R Compound Tires
Racer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 497
Likes: 21
From: Garner NC
Depends on what you want. For ultimate traction at your power level, you'll want to lean towards a drag radial like the Mickey Thompson, but its soft sidewall means you will give up some in the handling department. R888's and 555rII extremes have stiffer sidewalls because they are a road race tire, but give up some in traction, although they are far above a standard street tire. I believe Hoosier also offers an R-compound road race tire as well as a full complement of drag tires (many people cut rain grooves to make them street driveable) As for value, I've been told that Nittos use the same rubber compound as the Toyos at a lower price. I picked up 305/35/18 Nitto 555RII Extremes for about 270 a tire on sale, and I have been pretty pleased with them.
Last edited by Paratrooper307; Jan 24, 2011 at 11:56 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 6
From: Los Alamitos California
St. Jude Donor '09
Depends on what you want. For ultimate traction at your power level, you'll want to lean towards a drag radial like the Mickey Thompson, but its soft sidewall means you will give up some in the handling department. R888's and 555rII extremes have stiffer sidewalls because they are a road race tire, but give up some in traction, although they are far above a standard street tire. I believe Hoosier also offers an R-compound road race tire as well as a full complement of drag tires (many people cut rain grooves to make them street driveable) As for value, I've been told that Nittos use the same rubber compound as the Toyos at a lower price. I picked up 305/35/18 Nitto 555RII Extremes for about 270 a tire on sale, and I have been pretty pleased with them.
San
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,630
Likes: 3
From: Aiea Hi.
How much cornering is sacrificed?
There is no drag strip here ( but you know that), so ET times are not a concern. I just want as much traction as possible, but would like to make some hard turns as well.
Member Tren AM states that he hits corners pretty hard with his Mickey Thompson ET Streets, and Sam swears by his Nitto 555R's. In fact, he did a nice write up a few months back. It's SO difficult making these decisions, and I'd like to get it right the first time as the wife is going to $hit if I spend another nickle on that car.
Can you break loose your R888's at will, or are they fairly hard to get loose? What would you say the percentage of improvement was over your stock tires, and what HP level are you at now?
At what HP level are even R compound tires worthless?
I can order up pretty much what I want at this point, from 650-875 or so HP. I'm trying to find a really good balance of usable horse power, reliability of parts, and traction.
Thanks in advance!
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 6
From: Los Alamitos California
St. Jude Donor '09
I can break traction and I have the Z06 gearing. My rear R888s were SCCA take-offs (used for 1 session) so they were shaved and used. At your horsepower levels you won't have any issues lighting up even R-compounds.
San
San
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,646
Likes: 2
had r888's "tried Pirellis too.. YUCK!" when I was at 640hp.. just a little better than runflats IMO.. switching to MT.. it was apples and oranges.. zero comparison. not to mention MT's cost $300 each and r888 are $400 each.. You know what my vote is!! If you do a bunch of back road autocrossing and want to push the limits of your vette around turns, go with the r888's but you will need to get them up front as well. If you want to sacrifice a little autocrossing cornering and have the absolute best grip tire for a race, MT accept no substitutes! 640rwhp at the time I could dead hook 30mph rolls.. 
like getting shot out fo a cannon.. In 2 weeks I should ahve my ride back and will be around 875rwhp.. I will let you know how the MT's hold up..
like getting shot out fo a cannon.. In 2 weeks I should ahve my ride back and will be around 875rwhp.. I will let you know how the MT's hold up..
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 8,472
Likes: 38
From: Houston TX
St. Jude Donor '11
Wait a minute here...You are out of tire questions... 
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-f...n-promise.html
I had R888's when I was ~600 RW and they were much better than street tires. It did seem like I gave up a bit of handling but that may have been due to fitting the 305/30/19 on a 10" wheel.
When I bumped power to >700 the Toyos were no good. 2nd gear roll ons were impossible to stick. I'd have to short shift 1st and 2nd and it would still get sideways as the power band came on in 3rd. I even took them to the track where I thought they would shine and while I did not do good burnouts with them I was still very disappointed in them.
So I went to the MT 305/35/18. Straight line traction is mucho better but handling has suffered notably. It's as if it's not really a sports car anymore. Turn in's are unsure feeling. The rear feels "squishy". But I get to use the car's power alot more. Can't have your cake and eat it too.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-f...n-promise.html
I had R888's when I was ~600 RW and they were much better than street tires. It did seem like I gave up a bit of handling but that may have been due to fitting the 305/30/19 on a 10" wheel.
When I bumped power to >700 the Toyos were no good. 2nd gear roll ons were impossible to stick. I'd have to short shift 1st and 2nd and it would still get sideways as the power band came on in 3rd. I even took them to the track where I thought they would shine and while I did not do good burnouts with them I was still very disappointed in them.
So I went to the MT 305/35/18. Straight line traction is mucho better but handling has suffered notably. It's as if it's not really a sports car anymore. Turn in's are unsure feeling. The rear feels "squishy". But I get to use the car's power alot more. Can't have your cake and eat it too.
Last edited by 5 Liter Eater; Jan 26, 2011 at 03:52 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,331
Likes: 18
From: Missouri City Texas
Member Tren AM states that he hits corners pretty hard with his Mickey Thompson ET Streets, and Sam swears by his Nitto 555R's. In fact, he did a nice write up a few months back. It's SO difficult making these decisions, and I'd like to get it right the first time as the wife is going to $hit if I spend another nickle on that car.
You will lose a lot of the cars handling characteristics going to a mickey thompson DR. The 555R is a much harder tire and is more friendly to street driving, but won't have the straight line hook that the MTs do.
If nitto made a 295/35/19 555R or a 305/35/19 555R that's what I'd be using right now. Unfortunately they don't, so I'll probably end up using the 305/35/19 MT ET Street Radial that will be released in the immediate future.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,555
Likes: 1,255
From: Saint Albans, WV
Any DOT drag radial is not going you give stability in cornering. You're going to have to choose a straight line traction tire or a autocross tire. I'm about to put NT05R tires on the rear but I will pay penalty on the street.
Last edited by saplumr; Jan 26, 2011 at 05:46 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,712
Likes: 3
From: TEXOMA
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
i run the nitto 555r2's as DD, in the cold, nothing will hook, so i just bolt the 19" wheels back on till the summer time comes.
if i need to grudge race, i put the 17's on with the hooser 275/40/17 tires on.
if i need to grudge race, i put the 17's on with the hooser 275/40/17 tires on.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,014
Likes: 2
St. Jude Donor '09-'10
I have tried the Michelin SC, Nitto NT05R and the Toyo R888. Of all three and given a mix of drag and cornering the R888's are probably the best. They heat up fast, will hold your 750 (Maybe - you are right on the edge), and are great for RR. The NT05R is a good tire but not as well engineered as the R888. If you have 18" all the way around I would definetly give the R888's a try. Some say the are a bit noisy but given your car is probably loud to begin with you probably wouldnt notice.
Funny story, I have ~650HP and ~635 FT# but added titanium Akropovics and a Braille no weight battery freeing up ~ 50# of weight. I run NT05r's - before the change I couldnt get my wheels to spin - now, with the change, I cant stop them from spinning for the first 50'. I am going to add a cinderblock in the very back of the car to see if I can get my traction back. IF it works I wil take my Braille and put it in my 911 and the Delco goes back in.
Funny story, I have ~650HP and ~635 FT# but added titanium Akropovics and a Braille no weight battery freeing up ~ 50# of weight. I run NT05r's - before the change I couldnt get my wheels to spin - now, with the change, I cant stop them from spinning for the first 50'. I am going to add a cinderblock in the very back of the car to see if I can get my traction back. IF it works I wil take my Braille and put it in my 911 and the Delco goes back in.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,014
Likes: 2
St. Jude Donor '09-'10
