[zachb34]

Hey guys, new to the forum and just got a '16 Hellcat Challenger. I'm not new to fast cars, but this is my first rod muscle car. I have searched the forums but find a lot of info of people wanting their tires to do a little bit of everything. My Hellcat is not my daily and will only see the road on dry weekends and living in south florida, our streets stay warm year round. I plan on getting 20x10.5 Replica wheels in the rear and running a drag radial. My daily satisfies my need for the twisties and just want something that'll hookup in a straight line. Some digs (I know it won't ever dead hook on the street), but mainly from a 40 and 60 roll. I don't really care about longevity of the tires as the car will only see maybe 4,000 miles per year so 3-5,000 mile life span is good for me. So far I'm leaning towards the Nitto NT05R, but also looking at the Nitto 555R, Toyo R888R, or some Mickey Thompson Street ET Street S/S or R. I'm also not opposed to running a 18 in the rear like the Konig Ampliform, but do like the look of the stock wheels matching.
Anyone have any input on this? I plan on staying at stock power for at least a year while I build up the driveline and learn the car. Don't want anything that feels too sketchy at high speed.

 

[akras]

 

[16GoManGoHC]

I’ve ran 315 Nitto NT05R for 2 years and 555R2’s for the last year. Both great tires, had both up to 200 numerous times, 150 every time the cars out. Both net mid 11’s at 135 on the street with no burnout (M6) the NT05R likes warmer pavement, the 555R2’s I’ve ran high 11’s even down to 30 F. Both are good tires.

 

[16GoManGoHC]

I’ve also ran 275 MT ET Street SS, cooked them in a week. They stuck well at first but they broke loose once in third and I kept them smoking up past 100 and that took 1/2 their thread off and where done after that. I’ve also ran MT 315/50-18 Street R’s in a street test one against the 2 315 Nitto’s NT05R and the 555R2’s with no burnout and the 555’s gave the best times in 3 street 1/4’s all 3 tires tested same day same place with in a 2 hour window. My recommendation Florida, warm roads, occasional caught in the rain, the 555R2’s in a 305 or 315.

 

[Xylander]

Michelin PS4S if you're serious about traction. Nitto if you're not.

 

[zachb34]

I’ve ran 315 Nitto NT05R for 2 years and 555R2’s for the last year. Both great tires, had both up to 200 numerous times, 150 every time the cars out. Both net mid 11’s at 135 on the street with no burnout (M6) the NT05R likes warmer pavement, the 555R2’s I’ve ran high 11’s even down to 30 F. Both are good tires.

Thank you. I actually read one of your comments from a post back in October of 2020 and it was one of the main reasons the NT05R is at the top of my list. I haven't found too many people talk about how they handle at higher speeds so your input is appreciated there.

 

[zachb34]

Michelin PS4S if you're serious about traction. Nitto if you're not.

Really? Even just in a straight line? I didn't really consider those because I've just been looking into R compound tires. I've actually ran those on my daily before (big turbo GTI) and they definitely handle well, but wasn't too impressed with the straight line stuff but literally nothing hooks on that platform anyway.

 

[16GoManGoHC]

Michelin PS4S if you're serious about traction. Nitto if you're not.

I’ll buy a set and put them on the rear and give them a shot, instrument test, 3 devices at one time recording, avg results, them against the 555R2 in standing 1/4 mile pulls, within an hour of each other. They produce better straight line times (traction) I’ll keep them, they don’t you buy them and pay the shipping to you on them? Want to put your money up on this one? I will if you agree to the bet and stand behind your belief. I love testing things and proving what’s actually the best, don’t mind bring a fair test mule. I loose I win as I have no problem with being wrong and getting better tires, it’s time for a set anyways. You loose you get a set of tires you prefer and like, everybody wins. Deal? 305 or 315 20” which ever they make. Any thing below a 305 too small for me.

 

[Xylander]

I've already got a set. But tires are like shoes. Not everyone will "like" the same tires. Me, I don't like drag radials on the street. Nitto sidewalls are too stiff. Hence why I don't like Nitto becase they are more for roll racing, and I don't really think roll racing is racing in so much as tee-ball isn't baseball. If you're dead set on a drag radial, the M/T is the way to go. I only race on M/Ts or Hoosiers. For street use, PS4S or PSA4.

The Nitto may perform well for a few runs, but as it eats road FOD, it will get inconsistent on the street. This is why I prefer the PS4S. It will hold its own in your little test (it might even win), but it will also go 12,000mi or so and can be driven on corners and in the rain. The same can't really be said for the 555R2. Aaaand, they can be had for just under $300 per in my local area. The 555R2 is $340/ea (305/35/20).

 

[OldMoparGuy]

Ive been using the Nitto NT05r in 315 on my M6 HC for 3 yrs now, for a total of about 4.5k. Still plenty of life left and were a giant improvement over the stock Pirelli junk.

 

[16GoManGoHC]

The Nitto may perform well for a few runs, but as it eats road FOD, it will get inconsistent on the street. This is why I prefer the PS4S. It will hold its own in your little test (it might even win), but it will also go 12,000mi or so and can be driven on corners and in the rain. The same can't really be said for the 555R2. Aaaand, they can be had for just under $300 per in my local area. The 555R2 is $340/ea (305/35/20).

The 555R2’s currently on the car are down to the wear bars from the last 4 months of MANY street 1/4 runs. They are still producing consistent 11.4-11.6 1/4’s. Here’s a few recent car timer screen shots various temps in the last 2 weeks, you have any recent ones to post for comparison to the PS4’s? Car timer to car timer, ie apples to apples, or Draggy or some other timers data? I’m very interested in trying them but I’m instrument data driven not butt instrument feeling opinion driven.

 

[Chuck Ray]

Curios has anybody have any experience with the Mickey Thompson pro drag radial it’s the one Leah runs on her drag pack

 

[baabootoo]

The 315/35 are $494 a pop, 305/35 $417. Where are they cheaper???????????

 

[baabootoo]

What tire did Roadkill nights use when they raced each other in the Challengers (Leah, Matt, Goldberg, etc)

 

[Chuck Ray]

I think they were running stock tires

 

[Xylander]

The 555R2’s currently on the car are down to the wear bars from the last 4 months of MANY street 1/4 runs. They are still producing consistent 11.4-11.6 1/4’s. Here’s a few recent car timer screen shots various temps in the last 2 weeks, you have any recent ones to post for comparison to the PS4’s? Car timer to car timer, ie apples to apples, or Draggy or some other timers data? I’m very interested in trying them but I’m instrument data driven not butt instrument feeling opinion driven.

No, sorry. I'm running All Season 4s at the moment. I ran PS4S on my ProCharged 2015 Mustang. All I can say about that was it pulled the front tires off the ground by nearly a foot in the side parking lot of a Pep Boys. PSI was set to 18. I wan intentionally trying to see if it could do it.

 

[Barbell_Cat_717]

Op I live in South Florida as well and my car is a semi-daily and for that reason I choose the Nitto 555R2 tire in a 305-35-20 on 20x10.5 reps that seemed to be well rounded as far as straight line dry traction, good in the wet if you get caught in the rain, and lasts decently. I was in the same boat as you looking for those similar tires you listed. I’ve never tried the Toyo r888r yet but was gunna recommend them to you when you mentioned about the twisties but noticed you mentioned you have a side daily that takes care of that fun for you.

Even though in South Florida we hardly have any corners I’ve still heard a lot of good things about the Toyo’s even being superior to the Nittos so I was maybe thinking about trying them next but not sure yet as I heard many folks stated they can be noisy. I duno to what extent the tire noise is like but I’m gunna assume it’s based on the individuals tolerance to be able to deal with them or not and for that reason alone I may just stick a set in the rear only to see what they are like first before having them on all four corners.

You mentioned about mainly hooking from a 40-60 roll and you will definitely hook at those speeds with the Nittos especially on a stock Cat. My Cat is stock power as well and can vouch for hooking at those speeds.. Depending on conditions and street surfaces, I’ve done 2nd gear 30-40 mph rolls and hooked, sometimes I couldn’t hook at those speeds but most of the time you will hook between the 40-60 mph range. I personally would like to hook at those low speeds I mentioned more consistently and even lower if possible so I may try something else next.
I’ve also heard the Mickeys are the stickiest out of the bunch plus I race at PBIR quite a bit and have done digs and roll races against other cars (including stock and modded Hellcats) and they all hooked better than I did on the hit with the MT ET S/S and MT R's against my Nittos so keep those tires in mind as well if you want to hook as close as you can from a dig and low speed rolls.

 

[Barbell_Cat_717]

Thank you. I actually read one of your comments from a post back in October of 2020 and it was one of the main reasons the NT05R is at the top of my list. I haven't found too many people talk about how they handle at higher speeds so your input is appreciated there.

I agree, I’ve read 16GoManGoHC’s previous posts about the NTO5R’s as well and have thought about those tires too. Great posts he shared about them especially when he mentioned about his test runs. From reading his posts and seeing that he tried both the 555R2 and the NTO5R’s, the feedback he gave seemed like the two tires were pretty much about the same traction wise…maybe a slight edge to the NTO5Rs so then I thought about just trying something totally different if they are both pretty much the same. That’s not to say the NTO5R’s aren’t a consideration for me as well but since they don’t come in a 305-35-20 but instead a 315-35-20 I have some concerns of the 315 sticking out a little more than I’d like since these 305 555R2’s stick out a little on my narrow body Hellcat as it is.

 

[zachb34]

Op I live in South Florida as well and my car is a semi-daily and for that reason I choose the Nitto 555R2 tire in a 305-35-20 on 20x10.5 reps that seemed to be well rounded as far as straight line dry traction, good in the wet if you get caught in the rain, and lasts decently. I was in the same boat as you looking for those similar tires you listed. I’ve never tried the Toyo r888r yet but was gunna recommend them to you when you mentioned about the twisties but noticed you mentioned you have a side daily that takes care of that fun for you.

Even though in South Florida we hardly have any corners I’ve still heard a lot of good things about the Toyo’s even being superior to the Nittos so I was maybe thinking about trying them next but not sure yet as I heard many folks stated they can be noisy. I duno to what extent the tire noise is like but I’m gunna assume it’s based on the individuals tolerance to be able to deal with them or not and for that reason alone I may just stick a set in the rear only to see what they are like first before having them on all four corners.

You mentioned about mainly hooking from a 40-60 roll and you will definitely hook at those speeds with the Nittos especially on a stock Cat. My Cat is stock power as well and can vouch for hooking at those speeds.. Depending on conditions and street surfaces, I’ve done 2nd gear 30-40 mph rolls and hooked, sometimes I couldn’t hook at those speeds but most of the time you will hook between the 40-60 mph range. I personally would like to hook at those low speeds I mentioned more consistently and even lower if possible so I may try something else next.
I’ve also heard the Mickeys are the stickiest out of the bunch plus I race at PBIR quite a bit and have done digs and roll races against other cars (including stock and modded Hellcats) and they all hooked better than I did on the hit with the MT ET S/S and MT R's against my Nittos so keep those tires in mind as well if you want to hook as close as you can from a dig and low speed rolls.

Thanks for your input. I'm going to be ordering all 4 tires when Discount Tire starts their Black Friday sale on the 25th, so I have a few days left to do some more homework and make a decision. I'm starting to lean towards the NT555RII since they're a bit cheaper and I can't seem to find much definitive evidence that the NT05R is much if any better than them. I probably won't stay stock more than a year, so whenever these are done I'll probably be looking into something else. I hope to get out to PBIR before they close down, but not sure if I'll have a diff brace and drive shaft by then or not.

 

[Barbell_Cat_717]

Thanks for your input. I'm going to be ordering all 4 tires when Discount Tire starts their Black Friday sale on the 25th, so I have a few days left to do some more homework and make a decision. I'm starting to lean towards the NT555RII since they're a bit cheaper and I can't seem to find much definitive evidence that the NT05R is much if any better than them. I probably won't stay stock more than a year, so whenever these are done I'll probably be looking into something else. I hope to get out to PBIR before they close down, but not sure if I'll have a diff brace and drive shaft by then or not.

Sure np good luck with your decision. Sucks that PBIR is closing down sometime. I'm not 100% sure when but I think I heard they are running up until next May. So if you can try to get a few runs in to take advantage of the nearby local track before us South Floridians have to travel to the nearest one few hours from us in Orlando. Miami's track leaves very little to be desired from what I hear from some folks.