Hmmm, I wonder if this is a misprint then. I am looking at the Jan. issue of Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords and see in the Discount Tire ad on page 77 a Nitto NT555 Extreme in 245/40ZR18 ($195.00) and a 285/35/ZR18 ($266.00, ouch!)

I am wondering if the NT555 Extreme is a soft enough compound to do the job? A little research may be in order here. Here's what I found at Discount's site:


NT 555 Extreme Performance
Temperature: A
Traction: A
Treadwear: 300
Speed Rating: ZR
Price: $270.00


This "ultra" high performance radial tire accentuates all aspects of pleasure in driving your street machine. The NT-555 is designed to transfer power efficiently to the road, provide superior and reliable traction, even on wet surfaces, resist tread wear, provide high speed driving stability and yield a quiet and comfortable ride. "ZR-W" speed-rated, up to 168mph.

These look alot like the specs on our F1's, maybe not the tire I thought it might be.

On the other hand, I did find this:

Pirelli

P-Zero System
Temperature: A
Traction: A
Treadwear: 140
Speed Rating: ZR
Price: $386.00


Five hundred horsepower, two hundred mph, zero to sixty mph in four seconds. The Pirelli response to extreme power is absolute control. With wide front tire fitments the volume of water confronted is increased and the distance required to drain water laterally across the tread pattern is greater. The potential to aquaplane is consequently higher.

This looks more like it, but oh, my wallet! I guess we do keep looking maybe....

------------------
Chuck 'Wyldman' Shelton
wyldman@houston.rr.com
Black 99.5 Lightning Build # 1273, DOB 5-14-99, NLOC #315
Best run to date 13.16 @104.8
CD Changer; Tow Pkg.; Lojack; Sal's custom nitrous chip; G-Tech/Pro; SnugLid; BedRug; Invinca-Shield, full kit; NOS KIT 80 hp shot (currently); Clear and smoke Lexan fog light covers; 3M Ti Window Tint; Bel radar detector (shouldn't be an accessory); PowerStack cone filter (a.k.a. supercharger waker upper); American Auto Designs ram air hood; Cal-Tracs traction bars



[This message has been edited by Wyldman (edited 12-16-1999).]

 

Back to the rims here for a second.. I must be blind... I sure didn't see the rims till you guys said something. At $229.95 each it seems that 2 of these are in order... thanks for the info all...

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* 99.5 Black Lightning
* Factory CD Changer
* Class 3 Towing Hitch
* Factory Tonneau Cover
* 8" Bazooka Tubs
* Kenwood 80 watt *2 amp
* 50% Window Tint
* 98 Yamaha Banshee w/ Toomey T5 Chrome pipes often found in the bed..

Injection is nice, but I'd rather be blown. 99 Lightning, the best of both worlds!

 

The treadwear rating of 300 on those NITTO tires suggests to me that they are not all that soft, and as for costs, the Bridgestone Pole Position S-02s on my Lexus were $330 ea. but definitely sticky with a 180 rating. I suspect that with a little restraint on load capacity (required with a lowering kit) non-truck/suv rated tires (unlike the F1s) will work fine. Also, I seem to recall a recent article that claimed that when they tested 16s vs. 17s vs. 18s the sixteens where the quickest due to less weight, but this may have been on the track not the strip (not on a Lightning)

 

What do you guys think about getting 2 wheels narrowed for a skinner set on the front (like down to 6") then you can runn say a 235 40 18, may compannies offer tires in and round that size. Then a set of 18" DR's for the back. All on a second set of rims for playing at the track.
Tt

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1999 Black Lightning SVT #1721, Build date 5-28-99, all factory options, (Soft tonneau cover, 6 Disc CD, Class III Towing hitch), Loyd one piece floormat, Tail light covers, Black spray in bed liner, Windows tinted gray 15%, Dark on back glass, 2" lowering shackles on back. Mobil 1 5w30 & K&N replacement @ 6000 miles. Ordered 2/24/99, Took delivery 6/21/99, After MANY many promised ETA dates.

 

would a 305/55zr18 fit our wheels?

Mike

 

They might be a bit tall, but the width shouldn't be a problem. What did you find, c'mon dude, SHARE!

------------------
Chuck 'Wyldman' Shelton
wyldman@houston.rr.com
Black 99.5 Lightning Build # 1273, DOB 5-14-99, NLOC #315
Best run to date 13.16 @104.8
CD Changer; Tow Pkg.; Lojack; Sal's custom nitrous chip; G-Tech/Pro; SnugLid; BedRug; Invinca-Shield, full kit; NOS KIT 80 hp shot (currently); Clear and smoke Lexan fog light covers; 3M Ti Window Tint; Bel radar detector (shouldn't be an accessory); PowerStack cone filter (a.k.a. supercharger waker upper); American Auto Designs ram air hood; Cal-Tracs traction bars

 

Wyldman,

Nitto has new extreme tires made for trucks and suv's. That's the biggest one I saw in their ad.

Mike

------------------
99.5 Black Lightning
PowerSurge Cone Filter
JBA Jet-Hot coated headers
Flowmaster muffler
Watter Wetter
Lo-Jack

 

Hey guys, Sal here. You have to keep in mind that Nitto has tires called "Extreme" and they also have the "Extreme Drags". The drags are the sticky radials for drag racing. I don't think the regular Extremes will work very well for drag racing as they are more suited for on road performance. Just to reply to the topic, I contacted every manufacturer that makes sticky tires and asked about a size that would work on the Lightning a few months back, and they all replied that they had no plans of doing a similar sized tire.

------------------
SAL
13.35@103mph
All stock with PSP 99 Lightning Chip and Filter Kit

Power Surge Performance--- Your SOURCE for SVT Lightning EFI Tuning and Performance!! http://members.aol.com/NLOCsvt/svt.html

 

Fun things to know and learn,

I just got this reply from Nitto on our DR question. Things may be looking up. I think maybe we are getting to them after all. Check it out:

Dear Chuck Shelton

Thanks for the email!

Thank you for your interest in our tires. We've been receiving many requests
from F-150 and Corvette owners for that 315 18" drag radial and we are
seriously considering adding this size to our lineup.

You request will be added and forwarded to the appropriate persons.

Please feel free to email us if you have any further questions.

Nitto Tire Customer Support www.nittotire.com

------------------
Chuck 'Wyldman' Shelton
wyldman@houston.rr.com
Black 99.5 Lightning Build # 1273, DOB 5-14-99, NLOC #315
Best run to date 13.16 @104.8
CD Changer; Tow Pkg.; Lojack; Sal's custom nitrous chip; G-Tech/Pro; SnugLid; BedRug; Invinca-Shield, full kit; NOS KIT 80 hp shot (currently); Clear and smoke Lexan fog light covers; 3M Ti Window Tint; Bel radar detector (shouldn't be an accessory); PowerStack cone filter (a.k.a. supercharger waker upper); American Auto Designs ram air hood; Cal-Tracs traction bars



[This message has been edited by Wyldman (edited 12-21-1999).]

 

Go here and request they make the tire. Nitto http://www.nittotire.com/contactus.asp

 

OK

So if I want to get some TA Drag Radials what can I expect to pay and what size rims will I need? I think the TAs come in 17". I went to the local tire store (independent) and I was quoted $198 each for 315somethingorother17s. The kicker was they said I needed a special racing wheel that would run about $400 each. $1200 to go drag racing? I don't think so. Help appreciated.

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1999 Black Roush-Lowered Lightning - w/Super Chip (YEEEOW!), JBA Headers, F-1 Cobra hood, Power Surge air kit, CD Changer, Towing Package,Grey Rhino, clear corner lenses.



[This message has been edited by sixpipes (edited 12-22-1999).]

 

Hi sixpipes & everyone!
As per Wyldmans most recent post and request. I have contacted Nitto again and this time I sent a photo of my Lightning and I stated that I thought that it would look good with a set of their tires (well at least their Drag Radials 18x315x40). I also told them what my project is. I am widening a set of Lightning wheels. When I am done they will be 18x10.5 (yes they will clear the back). The cost to do this is about $325.00 per wheel . This price is inclusive of one new wheel plus widening, less tax (now to just get them chromed). I also know that GoodYear makes a high performance tire(not a drag radial) for the McLaren, an Eagle F1 called the Fiorano (18x315x40) but I have not been able to get any information on it. Just listed this to give you an alternative to after market wheels. The wheels are a key part of the Lightning's image.

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BABolt
SVT#290