Nitto 555s or 555Rs?

[xplo89gt]

Ok, well I got a flat awhile back and now I am going to get 2 new tires for the rear and move the rear to front.

I'm having a tough time deciding whether to go with the 555s or the 555Rs. At the moment I'm driving a 97 Taurus, and will do so til at least April. Basically how long will the 555Rs last? I guess compared to the 555s. And then how much better traction would I have with the 555Rs? My car is mostly a street car, i haven't been to the track yet, but hoping to go this year.

While price isn't a huge issue, the 555s are $117, the 555Rs are $160.
Just looking for some opinions and if anyone was/is in the same situation.

 

[TheUser]

lets bump this up, but I think the Nitto Drag Radials go about 10,000 miles usually, however that's not from personal experience.

 

[MustangGroupie]

The r's do worlds of good for traction and are'nt terrible on the street...another compromize is falcon azenis(sp?) I know there an autcross tire but i have had them on the car before and they do well without having to heat the piss out of them.

 

[xplo89gt]

Well right now im leaning towards the 555s. I'm assuming they will be better than my current BFG Comp T/A ZRs. On tires.com, treadwear is 300 compared to 100 on the DRs. Basically I want to know if they are really worth it and if they are driveable in rain? If i had a choice I would take the other car, but if im out and it starts pouring hows the traction going to be?
Basically I just need to be convinced either way. I was disappointed on how long my BFG comp ta zr's lasted. The rears seem ok, but the fronts are not in good shape. The front passenger blew out while driving, huge rip down the firewall.

 

[millhouse]

Mine lasted about 17,000 miles with well over 100 dragstrip passes (including the 5-7 second burnout).

Street traction was great. The do tend to loose quite a bit of bite though when the roads get cold...but not enough to be concerned about.

As far as the rain was concerned, I had no problems there either. It's a great all around tire for me...and with the amount of miles I put on my stang, it looks as if I'll be buying a set every year to year and a half.

 

[86Cobra]

Regular Nitto 555s are just a cheap street tire. Nothing special about them. I would use Comp TA ZRs before 555s.

555Rs are a totally different animal. They're a great street strip tire. Nitto has done a great job of marketing by using the 555R DRs to increase the reputation of the rest of their tire line.

 

[xplo89gt]

Decisions decisions.... guess i need a few more opinions.
Millhouse, i'm assuming your talking about the regular 555s?

Maybe I should just get the DRs. I mean I should try them at least once.
If they don't live long enough or just aren't very good at all in the rain,
next time i'll get regular ones.

 

[willys1]

I just got some nitto dr's.Heat them up,and they work "awsome"!! Yes,there a little tricky on cold streets,but nothing you cant handle.They work fine in the rain!

 

[gt50stang89]

I have the 555s right now and there a good street tire...had them at the track a few times and could only get my 60's in the 2.0-2.2 range. I almost lost to a civic because i spun them through second one time so im going drag radials now. The DR's i hear get good mileage out of them, fair in the rain if u dont mash it, and good hookup at the track. why not go with them....

 

[xplo89gt]

Ya, i guess i'm gonna go with the DRs. It's just one of those things where you really gotta see for yourself. One set won't hurt. As long as they last a least a year

 

[millhouse]

Decisions decisions.... guess i need a few more opinions.
Millhouse, i'm assuming your talking about the regular 555s?

Maybe I should just get the DRs. I mean I should try them at least once.
If they don't live long enough or just aren't very good at all in the rain,
next time i'll get regular ones.

Nope, DR's for me. I live by em now