Tires for FI: Nitto 555R2 or Toyo R888R or Michelin PS4S?

[Meatball]

Need to ditch my Indy 500s in my Whippled MT82 car (Whipple cal). I don’t race or launch in 1st…only roll-on in 2nd, but I have to feather the throttle on my Indy 285s and am getting sick of it.

thinking of Nitto 555R2 or Toyo R888R. Any advice? If the rain performance is scary I may go with PS4S’s.

how much of a difference do 305s make over 285s (same tire model)?

Thanks!

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[robvas]

Get the Nittos.

thinking of Nitto 555R2 or Toyo R888R. Any advice? If the rain performance is scary I may go with PS4S’s.

You're still going to have to pedal the PS4S in 2nd

how much of a difference do 305s make over 285s (same tire model)?

Not much.

 

[Meatball]

Get the Nittos.


You're still going to have to pedal the PS4S in 2nd



Not much.

Thanks! Do you have any experience with the Nittos in rain?

 

[robvas]

Thanks! Do you have any experience with the Nittos in rain?

They have tread on them, so when they aren't worn out you won't die if you get caught in the rain. But if you plan on regularly driving in the rain in them, I wouldn't get them.

You're going to hear two different stories from people when it comes to rain and drag radials:

"They did just fine"

"I almost slid off the road and died"

Have you considered a 200TW tire like a Bridgestone RE71RS?

 

[Meatball]

Have you considered a 200TW tire like a Bridgestone RE71RS?

No but I will. Thanks.

 

[Zrussian13]

The nitto r2s are good in the rain. I run 275 firehawks on my daily tires and switch to 305 r2s for extra fun days. Never had to worry with either tire in the rain and I'm not good at driving slow. Don't go mp4s. Those are great tires but won't perform any better than the indys.

 

[Pistol_91]

Agree with everything rob says. Nitto's are great in the rain when they're new, but in a year or more they will be worn out and be terrible in the rain. If the roads you drive on have new asphalt down, it'll be even worse. Always heard good things about the Toyo's when it came to traction but had mixed reviews on longevity. Id imagine they would be bad worn out too. It's a fighting battle to find the right tire for a high hp daily driver car. You will have to sacrifice something.

 

[jvandy50]

agreed you will fight traction with the mp4s, i currently have the toyo but do not drive in the rain due to sketch. and the guy who tuned my cam/headers zl1 loves that nitto on some of his high hp stuff, but i have zero experience with it...might be my next rear tire though

 

[Meatball]

Thanks everyone. Anybody disagree that 305 won’t be seriously better than 285s?

 

[robvas]

Thanks everyone. Anybody disagree that 305 won’t be seriously better than 285s?

It won't really make a difference. I run around on 275/40-19 Nittos. I'd go to a 305/45-17 if I changed sizes.

I'd personally go with a slightly taller tire than a slightly wider one, say from a 285/35 to a 285/40, instead of a 305/35, but that's just me.

 

[schmeky]

I just replaced my 555R2's (305/19/40). They never hooked under 50 mph from a 5K punch. Got worse with ago of course. Over 50 they would hook on warm asphalt. They never droned, really quiet tire.

Just installed the PS4's (305/19/30). Just like the Nitto, they won't hook under 50 at 5K. Over 50 they hook up. Ps4's drone noticeably between 45 - 55 mph.

 

[Jasonb543]

See I want to go 555r2 but reading stuff like that maybe I just stay on R bias plys

 

[Meatball]

agreed you will fight traction with the mp4s, i currently have the toyo but do not drive in the rain due to sketch. and the guy who tuned my cam/headers zl1 loves that nitto on some of his high hp stuff, but i have zero experience with it...might be my next rear tire though

Sketch as in from experience or just what you’ve heard?

 

[Meatball]

I just replaced my 555R's (305/19/40). They never hooked under 50 mph from a 5K punch. Got worse with ago of course. Over 50 they would hook on warm asphalt. They never droned, really quiet tire.

Just installed the PS4's (305/19/30). Just like the Nitto, they won't hook under 50 at 5K. Over 50 they hook up. Ps4's drone noticeably between 45 - 55 mph.

Seems like chasing traction on an FI coyote in 2nd is a loser unless on full drag radials.

if this is the case I might as well go with something that’ll last longer and not be sketchy in rain, like PS4S…

 

[jvandy50]

Sketch as in from experience or just what you’ve heard?

i have the toyos on my ZLE currently, the rain puddles up fairly quickly on the roads i use to get to work, it is on a 19x11 wheel and i needed to keep speeds in the 40s (in a 55 zone) to feel like i was in total control

i liked the mp4s too for an all around tire, but i also thought it was cool to feel my car stick to the asphalt for a change and it feels more functional, as long as you can take something else on the rainy/cold days

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