I'm considering some new tires 255/45X18.
I don't want to spend more than $1000. High
performace summer tire.

What would you suggest?

 

I JUST got home from having my Nitto 555 Extremes installed. Have not "got on" them yet but I'll come back and post in a week and let you know what I think. Total price on these installed was $875 with a $25 coupon at Discount Tire.

I replaced a set of Toyo Proxies, a great tire had absolutely no complaints. Would have gotten them again if they had been easier to find. Similar price range to the Nittos.

Tim

 

What kind of power are you making?/what kind of grip do you expect?

I have the nitto 555's as well. They are decent for a summer tire but of course no where close to a dr in grip. That being said they wear really well and last quite a long time and are good in the rain.

 

I have the basic bolt-ons and 4:10's so my car isn't a tire shreader. If I go with Nitto I will try out the Invo tire.

 

They'd be like the 555 except slighty worse wear and better grip. If you can get em for a good price I'd go for it.

 

Nitto nt 555s... great traction and wear and i believe you can get them for under 1k.. I got mine from american tire company with the 70$ warranty. I have busted through 2 different tires from nails and they replaced with a new tire each time for 40$ no hassle..

 

I bought this set of wheels and tires and decided that I am going to sell them. These are Nitto 555 extremes and they look like a good tire but I want more performance.

 

You know Rich I'm looking to get a new set of tires for some wheels I'm contemplating, 19" though, and I haven't been able to figure out what I want. I want a summer performance tire that is sticky in dry conditions. One that would be at home on the track and I don't care about wear because the car gets about 3,000 miles per year. It doesn't snow here and the car never sees rain at all.

Does anyone know of a good tire for that? I'd be willing to go to $1200 or $1400 a set.

I think I'm kind of in the same boat Rich. Am I crazy?

 

Alot of my HiHp friends daily drive Nitto 555R, they grip insane in the street and great road manners.

 

Those are what I have and they have been really good to me. Even when I was at 430rwhp they gave me great traction and wear other than when I really cluthched it in first gear...

 

I recently installed 255/45/18 Continental Extreme Contact DWS's on my '07 GT. Huge improvement in handling & traction over the factory BFG's. Awesome grip in dry pavement. Astounding grip in the rain. And only $900 total (including tax, mounting, balancing, etc.)....

 

Interesting Article from Car & Driver on Summer Performance tires.
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...mparison_tests

I am going to try the Hankook's in 19". Seemed to do well in the Tire Rack surveys and reviews, except for tire wear.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....omCompare1=yes

I have 255/45/18 BFG KDW NT's on the car now, excellent grip and don't really notice the tire noise that so many folks mention.

A Tire Rack rep. that I talked to had lots of good things to say about the Goodyear F/1 asymmetrics in 255/45/18.

 

Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec is the choice for Autocrossers on street tires.

 

I think I might try the Hancooks myself. I'm not that concerned with wear, and for that price you can buy two sets compared to other brands.

 

http://www.discounttiredirect.com/di...w=false&cs=255
I have some of these and like them alot. Thay are rated slightly higher than than the hankooks

 

.....and unfortunately they aren't available in the 255/45-18 size the OP (and myself) want. I have them on my Bullitt in 265/40-17, but the closest they come to S197 sizes for 18" wheels is 245/45-18. I may end up going with those, or possibly try to stretch some Bridgestone RE-11's in the 265/40-18 size on my 18x8.5" wheels for my '08 GT. If I were to stick with the 255/45-18 size though, I'd look hard at the new Continental ExtremeContact DW tires.

 

Not sure they would be in the sizes you require, but Hankook's are on a $50 rebate right now (please check to make sure) if you buy a set of four, just an FYI. I got mine at Tirerack.


Andretti

 

Nitto NT05s, much better than NT555s.

 

...and unfortunately not available in the 255/45-18 size the OP is looking for either. Depending on what width wheels the OP will be putting the tires on, the 275/40-18 Nitto NT05 might fit them, and be fairly close to the original S197 tire diameter.

 

I sure liked my BFGoodrich KDW II's on my 06. Some reviews say they are a little loud, but I never noticed it............I probably couldn't hear them over the whine of the Whipple I really did like them though. They also have a cool looking tread pattern.