Corvette Performance - modded cars whats everyone running for tires???

Well I hate to say it but the time has come for me to get a new set of tires. I have firestone wideovals on my vette now but they just cant hold the road anymore when I try to run the car. So I'm planning on changing from the comp gray looking stockies on my 02 and run a 18 19 set up. Like the title says everyone like for modified cars I love nitto tires and I've been looking at the NT05 and the Envos I just havent pulled the trigger yet. thanks as always for your help

Really depends on the driving you do. I bought a set of wheels that already had Invo's on them and I was very surprised how well they did for 2 seasons (427whp / 394wtq here) especially with little life left. I debated, like you, on stepping up to a radial but the higher price / shorter tire life isn't worth it for my type of driving, and NT05s don't come in a 305/30/19.

My car is a street car, might see one track day a year so I'll sacrifice a margin of traction for a longer lasting / cheaper tire. I was debating on the Hankook Ventus V12s as they were only $250 a pop for 305/30/19 but now they're just a hair cheaper than Invo's so I'll be sticking with Nitto.

I am on my second set of Nitto Invos (replaced the rear only, fronts still had plenty of tread). Love them for the street. NT-05s are on my radar, though, but I much prefer the peace of mind having the additional wet traction with the Invos.

Not enough traction to handle my 550+rwhp, although they're good enough for street use (much better straight line traction than the stock runflats). The only way I'd be able to put all of it to the ground is with a pair of NT-05Rs. But I am not running drag radials anytime soon.

IMHO....the bigger wheel you run the less choces you will find for performance tires. Example....the 19's ...the only true DOT R compound tire is the Michelin PSC's and at $2500 for a set of 4 is hard to swallow. Especially when you factor in they may get 7k out of them.

18' and 17's allow for much more choices. I've ran most of the brands and have to say as far as a DOT R compound tire are concerned....the Toyo R888 is the best. But they dont make anything larger than 18"....I'm running the 315's and love them.

Good luck with the chocies with the 19's. The invos are ok but nowhere near a serious performance tire.


Thanks....

thanks everyone for there imputs I'm still on the fence though. I just know the weather was decent this weekend so I took the car out and traction was terrible my firestone wide ovals are done so I think before I drive it anymore I'll definitely have to do something. I only put about 6k on the car a year so I'm not worried how long they last I just want something to grab when I want to go. I really done ever track the car so maybe invos are the way to go

I have a set of NT555rII's waiting to get mounted :D

I was looking at those also if I decide to run 18s all the way around I'll be going with those for sure

I have C6 Zo6 replica wheels on my car 18's in the front and 19's in the rear (285's). I have bfg g force t/a kdw's and they seem to be great for cornering but are horible on take off traction. The tires were on the car when I purchased it and I think they cost over $300 a peice. I would not recomend them at all and would stay away from 19's if you want options. imo. I was told my car makes 403 hp and 396 tq at the wheels.

I've had NT05 street tires and NT05R Drag radials on my C6Z and my uncles S/C'd LS2 C6 both tires drive just fine in the rain. I have the NT05 street tires on my dads intake/tune c5z and they hook pretty good but on my C6Z NT05 street tires just didnt cut it in 1st gear. NT05R's are the only tires I'll ever buy for the rear of my car again they dead hook 1st gear from any speed and no matter how cold it is (40* here is cold) only time it spins is when I shift into 2nd hard. They have no sway and dont feel unstable up top or in the corners

I am not really sure if anything is going to last,but the M/T DR works well on the street.

Anyone looking into NT05's: As simple as I can say it, they are toned down drag radials that work great in the rain. I have a pair of 295/35/18 on my *stock 98 Z/28 and even with the tire pressure at 20psi and a decent burnout, it'll break traction fairly easy. If your focus is daily driveability my vote is for the NT05's or INVO's. If you're more into taking it to the strip or you'll be racing frequently, I've heard nothing but great things about ET Street Radials.

I'll be able to tell you in a couple months how long the NT05R's last, I got about 1500-2000miles or so they still look and hook like new. I'm thinking 5000-6000miles

I have Invos. They hook better than the runcraps, but not as well as I had hoped. I would run the NT05s out back if they fit. Bridgestone RE-11s get a lot of good reviews for a street tire.

If stay with an 18" on the rear, you'll have more choices. If you don't need real high mileage from them, the 555RII would be great in the rear. After they wear down too much for street use, you can often to sell them for track use.

thanks everyone for the great feed back. I've decided to run 18s all the way around and leaning towards nitto NT555r's on the back in a 305/35/18

thanks everyone for the great feed back. I've decided to run 18s all the way around and leaning towards nitto NT555r's on the back in a 305/35/18

I have been running the 305 35 18 nt555 drag radials on the back of my car for almost 1 year now. I plan to replace them next month before TX2k. I am making 500 rwhp and 470 rwtq. They have been pretty good especially when it was warm but I dont think they are going to get me the best traction with nitrous. I am going to try Mickey Thompsons.

I have been running the 305 35 18 nt555 drag radials on the back of my car for almost 1 year now. I plan to replace them next month before TX2k. I am making 500 rwhp and 470 rwtq. They have been pretty good especially when it was warm but I dont think they are going to get me the best traction with nitrous. I am going to try Mickey Thompsons.

sounds like your car is a beast if those tires are holding that to the ground it shouldnt have a problem with me 420 even if I put the heads on. Thanks for sharing your experience with them its been a tough decision

... leaning towards nitto NT555r's on the back in a 305/35/18

Good call, IMO. The 555R is a good compromise between a regular radial and what I would consider a "full-blown" drag radial (M/T street radials bite better but don't last nearly as long).

They will grab the pavement much more effectively than any regular radial tire, offer better mileage/lifespan than the softer DR's, have a stiff enough sidewall to allow for some spirited street driving (situations other than straight-line flexing), and they will do okay in the rain.

I run a set on my mach1's factory wheels and I have a set of 305/35/18's on the vette (C5 Z06 wheels). Good stuff.

Bought a set of NT05Rs in July 11 and DD them til dec 11. About 75 runs at the strip and 6500 miles on them. I still have about 30-40% tread left on them. They worked great at the track for me. A good burnout and they were sticky as Hell. Wet weather was pretty scary in them though. I got a spare set of wheels now and will only run the NT05s at the strip now. I DD on 555s extremes now.

sounds like your car is a beast if those tires are holding that to the ground it shouldnt have a problem with me 420 even if I put the heads on. Thanks for sharing your experience with them its been a tough decision

Ya for the most part they have been good. I am told by guys with faster cars and more power that 500 rwhp is about the limits of the 555's. My car is currently in the shop getting a plate kit installed.

Last weekend some friends and I went to Mexico for some fun. I had been having a little traction issues with it being so cold lately but I decided to lower my tire preasure some more. I put it down to 16 psi and was hooking very well. 40-45 in 2nd and no spinning.

Little video of the fun, my car is the silver c5z

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xywm_Aa-kic&feature=player_embedded

Silver408z I'm at work but I cant wait to watch that video when I get out of here. Heres a couple of pics took the car out saturday and lets just say I'm ready to put these new tires on

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee20/fighterpilot870/tires-1.png
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee20/fighterpilot870/tires3.png

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee20/fighterpilot870/zo7.png

Awesome man. I think you are really going to like the tires. Your fronts are 18s?

not yet but they will be soon. I ordered new wheels tires and brakes hopefully all being put on this weekend

Edit, just saw your new tire pics, good choice. Give some feedback.

heres a quick pic after I got them put on unfortantly I broke my right hand in a 4wheeler accident so its going to be awhile before I can give feedback

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee20/fighterpilot870/blackz2.png
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee20/fighterpilot870/blackz3.png

IMHO....the bigger wheel you run the less choces you will find for performance tires. Example....the 19's ...the only true DOT R compound tire is the Michelin PSC's and at $2500 for a set of 4 is hard to swallow. Especially when you factor in they may get 7k out of them.

18' and 17's allow for much more choices. I've ran most of the brands and have to say as far as a DOT R compound tire are concerned....the Toyo R888 is the best. But they dont make anything larger than 18"....I'm running the 315's and love them.

Good luck with the chocies with the 19's. The invos are ok but nowhere near a serious performance tire.


Thanks....



I agree about the larger the wheel the harder it is to find the tire you are wanting.
I wanted a 305/30/19 with the best traction I could get in the dry and still be ok in the rain. I don't get caught in the rain often, but if I do I want it to feel safe. After hours of reading I settled on the Bridgestone RE-11. This tire gets good reviews so I've got a set on order to try out.

Hoosiers DRs

New rears came in a couple days ago

http://i910.photobucket.com/albums/ac307/silver408z/mine017.jpg

runing nitto nt555r drag radils 315\35\17. i wont ever put street tires on it even though its mostly street car, im making 470whp and dont feel like losing to hondas.

I have ran the nitto 305/35/18 dr's on my dd and got over 10,000 miles on them. The car made 440rwhp 400rwtq on motor and was able to put 1.5-1.6 sixties all day at 4000-4500 lanches. Never tried to spray in first, but was able to in second with no tire spin on the street. On spray the makes over 610rwhp and 625 rwtq. By the way this is in a full weight ws6. I just went to the 19x12 c6z06 spyders. Now I am tring to get the nt05r 345/30/19. I have friends that run them that pull 1.5-1.6 60's with 550+ hp. I have also seen people say that they can hold on cars making 700+ hp in second.

SilverZ408 you'll have to let me know how you like them. There supposed to be stickier then the Nittos. So far I like the Nt555r I hoping for some more power soon heads and vararam intake. Should put me between 460 and 470 we will see. Im happy with the so far

SilverZ408 you'll have to let me know how you like them. There supposed to be stickier then the Nittos. So far I like the Nt555r I hoping for some more power soon heads and vararam intake. Should put me between 460 and 470 we will see. Im happy with the so far

I have the nt555r on it right now. They have been pretty good. Alot of people are telling me the nittos are good till about 500 rwhp. There are lots of factors to that of course. How new they are, temperature etc. My car is in the shop getting a nitrous kit installed and the goal is 700 on the bottle so I went for something stickier this time. I will let you know how it goes.

I had the Nitto 555R-II on all four wheels when I had my Trans Am. Loved those tires.

For street use on my car, though, comparing the Invos to the NT05s, not sure I'd want to sacrifice the ride quality and quietness for a little more dry traction. That said, I do have a second set of wheels now that will either get Hoosiers, NT05+NT05R, or MT ET Street Radials. Decisions, decisions.

http://www.nittotire.com/TireSelector/Vehicle

Right now running Bridgestone Potenza RE760 Sports. Reasonably priced,bites down in the dry/wet.

I ran m/t et streets on my camaro and loved them. I am about to pick up a set for my vette. I also need a set of fronts what would be a good tire for the fronts?

has anyone ran nitto NT05rs?