When Nitto designed the NT555 back in the 90s, they quite simply set out to come up with one of the best ultra-high-performance tires on the market. They took that winning formula and improved on it for the NT555 G2, which features an upgraded and updated design that still delivers the same tenacious dry traction without sacrificing ride comfort or wet-weather grip, handling, and braking.

But is this the best tire for your and your ride? Let’s take a look in this Nitto NT555 G2 review.

Features and Benefits

Ultra-high-performance tires are engineered to provide excellent grip, traction, and handling performance in warmer weather. As a UHP tire, the NT555 G2 needs to feature certain elements to deliver on these promises:

• Twin center ribs are designed for enhanced straight-line stability and dry-pavement handling and braking performance
• Large tapered tread blocks further back up dry grip and stability for unbeatable confidence and finesse in tight corners and twisty roads
• Four wide circumferential grooves channel water away from the tire’s contact patch for wet weather grip and resistance to hydroplaning
• Silica-enriched rubber compound for long wear and sticky traction
• Extra-stiff casing allows for precise, responsive steering and cornering
• Reinforced shoulder blocks boost handling ability

Pros and Cons

Like most Nitto tires, the NT555 G2 has plenty of strengths:

PROS:

• Excellent traction on dry pavement
• Quick acceleration
• Confident cornering performance
• More affordable than some competitor’s tires
• Quiet, for a UHP/summer tire

CONS:

• Cannot be used when temperatures are consistently below 45 degrees Fahrenheit
• Grip in tough wet weather could be better
• Not backed by a limited manufacturer tread life warranty

SimpleTire’s view on Nitto NT555 G2 tires

When it comes to summer/UHP tires for sporty sedans, coupes, and crossovers, the competition is pretty stiff. The Nitto NT555 G2 can hang with the best of them, delivering next-generation value and performance for today’s cars, meeting the needs of high horsepower/torque and tight handling that you’ll find in the 2020s. Its silica-enriched tread compound boosts wet and dry grip for a sticky formulation that really adheres to the road, and its extra stiffness gives you real confidence and responsiveness going into hard corners.

Sports sedans and muscle cars have come a long way since the 1990s. In the late 90s, a car with 300 horsepower was considered high-performance, but today there are plenty of models with upwards of 500 hp from the factory. In addition, front-wheel-drive sports sedans are less common and vehicle curb weights are heavier, and Nitto has risen to meet the moment on all of those counts. Testing and real-world reports indicate that the NT555 G2 outperforms the first-generation NT555 in about every aspect – we really feel that if you give it a shot, you’ll come up with the same results.

Vehicles the Nitto NT555 G2 is a good replacement tire for

As an ultra-high-performance summer tire, the NT555 G2 is meant for use on performance-oriented and sports cars. If you own an Acura Integra, BMW M3, Cadillac CTS, Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger, Ford Mustang, Nissan 350Z, or Subaru Impreza then this is a tire that might help your ride perform at the highest level in warmer weather.