BFG vs. Nitto

[PonySHO]

Hope it's OK with you guys to seek opinions on a non-SHO application. I'm on the fence between choosing BF Goodrich g-Force Sports and Nitto NT 555 Extreme Performance tires. The Tire Rack rates the BFG I'll term as above average. They don't carry Nitto. The reviews lean heavily towards the Nitto at Discount Tire, but are just about even at a site like E-pinion. The only clear advantage is that the BFGs are $68 less due to a $60 rebate at Discount Tire. Any input is appreciated.

 

[RonPorter]

Hope it's OK with you guys to seek opinions on a non-SHO application. I'm on the fence between choosing BF Goodrich g-Force Sports and Nitto NT 555 Extreme Performance tires. The Tire Rack rates the BFG I'll term as above average. They don't carry Nitto. The reviews lean heavily towards the Nitto at Discount Tire, but are just about even at a site like E-pinion. The only clear advantage is that the BFGs are $68 less due to a $60 rebate at Discount Tire. Any input is appreciated.

I would go with the BFG. The Nitto 555 has been around forever, and I've only ever heard so-so reviews on them. Just my opinion.

 

[DJSHO91]

I would go with the BFG. The Nitto 555 has been around forever, and I've only ever heard so-so reviews on them. Just my opinion.

I agree. And the BFGs will have better tread wear than the Nittos.

 

[Racer X]

I have a pair of Nitto NT450's currently. Granted, they're not the 555, however they leave a LOT to be desired for a moderate performance tire.

I've heard great things about the BFG's, and am looking at a pair for my next set with the discontinuation of the Eagle F1 GS-D3.

 

[IM Buddy8]

Those BFG's come on Stock SRT-4's and they last a gooood amount of miles and grib amazing even on a 225 which is pretty narrow.. They suck in snow or rain but you don't need me to tell you that.

 

[platoribs]

I ran Grattan on relatively new BFG G-Force Sports and as a newb on a road course I was ******* those tires, ripped up one of the fronts pretty good, the other front and the inside rear developed cracks but they still hold air.

I've been debating trying to get more life out of them but I'm concerned about the cracks in the tread. Pretty good handling tire though IIRC.

The KDW's are even better though!

 

[PonySHO]

Thanks a lot gentlemen, I appreciate your input.

 

[1993MTXSHO]

Agreed with the above, I haven't heard good things about the Nittos.

 

[TankII]

I was running G-Force KDW's on my '91, and then switched to G-Force Sports.

1) WAY less sticky than I expected! Be prepared to squeal the tires in corners! I spin alot more at launch now, especially when wet. At an autocross, while I was able to beat a Cooper-S that was also on Street Tires, other people watching me drive said I had way more car than tire.

2) They are harder wearing, which is a good thing if you are doing a lot of miles. As summer-only shoes, I'm regretting the decision, and plan on putting them on my '01 Stratus ES when the Traction T/A's wear out.

I'd say, for the average driver with an average car, the traction is pretty good, with good overall response and turn-in, better than average wet performance, and good tread-wear. I made the switch to save on Gas Mileage, only to find out this Sunday I had a fuel line leak all along! Ugh!

All that being said, I'd rate them similar in overall performance to the old CompT/A V4's I used to run.

TankII

 

[SuperchargedSHOguy]

I'm on the other end...Nittos all the way. For all my higher HP cars, that is all they get 555s on the front and rear unless the 555DRs are needed. They wear faster but the traction more than makes up for it.

 

[RonPorter]

I'm on the other end...Nittos all the way. For all my higher HP cars, that is all they get 555s on the front and rear unless the 555DRs are needed. They wear faster but the traction more than makes up for it.

Look around a little more. better tires than the 10-ish-year-old 555s. For summer-only tires lotsa good ones now if you don't care about wear (as I don't). I've loved my Hankook RS2s, as well as the current Azenis 615s. There are others in this category of near-track-tires-with-tread that can do better than the 555s.

 

[SuperchargedSHOguy]

Look around a little more. better tires than the 10-ish-year-old 555s. For summer-only tires lotsa good ones now if you don't care about wear (as I don't). I've loved my Hankook RS2s, as well as the current Azenis 615s. There are others in this category of near-track-tires-with-tread that can do better than the 555s.

I'll keep my 555s. The 555 DRs hold 1000+ ft/lbs torque from my Viper...no need for me to try others out when they work fine and I am happy with them. When I race it I bolt on my Hoosier Rs. I'd be more than happy to put on a set of your other category tires and video if they hold or not, send them this way
There are lots of tires that will work with 400 ft/lbs but not too many are sticky enough for more than that without going to a full out DR like the MTs, slick, or R compound, thus the basis of the appeal of the 555s to me.

 

[SHO U UP]

I'll keep my 555s. The 555 DRs hold 1000+ ft/lbs torque from my Viper...no need for me to try others out when they work fine and I am happy with them. When I race it I bolt on my Hoosier Rs. I'd be more than happy to put on a set of your other category tires and video if they hold or not, send them this way
There are lots of tires that will work with 400 ft/lbs but not too many are sticky enough for more than that without going to a full out DR like the MTs, slick, or R compound, thus the basis of the appeal of the 555s to me.

I gotta agree with ya on that one. Anytime you have some major torque involved, the 555s/555DRs are a helluva combo. I've heard the M/Ts are better drag tire wise, and Hoosiers are top dawg. My Lightning fares well with 555DRs with over 600+torque but now with over 800+torque a new tire may be in order just due to the light weight rear end. And as for my 2010 SHO, I feel the BFGs look cooler but are louder on the highway and the Nittos may have an old design, but I feel wear wise they will outlast the BFG and they look pretty damn cool too. That's just my .02 though. I think some folks need to get some of each and lay it all out for us.

 

[tms217]

I have been using 555's on the front of my 550RWHP Cobra and 555R2's on the rear with great results.. Got a littler over 10k on the rears and still have a bit of life left. For the money I like the Nittos..

 

[DJSHO91]

I'll keep my 555s. The 555 DRs hold 1000+ ft/lbs torque from my Viper...no need for me to try others out when they work fine and I am happy with them. When I race it I bolt on my Hoosier Rs. I'd be more than happy to put on a set of your other category tires and video if they hold or not, send them this way
There are lots of tires that will work with 400 ft/lbs but not too many are sticky enough for more than that without going to a full out DR like the MTs, slick, or R compound, thus the basis of the appeal of the 555s to me.

I gotta agree with ya on that one. Anytime you have some major torque involved, the 555s/555DRs are a helluva combo. I've heard the M/Ts are better drag tire wise, and Hoosiers are top dawg. My Lightning fares well with 555DRs with over 600+torque but now with over 800+torque a new tire may be in order just due to the light weight rear end. And as for my 2010 SHO, I feel the BFGs look cooler but are louder on the highway and the Nittos may have an old design, but I feel wear wise they will outlast the BFG and they look pretty damn cool too. That's just my .02 though. I think some folks need to get some of each and lay it all out for us.

I have been using 555's on the front of my 550RWHP Cobra and 555R2's on the rear with great results.. Got a littler over 10k on the rears and still have a bit of life left. For the money I like the Nittos..

As a pure performance tire, the Nitto is by far the better choice. It's when you start looking at compromises, for such things as noise, comfort and all-weather day-to-day driving, that the BFG shows its more balanced nature.

 

[tms217]

True, the Nittos are a pretty loud tire.. Really dont notice it on the Cobra but I'm sure the SHO would be different

 

[SHODWN]

After many years of SHOP ownership, and traveling and tracking all around the country I have never seen as many tire Fukups as BFG produces.

(personal opinion) I would not install free BFG's... I do like all the Nitto tires, ive seen aset of those go through a burnout from **** where there was no tread left and the car was driven back to here and that was a 350mile trip.

My truck has the Nitto street terain (forgot the real name) and they have 100000 highway miles on them and I could still get a summer out of them if I would not run into any rain.. the truck tires are AWESOME!.

555's are on the Gen 4 SHO, or were till the burn out. very good gas milage, very aggressive in the corners and very quiet on the road.

 

[RonPorter]

Yeah, I've never been a big BFG fan, partially because they make HEAVY tires, like Kumho. BFG drag radials are decent, though. My buddy Marty has both BFG DRs and Nitto DRs on his Z28s, and is satisfied with both.

OTOH, I was less than impressed when Dudek put KDWs on his Hemi Charger. They were worse for traction at the street (and strip) than the a/s whatevers that Chrysler put on it.

You get what you pay for. I put Nitto 450s on the 911 10 years ago. I was very happy with them. At the time, though, I wasn't into sticky summer tires as I am today. and they worked well compared to the Dunlops I had before them. The 450s are also ancient by current standards.

 

[PonySHO]

I ordered the Nittos a few days ago. They're going on my '89 5.0... putting on 17"ers. I was leaning towards the Nittos from the get-go, but the bean counter side of me kept on saying hang on a second. Good thing I hesitated, the Nittos went down in price and saved myself $24. Hey, that's a 30 pk of Molson Canadian!