time to replace tires

[mac10chap]

i have put enough miles on my tires and now it is time to repace. I currently have BFG G-Force T/A KDW-2's 275/35/18's. These tires are great in all weather conditions but since i got the Procharger, i cant catch traction for crap.

I can nail it at about 3000RPM's in 3rd gear and just spin the tires all day, same situation for 4th gear but at about 4000RPM's.

I need a tire that i can drive on the street but get great traction even possibly for the track.

 

[07 s197]

The nitto 555r is pretty good for street driving with the track every once in a while. Have a set of 305/40's on my wifes shelby and she loves them. She drives in the rain and snow with no issue.

 

[mac10chap]

whats the tread life on those, i've looked at those before but discount told me that i'd be lucky to get 20K miles out of a set

 

[stkjock]

traction and tread life do not mix.... you have to sacrifice one.....

IMHO, pony up the $$ and go for traction.

 

[07 s197]

whats the tread life on those, i've looked at those before but discount told me that i'd be lucky to get 20K miles out of a set

depends on how much you track the car, but 20k sounds about right

 

[mac10chap]

traction and tread life do not mix.... you have to sacrifice one.....

IMHO, pony up the $$ and go for traction.

thats what im doing now...i am looking to get a lightning for a daily driver and put the car up as a weekend warrior. i just need to be able to plant the tires to the pavement.


i'm just trying to get an idea of what tires out there will fit my needs.

 

[stkjock]

Nittos best for life

MTs best for traction, I just got 6000 miles and 45-50 passes over the course of 14-15 months. Here is what they looked like:

 

[07 s197]

If you plan on it being just a weekend car check on the m&h drag radials as well

 

[mac10chap]

If you plan on it being just a weekend car check on the m&h drag radials as well

well, i need tires now so i will be daily driving it. i am leaning towards the nittos

 

[mac10chap]

just bought 285/35/18 nitto 555r drag radials for the back and 275/35/18 555's for the front...thanks for helping me decide guys.

i have a buddy at discount tire that gave them to me at his cost. $250/555r and $190/555. used to get a much better discount but he said since they went corporate, every discount is tracked and he would get fired for giving me the discounts that he used to.

 

[Hatchman]

I get all my Nitto 555's and 555DR's from Discount tire direct, no tax, no shipping charges, good prices.

Funny that you going to get a Lightning for your daily driver. I had an '04 Lightning for four years, my daily driver and the Mustang my weekend car. Got tired of getting 11-12 mpg and just sold it. Don't really miss it either, it was slow compared to the Mustang, and half the gas mileage, more road noise, louder, not as comfy on the commute either.

I had around 4 sets of 555r's on the L, most I ever got was 13,500 miles out of them with only a couple of nights of track runs/burnouts. I am pretty sure I could not get 20,000 miles out of them if my life depended on it, but I got a heavy foot.

I have a set of 305/40 555r's on the Mustang now, great traction, good in the rain, and low road noise. Hook up pretty good too, overall, I like 'em.

Glad you got some tires, have fun!

 

[mac10chap]

thanks man...thats crazy, an 04 lightning is what i'm looking for but i guess you're right, 12 mpg isnt exactly what you should look for in a DD...may rethink it afterall

 

[Hatchman]

thanks man...thats crazy, an 04 lightning is what i'm looking for but i guess you're right, 12 mpg isnt exactly what you should look for in a DD...may rethink it afterall

If you get a Lightning, get the '04. Last year they made them, and worked most of the bugs out like better heads, more threads for the sparkplugs, bigger intercooler, bigger MAF, etc.

For my DD, I sold the L and for the same money got a stock, low mileage '05 supercharged Benz C230. It has AMG parts like lowered suspension, bigger brakes, ground effects, AMG wheels, etc. Not to mention leather, power everything, panoramic roof, etc. The ride is pretty sporty and comfy and GREAT for commutes. Interior noise is almost non-existent. I never thought I'd own a Benz, but the price and options were hard to beat. It's still slow, but has the roots type blower like the L. Best thing is: 32 mpg and cheaper insurance. Good styling too, even though it's an '05, most people think it is brand new.

Good luck on you search!

 

[JeremyH]

Another happy nitto 555 and 555r customer here.

 

[mac10chap]

awesome...i changed my mind. i have the authentic FR500's all the way around 18x9s but one of them is damaged on the inside and wont seal to the tire. So rather than buying one new rim for $375 and having 285's in the back, i'm buying 2 new replica 18x10 FR500's for around $300 with the 05+ offset and putting 305's on the back...

pics to follow when the get in. he said it takes about a week to ship cause the come from korea or somewhere over there.

 

[Hatchman]

awesome...i changed my mind. i have the authentic FR500's all the way around 18x9s but one of them is damaged on the inside and wont seal to the tire. So rather than buying one new rim for $375 and having 285's in the back, i'm buying 2 new replica 18x10 FR500's for around $300 with the 05+ offset and putting 305's on the back...

pics to follow when the get in. he said it takes about a week to ship cause the come from korea or somewhere over there.

18x10's and 305's on back, excellent choice, Sir.
May I suggest the 305/40?

 

[mac10chap]

went 305/35...i looked on the website to see the size difference but would it really make much of a difference to the naked eye or on the track?

 

[Hatchman]

went 305/35...i looked on the website to see the size difference but would it really make much of a difference to the naked eye or on the track?

A 305/40/18(27.6") is about a half inch taller than stock(27"), a 305/35/18 is about a half inch shorter (26.4"). A smaller tire will need a tune adjustment to keep your speedometer correct, easy to do with an XcalII, no trip to the tuner required. Half an inch is only a 2% change in speedometer and revs/mile, no big deal. I just like the look of a big meaty tire in the back.

Couple pics of the 305/40's. In my sig is 295/45's, which where too tall for me at 28.5", same tires that come stock on the Lightning.