Nitto NT555 Tires + Track = no good. - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

KaBoom1701 · 12-12-2016, 11:52 AM

So I picked as set of NT555 for around $500. No bad I thought.

They did ok at Chuckwalla a few weeks ago. Just got back from Big Willow rack track....I dont think they held up well. I was pushing hard the last few laps in the third session. Brakes were smoking coming into the pits. Buddy said he saw my rotors glowing. lol

So what do you guys think? Bad tire or just to much car for these type of tires?

This was on the front left tire. Maybe the big sweepers in turns 2 & 9 killed this tire?

JOHNSONROD · 12-12-2016, 12:36 PM

at first glance, it looks like it was rubbing on something. the line is straight all the way around. in the close up though, it got real hooott. id still make sure on the rub just to put that out of my head. ive seen NT01s come apart when pushed hard. 888s blister and get out of round after about 4 track days. Nitto replaced an NT01 for a guy that came apart on the first track day he ran it.
does the left rear look like this at all?
did the other tires get this melted look?
how much negitive camber are you running up front?

KaBoom1701 · 12-12-2016, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOHNSONROD

at first glance, it looks like it was rubbing on something. the line is straight all the way around. in the close up though, it got real hooott. id still make sure on the rub just to put that out of my head. ive seen NT01s come apart when pushed hard. 888s blister and get out of round after about 4 track days. Nitto replaced an NT01 for a guy that came apart on the first track day he ran it.
does the left rear look like this at all?
did the other tires get this melted look?
how much negitive camber are you running up front?

The other three tires look ok.

Alignment specs:

Front 2.1 neg camber
Rear 1.5 neg camber

Lonewolf583 · 12-12-2016, 08:34 PM

On J-Rod's point, just about any tire will do that if overdriven. I smeared and chunked my PO-purchased Nexen N3000's all over the track. NT555 makes for a good daily tire, but you certainly can take steps to make them live in this environment. Smooth inputs and knowing when to back off will go a long way.

Crash76 · 12-13-2016, 12:06 AM

These are my 888s after 7 track days... two of those days were 2 sessions of skid pad and braking/handling excercises...

I was able to get tire temps from a vendor at the track a few times inwas there... showed almost even temp across the inner middle outter portions of the tire. Alignment was spot on and i was not over driving the car.

Stephen12ZL1 · 12-13-2016, 05:45 AM

the tire appears to have overheated or been overdriven. Get a more appropriate compound for the track, recheck alignment and tire pressures. Possibly, adjust your driving technique. Remember "Days of Thunder": his way vs my way...

Norm Peterson · 12-13-2016, 06:46 AM

285/30-20 seems a little undersize for a 4000+ lb car being driven enthusiastically, and the OE wheel being only 10" wide isn't helping. Possibly underinflated as well.

Did you run up a few hundred easy to moderate pace street miles on them before hitting the track?

Norm

KaBoom1701 · 12-13-2016, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen12ZL1

the tire appears to have overheated or been overdriven. Get a more appropriate compound for the track, recheck alignment and tire pressures. Possibly, adjust your driving technique. Remember "Days of Thunder": his way vs my way...

lol, I'll keep that in mind.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norm Peterson

285/30-20 seems a little undersize for a 4000+ lb car being driven enthusiastically, and the OE wheel being only 10" wide isn't helping. Possibly underinflated as well.

Did you run up a few hundred easy to moderate pace street miles on them before hitting the track?

Norm

I think your right. The ZL1 just may be too much car for this type of tire. I just had the alignment done by Chris at West End Alignment so I know it was spot on. I started the psi at 31 and the tires would warm up to 39-40psi when I left the track after each session. I was pushing hard trying to beat my best time of 1:40 but the tires felt lose on the big sweeper on turn 9 so I dont go as fast as I wanted. I guess I'll just find a back road and do a few burn out to at least wear the rears down before I go shopping for another set. Might go back to 35mm tire instead of 30mm.

Ben thinking of 295/35R20 up front and 315/35R20 in the rear on the next go around....

Any tire suggests are welcome from my fellow aggressive track peeps.

JOHNSONROD · 12-13-2016, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crash76

These are my 888s after 7 track days... two of those days were 2 sessions of skid pad and braking/handling excercises...

I was able to get tire temps from a vendor at the track a few times inwas there... showed almost even temp across the inner middle outter portions of the tire. Alignment was spot on and i was not over driving the car.

when i first started running 888s, id get half a season out of a set. then as the car got better and the driver more confident, i think i just over drove them. they wont take much of that. i run mostly take off slicks from the Ferrari challenge series now. lots of tire for the money.
op, slap a square set of 305s in that new RE71. thats what a lot of those optima cars were running last year. they can afford anything, but they have to stay at or over 200 treadwear. they will wear some though. the MPSS will wear good and give decent grip.

Stephen12ZL1 · 12-13-2016, 09:10 PM

Quote:

I think your right. The ZL1 just may be too much car for this type of tire. I just had the alignment done by Chris at West End Alignment so I know it was spot on. I started the psi at 31 and the tires would warm up to 39-40psi when I left the track after each session.

I think your starting tire pressure was way too high. Every tire I have tried on the ZL1 or Z/28 likes to be 27-28 psi cold and 34-35 psi hot. Maybe worth a try.

KaBoom1701 · 12-13-2016, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen12ZL1

I think your starting tire pressure was way too high. Every tire I have tried on the ZL1 or Z/28 likes to be 27-28 psi cold and 34-35 psi hot. Maybe worth a try.

I was told these NITTO's like to have a little higher psi...so meh...who knows.

I agree with you as I ran my GY G2's the same as what you stated.

BMR Sales · 12-14-2016, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KaBoom1701

I was told these NITTO's like to have a little higher psi...so meh...who knows.

I agree with you as I ran my GY G2's the same as what you stated.

The Sidewalls don't look strong enough and I think that is why they want the pressures up. Then they heated up.

I would be looking for a different tire

olblue75 · 12-14-2016, 10:01 PM

What about track abrasivness compared to your last track outing??

KaBoom1701 · 12-14-2016, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by olblue75

What about track abrasivness compared to your last track outing??

Interesting point you bring up.

Big Willow seemed a little on the rough side to me. Even on the straights it was bumpy.....you had always be on alert with both hands on the wheel on this track.

12-12-2016, 11:52 AM	#1
KaBoom1701 KaBoom1701 Drives: 13' ZL1 Red M6 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: I.E. SoCal (Yucaipa) Posts: 8,630	Nitto NT555 Tires + Track = no good. So I picked as set of NT555 for around $500. No bad I thought. They did ok at Chuckwalla a few weeks ago. Just got back from Big Willow rack track....I dont think they held up well. I was pushing hard the last few laps in the third session. Brakes were smoking coming into the pits. Buddy said he saw my rotors glowing. lol So what do you guys think? Bad tire or just to much car for these type of tires? This was on the front left tire. Maybe the big sweepers in turns 2 & 9 killed this tire? Attached Images __________________ Mods: Roto-Fab Intake, WW Res. kit & Big Gulp Air Scoop, Elite Catch Can, ATI Super Damper & 18% OD Pulley, LF Idler pulley bracket, Metco CC breather, ID850 Injectors, Stainless Power Headers w/ ceramic coating, TR71X Spark Plugs, JMS Fuel Pump Booster, Bo White TB, Tuned by Ted @ Jannetty Racing, Ron Davis HX, D3 Reservoir, Pfadt 1" Springs, Moreno Camber Plates, ZL1 Addons Splitter guard washers, Tow Hook kit & rock guards, Hurst Shifter Billet Plus 6 Speed Short Shifter, ZL1 DRL lighting harness, ZL1 Recaro Seats.

12-12-2016, 08:34 PM	#4
Lonewolf583 Apex Predator Drives: 2010 2SS/RS M6 Rally Yellow Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Seymour, IN Posts: 238	On J-Rod's point, just about any tire will do that if overdriven. I smeared and chunked my PO-purchased Nexen N3000's all over the track. NT555 makes for a good daily tire, but you certainly can take steps to make them live in this environment. Smooth inputs and knowing when to back off will go a long way. __________________ 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS - LS3/TR6060, Paid Off \o/ Beating physics into submission since 1991.

12-13-2016, 05:45 AM	#6
Stephen12ZL1 Drives: '21 ZLE A10 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Mechanicsville, VA Posts: 6,815	the tire appears to have overheated or been overdriven. Get a more appropriate compound for the track, recheck alignment and tire pressures. Possibly, adjust your driving technique. Remember "Days of Thunder": his way vs my way... Attached Images __________________ '21 ZLE A10 Wild Cherry PDR 2:00.78 VIR Full 10.68@131.69 1.68 60' '17 ZL1 A10 Mosaic Black PDR/Nav 2:03.08 VIR Full 11.003@129.2 1.75 (sold) '15 Z/28 #325 Black a/c & stereo. 2:10.1 VIR Full (sold) '12 ZL1 A6 Black 10.52@131 1.55 60' 2:13 VIR Full (sold)

12-13-2016, 06:46 AM	#7
Norm Peterson corner barstool sitter Drives: 08 Mustang GT, 19 WRX Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Eastern Time Zone Posts: 6,990	285/30-20 seems a little undersize for a 4000+ lb car being driven enthusiastically, and the OE wheel being only 10" wide isn't helping. Possibly underinflated as well. Did you run up a few hundred easy to moderate pace street miles on them before hitting the track? Norm __________________ '08 GT coupe 5M (the occasional track toy) '19 WRX 6M (the family sedan . . . seriously)

12-14-2016, 10:01 PM	#13
olblue75 Drives: 2010 2SS/RS Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Clarksville Tennesse. Posts: 6,070	What about track abrasivness compared to your last track outing?? __________________ Orange Krush II 1LE Front sway bar, Splitter, shocks and struts, Z28 dual mode mufflers, Intake, UCA Bushings, and Toresen 3.91 Diff. 1 piece DSS Drive Shaft, ZL1/C7 Calipers, and 32mm JPSS Rear Bar. ASC race spec splitter and wicker. 6th Gen M017 Wheels. Stainless Works 1 7/8 LTs. DSE and PAFDT Suspension components.

12-12-2016, 12:36 PM	#2
JOHNSONROD Drives: 62 Chevy & 2021 1SS/1LE manual Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Kentucky Posts: 893	at first glance, it looks like it was rubbing on something. the line is straight all the way around. in the close up though, it got real hooott. id still make sure on the rub just to put that out of my head. ive seen NT01s come apart when pushed hard. 888s blister and get out of round after about 4 track days. Nitto replaced an NT01 for a guy that came apart on the first track day he ran it. does the left rear look like this at all? did the other tires get this melted look? how much negitive camber are you running up front?

12-13-2016, 12:06 AM	#5
Crash76 Team 913 Drives: '14 ZL1, '15 Jeep GC, ‘22 Ram 2500 Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: USA, Central CA Posts: 1,119	These are my 888s after 7 track days... two of those days were 2 sessions of skid pad and braking/handling excercises... I was able to get tire temps from a vendor at the track a few times inwas there... showed almost even temp across the inner middle outter portions of the tire. Alignment was spot on and i was not over driving the car.