Nitto 420S for rear tires?

[rayjay]

Well my 2nd set of OEM rear BFGs are shot after a hot 12k miles again :mad2: So now I'm looking to go to another brand in 255-55-18. I've narrowed it to Goodyear's Eagle Response edge or the Nitto 420S. I've read good things about the Goodyears, but there isn't much on here about the Nittos. I'd appreciate any input from folks who have these. There is a significant price difference between the GYs and Nittos. If they both wear like the garbage OEMs, I'll go with the cheaper Nittos.

[Raudermaster]

A friend of mine has these on his '01 Cobra and loves them. He said they respond very well in rain condtions, and are awesome on dry pavement. He has about 15,000 miles of hard driving on them, and they're wearing very similar which is good and he thinks he can get another 5-8k out of them.

[LilCop2002]

Upon Magindat's recommendation, I put the 420S on my rear about 2500 miles ago and I can't complain at all. The grip out of them is fantastic in dry as well as wet conditions and the wear so far looks like it will last quite some time.

The only thing that bothers me is that there isn't a matching front tire. You should keep that in mind. If you need anything else, dont' hesitate to ask. If you need pics, I'll wash the car up and post some...

[fastblackmerc]

I'm going with these on my MM.

http://www.eastcoasttires.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idProduct=10597

[rayjay]

Thanks for the input. I ordered the Nitto 420s tires a few minutes ago. Don't trust the BFGs to get me and my 10 year old daughter safely to MVV and back. Probably could have stretched them until I put the snows on, but why take the chance.

[magindat]

Upon Magindat's recommendation, I put the 420S on my rear about 2500 miles ago and I can't complain at all. The grip out of them is fantastic in dry as well as wet conditions and the wear so far looks like it will last quite some time.

The only thing that bothers me is that there isn't a matching front tire. You should keep that in mind. If you need anything else, dont' hesitate to ask. If you need pics, I'll wash the car up and post some...

Use a 555. The combo works great.

[magindat]

I got 37K out of my 420s.

[Blackened300a]

You cant go wrong with the Nitto 420S

255/55/18 fit great on the rims

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d12/blackened300a/DSCN0412.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d12/blackened300a/DSCN0410.jpg

[LilCop2002]

Use a 555. The combo works great.


I looked at doing the 555s on my MM, but I don't know how it would work with the kind of screwy weather we get in East TN since it's a summer rated tire. We don't get a lot of ice or snow, but the little bit that we do get is enough to shut the city down...

[magindat]

I looked at doing the 555s on my MM, but I don't know how it would work with the kind of screwy weather we get in East TN since it's a summer rated tire. We don't get a lot of ice or snow, but the little bit that we do get is enough to shut the city down...

The 420's will have your grip for power. You'll simply have to be careful of understeer. Otherwise the 555 work great on our 'black ice' in Florida. I simply don't push the turns as hard to avoid understeer. In the dry, I can snatch the wheel at 70 and turn 90 degrees (like in TRON, ha ha!) Seriously, I've used the combo for 2 years on the street, drag and track events. Never snow, but I don't think slush will slow you down. Ice, maybe.

[monefive]

How come no one ever talks about 255 50s for the rear? I've got G Force TA's 255 55's on back, and I love the tread pattern, but the side wall looks slightly bloated. Toyo makes a 255 50 at a resonable price, I'm thinking it might look pretty cool...

thoughts?

[LilCop2002]

I went with the 255 55 due to the fact that it was the closest to the factory size as well as having more options possible. Now that I've got a tuner, I think I might be able to accomplish changes in tuning to any size tire I want that I can fit.

[magindat]

I went with the 255 55 due to the fact that it was the closest to the factory size as well as having more options possible. Now that I've got a tuner, I think I might be able to accomplish changes in tuning to any size tire I want that I can fit. And you would be right, but a 710 rev/mile tire is about all that will fit front to back within the wheel well.

[rayjay]

255-50-18 will not work on a 04 due to TC and ABS.

[LilCop2002]

And you would be right, but a 710 rev/mile tire is about all that will fit front to back within the wheel well.

I wasn't planning on going any bigger as these tires are probably what I'll stick with. I was just saying that I have flexibility now. If I wanted to run all 4 the same size or whatever I wanted to do.

[monefive]

255-50-18 will not work on a 04 due to TC and ABS.

I've got 03 b with TC, but what would not work? How could the TC have an issue?

[gmtech]

You cant go wrong with the Nitto 420S

255/55/18 fit great on the rims

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d12/blackened300a/DSCN0412.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d12/blackened300a/DSCN0410.jpg
blackened,like those red painted calipers...do you have the bracket and caliper painted or just the caliper...any close up pics you could share w/ me..thanks

[LilCop2002]

I've got 03 b with TC, but what would not work? How could the TC have an issue?


I'm still learning, but I believe that with the TC system, there is allowed a 3% difference in speed between the front and rear wheel speeds before your system starts to kick itself into action. I'm sure that someone will be around soon with more knowledge to lend on the current subject.

[Blackened300a]

blackened,like those red painted calipers...do you have the bracket and caliper painted or just the caliper...any close up pics you could share w/ me..thanks

Bracket and caliper

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d12/blackened300a/DSCN0402.jpg

I re-did them before I went to Carlise and they are 100% brighter now

[rayjay]

I've got 03 b with TC, but what would not work? How could the TC have an issue?

The program that controls the TC and ABS is setup for 1" larger diameter tires in the rear. Its a quirk with the 04s, no way around it, people that know their way around our ECUs have tired.

[monefive]

The program that controls the TC and ABS is setup for 1" larger diameter tires in the rear. Its a quirk with the 04s, no way around it, people that know their way around our ECUs have tired.


I'm totally confounded on this. So you are saying with a 10mm wider than stock and 5% lower than stock sidewall, the TC would not activate? So those who run winter tires with smaller rims, or have their rear rims widened are negating the traction control?

[LilCop2002]

I'm totally confounded on this. So you are saying with a 10mm wider than stock and 5% lower than stock sidewall, the TC would not activate? So those who run winter tires with smaller rims, or have their rear rims widened are negating the traction control?


That's exactly what we're saying. Those that are running outside of the "accepted sizes" have gotten used to turning off the TC.

[rayjay]

I'm totally confounded on this. So you are saying with a 10mm wider than stock and 5% lower than stock sidewall, the TC would not activate? So those who run winter tires with smaller rims, or have their rear rims widened are negating the traction control?

The Nitto's are 255-55-18, stock are 245-55-18. The Nitto's are slightly larger. My speedo will be low by .75 MPH. I run 16" steelies in the winter with 225-70-16 on back and 215-65-16 on front. No TC or ABS issues. These were the sizes that tirerack came up the 1st winter the MM was out. As long as the rears have approximately a 1" larger diameter than the fronts you are good to go.

[magindat]

The Nitto's are 255-55-18, stock are 245-55-18. The Nitto's are slightly larger. My speedo will be low by .75 MPH. I run 16" steelies in the winter with 225-70-16 on back and 215-65-16 on front. No TC or ABS issues. These were the sizes that tirerack came up the 1st winter the MM was out. As long as the rears have approximately a 1" larger diameter than the fronts you are good to go.

.75 at 60 MPH. Less than that as you decrease speed. 1.5mph at 120. Big whoop! That amount to less revs per mile than tire wear.

Run the 420's you won't be sorry.

I been preachin' 420s for 2 years!!!!!!!!!

[rayjay]

[quote=magindat;514492
I been preachin' 420s for 2 years!!!!!!!!![/quote]

They are in the trunk to get put on tomorrow when the car is in for annual state inspection. I'm hoping they last longer than the 12-13k the OEM BFGs do.

[LilCop2002]

They are in the trunk to get put on tomorrow when the car is in for annual state inspection. I'm hoping they last longer than the 12-13k the OEM BFGs do.


From what I can remember from Magindat's info, I think that he got 37K on his tires. As I've said about mine, I've got about 1200 on mine and they look like new.

[magindat]

They are in the trunk to get put on tomorrow when the car is in for annual state inspection. I'm hoping they last longer than the 12-13k the OEM BFGs do.

count on it

[1stMerc]

count on it

Are you running the recommended 40 psi of the oem's.

[rayjay]

Are you running the recommended 40 psi of the oem's.
I was running 40PSI in the OEMs. Should I run 40 in the Nittos?

[magindat]

I run 42 front and rear on the street. At the track, 44 front and 34 rear.

The car has almost 2 degrees neg camber, so I still grip on turns, even at 42.

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

40 psi in the tires? I have never run pressure this high in a street car, I set everything at 32 psi cold. Does the manual/door sticker seriously spec this high a pressure, or is that a maximum inflation pressure? I'll have to go look...interesting

[1stMerc]

I run 42 front and rear on the street. At the track, 44 front and 34 rear.

The car has almost 2 degrees neg camber, so I still grip on turns, even at 42.

42 whew, That seems kinda high for living in Florida. Have you ever measured the pressure after they heat up or spirited driving?

[1stMerc]

40 psi in the tires? I have never run pressure this high in a street car, I set everything at 32 psi cold. Does the manual/door sticker seriously spec this high a pressure, or is that a maximum inflation pressure? I'll have to go look...interesting

The door sticker says 35 psi cold. But some here have talked to the persons that manufacture/sell the oems and they recommend 40 psi to counteract the problematic center wear. I ran 38 in my last set of rears and ended up with centers wearing down way faster than the edges.

Running 40 now in front and back.

[rayjay]

I ran the OEMs at 35 and 40 psi. Made no difference, centers wore out at about the same mileage. I could have nursed the OEMs to Ocrtober when I put the snows on, but going to MVV and racing I didn't want to take the chance. Especially with my 10 yr old daughter with me. I only put about 25 miles on the Nittos this afternoon and I already like the way they handle compared to the BFGs.

[LilCop2002]

Ding! Ding! Ding! We've got ourselves another Nitto fan!

[magindat]

42 whew, That seems kinda high for living in Florida. Have you ever measured the pressure after they heat up or spirited driving?

It's 86 miles of highway and back country roads to the track. They show 42-44 when I get there. The rear is a 45 series 20 and REQUIRES that much pressure. The post asked what I run. That's what I run. It's been 2 years and 2 sets of tires worth of trial and error on the pressures. You can believe it works or don't.

Besides, sidewall inflation is COLD pressure. The mfg already accounted for heat at the rated speed!!!!

The 420s is an SUV tire. It behaves FAR differently than our crap azz stock BFG's.

I've paved the way. You guys can re-invent the wheel or listen to the 'Wiz'.

You'll save money, time, and heartache if you listen.....

[magindat]

The door sticker says 35 psi cold. But some here have talked to the persons that manufacture/sell the oems and they recommend 40 psi to counteract the problematic center wear. I ran 38 in my last set of rears and ended up with centers wearing down way faster than the edges.

Running 40 now in front and back.

We're talking replacement tires of different brand and size. The door sticker means nothing now.

[magindat]

I ran the OEMs at 35 and 40 psi. Made no difference, centers wore out at about the same mileage. I could have nursed the OEMs to Ocrtober when I put the snows on, but going to MVV and racing I didn't want to take the chance. Especially with my 10 yr old daughter with me. I only put about 25 miles on the Nittos this afternoon and I already like the way they handle compared to the BFGs.

Told ya. I drive my 14 yr old around with me all the time. We've seen 140+ together. She's an awesome highway co-pilot.

Does that tell you how much I trust the nitto set up I have?

[magindat]

Ding! Ding! Ding! We've got ourselves another Nitto fan!

When it works it works.....

[magindat]

They are in the trunk to get put on tomorrow when the car is in for annual state inspection. I'm hoping they last longer than the 12-13k the OEM BFGs do.

They will. Get carfixer's alignment and some 555's on the front. If you still have the BFG's up there, you're gonna understeer and on/off ramps will be a bit squirley.

You'll need the lateral grip of the 555's to deal with the extra forward grip of the 420's. i just can't tell ya how well the car balances with this combo.

You'll run out of nerve before you run out of grip.

[rayjay]

They will. Get carfixer's alignment and some 555's on the front. If you still have the BFG's up there, you're gonna understeer and on/off ramps will be a bit squirley.

You'll need the lateral grip of the 555's to deal with the extra forward grip of the 420's. i just can't tell ya how well the car balances with this combo.

You'll run out of nerve before you run out of grip.

Unfortunately I put new BFG OEMs on the front in April. I guess I'll have to learn the limits with this combo.

[LilCop2002]

They will. Get carfixer's alignment and some 555's on the front. If you still have the BFG's up there, you're gonna understeer and on/off ramps will be a bit squirley.

You'll need the lateral grip of the 555's to deal with the extra forward grip of the 420's. i just can't tell ya how well the car balances with this combo.

You'll run out of nerve before you run out of grip.


As we discussed a while ago, I'm going to have to get used to that squirelliness until I can warrant replacing the tires.

You're right about the rear grip though.

[rayjay]

As we discussed a while ago, I'm going to have to get used to that squirelliness until I can warrant replacing the tires.
You're right about the rear grip though.

The 555 also does not come in the front OEM size. You would have to calculate what other size might work. I'll be wearing the the BFGs in front for probably 2-3 seasons since they do not wear much with carfixer's alignment specs.

[1stMerc]

It's 86 miles of highway and back country roads to the track. They show 42-44 when I get there. The rear is a 45 series 20 and REQUIRES that much pressure. The post asked what I run. That's what I run. It's been 2 years and 2 sets of tires worth of trial and error on the pressures. You can believe it works or don't.


I've paved the way. You guys can re-invent the wheel or listen to the 'Wiz'.

You'll save money, time, and heartache if you listen.....

I'm not disputing or disbeleiving what you say. I haven't mixed and matched tires in quite a while, so these new increased air pressures and the fact they work is intriqueing. I'm old school 50, 60, and 70 series bias ply tires, flat spot if you left them sit in one spot to long. Prior to this car all my other radials have been normal size 32-35 psi passenger tires at all 4 corners. Since i plan to keep the car till the year 2525 or forever every bit of info is a plus.

Keep it coming...

[1stMerc]

We're talking replacement tires of different brand and size. The door sticker means nothing now.

Tru dat, i thought he was talking about the oems.