Recommendation on Street, sticky tires 17"

[Mohuska]

I have Michellin Sport PS2. 17 inch. 335 rear and 245 front. They are amazing and have great traction.

[wrogers55]

Nitto NT01s, front and rear and you will never look back. They will easily hold 500+ HP at the wheels and I mean hold. They are actually a road race tire so the twisty stuff is solid. Very nice cruising tire. Have them heat cycled before you mount them and they will last a lot longer. Downside, they will throw stones as any sticky tire will do in hot weather.

[priobe]

Originally Posted by wrogers55

Nitto NT01s, front and rear and you will never look back. They will easily hold 500+ HP at the wheels and I mean hold. They are actually a road race tire so the twisty stuff is solid. Very nice cruising tire. Have them heat cycled before you mount them and they will last a lot longer. Downside, they will throw stones as any sticky tire will do in hot weather.

What do you mean by heat cycling the tire before you mount them.

[wrogers55]

Originally Posted by priobe

What do you mean by heat cycling the tire before you mount them.

Nitto NT01s are actually a road race tire and need to be heat cycled at least once before you work them hard. If you don't do this either on or off the car, they won't last long at all.

This is normal procedure for any road/oval race designed rubber compound. Simply put, and there is a lot more to it, the rubber needs to be heated up to the point the polymers start to cross link and build "strength" in the tire, 225 to 250 F is the range for most applications. After the tire is heated, under rolling pressure is ideal and that is done by machine, it will cool and the cross linking process begins and continues for quite a while. It's better if you can give it a week or so to fully cure out.

Most distributors that provide the service put a little red "O" on the tire sidewall to indicate it has been heat cycled. Without this, the tire will grip just fine, but the rubber will roll or "peel" away very quickly, usually on a micro level. With it, probably last 3 or 4 times as long and actually grip better as the rubber will micro gear with the road surface much better and keep its integrity without rubber peel.

American Tire or Discount Tire (same company, different names in different parts of the country, no connection on my part and not a recommendation, just info.) offer this service and probably many more if you ask up front.

[jhv48]

Just remember that the stickier the tire, the more road grit and pebbles they will throw up onto your cars paint.

Consider a good set of spats on those rear fenders otherwise they could get pretty beat up.

[priobe]

Originally Posted by wrogers55

Nitto NT01s are actually a road race tire and need to be heat cycled at least once before you work them hard. If you don't do this either on or off the car, they won't last long at all.

This is normal procedure for any road/oval race designed rubber compound. Simply put, and there is a lot more to it, the rubber needs to be heated up to the point the polymers start to cross link and build "strength" in the tire, 225 to 250 F is the range for most applications. After the tire is heated, under rolling pressure is ideal and that is done by machine, it will cool and the cross linking process begins and continues for quite a while. It's better if you can give it a week or so to fully cure out.

Most distributors that provide the service put a little red "O" on the tire sidewall to indicate it has been heat cycled. Without this, the tire will grip just fine, but the rubber will roll or "peel" away very quickly, usually on a micro level. With it, probably last 3 or 4 times as long and actually grip better as the rubber will micro gear with the road surface much better and keep its integrity without rubber peel.

American Tire or Discount Tire (same company, different names in different parts of the country, no connection on my part and not a recommendation, just info.) offer this service and probably many more if you ask up front.

Ok so the NT01 seems to be more of a full race tire that can be used on the street. It is sounding like the 555R (drag radial) maybe a better tire suited for me. "More driving on the street with the desperate need of traction."

Am I correct on the 555R?

Duly Noted on the rear Spats!

[twin turbo]

How much power are you making and what is your rearend gearing? Back when I was making 420 rwhp with 3.08 rearend gearing the 555R's worked well and are good for 15k miles.

[951mat]

I suggest trying the NT-05 as a compromise to the NT01. 01s have a relatively low tread wear number (100). NT05s are 200. Not sure on 555, but probably in the 400 range. The lower the number the stickier and shorter lived. I doubt the 200 tread wear type tires will thow lots of rocks. Good decision on avoiding the 01s for the street, as they will pick up anything on the road and throw into your fenders.


Mat