I need tire help!
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: The Motor City
I need tire help! Ok, so I purchased a beautiful 1996 WS6 as a fair weather car to play around with. I am VERY interested in taking it to the road course this spring, but this is a totally new realm for me.
It currently has a fully adjustable Stange suspension (I have no idea how to adjust this) subframe connectors, and an adjustable pan hard bar (I don't even know what purpose this serves). It has Nitto 555R Extreme ZR tires on the front (275/40/17) and matching drag radials on the rear. The fronts are practically new, but the rears need replacing badly. I really don't want to spend a ton of money on tires, etc until I'm able to try out the road racing thing a bit. I'm only planning to try it out a few times this season.
So, help me be practical. What do I need tire-wise? Are my current fronts usable? What should I get for the rear? This will mainly be a street driven car for sunny-day jaunts with a couple road course days thrown in if I enjoy the first.
Any advice you can give me will be very much appreciated!
It currently has a fully adjustable Stange suspension (I have no idea how to adjust this) subframe connectors, and an adjustable pan hard bar (I don't even know what purpose this serves). It has Nitto 555R Extreme ZR tires on the front (275/40/17) and matching drag radials on the rear. The fronts are practically new, but the rears need replacing badly. I really don't want to spend a ton of money on tires, etc until I'm able to try out the road racing thing a bit. I'm only planning to try it out a few times this season.
So, help me be practical. What do I need tire-wise? Are my current fronts usable? What should I get for the rear? This will mainly be a street driven car for sunny-day jaunts with a couple road course days thrown in if I enjoy the first.
Any advice you can give me will be very much appreciated!
One of the worst things you can do on a road course - tire wise - is have mis-matched tires. Your first season or two should be on street tires. Good performance tires, but street tires.
There are two versions of the 555 tire.
-- The NT555 is a ultra high performance summer tire. Not the best on the market, but the best for the money. Good choice for all around street use, and some track use.
-- NT555R - this is a drag radial. Sticky, listed as a competition tire. Different compound than the NT555, and a softer side wall. For a beginner, the 555R would work fine on the road course, but don't expect it to last long.
I think you would be better off using the NT555 street tire to begin with. Good tire, with good feed back. You won't kill it in one week end. And you can use it commuting to work if you want to.
There are two versions of the 555 tire.
-- The NT555 is a ultra high performance summer tire. Not the best on the market, but the best for the money. Good choice for all around street use, and some track use.
-- NT555R - this is a drag radial. Sticky, listed as a competition tire. Different compound than the NT555, and a softer side wall. For a beginner, the 555R would work fine on the road course, but don't expect it to last long.
I think you would be better off using the NT555 street tire to begin with. Good tire, with good feed back. You won't kill it in one week end. And you can use it commuting to work if you want to.
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,593
Likes: 267
From: Halfway back on the Highway to Hell...again!
For what you want to do, there are quite a few good choices out there. Go on tirerack & discount tire direct and read the reviews. The avg price of a very good tire in 275/40/17 is about $150ea.
My son just put on Bridgestone Potenza RE760s on his 01 Z28. He also has extensive suspension work/components. So far he really likes them. He's got about 200 miles on them and has been testing their limits on the street. So far he's happy.
For the most part, discounttiredirect reviews are mostly f-bodies, which is cool. Which their reviews are based on tire size and that tire. Tirerack is based on tire only and people who bought the tire will have anywhere from a kia to a lambo.
My son just put on Bridgestone Potenza RE760s on his 01 Z28. He also has extensive suspension work/components. So far he really likes them. He's got about 200 miles on them and has been testing their limits on the street. So far he's happy.
For the most part, discounttiredirect reviews are mostly f-bodies, which is cool. Which their reviews are based on tire size and that tire. Tirerack is based on tire only and people who bought the tire will have anywhere from a kia to a lambo.
On The Tree
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 179
Likes: 7
From: Braking Point, Turn In, Apex, Exit - Repeat
I bought my 96 Vette with the exact same situation NT-555 in the front and drag radials in the rear I was not a fan - the rear's would be greasy as hell one minute and stick like glue the next, depending on temp. I was much happier when I swapped out the drag radials with the regular NT-555.
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,798
Likes: 16
From: St.Charles MO
Ok, so I purchased a beautiful 1996 WS6 as a fair weather car to play around with. I am VERY interested in taking it to the road course this spring, but this is a totally new realm for me.
It currently has a fully adjustable Stange suspension (I have no idea how to adjust this) subframe connectors, and an adjustable pan hard bar (I don't even know what purpose this serves). It has Nitto 555R Extreme ZR tires on the front (275/40/17) and matching drag radials on the rear. The fronts are practically new, but the rears need replacing badly. I really don't want to spend a ton of money on tires, etc until I'm able to try out the road racing thing a bit. I'm only planning to try it out a few times this season.
So, help me be practical. What do I need tire-wise? Are my current fronts usable? What should I get for the rear? This will mainly be a street driven car for sunny-day jaunts with a couple road course days thrown in if I enjoy the first.
Any advice you can give me will be very much appreciated!
It currently has a fully adjustable Stange suspension (I have no idea how to adjust this) subframe connectors, and an adjustable pan hard bar (I don't even know what purpose this serves). It has Nitto 555R Extreme ZR tires on the front (275/40/17) and matching drag radials on the rear. The fronts are practically new, but the rears need replacing badly. I really don't want to spend a ton of money on tires, etc until I'm able to try out the road racing thing a bit. I'm only planning to try it out a few times this season.
So, help me be practical. What do I need tire-wise? Are my current fronts usable? What should I get for the rear? This will mainly be a street driven car for sunny-day jaunts with a couple road course days thrown in if I enjoy the first.
Any advice you can give me will be very much appreciated!
+1. I was in the same boat the first time I went from the drag strip to the road course.
I ran a mismatched set of 555 fronts and 555R II (the R-compound stiffer sidewall brother of the 555R) my first few times on track. I was too green to recognize it at that time, however I believe I would've been better off learning on the 555 radials all around. Having matched tires on all four will provide consistency in grip/feel and help you develop a better understanding of the balance of the car.
For the money, the 555 radial and the NT05 radials are both great "track day" radials. The 555 is a bit more forgiving in the rain, but the NT05 is better on dry pavement.
Also, sound advice from JD above. It can't be said enough -- get good (track) brake pads on the front with fresh DOT 4+ fluids (ATE Type 200 works great and is relatively cheap). Bed the pads on a set of new blank rotors and you're set.
I ran a mismatched set of 555 fronts and 555R II (the R-compound stiffer sidewall brother of the 555R) my first few times on track. I was too green to recognize it at that time, however I believe I would've been better off learning on the 555 radials all around. Having matched tires on all four will provide consistency in grip/feel and help you develop a better understanding of the balance of the car.
For the money, the 555 radial and the NT05 radials are both great "track day" radials. The 555 is a bit more forgiving in the rain, but the NT05 is better on dry pavement.
Also, sound advice from JD above. It can't be said enough -- get good (track) brake pads on the front with fresh DOT 4+ fluids (ATE Type 200 works great and is relatively cheap). Bed the pads on a set of new blank rotors and you're set.
