Street Review: Mickey Thompson ET Street Radials vs Nitto NT555R - 275/40/17
06-13-2009, 01:49 PM
#1
Street Review: Mickey Thompson ET Street Radials vs Nitto NT555R - 275/40/17 I just finished off my Nittos after about 20,000 miles (I don't know how I got that many miles out of them but I'm not complaining, especially considering the track rentals and all the racing...). So I just put on some new Mickey Thompson ET Street Radials this morning that I picked up from Summit Racing.
My car is a 2002 Z28 that with the cutout closed how I drove it today dynoed 400/367 SAE on a dynojet (408/380 cutout open). It's got a 12-bolt with 4.10s and also an MN12 transmission with the very short gear ratios. On the Nittos in this weather (70 degrees or so), first gear is useless from any speed. If I did a burnout first, I could roll into it quick but it was iffy when just punching it. Second gear hooked half the time, sometimes chirping a little bit but often just spinning through the gear the first time. A burnout and they always hooked right up in second.
Now with the ET Streets, I alway have traction in second without a burnout. In first, I can punch it from low in first (outside of my real powerband, say 20mph or less) and it hooks right up and through the gear. If I just punch it from right in the powerband in first, it spins through the rest of first but is manageable until I hit second. With a burnout, it just hooks anywhere in first. I haven't tried launching hard on the street yet after a burnout but I will post results when I get a chance and good spot to try it.
The Nittos drove very much like a street tire. The Mickey Thompsons are similar but you can feel them walk and sway a little bit when making sharp turns or changing lanes quickly, which I never noticed on the Nittos. It's not anything that bothers me at all but I guess it might bother a few people who like the twisties. If this is the case, you might want to stick with the Nittos or something with a stiffer sidewall.
Just thought I'd throw this review up. Clearly the MTs won't last nearly as long (maybe get 5-6k out of them I'm thinking), but the traction difference is unreal, especially just punching it without doing a burnout. I've never been able to hit it at all in first without going sideways down the road. Now it spins a bit but I can stay in it until I hit second. And second hasn't spun once yet without doing a burnout.
Haven't tested in the rain on the MTs but I don't drive the car in the rain so unless I get caught randomly, it will stay that way. Happened a couple times in the Nittos and they were fine, just had to take it a little easier than you would with a regular street tire. I hear the MTs don't like rain at all so I'll be very careful if it ever happens. I don't expect them to do well in the rain but hopefully I never have to find out.
UPDATE - I just took the car out again today after dropping the pressure to 25 pounds. I had them at 30 pounds yesterday for this review. Now with it at 25 pounds, I punched it twice in first, both in the powerband, and it dead hooked. It was awesome and a first for this car on this setup.
My car is a 2002 Z28 that with the cutout closed how I drove it today dynoed 400/367 SAE on a dynojet (408/380 cutout open). It's got a 12-bolt with 4.10s and also an MN12 transmission with the very short gear ratios. On the Nittos in this weather (70 degrees or so), first gear is useless from any speed. If I did a burnout first, I could roll into it quick but it was iffy when just punching it. Second gear hooked half the time, sometimes chirping a little bit but often just spinning through the gear the first time. A burnout and they always hooked right up in second.
Now with the ET Streets, I alway have traction in second without a burnout. In first, I can punch it from low in first (outside of my real powerband, say 20mph or less) and it hooks right up and through the gear. If I just punch it from right in the powerband in first, it spins through the rest of first but is manageable until I hit second. With a burnout, it just hooks anywhere in first. I haven't tried launching hard on the street yet after a burnout but I will post results when I get a chance and good spot to try it.
The Nittos drove very much like a street tire. The Mickey Thompsons are similar but you can feel them walk and sway a little bit when making sharp turns or changing lanes quickly, which I never noticed on the Nittos. It's not anything that bothers me at all but I guess it might bother a few people who like the twisties. If this is the case, you might want to stick with the Nittos or something with a stiffer sidewall.
Just thought I'd throw this review up. Clearly the MTs won't last nearly as long (maybe get 5-6k out of them I'm thinking), but the traction difference is unreal, especially just punching it without doing a burnout. I've never been able to hit it at all in first without going sideways down the road. Now it spins a bit but I can stay in it until I hit second. And second hasn't spun once yet without doing a burnout.
Haven't tested in the rain on the MTs but I don't drive the car in the rain so unless I get caught randomly, it will stay that way. Happened a couple times in the Nittos and they were fine, just had to take it a little easier than you would with a regular street tire. I hear the MTs don't like rain at all so I'll be very careful if it ever happens. I don't expect them to do well in the rain but hopefully I never have to find out.
UPDATE - I just took the car out again today after dropping the pressure to 25 pounds. I had them at 30 pounds yesterday for this review. Now with it at 25 pounds, I punched it twice in first, both in the powerband, and it dead hooked. It was awesome and a first for this car on this setup.
Last edited by PewterScreaminMach; 06-14-2009 at 01:18 PM.
06-13-2009, 07:29 PM
#5
Thanks for the review. I would love it if I could find a street tire that would hook up in first gear all the time! I've got 4.10s too, and I have NEVER gotten any traction from any spot in first gear under 100% throttle 
BFG GForce 275 
daily driver tires. How well do pilot sports hold up? They come on the new ZR1, which makes me wonder if they wouldnt hook up.
BFG GForce 275 daily driver tires. How well do pilot sports hold up? They come on the new ZR1, which makes me wonder if they wouldnt hook up. 
06-13-2009, 11:05 PM
#7
Thanks for the review. I would love it if I could find a street tire that would hook up in first gear all the time! I've got 4.10s too, and I have NEVER gotten any traction from any spot in first gear under 100% throttle BFG GForce 275 daily driver tires. How well do pilot sports hold up? They come on the new ZR1, which makes me wonder if they wouldnt hook up.
BFG GForce 275 daily driver tires. How well do pilot sports hold up? They come on the new ZR1, which makes me wonder if they wouldnt hook up. Trending Topics
I don't think your going to get 5-6k out of the mickeys though, more like 2-3k.
06-14-2009, 11:38 AM
#9
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I haven't tried all the tires out there but these ET Street Radials are definitely the stickiest I've found so far. My car has very little traction at this power level with the 4.10s and MN12 trans but I'm impressed with how the MTs are doing. And there was a BIG difference between 4.10s with the stock trans and 4.10s with the MN12 trans traction-wise.
You are a lucky guy.
You are a lucky guy.
it's that 17's that kill you...I'm running Nitto 555R's but in 15's and they can dead hook all day in 1st gear w/ 440rwhp.
I'll be moving to the MT's one of these days tho...
Chad
06-14-2009, 01:16 PM
#10
FIRST POST UPDATED
06-14-2009, 02:36 PM
#11
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AH after reading your update it all makes sense...these soft tires don't like pressure at all for street use...the nittos are at 25-27lb , it also helps with wearing out the center. keep them at that pressure.
Chad
06-14-2009, 06:21 PM
#13
06-15-2009, 12:16 AM
#15
From experience with the 17inch mickey's if you really want that car to hook well drop the air pressure down to about 17lbs warm. They will dead hook everytime, well they did on my car but every car is different. At the track though it is a must to run them in between 15-20 lbs for best results. I would not get caught in the rain with these tires every, I have and cause me to lose control going 30mph and I hit a guard rail.
06-15-2009, 09:39 AM
#16
From experience with the 17inch mickey's if you really want that car to hook well drop the air pressure down to about 17lbs warm. They will dead hook everytime, well they did on my car but every car is different. At the track though it is a must to run them in between 15-20 lbs for best results. I would not get caught in the rain with these tires every, I have and cause me to lose control going 30mph and I hit a guard rail.
