounting and road-force balance (at Discount Tire). Tires for your car should be (I'm guessing) in the mid $600s "out the door".
No sense installing "so-so" tires on a Corvette, IMO, especially since quality rubber is available close to your price range. And, the Nittos are just short of dedicated track rubber: very tough to beat performance wise at any price. And, they also make a 555 G2 series tire for more traction on the wet, provided you're willing to give up a little (dry) drag radial performance.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 1,674
Likes: 191
From: Shit Creek, USA
After almost 9 months and 6K miles, the Nitto 555s are still fantastic. Daily driving is no drama, but at the NCM Motorsports Park and on the Dragon they really shine.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
Likes: 752
From: South Dakota
I've tried quite a few.
The worst I've had were Cooper Zeon X2S. Loud, poor grip (none in snow), flat spot every night, lots of vibration, cupped, wore out quickly, etc.
I have tried Sumitomo HTR Z on a couple. They were generally an OK tire. Better than I thought for the price. A little soft or unresponsive to quick steering inputs, but not too bad. I used these on a daily driver '94 6 speed and got over 40k miles on them.
I have tried Nitto NT555 on one. Better than the Sumitomo, but I would get more tire spin with them (most people comment on how well they hook up, so ???) They were quiet and ran pretty well.
I have tried Continental DW tires. I like these about the best. They are quiet, smooth, grip well, (on some tests they are one of the best on wet surfaces, but I haven't pushed them in the rain yet). On dry they seem to have a slightly softer sidewall and so not quite as quick a response to steering, but not bad, and with the grip they have I feel confident driving them. They just make the car feel more stable than the other tires. They are also easy to recover if they do break loose when pushing it. I don't have many miles on them yet so I don't know how long they will last.
A lot of tough choices, and many of them are good tires. Good luck.
The worst I've had were Cooper Zeon X2S. Loud, poor grip (none in snow), flat spot every night, lots of vibration, cupped, wore out quickly, etc.
I have tried Sumitomo HTR Z on a couple. They were generally an OK tire. Better than I thought for the price. A little soft or unresponsive to quick steering inputs, but not too bad. I used these on a daily driver '94 6 speed and got over 40k miles on them.
I have tried Nitto NT555 on one. Better than the Sumitomo, but I would get more tire spin with them (most people comment on how well they hook up, so ???) They were quiet and ran pretty well.
I have tried Continental DW tires. I like these about the best. They are quiet, smooth, grip well, (on some tests they are one of the best on wet surfaces, but I haven't pushed them in the rain yet). On dry they seem to have a slightly softer sidewall and so not quite as quick a response to steering, but not bad, and with the grip they have I feel confident driving them. They just make the car feel more stable than the other tires. They are also easy to recover if they do break loose when pushing it. I don't have many miles on them yet so I don't know how long they will last.
A lot of tough choices, and many of them are good tires. Good luck.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
Likes: 673
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Maybe its easier to ask what tire nobody would ever use again...
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I just picked up at set of these thru Discount Tire Direct (America's Tire in CA??). Price delivered to my house was just over $675 but I bought 2 275/40-17's and 2 313/35-17's. So far they seem to be very grippy and quiet. There is a new version of this tire, NT555 G2 and is supposed to be even better for about the same price.
Sumitomo tires tend to wear quickly and they are narrower compared to other tires of the same size.
Last edited by c4cruiser; Jun 9, 2016 at 08:59 AM.
