Nitto tires suck!
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 3,767
Likes: 5
From: Jacksonville Fl
Nitto tires suck!
I replaced my 16" wheels and tires with a 17" set from a 93. The front tires were brand new Nitto Extreme NT500Z tires, 255/45/17, and the backs were bald GS-C's. Before this I had Sumitomo 255/50/16's all the way around.
I just picked up the car from the alignment shop, put new Kumho-712's on the rear ( 275/40/17 ).
Well, I left the shop, went to a turn I normally take aggressively, and the front tires started squealling and sliding :cuss ...they won't hold half as good as the Sumitomo tires did. The rear seemed pretty solid...but I would have thought the famous "Nitto" was a good tire...total BS I tell you. Now I have to save up to buy new front tires cause these suck! :mad
I think I'll buy Khumo-712's for the front too. Maybe even the same size. :crazy:
I just picked up the car from the alignment shop, put new Kumho-712's on the rear ( 275/40/17 ).
Well, I left the shop, went to a turn I normally take aggressively, and the front tires started squealling and sliding :cuss ...they won't hold half as good as the Sumitomo tires did. The rear seemed pretty solid...but I would have thought the famous "Nitto" was a good tire...total BS I tell you. Now I have to save up to buy new front tires cause these suck! :mad
I think I'll buy Khumo-712's for the front too. Maybe even the same size. :crazy:
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh North Carolina
Re: Nitto tires suck! (BBA)
The Nitto 555's is what you want. Your're right....the NT500's do slide....when I bought my Vette, that's what came on the rear....I slid around every corner. I have the GS-C's on the rear now...big difference. The 500's are more of an all weather tire. I have NT555's on the front, they do a really good job and have lasted for about 27,000 miles now with a little less than half the tread left.
jimilane
[Modified by Jimi Lane, 11:30 PM 10/16/2001]
jimilane
[Modified by Jimi Lane, 11:30 PM 10/16/2001]
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,606
Likes: 14
From: Vacaville, CA
Re: Nitto tires suck! (BBA)
You are right, Nitto's do suck!!! Almost got myself and my family killed in a passenger car with the all famous Nitto's. Some dude changed lanes into us on the freeway without any notice and very aggressively. We had nowhere to go since we were in the fast lane but had a few feet next to the wall. Hit the brakes and the left side locked up due to the little bit of sand next to the wall. The car did a right 90 at over 70 MPH!!! Before flying off the 60 foot embankment, I Corrected and the car did a 180 back across the freeway towards the wall. One more 180 before we came to a stop perpindicular to heavy oncoming traffic. I gassed the car without hesitation before the traffic T-boned our car. Escaped without a scratch. I believe those damn high mileage, (as advertised); Nitto's have too hard a compound and are to blame.
You have to ask yourself, is your life or handling performance worth a few thousand miles worth of extra treadwear??? :mad :mad :mad
You have to ask yourself, is your life or handling performance worth a few thousand miles worth of extra treadwear??? :mad :mad :mad
Racer
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 481
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, TX USA
Re: Nitto tires suck! (nickd)
I've had Nittos on 2 cars, and with the traction rating, and the wear factor I had- I never "slipped". I'm not familiar with the model you have, but the 555's and the 460's were good to me. Oh, and I hate to break it to you but when purchasing my Kumho 712's, the rep ordered them in from their manufacturer-which was NItto/Kumho.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 3,767
Likes: 5
From: Jacksonville Fl
Re: Nitto tires suck! (satyr7777)
So you obviously know the Nitto and Khumo are totally different then...
Lets see:
Nitto's are made in JAPAN
Khumo's are made in KOREA
...Yea, sounds like the same company to me.
In other words...your talking out the rear!!
[Modified by BBA, 7:17 PM 10/16/2001]
Lets see:
Nitto's are made in JAPAN
Khumo's are made in KOREA
...Yea, sounds like the same company to me.
In other words...your talking out the rear!!
[Modified by BBA, 7:17 PM 10/16/2001]
Instructor
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 182
Likes: 1
From: oak island NC
Re: Nitto tires suck! (BBA)
Nitto's are fine for the rears when you go to the track..They bite like a bulldog
after u do a burnout. At least the Nitto's we use. I wouldnt use them on the fronts though,, at least not with all the other popular US brands on the market. My son (LCVette) is using my Nittos now and gets almost zero
wheelspin when he launches and that's with the 275 x 17 tires. His latest 11.97 was done with a 1.79 60' time using stock 3.45 gears. I use Dunlops
on my LT4 and love trhem , especially the price..
after u do a burnout. At least the Nitto's we use. I wouldnt use them on the fronts though,, at least not with all the other popular US brands on the market. My son (LCVette) is using my Nittos now and gets almost zero
wheelspin when he launches and that's with the 275 x 17 tires. His latest 11.97 was done with a 1.79 60' time using stock 3.45 gears. I use Dunlops
on my LT4 and love trhem , especially the price..
Racer
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 402
Likes: 0
From: Beaverton OR
Re: Nitto tires suck! (ncChris)
depends on the tire, most nittos are 300 compound tires which are great for wear & all but it's hard to compare them to a 160 compound sum or yoke tire. the 555r drag radial is a real piece of work however & EVERYONE i know who's owned them loves them. i've used the 450 before & it was an alright tire, nothing special, hear the normal 555 is a good all weather tire also but i doubt it would compare to a G-force kd or yoke sport in dry all out handling.
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Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 3,767
Likes: 5
From: Jacksonville Fl
Re: Nitto tires suck! (90 Corvette ZR-1)
You think 275/40/17's are too much for the front on 8.5" rims?
I'm thinking since I cant rotate them, and since fronts usually wear on the sides...the smaller rim might make the center wear more, so as to even total wear. Not saying I wouldn't like 9.5" rims all around...but I just don't have that.
I'm thinking since I cant rotate them, and since fronts usually wear on the sides...the smaller rim might make the center wear more, so as to even total wear. Not saying I wouldn't like 9.5" rims all around...but I just don't have that.
