Nitto 555 vs Michelon Pilot Sport tires

[Detroit Bill]

Originally Posted by vatdevil

7K miles and 200+ Autocross runs on NT01s, plus some track time. Still street legal, but wouldn't drive in rain at this point. Great tire.

I have read all kinds of things about them including:

Heat cycling out and becoming hard
They have to heat up to grip
Throwing/picking up everything on the road

How does that work on the street? I am looking for something that hold the power as much as possible.

I actually am set up to get the NT01's but I have a couple weeks to make up my mind.

[vatdevil]

Originally Posted by Detroit Bill

I have read all kinds of things about them including:

Heat cycling out and becoming hard
They have to heat up to grip
Throwing/picking up everything on the road

How does that work on the street? I am looking for something that hold the power as much as possible.

I actually am set up to get the NT01's but I have a couple weeks to make up my mind.

There's a little drop off in grip after many cycles, but not noticeable for street use. Compound is road race, gets real grippy around 160F, but traction when cold is still excellent. As a comparison, from cold to hot they will drop less than a second on Autocross runs. Yes, they will sling small stones on street. Get em real hot and you will clean the road. They're fine in rain when new, just don't plow thru standing water. Once you wear the tread off and only the two circumferential grooves are left, advoid the rain. These aren't drag tires (stiff sidewall) so hard launches can produce wheelhop if you're on a grippy surface. They corner unbelievably....

[Detroit Bill]

Originally Posted by vatdevil

There's a little drop off in grip after many cycles, but not noticeable for street use. Compound is road race, gets real grippy around 160F, but traction when cold is still excellent. As a comparison, from cold to hot they will drop less than a second on Autocross runs. Yes, they will sling small stones on street. Get em real hot and you will clean the road. They're fine in rain when new, just don't plow thru standing water. Once you wear the tread off and only the two circumferential grooves are left, advoid the rain. These aren't drag tires (stiff sidewall) so hard launches can produce wheelhop if you're on a grippy surface. They corner unbelievably....

I believe the tire choice is going to make my head explode. This car will not see the rain, at least by choice anyway. I want something with big grip to handle the power I am planning on (as much as it can be handled). And I want it to handle well and predictably. I am not so concerned with wear I just want the car to be stuck to the road.

I am somewhere between the Nitto NT01, NT05 and Michelin PS2's. There's a wide spread.