New Nitto drag radial released NT555R2

[wazslow]

The Nitto NT555Rii is an excellent street tire....very quiet, nice riding and they offer great street traction. However, in the 305/35R19 size, they are not ideal for drag racing. I have been to the strip a couple of times with mine and haven't been very pleased with the result. It is baffling to me how they seem to hook so well on the street but not so much on a prepped surface at the strip. It should be the other way around.

I do not want to discourage anyone from buying these tires. I really like them for street use. However, if drag racing is the goal and you are willing to give up good street use, a higher profile Mickey Thompson is superior for ultimate traction.

I will be reaching out to Nitto to get their recommendation for air pressure and how much burn-out for strip use. Maybe there is a secret formula that I haven't found.

I think your going to have trouble hooking any 19 inch drag radial. Just not enough sidewall. I just got a set of Nitto NT555RII in 305x45x17's on some Forgestar F14 drag wheels. Hoping to hit the track in in the next few weeks. Still waiting on a driveshaft and boost controller. Hoping to run a 9 second pass with my Hellion Street Sleeper kit on my 2016. The MT ET street r's in 305x45x17 seem to be back ordered everywhere, figured I'd give these a try.

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[chill66]

The Nitto NT555Rii is an excellent street tire....very quiet, nice riding and they offer great street traction. However, in the 305/35R19 size, they are not ideal for drag racing. I have been to the strip a couple of times with mine and haven't been very pleased with the result. It is baffling to me how they seem to hook so well on the street but not so much on a prepped surface at the strip. It should be the other way around.

I do not want to discourage anyone from buying these tires. I really like them for street use. However, if drag racing is the goal and you are willing to give up good street use, a higher profile Mickey Thompson is superior for ultimate traction.

I will be reaching out to Nitto to get their recommendation for air pressure and how much burn-out for strip use. Maybe there is a secret formula that I haven't found.

This is my observation as well with my GT500. They work very well on the street, but I spun like crazy at the track. I was running anywhere from 26-28 lbs and tried short and long burnouts. Nothing seemed to help. I was only launching at between 2000 and 2200 RPMs. Granted, I've only had one track day and the prep was complete garbage, so it's really hard to say. I ordered the 315/35R20s.

Let me know if you hear back from Nitto on ideal tire pressures and burnout lengths.

 

[brucelinc]

This is my observation as well with my GT500. They work very well on the street, but I spun like crazy at the track. I was running anywhere from 26-28 lbs and tried short and long burnouts. Nothing seemed to help. I was only launching at between 2000 and 2200 RPMs. Granted, I've only had one track day and the prep was complete garbage, so it's really hard to say. I ordered the 315/35R20s.

Let me know if you hear back from Nitto on ideal tire pressures and burnout lengths.

I did speak with Nitto. They recommended 20 psi and to get them hot.

 

[LSchicago]

This is my observation as well with my GT500. They work very well on the street, but I spun like crazy at the track. I was running anywhere from 26-28 lbs and tried short and long burnouts. Nothing seemed to help. I was only launching at between 2000 and 2200 RPMs. Granted, I've only had one track day and the prep was complete garbage, so it's really hard to say. I ordered the 315/35R20s.

Let me know if you hear back from Nitto on ideal tire pressures and burnout lengths.

On my car (I know Bruce is probably scratching his head, because My car hooked on P Zeros) The 305/35/19's hooked perfectly street and strip. I got 1.82-1.86 60' times EVERY time on my tune only 18 GT I do have the Steeda STH starter kit too though. Zero wheelspin on drag mode shifts at the track.

 

[chill66]

On my car (I know Bruce is probably scratching his head, because My car hooked on P Zeros) The 305/35/19's hooked perfectly street and strip. I got 1.82-1.86 60' times EVERY time on my tune only 18 GT I do have the Steeda STH starter kit too though. Zero wheelspin on drag mode shifts at the track.

On the Nittos, I couldn't manage sub 2.0 60' times all night. Never ran the strip with the stock Michelin PS4S for a comparison.

 

[LSchicago]

I did speak with Nitto. They recommended 20 psi and to get them hot.

My best 60' was at 25. I tried 22, and it didn't help. All burnouts were minimal.

 

[LSchicago]

On the Nittos, I couldn't manage sub 2.0 60' times all night. Never ran the strip with the stock Michelin PS4S for a comparison.

My car did 1.87-1.89 consistently on factory P zeros.

 

[chill66]

I did speak with Nitto. They recommended 20 psi and to get them hot.

Well, alright then. I definitely did not try anything that low. The season is about over around here, so I'll probably have to wait until the spring to try again. Thanks for the response!

 

[brucelinc]

I did manage a 1.89 60 with the Nittos once....by leaving at an idle. Any sort of brake- torque launch would just make them spin and hop.

Supercharged cars hit really hard at low rpm. Some guys seem to get 60s in the 1.5 range but they usually have 17 inch MT ET street R tires and often some suspension mods.

I will be trying again in October at lower pressure and bigger burnout. Track prep is important, too.

 

[brucelinc]

LSchicago's results on pzeros have me scratching my head, for sure. Even when 100% stock, my pzeros would spin so bad on the 1-2 shift, the car would go into limp mode. Never could get out of the 2s in the 60, either.

 

[LSchicago]

I did manage a 1.89 60 with the Nittos once....by leaving at an idle. Any sort of brake- torque launch would just make them spin and hop.

Supercharged cars hit really hard at low rpm. Some guys seem to get 60s in the 1.5 range but they usually have 17 inch MT ET street R tires and often some suspension mods.

I will be trying again in October at lower pressure and bigger burnout. Track prep is important, too.

All my runs from Sunday were launched at 1,800-2,000. I'm not supercharged though. I have to think my track just hooks better too.

 

[kevinvan6000]

I have them in 275/40/17. I was able to cut a 1.79 at 25psi with a 5 second burn out - I was only able to do that once, and I was the 2nd car down the track. My local track only preps at the start of the night for TnT nights, so the track gradually gets worse as the night goes on. I have 8 runs on them now and I have one 1.9 the rest are all over 2.0, but much of it I suspect is track prep. I heading there again on Friday and I'm going to try airing the tires down to 20 psi and see if it helps. I have a 20 GT A10 3.15 catless headers E85 if it matters.

 

[LSchicago]

I have them in 275/40/17. I was able to cut a 1.79 at 25psi with a 5 second burn out - I was only able to do that once, and I was the 2nd car down the track. My local track only preps at the start of the night for TnT nights, so the track gradually gets worse as the night goes on. I have 8 runs on them now and I have one 1.9 the rest are all over 2.0, but much of it I suspect is track prep. I heading there again on Friday and I'm going to try airing the tires down to 20 psi and see if it helps. I have a 20 GT A10 3.15 catless headers E85 if it matters.

With tune Tire & STH kit only, my car did consistent 1.82-1.86 60's on 305/35/19's.

 

[Maxlab]

Just curious how these tires are holding up, thinking of ordering them. Curious to know how are from a hard second gear roll. If they hook or not. Car is 750 to the wheels.

 

[RockStang]

anyone having running issues on these? I just had an alignment done and unless I run -3 degrees camber in the back, they rub constantly. Never had an issue in the old 555r. Be aware that these definitely sit different on the wheels vs the old ones.

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