Which Tire Is Right for the Street and the Strip?
For years, Nitto has been the preferred tire brand for performance automotive enthusiasts. From daily driving to the toughest single-day race on earth, people trust Nitto tires to give them the performance they need. With such a wide range of tires on offer, how can you know for sure which one best fits your needs? See what enthusiasts and top builders have to say in choosing between Nitto’s popular performance-oriented street and drag-strip tires.
NT555 G2 — SUMMER ULTRA HIGH PERFORMANCE TIRE
When it comes to daily driving your performance car, nothing beats the NT555 G2. “For a daily driver I choose the G2 because of the awesome traction you get in the rain and on dry pavement. Not to mention they are super quiet on the road,” says Justin Keith, founder of Street Car Takeover.
Multi-time NMRA champion John Urist agrees, saying, “The NT555 G2 is our choice for street performance and handling. It will give the most durability and life for the performance enthusiast.”
Award-winning car builders Jim and Mike Ring of Ringbrothers add, “Nitto is our first choice for tires. We have high expectations when it comes to anything that we equip on our custom, hand-built cars. The tires need to be able to handle the horsepower and Nitto does it best in our opinion. The 555 G2 is our go-to tire.”
This added performance for the road also translates to the track. With increased traction, handling and wet-braking capabilities, the NT555 G2 will get you off the line quickly, provide stability in the straights and confidence in the corners. By employing an updated tread and rubber compound, combined with a rearranged and re-analyzed pattern, the NT555 G2 stands proudly as Nitto's top performance street tire. Any enthusiast will be happy with them on their daily driver.
NT555R — D.O.T.-COMPLIANT COMPETITION DRAG RADIAL TIRE
The NT555R is a D.O.T.-compliant competition drag radial that sits in the mid-ground between the NT555 G2 and NT05R. Unlike the NT555 G2, it’s designed more specifically for drag strip performance.
Even though it’s a drag tire, it carries D.O.T. compliance enabling to be used for street use. “For my C7 Corvette, the 555Rs are the perfect tire. They wrap around the whole image of it as a street car while also just hooking up. I can still take leisure drives with my car and I don’t have to change the tires to go to the track and run a 9-second pass,” says Keith.
Its versatility makes it a great choice for weekend warriors that want to be able to drive their car back and forth to the track or to a local car show. It does this by combining a high-grip compound and semi-racing construction. In addition, the tread compound is formulated to achieve a balance between treadwear and drag strip performance.
NT05R — D.O.T.-COMPLIANT COMPETITION DRAG RACE TIRE
The NT05R is the ultimate D.O.T.-compliant competition drag radial for serious drag racing enthusiasts. Its specialized race compound and large contact patch were engineered to provide maximum traction and promote even pressure distribution across the tread. The enhanced sidewall construction provides longitudinal launch traction while maintaining stability throughout the pass.
“For a car that will run the track, we must have the tires super sticky for best performance and handling, that’s why we use the Nitto NT05R tire. Plus the aggressive looks these tires have fits the stance of our cars,” say the Ringbrothers. Urist echoes this, saying, “The NT05R is the maximum performance tire we use on our twin-turbo Mustangs, Camaros and Hemi vehicles. It offers a great match between race tire longevity and maximum traction.”
When it comes to a serious drag tire, you can’t do better than the NT05R. You’ll get off the line quickly and down the track with speed and consistency.
No matter how you drive, there’s a tire that’s designed specifically for your needs.
To see sizing and find a dealer, visit NittoTire.com.