Tires
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
Tires
Hey guys, I have had Nitto NT 555 R Drag Radials on my car for just over a year and it's time for some new sneakers. I'm running around 450 WHP and I'm not sure I want to go with a street tire or drag radial again. I'll bet the street tire will wear just as fast because when I nail it, they'll spin. I'd like some suggestions/ input here!! Thanks 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,736
Likes: 7
From: Redding CA
Hey guys, I have had Nitto NT 555 R Drag Radials on my car for just over a year and it's time for some new sneakers. I'm running around 450 WHP and I'm not sure I want to go with a street tire or drag radial again. I'll bet the street tire will wear just as fast because when I nail it, they'll spin. I'd like some suggestions/ input here!! Thanks
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,150
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
I'm not sure what to recommend, you'd likely have to look at other drag radials or DOT rated track competition tires. You didn't give the size you're running and this tire type is always pretty limited in production sizes available so it can be useless to make a recommendation when it might not be available anyways.
How much cornering capability do you want? The 555R is rated 100/A/A. The first A is the cornering capability and more extreme drag radials will grip better but that A rating will drop further indicating even worse corner performance. AA is the best rating and most good street performance tires will meet that spec. The 100 is the treadwear rating and the lower the number the quicker the tire wears so this is an indicator of the "softness" of the tread compound or an indicator of the possible grip the tire may have.
That C&D article used the PS2 as the reference tire and I can't hook those through 1st gear with the stock 350hp. The compare didn't really include other higher end tires, it seemed to be mostly budget rubber. So, you'll find no help there.
Peter
How much cornering capability do you want? The 555R is rated 100/A/A. The first A is the cornering capability and more extreme drag radials will grip better but that A rating will drop further indicating even worse corner performance. AA is the best rating and most good street performance tires will meet that spec. The 100 is the treadwear rating and the lower the number the quicker the tire wears so this is an indicator of the "softness" of the tread compound or an indicator of the possible grip the tire may have.
That C&D article used the PS2 as the reference tire and I can't hook those through 1st gear with the stock 350hp. The compare didn't really include other higher end tires, it seemed to be mostly budget rubber. So, you'll find no help there.
Peter
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 69
Likes: 1
From: Tillsonburg Ontario
tires
Thanks Peter, as for cornering, I am 65 years young and not really into a lot of street racing anymore, so just looking for the "best bang for my buck" in wearablility, traction and price.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
