Best Handling tires?
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 114
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From: Upstate South Carolina
Best Handling tires? Hey guys I'm looking to get out of the straight line game and start throwing the WS6 through the mountain roads. What have you guys found to be the best handling tires for the street? Money isn't a huge issue but I would still like the best bang for the buck. Thanks for any info
TECH Regular
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 474
Likes: 60
From: Woodbridge, Ct
What do you have for performance mods and suspension upgrades? I think it would depend on what you already have done that will determine what tire you will need. I have suspension and just did H/C LT'S and convertor and also looking for a good set of all around good handling tires that will hold the extra RWHP now. I'm leaning towards the Nitto G2's so far from research I've done....but I'm still waiting to get my car back 
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,798
Likes: 16
From: St.Charles MO
Depends on your budget, wheel size(certain tires are only available for certain height and width wheels) and how streetable you want the tire to be (rain? ride quality?).
Also consider that ideally you want to be wide for these cars, 275 come from the factory and if you are truly serious about it guys are running 315s on all four corners (very little modification to do so). And if you are that serious anyway Id hope you have a good suspension setup along with it as the factory setup is pretty poor (especially the shocks) and many aftermarket parts can hurt handling or do you no favors. You would be absolutely blown away with what a proper setup can do to these cars.
With that being said I hear nothing but good things about Michelin Pilot Sport tires(Cup, PS2) but you are talking about ~$350+ per tire. Also bfgoodrich g-Force Rival S seem to be a very popular track tire, but I don't know how they do on the street and again are pretty expensive the properly wide ones for our cars are only available in 18s.
On budget something like NT05s are pretty cheap and grip well, especially if you are just street driving. NT555 G2s would be good to on budget and should be more street friendly/last longer than the NT05s but will give up grip to do so.
Also consider that ideally you want to be wide for these cars, 275 come from the factory and if you are truly serious about it guys are running 315s on all four corners (very little modification to do so). And if you are that serious anyway Id hope you have a good suspension setup along with it as the factory setup is pretty poor (especially the shocks) and many aftermarket parts can hurt handling or do you no favors. You would be absolutely blown away with what a proper setup can do to these cars.
With that being said I hear nothing but good things about Michelin Pilot Sport tires(Cup, PS2) but you are talking about ~$350+ per tire. Also bfgoodrich g-Force Rival S seem to be a very popular track tire, but I don't know how they do on the street and again are pretty expensive the properly wide ones for our cars are only available in 18s.
On budget something like NT05s are pretty cheap and grip well, especially if you are just street driving. NT555 G2s would be good to on budget and should be more street friendly/last longer than the NT05s but will give up grip to do so.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 114
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From: Upstate South Carolina
Awesome thanks for the info. I am putting down just over 450 to the ground. I'm running 275's all the way around on a 17" wheel.And I have Tunnel mount torque arm, 3 point subframe connectors, Tubular PanHard bar/relocation, Eibach pro Kit springs. And the beilstein shocks still, and 35MM/22MM front and rear sway bars. What shocks would you guys recommend also, and What other suspension stuff would you add? I already got the LCA's on the list.
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,798
Likes: 16
From: St.Charles MO
Awesome thanks for the info. I am putting down just over 450 to the ground. I'm running 275's all the way around on a 17" wheel.And I have Tunnel mount torque arm, 3 point subframe connectors, Tubular PanHard bar/relocation, Eibach pro Kit springs. And the beilstein shocks still, and 35MM/22MM front and rear sway bars. What shocks would you guys recommend also, and What other suspension stuff would you add? I already got the LCA's on the list.
For tires on your current wheels they have pilot sport PS2s available but like I said they are like $350 a tire. Nitto NT05s are a good value at less than $200 a tire and I have no complaints about the ones Im using now.
Then you have more race style tires with 100 tread wear like toyo porxy R888 or like the nitto NT01.
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Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 114
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From: Upstate South Carolina
Okay thanks for the info guys. My exhaust wont allow me to run a Watts Link. I have 3" True Duals out the back so its not really an option. And I have wanted to trade my tunnel mount TA for a Full length since I put it on. I hate it. I'll look into the Koni/Strano setup. And i'll probably shoot for the Nitto NT05's
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I have NTO5's on the front of my car, only reason to go with them was to match with the NT05R's on the rear. While I have zero complaints about them in all fairness I haven't pushed them hard. I bought them DESPITE them doing abysmally in a HotRod tire test....
http://www.hotrod.com/articles/the-b...ar-tires-test/
http://www.hotrod.com/articles/the-b...ar-tires-test/
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Joined: Sep 2010
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From: rudy@tirerack.com
I faithfully believe in the Nitto NT05's for corner carving! Ive had two sets on two different cars with two completely different suspension setups and they held the road great on a car with just springs as they did on my current car with full UMI suspension and Fays2Watts link!