Tirebuyer.com

[zr1nsxgto]

Just ordered tires from these folk yesterday, and they are here already. Price was good, delivery was outstanding.

[Paul in SC]

What did you buy?

[zr1nsxgto]

Nitto NT555. $807 for all 4 with shipping included.

[dan1495]

Please let us know how you like them. I need some tires soon and I am trying to convince myself to buy these instead of the Goodyears. I am almost sorry to see that the GY's are available again. Everybody else sure seems to like the Nitto's.

[VetteMed]

just drove my Nitto 555s in some heavy rain today, felt pretty secure and stable.

[tomtom72]

just drove my Nitto 555s in some heavy rain today, felt pretty secure and stable.

Andrew, as compared to the D3's? Or is this just your impression of the tire itself and not a comparative evaluation. Sorry to be so nosey.:o

I know this sounds very bad if I say it, but if you've ever driven on D3's in bad rain for any length of time you kind of know what I am getting at. At half the price there are a lot of tires that are very tempting to me, Nitto's & Khumo's come to mind. I just have a hard time making the jump from the D3's because I know what they deliver, albeit at $1400 a set.... The last set of D3's I threw out with 32k on them, and there was not much wet performance fall off vs new D3's when I replaced them. To me that speaks volumes about the performance of the D3's.

:cheers:
Tom

[VetteMed]

Andrew, as compared to the D3's? Or is this just your impression of the tire itself and not a comparative evaluation. Sorry to be so nosey.:o

I know this sounds very bad if I say it, but if you've ever driven on D3's in bad rain for any length of time you kind of know what I am getting at. At half the price there are a lot of tires that are very tempting to me, Nitto's & Khumo's come to mind. I just have a hard time making the jump from the D3's because I know what they deliver, albeit at $1400 a set.... The last set of D3's I threw out with 32k on them, and there was not much wet performance fall off vs new D3's when I replaced them. To me that speaks volumes about the performance of the D3's.

:cheers:
Tom

Tom, I've never had D3s on my Zs (sounds like a euphemism for something). However, I did have D3s on an IROC I used to own, and I think the D3s have a significant advantage in the rain. From what I remember, the D3 was derived from a rain racing tire, so it is understandable that it holds an advantage in that area.

Worth double the cost? I'm not so sure. :handshak:

[Kevin]

Andrew, as compared to the D3's? Or is this just your impression of the tire itself and not a comparative evaluation. Sorry to be so nosey.:o

I know this sounds very bad if I say it, but if you've ever driven on D3's in bad rain for any length of time you kind of know what I am getting at. At half the price there are a lot of tires that are very tempting to me, Nitto's & Khumo's come to mind. I just have a hard time making the jump from the D3's because I know what they deliver, albeit at $1400 a set.... The last set of D3's I threw out with 32k on them, and there was not much wet performance fall off vs new D3's when I replaced them. To me that speaks volumes about the performance of the D3's.

:cheers:
Tom

i'm the same way, I don't want to spend $1500 on tires but I'm not sure I want to try another tire and be disappointed

[tomtom72]

Andrew, thanks for not taking me the wrong way! And yes your are correct about the lineage of the D3's. Back in the early 90's, late 80's when G/Yr supplied tires to CART and F1 this tread pattern concept was the "semi-wet" tread pattern. Obviously the carcass and the compounds are different. It's also the reason that these tires are soooo very noisy on dry pavement, especially on concrete!

Kevin, yea the $1500 price tag is steep. The PS2's are in the same league performance & price wise. I know the Invo's work in the wet on C5's & C6's. I'm just not sure about the 555's and the 05's. I know there are guys here that track their Z's and have been on wet tracks with the D3's and in their opinion they work on a wet track. I had kudos on the khumo's in the wet also.

To me, and this sounds very bad, 1/2 the price alone is not motivation enough for me to switch brands. I think how much rain I usually drive thru going to BG every year, and how bad the trip would be driving on tires that don't perform in the wet. I've had tire dealers that sell G/Yr's tell me the D3's aren't worth the money, and I ask them have you ever had them in the wet? Usually the answer is "No, but in the dry they have slow turn in response." My only response is drive'em for more than an hour on a soaked road and then come and talk to me. I think I'll just wait and read what the Nitto drivers say about them over time. It's a good thing I don't need tires now, although a fresh set for the rear wouldn't hurt! LOL

:o yea, I know, I sound like I work for G/Yr!! :o

[GOLDCYLON]

I have driven 4 different brands of tires on my ZR-1.

Faulkins. Hard as a rock but long wear. If your looking for long treadwear only.

Sumitomos. The worst set I ever put on my car didnt even last a year of driving

BFG GSCs also sucked poor tread ware. Squirrely in the rain. Would find every rut in the road

Then I bought a used set for D3s from Phil. What great tires. My car never rode so well on used tires!!!! Yes they are expensive my last pair of our fronts for my pops rear (on his 96CE) were $438 a piece and it took a week to get them in. If you can get them I would not put any over tire on the car.

I have heard people happy with Michelin Pilot Sports and now the Nitto however so far Ive only tested the 4 above. All I have to say are the D3s are a really great tire. GC

[RHanselman]

Now this is just my experiance however i was with a group of C-5s driving from Vegas to Vettes on the Rockies several years ago. I was running the D3s however i couldnt keep up with the C-5s in the rain... Hydroplaning was an issue and no it wasnt at 180 mph!

Dont get me wrong i love the tires however ive not found them to be an outstanding rain tire for the Z...

[Kevin]

tc/ah makes your balls bigger in the rain, true story