Nitto tires
#436515
December 26, 2014 06:16 pm UTC
December 26, 2014 06:16 pm UTC
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,809 Ottawa, ON
Mike Eng
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Senior Member, with Far TOO Much Time on Their Hands
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OP
Senior Member, with Far TOO Much Time on Their Hands
Joined: Apr 2010
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Ottawa, ON
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Any of you DSM'rs running or have run a set of Nitto tires? I'm considering either their NT05 or NT555. Looking for REAL feedback with these. My goal is to find a GREAT street tire that can handle a few track days through 2 seasons at the very least. Also open to other suggestions but have ZERO experience with Nitto. Budget = A grand give or take. Thanks guys!
'99 GSX GT35R '03 CBR 600RR
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Re: Nitto tires
[Re: Mike Eng]
#436516
December 26, 2014 06:29 pm UTC
December 26, 2014 06:29 pm UTC
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,950 Guelph, Ontario
Jeremy Gilbert
Serious Member
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Serious Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,950
Guelph, Ontario
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Tire cost and availability can vary quite a bit with size; you may want to mention what you plan to run.
I have absolutely no experience with Nitto.
The Dunlop Direzza ZII's are all on closeout right now, due to the release of the Direzza ZII Star Spec. From the research I've done, this seems to be a bit of a "rebrand and resell" marketing ploy; there really doesn't seem to be much improvement between the old ZII's and the new Star Specs.
I am currently running the original ZII's, after having Toyo Proxes T1Rs and Bridgestone Potenzas on in the past. They are a definite step up in dry performance, but my main incredulity comes from how hard these things grab in the wet! Great for a daily car.
Edit: They are a 200 treadwear, which can deter some people. I've seen time and time again that this rating is really only effective for comparing tires of the same brand. Regardless, I have two seasons on mine already, and they still look practically new. If I don't get another 2 at least, I would be shocked.
Last edited by Jeremy Gilbert; December 26, 2014 06:32 pm UTC.
1995 TSi AWD 11.7@119 1.8 60' - Curse of the Bad Driver PHP: 0
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Re: Nitto tires
[Re: Mike Eng]
#436517
December 26, 2014 07:46 pm UTC
December 26, 2014 07:46 pm UTC
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,809 Ottawa, ON
Mike Eng
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Senior Member, with Far TOO Much Time on Their Hands
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OP
Senior Member, with Far TOO Much Time on Their Hands
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Ottawa, ON
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I've been looking at Dunlop's as well. I believe you're right about the close out sale pricing. Which might be a good option.
Have you done any lapping or drags with those tires? I suspect they'll perform well in both but am afraid the tread blocks with either start chunking or disappear altogether when taking hard corners.
The size I plan to run is 255/35/18. Treadware rating of 200 - 300.
I know some of you may disagree with that size of tire given the aspect ratio is short. But after doing a lot of online digging, I've discovered this size tire is VERY common with BMW and Mercedes factory sizing. Granted they normally run RFT's. I'll try it out for a season or two and see how I like it.
Bare in mind, I don't live in "pot hole hell" aka Quebec.
And 95% of my driving is highway.
I should probably update my thread with pics of the rims I bought this week while in Toronto.
Soon.
Last edited by Mike Eng; December 26, 2014 07:49 pm UTC.
'99 GSX GT35R '03 CBR 600RR
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Re: Nitto tires
[Re: Mike Eng]
#436520
December 26, 2014 08:15 pm UTC
December 26, 2014 08:15 pm UTC
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,950 Guelph, Ontario
Jeremy Gilbert
Serious Member
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Serious Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,950
Guelph, Ontario
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They have held up great through repeated launches, but I haven't had them lapping.
Edit: Keep in mind, like I said, that comparing treadwear ratings between tires of different brands is not all that useful. Tire Rack themselves have a good explanation of how the rating is determined and why it's unreliable between different brands.
Last edited by Jeremy Gilbert; December 26, 2014 08:16 pm UTC.
1995 TSi AWD 11.7@119 1.8 60' - Curse of the Bad Driver PHP: 0
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Re: Nitto tires
[Re: Mike Eng]
#436523
December 26, 2014 10:37 pm UTC
December 26, 2014 10:37 pm UTC
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,809 Ottawa, ON
Mike Eng
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Senior Member, with Far TOO Much Time on Their Hands
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OP
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I can't say I would ever purposely drive the eclipse in the rain. Although I have been caught in it many times. I suspect any tire with tread blocks that direct water away as well as have some sort of sipe to their design, should perform well enough for my type of driving.
But you bring up a good point Salomon. I average 10,000 - 15,000kms per season.
Still no one with any Nitto experience huh?
'99 GSX GT35R '03 CBR 600RR
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Re: Nitto tires
[Re: Mike Eng]
#436525
December 26, 2014 11:42 pm UTC
December 26, 2014 11:42 pm UTC
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,808 Ontario, Canada
Salomon Ponte
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I can't say I would ever purposely drive the eclipse in the rain. Although I have been caught in it many times. I suspect any tire with tread blocks that direct water away as well as have some sort of sipe to their design, should perform well enough for my type of driving.
But you bring up a good point Salomon. I average 10,000 - 15,000kms per season.
Still no one with any Nitto experience huh? I know of quite a few people with experience using the Nitto NT01 but that's a 100 Treadwear street legal R-Comp. Nitto has had some pretty good feedback in the past but a lot has changed in the past 4 or 5 years and so I can't really comment. 20-30k is a decent amount of mileage so I can see why you'd want something with higher treadwear rating. Honestly, with that much mileage I'd say get a set of rims with something like a Hankook RS-3 or Ventus Z214 (R-Comp) on it for track fun (RS-3 would be better for you because you can drive to/from the track on them safely - even if it rains) and then another set with something that is high performance but much higher treadwear. You'll have probably end up not needing to replace either set for 4 years or so, at minimum and you won't be sacrificing in either category (performance or durability) just to try and meet a set of very specific requirements.
'92 Talon TSi AWD - 5 Speed/E16G/12.385s @ 115.13mph
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Re: Nitto tires
[Re: Mike Eng]
#436526
December 27, 2014 03:30 am UTC
December 27, 2014 03:30 am UTC
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 4,783 Belleville Ontario
Jay Stacey
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After lots of research, I went wih the So4 Potenzas. The Evo guys like them much better then the evo12s. Longer life span, ans stiffer sidewalls... Something us allwheel drives can get away with... We dont need the soft side walls to launch, like fwd and rwd cars. Tire Rack placed it 2nd best street/weekend racer tire. 1st was Michelin super sports.
After half a summer so far on them, THEY GRIP! I actually think Im burning up my clutch faster now!
11.45@125, stock bottom end 6bolt 2g head. 272 hks cams. Holset hx35 Backyard biult!!
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Re: Nitto tires
[Re: Mike Eng]
#436527
December 27, 2014 04:30 am UTC
December 27, 2014 04:30 am UTC
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,809 Ottawa, ON
Mike Eng
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OP
Senior Member, with Far TOO Much Time on Their Hands
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Thanks for the input Jay!
Looking at them now, 280 TRDWR and on sale at tirerack.com for $185. Definitely a good option!
About riding on a stiff sidewall..I'm actually trying to stay away from brands like Falken for the reason that I want the 255/35/18's to have SOME flex in them. Hence I'm more interested in a softer sidewall to promote less understeer. Which brings me to look at brands like Hankook, Dunlop and maybe Nitto if I could get more concrete feedback. I didn't know the S04 had stiff sidewalls. Which I am assuming you're running a 225 or 235 and 40 or 45 A/R on 17's. I think I remember you telling me but that was long ago.
'99 GSX GT35R '03 CBR 600RR
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Re: Nitto tires
[Re: Salomon Ponte]
#436531
December 27, 2014 05:58 am UTC
December 27, 2014 05:58 am UTC
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,809 Ottawa, ON
Mike Eng
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OP
Senior Member, with Far TOO Much Time on Their Hands
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Had an old Saturn buddy with 35s on his Saturn. Flying around a corner, the tire rolled and touched the rim to the road... The car slid across the road and down a hill taking out an on coming car in the proccess. I don't drive drunk If you want to do lapping you want a stiff sidewall. My R-Comps have a sidewall stiffer than a concrete wall (exaggeration, but not much). Soft sidewall tires are terrible when you're pushing a car hard or especially at its limit cause you just scrub the sides of the tires, will cause damage to the tires and can even de-bead a tire.
Tires are unpredictable. Suspension is predictable. You want as much force transmitted to the suspension as possible (ie as little tire flex/roll/deflection as possible).
Lapping and soft sidewall tires do not go together. Water and oil. Well said Salomon. I just didn't see it that way before you explained it so well. Thanks! Guess this means I can broaden my search. Maybe those Falken 452's might not be too bad after all.
Last edited by Mike Eng; December 27, 2014 05:59 am UTC.
'99 GSX GT35R '03 CBR 600RR
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Re: Nitto tires
[Re: Mike Eng]
#436533
December 27, 2014 06:37 am UTC
December 27, 2014 06:37 am UTC
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,669 Toronto, Ontario
Stephan Tanchak
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For a tire thats supposed to be grippy, my RT-615k's arent grippy at all. And because of the low profile and stiff sidewall, they hop like no tomorrow.
1998 Eclipse GSX Spyder 11.5@124 AWD Talons: 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998
Team Big Turbo
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Re: Nitto tires
[Re: Mike Eng]
#436721
January 06, 2015 06:56 am UTC
January 06, 2015 06:56 am UTC
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 115 Toronto, Canada
Jonathan Paquin
Regular Member
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Regular Member
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Toronto, Canada
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michelin pilot supersports. great tire for a decent price. they are supposed to last upwards of 50000 km and hook very well in any condition.
~Get Tuned, Stay Tuned~
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Re: Nitto tires
[Re: Mike Eng]
#436724
January 06, 2015 04:10 pm UTC
January 06, 2015 04:10 pm UTC
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,669 Toronto, Ontario
Stephan Tanchak
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Toronto, Ontario
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My brother was the one to let me know about that a while back. Last year they were stored next door in our well heated garage, spaced out and off concrete. They don't have much life left in them and need to be replaced soon anyway so I'm not bothering with babying them.
1998 Eclipse GSX Spyder 11.5@124 AWD Talons: 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998
Team Big Turbo
PHP: 2
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Re: Nitto tires
[Re: Mike Eng]
#436725
January 06, 2015 04:43 pm UTC
January 06, 2015 04:43 pm UTC
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 9,968 Caledon, Ontario, Canada
Bryan Lawrence
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Good info Mike, I had no idea. My tires get hung outside in the garage, sure the garage is a little warmer than outside but not much. Guess I will have to see how they perform next summer.
"Old Blue" 91 Talon TSi AWD "Super Enthusiast" 91 Talon TSi AWD Checkout DSMFAQ.com!
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Re: Nitto tires
[Re: Mike Eng]
#442104
August 05, 2015 08:55 pm UTC
August 05, 2015 08:55 pm UTC
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,006 Ottawa
Charles Lavoie
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Thought I would chime in 6 months later. I ran Nitto Invos on 18's on my 1997. Those are the tires I will be sticking with from here on. Slip just enough when cold, and grip amazingly once warmed up. They love wet weather. Best cornering tire I have tried to date. Only down side, the outer edge has almost no tread. If you get pulled over by a cop, they point out your bald tires (which all the tread starts at the halfway point) They did try to get me with this with only 2 weeks on the tires >.< P.S. Only did it once, but they handled slushy roads better than my winters
Last edited by Charles Lavoie; August 05, 2015 08:56 pm UTC.
98,6Bolt,3"EXH,LINKV3,780cc,SD,SCM61@26PSI, 340LPH,AFPR,TSBOV,REARWB,FMIC,2"RAD(20/80/WW)
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