Nitto
Nitto's NT05 gets its name and DNA from the blending of two popular past Nitto products: the NT01, a DOT-approved R-compound, and the classic NT555 UHP tire. The concept was to build an ultimate street tire that integrated the NT01's race technology with an optimized dry-performance character.
Large inner and outer shoulder blocks and a continuous center rib are designed to provide good stability during cornering and brakingA specially formulated tread compound and reinforced internal construction designed to maximize dry performance
Sizes: 17-20 inch Treadwear 200
Traction AA Temperance A
Nitto Tire
714.252.0007
www.nittotire.com
Nitto
The Nitto NT555 has consistently been on the top of my favorites list for several reasons. Most importantly, it's the tire's ability to take a licking and keep on ticking, at a price that's hard to beat. It has the ability to handle precarious corners while maintaining a smooth quiet ride. Fond memories include doing burnouts in my GTI for photo ops and each time the tires looked toasted, chunks of rubber everywhere. Though I'd planned on replacing them, laziness got the better of me and I simply continued to drive the car anyway. After a few hundred miles they smoothed back out and went back to work.
High tread block rigidity helps reduce tread deformation, increasing the stability of the contact patchDirectional tread design optimized to provide the largest possible contact patch, increasing acceleration and cornering performance and reduce braking distanceTread compound formulated to strike a balance between dry performance and longevity
Sizes: 16-23 inch, Treadwear 300
Traction A Temperance A
Nitto Tire
714.252.0007
www.nittotire.com
Kumho
When you talk about the Kumho Ecsta SPT (KU31) you'll get some negative opinions, but others are quite positive. I recently had a chance to drive a friend's 2006 VW GTI equipped with a set of Ecsta SPT tires and came a3way impressed, considering he had only paid about $350 (installed) for a set of four. I'm not saying they are the best thing out there, but for that price you can't go wrong.
High dispersion silica compound is designed to enhance wet weather performance and increase tread life. ESCOT carcass profile utilizes jointless cap plies, wide steel belts, and a high-apex durometer to optimize handling while still maintaining a smooth, quiet ride Inner and outer shoulder blocks of the uni-directional tread are tilted toward the direction of travel to improve grip and reduce noise Three-dimensional lateral grooves designed to evacuate water from the tread
Sizes: 16-22 inch, Treadwear 320
Traction AA Temperance A
Kumho Tire
800.445.8646
www.kumhousa.com
BFGoodrich
Considering the BFG's g-Force Sport's price point, you might consider it an entry-level, high-performance offering. But a short run through the canyon or around the track will leave you feeling that the small amount of money spent was well worth it. It makes sense that the tire would perform the way it does considering BFGoodrich's long motorsport history and the fact that the g-Force Sport shares technology and construction techniques found in the more expensive g-Force T/A KDW.
g-Control sidewall inserts combined with a rounded shoulder profile help resist deflection during cornering, increasing stability and promoting feedback at the limitDimensionally stable polyester carcass enhanced with the ETEC (Equal Tension Containment) System, a spiral-wrapped reinforcement placed below the tread designed to stabilize and reinforce for strength and maneuverabilityBlackTech rubber compound is designed to optimize traction on all road surfaces and resist heat buildup Tread designed with two deep and wide circumferential channels to evacuate water from the tread and reduce the risk of hydroplaning
Sizes: 17-20 inch, Treadwear 340
Traction AA Temperance A
BFGoodrich
877.788.8899
www.bfgoodrichtires.com
General
My first chance to put the General Exclaim UHP through its paces was at General's test facility in Uvalde, Texas. While the technology and presentation were impressive, it was the tire's affordability that left me wondering. I was able to push the tire on courses designed to test limits in both wet and dry. And while my initial expectations were low, my enthusiasm was not and I was determined see how far I could push. Under some very aggressive driving, the noise levels were minimal and the only way the tires ended up breaking loose was when I did something stupid. It goes to show you can't always judge a tire by its price.
High void-to-solid rubber ratio combined with a double-V directional tread pattern helps expel water away from the treadAdvanced second-gen silica technology results in a 5 to 15 percent increase in traction when compared to standard carbon-black technologyWide, solid shoulder lugs and high-tech tread contours to help evenly distribute force to for optimized handling
Sizes: 15-24 inch, Treadwear 380
Traction A Temperance A
General Tire
800.847.3349
www.generaltire.com