Nitto NT450

RE: Nitto NT450

Jeremi (mad1stgen) has them, maybe he'll chime in. I don't think he was all too happy with them at the strip after he got his 4.10's.

I want to get the NT555's, but they don't make them in that size. The only 16" size they have in the non-drag radial version is a ricer size. Right now i'm planning on getting the NT555R drag radials in the back and the NT450's in the front, both 245/50/16.
 
RE: Nitto NT450

As Dave said, these tires provide NO traction whatsoever, when you try to put some power to the ground. Plus, after a while they tend to follow the road a bit too much, it's actually quite anoying. Have in mind my front suspension is in tip top shape - everything is virtually brand new. I won't buy these tires ever again, maybe it's just the size 245/50/16 that sucks so bad. Actually, a friend of mine has them on a little 4banger, and you know what, they also suck. So there you have it, you wanted opinions, you got a few. The only Nitto tire that's worth something IMHO, is the 555R and that's what I might end up getting for the rears.
 
RE: Nitto NT450

Dave, I just reread your post. That's exactly my plan. But maybe you should drive my car before you decide on the 450s in the front.
 
RE: Nitto NT450

Can't wait to see you guys do a tire rotation ! HAHAHA
JK.. I hate that they didn't make the 555R's in some 18's.... them bastards !.

Jon Ike
95 MKVIII
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MIDWEST CHAPTER [/font]
 
RE: Nitto NT450

Jon, why a drag radial on an 18" rim in a 16" application? Seems to me whatever benefits the drag radial gives you as far as traction, you would more than loose in the added wheel weight. Plus I'm sure there would be sidewall flex issues. Or am I the one missing something here?

I'm also curious why 555Rs would not be considered at all four corners. In my mind you could rotate them as the rears wore down for more longevity. Is there a benefit to running a different tire on the front? If so, would the NT450 be a candidate?

I'm thinking of looking at drag radials later this year.
 
RE: Nitto NT450

I don't think the drag radials have the wet weather performance of other tires. Plus the drag radials are more expensive and wear faster. So i think i'm just going to get two of them and try to get something a little cheaper on the front. I really don't know yet, i'm still doing research on the front tires. I was thinking Firehawk SZ50's, or Nitto NT450's, but i don't really know.

And they do make the 555R's in 18" sizes. 3 different 18" sizes. check out www.nittotire.com.
 
RE: Nitto NT450

Ok, Dave, would the 285/35/ZR18's fit?. I would also want to get them all around. They have 245/45/17 that would fit, but I want a nice set of 18's.

Jon Ike
95 MKVIII
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MIDWEST CHAPTER [/font]
 
RE: Nitto NT450

I have no idea what would fit or not. I've never looked into buying aftermarket wheels so i don't really know what'll fit as far as that goes. You'd have to find a rim that fits and get a tire to fit that.
 
RE: Nitto NT450

I'm not really too concerned about wet weather performance.

Nitto Tire demanded a tire that would outperform all drag racing radial tires, provide impressive control and handling, and still deliver up to 15,000 miles of tread life of normal street-driving use. www.nittotire.com

I've seen reviews of lesser expected mileage, but that's OK too... heck, I sometimes wish the mileage was a concern as I don't seem to find much time behind the wheel.

So, I'm thinking all four corners would be the way to go(for me).
 
RE: Nitto NT450

The site also says

Nitto Tire demanded a tire that would outperform all drag racing radial tires, provide impressive control and handling, and still deliver up to 15,000 miles of tread life of normal street-driving use. NT-555R's are manufactured with the original tread depth of 6/32nd's of an inch and are constructed with a specially formulated soft racing tread compound to provide maximum traction. However, this soft and flexible tread will wear much quicker than tread compounds formulated for regular passenger cars. The Nitto NT-555R is designed primarily for competition drag racing.
Click to expand...

I don't think those are quite right for the front end on my car. I want to find something that's a little cheaper, and will hold up a little longer, and still have good performance, primarily in corners. I also want something that won't follow the grooves in the road, that's a very high priority.
 
RE: Nitto NT450

I've had the NT-555R's on all four corners for the past year and I'll admit that they do wear quite quickly. However, the handling is just outstanding. I have 17's (P275/40 R17) so the ride is little harsh but nothing too extreme. I don't know what you mean as far as following the grooves but I'm definitely impressed with them (great in the rain). The only complaint I have, which is my own fault, is after a couple of one wheel burnouts, a lot of smoke!, and quite a few patches in front of the house, its harder to get traction without heating them up. I'm only driving the car when there's no snow on the ground (tried it once and got stuck in front of the house) and I think if I rotate the tires I'll probably get three years out of them (or two with my lead foot).

David O'Donnell
'97 Mark VIII LSC "Maxine II" (RIP Maxine I, 5-16-03)
'91 Mark VII BB "Monica"
'67 Thunderbird "Molly"
 
RE: Nitto NT450

Really, they're doing that well for you? How many miles does that three years equate to?

The wear issue is the only thing that concerns me about putting them all the way around. The difference between those and another kind of tires on the front is only like $80, but if they wear fast they can get expensive fast. I only make it to the drag strip 3-4 times a year, and i do a lot of highway driving. I've put 30,000 on the car in two years, without driving it in the winter.
 
RE: Nitto NT450

Not really sure on how many miles I've put on them this past year, probably between 10 and 12K but I've done a lot of burnouts (got in trouble for leaving a 50ft patch at my works parking lot!) I was to the track only once last year but with the way I drive its like I'm at the track all the time! I've been known to be crazy though and don't mind driving on the tires when they don't have any tread. All I know is my back right has almost no tread and the rest have about half to 3/4 tread. I think if I was a little more conservative in my driving habits I could definitely get the three years out of them but that's maybe between 25 and 30K totall.

David O'Donnell
'97 Mark VIII LSC "Maxine II" (RIP Maxine I, 5-16-03)
'91 Mark VII BB "Monica"
'67 Thunderbird "Molly"
 
RE: Nitto NT450

Well now you definitely have me thinking about drag radials all the way around. Maybe i'll get 4 of them and just drive on them until they're at about 30% tread left, then just save them for the strip. The only other thing i really don't like about them is that i can't get road hazard insurance, and our roads around here really suck.
 
RE: Nitto NT450

Funny you mentioned the roads because I live in the suburbs of Chicago so I have an idea of what you mean. When I first got the tires I totalled my first Mark and tore a 1/4 inch chunk of rubber off of the sidewall when I hopped the curb. Tire doesn't leak still to this day. I figured that the tires weren't going to last that long to begin with so I didn't care if I didn't get road hazard. I don't see why you couldn't get something like a nail puncture fixed though.

David O'Donnell
'97 Mark VIII LSC "Maxine II" (RIP Maxine I, 5-16-03)
'91 Mark VII BB "Monica"
'67 Thunderbird "Molly"
 
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