The Nitto NT555R2 is a high-performance summer tire designed for sports cars, muscle cars, and other performance vehicles. This tire is an evolution of the popular NT555R, offering improved traction, handling, and durability. With its advanced compound and aggressive tread design, the NT555R2 is built to deliver exceptional grip and responsiveness on dry and wet roads.
Intended for enthusiasts who demand the utmost in performance and driving enjoyment, the NT555R2 is engineered to excel in both street and track environments. Its unique tread pattern features a directional design with large outer shoulder blocks for enhanced cornering stability and lateral grip. The continuous center rib ensures precise steering response and high-speed stability.
Key features of the Nitto NT555R2 include a silica-enhanced tread compound for improved wet traction, reinforced internal construction for increased durability and high-speed capability, and an optimized contact patch for even wear and extended treadlife. Whether you’re carving through twisty backroads or pushing the limits on a closed circuit, the NT555R2 delivers the confidence and control you need to extract maximum performance from your vehicle.
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Design and Construction
The Nitto NT555R2 is a high-performance summer tire designed for sports cars, muscle cars, and powerful sedans. Its construction features a twin steel belt package reinforced with spirally wound nylon for improved strength and durability. The tire’s casing utilizes a special high-grip compound that enhances traction and handling capabilities.
The tread design incorporates a directional pattern with large outer shoulder blocks and a continuous center rib. This layout provides excellent stability and cornering grip while also promoting even wear. Additionally, the tread features numerous sipes and grooves that help evacuate water and improve wet traction.
Nitto’s engineers employed an advanced silica-based tread compound that delivers exceptional dry grip and responsive handling. The compound’s unique formulation also contributes to improved rolling resistance, which can lead to better fuel efficiency compared to some competitors.
Overall, the NT555R2’s design and construction prioritize maximum dry performance and cornering capabilities without sacrificing durability or treadwear. Its robust construction and specialized compounds make it a top choice for driving enthusiasts seeking a high-performance summer tire.
Tread Pattern and Grip
The Nitto NT555R2 features an aggressive, directional tread pattern designed for maximum traction and grip in various driving conditions. The tread pattern incorporates wide circumferential grooves and lateral notches that effectively channel water away from the contact patch, enhancing hydroplaning resistance and wet traction.
One of the standout features of the NT555R2’s tread design is the integration of large, solid shoulder blocks. These blocks provide exceptional grip during hard cornering and high-speed maneuvering, ensuring confident handling and stability. Additionally, the tread pattern incorporates multiple sipes (thin slits) that create biting edges, further enhancing traction on slippery surfaces.
The tread compound used in the NT555R2 is a proprietary blend of silica and advanced polymers, which strike an optimal balance between grip and wear resistance. This compound ensures consistent performance throughout the tire’s lifespan, maintaining excellent dry and wet traction even as the tread wears down.
In real-world driving conditions, the Nitto NT555R2 demonstrates remarkable grip and handling characteristics. Whether accelerating from a standstill, negotiating tight corners, or braking hard, the tire delivers exceptional traction and responsive steering feel. Even in wet conditions, the tire’s hydroplaning resistance and wet grip remain impressive, instilling confidence in the driver.
Overall, the Nitto NT555R2’s tread pattern and compound blend are engineered to provide outstanding grip and traction across a wide range of driving scenarios, making it an excellent choice for enthusiasts seeking a high-performance tire that delivers on both dry and wet surfaces.
Dry Performance
The Nitto NT555R2 tires excel in dry conditions, delivering exceptional grip and handling. Their advanced compound and tread design allow for precise steering response and impressive cornering capabilities. During hard acceleration, the tires hook up remarkably well, transferring power to the road without any noticeable wheelspin or loss of traction.
In dry braking situations, the NT555R2 truly shines. The tires provide short stopping distances and maintain excellent stability under heavy braking forces. Even when pushing these tires to their limits on winding roads or race tracks, they inspire confidence with their predictable and communicative nature.
The tires’ stiff sidewalls and rigid tread blocks work together to minimize tread squirm, resulting in crisp turn-in and precise line-holding abilities. Whether you’re navigating tight hairpin turns or sweeping high-speed corners, the NT555R2 tires offer impressive lateral grip and minimal understeer or oversteer tendencies.
Overall, the dry performance of the Nitto NT555R2 tires is outstanding, making them an excellent choice for enthusiasts seeking a high-performance tire that can handle the demands of spirited driving on dry roads or track days.
Wet Performance
The Nitto NT555R2 tire delivers impressive wet road performance, thanks to its advanced tread compound and optimized siping design. The tire’s circumferential and lateral grooves effectively channel water away from the contact patch, enhancing hydroplaning resistance and ensuring a confident driving experience, even in heavy rain or standing water conditions.
The tire’s tread pattern features a unique combination of wide circumferential grooves and high-density lateral sipes, which work together to maximize water evacuation and maintain traction on wet surfaces. The sipes also help to increase the tire’s biting edges, providing enhanced grip and stability during cornering and braking in wet conditions.
In real-world testing, the Nitto NT555R2 demonstrated exceptional wet traction, with minimal hydroplaning tendencies and a reassuring level of control, even at higher speeds. The tire’s ability to maintain consistent contact with the road surface, even in challenging wet conditions, is a testament to its advanced engineering and design.
Overall, the Nitto NT555R2 offers drivers a high level of confidence and peace of mind when navigating wet roads, making it an excellent choice for those who prioritize safety and performance in adverse weather conditions.
Comfort and Noise
The Nitto NT555R2 offers a surprisingly comfortable and quiet ride for a high-performance summer tire. Despite its aggressive tread design and sticky rubber compound, the tire manages to strike a nice balance between grip and refinement. On smooth roads, the NT555R2 delivers a plush and well-damped ride quality, absorbing minor imperfections with ease.
Road noise is also well-controlled, with only a moderate amount of tire roar entering the cabin at highway speeds. This is impressive given the tire’s aggressive tread pattern and large tread blocks. The noise levels are on par with many premium touring tires, making the NT555R2 a comfortable choice for daily driving or long road trips.
However, it’s important to note that the tire’s comfort and noise levels can vary depending on the vehicle it’s mounted on, as well as the specific wheel and suspension setup. Larger wheel sizes and stiffer suspension tuning may result in a firmer, noisier ride. Additionally, as the tread wears down over time, the noise levels may increase slightly.
Overall, the Nitto NT555R2 strikes an excellent balance between performance and comfort, offering a smooth and refined ride quality without sacrificing its sporty handling characteristics. This makes it a great choice for enthusiasts who want a tire that can perform on the track or backroads while still providing a comfortable daily driving experience.
Durability and Treadwear
The Nitto NT555R2 is designed to strike a balance between impressive grip and respectable treadwear. While it’s not the most durable tire on the market, its treadwear rating of 340 treadwear is decent for an ultra-high performance summer tire. With proper maintenance and rotation, these tires can be expected to last 30,000-40,000 miles before the tread depth reaches the wear bar indicators.
However, it’s important to note that the NT555R2’s lifespan can vary significantly depending on your driving habits and conditions. If you frequently engage in spirited driving or track days, you may see accelerated wear compared to more conservative street use. Additionally, factors like alignment, inflation pressures, and climate can all impact treadwear.
Nitto has incorporated several design elements to enhance the durability of the NT555R2. The tread compound is a specialized blend that balances grip with longevity, while the internal construction utilizes reinforced belts and polyamide reinforcements for improved durability and high-speed capability. The tire’s wide circumferential grooves and lateral notches also help evacuate water and debris, reducing the risk of irregular wear patterns.
Overall, while the NT555R2 won’t set any records for treadlife, its durability is respectable for a max performance summer tire designed for enthusiastic driving. With proper care and maintenance, these tires should provide an excellent balance of grip and reasonable treadwear for their intended use case.
Sizing and Fitment
The Nitto NT555R2 is available in a wide range of sizes, catering to various vehicle types and driving needs. From compact cars to high-performance sports cars and even light trucks, there’s a size that fits your ride. The tire sizes range from 15 inches to 22 inches in diameter, with varying widths to accommodate different wheel and vehicle specifications.
When it comes to fitment, the NT555R2 is designed to be a direct replacement for many original equipment (OE) tires, making the upgrade process seamless. However, it’s crucial to consult with your vehicle’s owner’s manual or a professional tire installer to ensure proper fitment and compatibility.
For sports cars and high-performance vehicles, the NT555R2 is an excellent choice, as it offers sizes that complement the aggressive styling and handling characteristics of these vehicles. Sizes like 225/40R18, 245/35R19, and 275/30R20 are popular options for sports cars and performance-oriented sedans.
On the other hand, if you drive a compact or mid-size sedan, sizes such as 195/65R15, 205/55R16, and 215/50R17 are likely to fit your vehicle perfectly, providing a balanced blend of performance and comfort.
For larger vehicles like trucks and SUVs, Nitto offers NT555R2 sizes like 275/55R20, 285/45R22, and 305/40R22, ensuring a proper fit and maintaining the vehicle’s intended ride height and handling characteristics.
It’s worth noting that some sizes may require additional modifications or adjustments to your vehicle’s suspension or wheel setup to accommodate the larger or wider tires. Consulting with a professional is highly recommended to ensure a proper and safe fitment.
Value and Cost
The Nitto NT555R2 strikes an excellent balance between performance and affordability, making it a compelling value proposition for driving enthusiasts on a budget. Compared to premium ultra-high-performance tires from major brands, the NT555R2 can save you hundreds of dollars per set while still delivering impressive dry and wet traction, responsive handling, and decent treadwear.
While not the cheapest option on the market, the NT555R2’s pricing is very competitive when you consider its capabilities. It undercuts many of its direct competitors from established brands like Michelin, Bridgestone, and Continental by a significant margin. For the level of grip, steering precision, and overall performance it offers, the NT555R2 provides exceptional bang for your buck.
Nitto’s reputation for producing high-quality, durable tires also adds to the value equation. You can expect the NT555R2 to deliver reliable performance throughout its lifespan, ensuring you get your money’s worth. Additionally, the tire’s versatility in handling various driving conditions and its compatibility with a wide range of sports cars, muscle cars, and performance sedans further enhances its cost-effectiveness.
Overall, the Nitto NT555R2 represents an outstanding value proposition for driving enthusiasts seeking a high-performance tire that won’t break the bank. Its combination of impressive capabilities, competitive pricing, and Nitto’s reputation for quality make it a compelling choice for those looking to maximize their performance per dollar spent.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Excellent dry traction and cornering grip, providing a confident and responsive driving experience on dry roads.
- Impressive wet performance, with good hydroplaning resistance and reliable grip on wet surfaces.
- Relatively quiet and comfortable ride for a high-performance tire, thanks to the advanced tread design and construction.
- Durable tread compound and reinforced internal structure, offering extended treadwear and longevity.
- Wide range of sizes available to fit various sports cars, muscle cars, and high-performance sedans.
Cons:
- Tread life may be shorter compared to some touring or grand touring tires, as is typical for ultra-high-performance summer tires.
- Relatively expensive, reflecting the premium materials and engineering involved.
- Limited traction and performance in cold weather or on snow/ice, as it’s a summer tire not designed for winter conditions.
- Potential for increased road noise on certain road surfaces, especially as the tire wears down.
- May not be suitable for vehicles with low-profile tire requirements due to potential comfort and ride quality trade-offs.
Conclusion and Recommendations
The Nitto NT555R2 is a high-performance summer tire that delivers impressive dry and wet grip, along with responsive handling and steering feel. Its aggressive tread design and specialized compound provide excellent traction on the street and track, making it a great choice for enthusiasts and spirited drivers.
However, the trade-off for this level of performance is a somewhat firm ride and elevated noise levels, which may not suit everyone’s preferences. Additionally, the NT555R2’s softer tread compound means it may not offer the same longevity as some touring tires, requiring more frequent replacements.
If you prioritize maximum grip, precise handling, and don’t mind a bit of road noise, the Nitto NT555R2 is an excellent choice. It’s particularly well-suited for sports cars, muscle cars, and performance-oriented vehicles driven in warm, dry conditions. Just be prepared to replace these tires more frequently than some other options.
For those seeking a more comfortable, quieter ride or better treadwear, a high-performance all-season or grand touring tire may be a better fit. But if you’re looking for a true summer performance tire that can handle spirited driving and occasional track use, the Nitto NT555R2 is definitely worth considering.
