I need tires!

...and I'm having problems finding what I need. I want a race tire that is streetable. I was looking at Nitto NT555RII tires, but they don't come close to my stock 255/45-18, 285/40-18 size. I'm looking for Hallett track tires that will stay on my car for the street. I've looked some at Toyo tires too. Any suggestions for tire brands or local dealers I should be talking to?

I coulda told ya that along time ago that you needed tires lol.

http://www.cjponyparts.com/cart.asp

here ya go

Ive been pretty impresed with the Sumitomo brand HTRZ tire. Seem to be plenty sticky with a decent treadwear. For the coin they are a good double duty tire.

DBLDARE wrote:Ive been pretty impresed with the Sumitomo brand HTRZ tire. Seem to be plenty sticky with a decent treadwear. For the coin they are a good double duty tire.

Oh don't do those sumitomo with the gt500, they are good tire for some, but I don't think 500rwhp gonna work good with those.

http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direct/searchTireMatchingPairs.do?mps=-50&yr=2008&vid=014561

Any 3 of those would be good overall tire, just have shipped to my work and we will put them on.

Perhaps I guess.........I have no experience with the tires on a Shelby. I know they work good on the GT. But hey what do I know

DBLDARE wrote:Perhaps I guess.........I have no experience with the tires on a Shelby. I know they work good on the GT. But hey what do I know

Not much! ;) I just heard some good and bad with the sumitomo, Paul says they are ok but his other tires worked better, some say they are good. If I had to get tires in the front, I would probably go with nittos cause I never hardly hear bad things about nitto.

nitto's new NTO5's. supposed to be totally awesome and good enough to drive in the rain. not the drag radial type though if you want to go to hallet

Leonard 95 wrote:

DBLDARE wrote:Perhaps I guess.........I have no experience with the tires on a Shelby. I know they work good on the GT. But hey what do I know

Not much! ;) I just heard some good and bad with the sumitomo, Paul says they are ok but his other tires worked better, some say they are good. If I had to get tires in the front, I would probably go with nittos cause I never hardly hear bad things about nitto.

Ya... The Sumis are good for the price. However... My Toyos T1R's were definitely better. Very sticky. Of course... More expensive.

Thanks guys. I was looking at the Nitto NT555RII and having trouble finding them in my tire size. The NT555 Extreme out to do. Not too bad a price either.

Hoosier R6's for the track but not the street I have found no street tire will hold up for long on the track. I would say go with 275/40R18's all the way around on any tire it fits well and you can rotate them. The new Cooper RS3's are really good but pricey it is what Roush went to on the Stage 3's with 540hp. I would also look at Michelin Sport Cups.

I love the nittos. The hotter they get the better they work. I have the drag radials on the back. Goodyears up front. The GS-A's worked pretty darn good for a street tire, but obviously there are better tires. If you want to run at both the strip and Hallet, I'd go with the nittos. They work great on the street, but only if its warm out, if its under 60 degrees, its like driving regular tires.

I have the sumis and lovem!

I have used the Nitto 555RII's and they did pretty good. They lasted about 7 track days plus a good deal of street driving in between. They were comparable in lap times to the Hoosier Cup tires from the Grand Am series that I also run (which are endurance tires and not as sticky as the R6's but last longer).

I have heard some very good reports about the Toyo RA1's http://toyotires.com/tire/pattern/proxes-ra1

and the Toyo R888's http://toyotires.com/tire/pattern/proxes-r888

form the other GT500 guys around the country that regularly track their cars like I do. But I've never priced or used them myself. Also the Nitto NT01's are supposed to a great track tire. But if you're counting on driving in the rain with these tires, stick with the ones with a bit more tread pattern...................

I like the 275/35R18's myself because of the sidewall rigidity, but the 245/40R18's and the 285/35R18's work just fine too.


I find it much more economical to buy an extra set of wheels and pick up the used Grand Am slicks from one of the mustang racing teams. You could get one of those little tire trailers to pull to the track (just like the pretty 'vette boys do........)


P.s. I would get all four tires the same size so you can rotate to all four corners and extend the life of the full set.

Thanks Jeff. Always with the good track info.

PS. Got my suspension parts installed.

Hercules on 51st are a toyo dealer.

New set of Nittos on their way to Bill Knight Ford. Unfortunately, they will have my name on them. The order would not let me put DL's name on them. I hope this works. Hopefully tires and clutch will come in about the same time.


IT's race time!

yea, I will tell people in parts to keep a eye on the tires, I will let you know when I see them.

Thanks. I'll let you know when my clutch shows up at my door.

sorry blair i didnt see this thread in time i think walmart has tires on SALE 4 for $99