Which tire to buy?

[BAN ONE]

Looking for some feedback on a few brands of tires. I am looking to install 255/45 17" front and 285/40 17" tires in the rear on my 77 Trans Am. I like to keep the same brand tires front and back.

From what I can tell...looks like these are my only options with both tires sizes.

Continental ExtremeContact DW
Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3
Pirelli PZero System
Firestone Firehawk Wide Oval
Goodyear Eagle GS-C EMT
Kumho Ecsta SPT
Kumho Ecsta ASX
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus
Nitto 555

I was looking at the Nitto 555 but there seem to be mixed reviews.:_paranoid

Car used strickly in nice weather.

I have read the reviews on tirerack website but still not sure which way to go.
Any suggestions would be appreciated?

[BonzoHansen]

I can't speak for those specific models, but as a former Conti dealer you would have to give me their tires for me to run them.

Judging by the names, some of those may be all season tires. If so I'd knock them off the list.

[BAN ONE]

Ok..scratched out the all season ones...and the Continental Extreme.

New list...

Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3
Pirelli PZero System
Firestone Firehawk Wide Oval
Goodyear Eagle GS-C EMT
Kumho Ecsta SPT
Nitto 555

[Blake Foster]

we have really liked the Nitto Invo

i wouldn't use a Goodyear if they were free but thats my opinion

[DriverzInc]

Car and Driver recently did a good comparison of "super" tires.

Michelin's were number one.
Hankook V12s were number two.
Nitto Invo was 8th out of 10 compared, but there was a foot note that the Nitto NT05 would have probably scored higher, however it was not ready by the time they wrote the article.

I'm a BIG fan of Nitto tires, because they perform very well, for how much you pay. Value per dollar has always been a huge deal to me, and as far as I'm concerned its the best performance per dollar available right now.

[BonzoHansen]

we have really liked the Nitto Invo

i wouldn't use a Goodyear if they were free but thats my opinion

I never sold them, but we always referred to them as "good for a year". I never like GY wear characteristics. Their performance tires always seemed to get very hard as time wore on. Long useless tread life. I used to like Dunlops as a good value tire, but since GY bought them I have no idea.

Michelin always had the best, most consistent tires over the long haul, IMO, but they are pricey.

[montanass]

The Nitto NT01, Toyo R888, Falken Azenis are all tires i've had a little experience with. The Nitto's were by far the best with the toyo in second, a friend of mine had them on his twin turbo GTO (830 rwhp) and they performed extremely well. Just my $0.02

[BAN ONE]

Looks like Nitto 555 still might be my best choice. I checked Discount Tire and since I live in Canada, they appear to have the best price. Best of all, they accept Paypal which already has enough funds in it for the new rubber. Now I find they don't ship Nitto to Canada...agreement made with tire dealers up here :mad:.

I found another place...Onlinetires.com but they don't fair well with the BBB. They are a bit more expensive..but still alot cheaper than here.

Tires locally for 285/40 -17" are $280,
Discount Tire $157 (free shipping)
Online Tire $118.77 (plus about $50 shipping per tire).

Why can't this be easy:willy:

[Northern Goat]

Looks like Nitto 555 still might be my best choice. I checked Discount Tire and since I live in Canada, they appear to have the best price. Best of all, they accept Paypal which already has enough funds in it for the new rubber. Now I find they don't ship Nitto to Canada...agreement made with tire dealers up here :mad:.

I found another place...Onlinetires.com but they don't fair well with the BBB. They are a bit more expensive..but still alot cheaper than here.

Tires locally for 285/40 -17" are $280,
Discount Tire $157 (free shipping)
Online Tire $118.77 (plus about $50 shipping per tire).

Why can't this be easy:willy:

HOw close are you to the border. I live in Hamilton, Ontario and buy all my tires and a lot of other car goodies from the US and have them shipped to my buddy's place in Niagara Falls, NY. It is worth the drive.

[BAN ONE]

I am 2 hours away from Niagara Falls. Question ...what do you tell customs when you go to pick them up...tires are pretty hard to hide :_paranoid when crossing the border....if you are just picking them up and not installing them there.