I own a 2015 PP Mustang GT, and I'm trying to find replacement tires for it. I really wanted to Nitto NT555 extreme summer performance tires for it, because I had an incredible experience with them when I owned them on my 2012 GT. They had great all around traction and great tread life (they lasted nearly 60k miles). The issue I'm running into is that Nitto does not make them in the 275/40/19 and 255/40/19 size that the 15' PP GT requires.

Can I get away with running 275/35/19 in the rear and 245/35/19 in the front? What is the worse case scenario with going with these tires?

What tires (size and brand) would you guys recommend that also have great tread life and great traction?

 

Those 35 profile tires are going to be at least an inch shorter than your OE 40-series tires. Most people don't want to add more tire to fender gap.

Honestly, I'd go straight to Michelin's Pilot Super Sport tires and never look back. They should be available in your GT/PP's OE sizes. I was datalogging over 1.2g in the corners at my last road course track day after they'd come up to temperature, they ride extremely well especially with respect to their performance capability, and as far as rain capabilities are concerned . . . well, I've got a rainy track day video for you (about 2" fell that day). WOT in 3rd, 40 or better through the slowest corner just past the bridge, and rock-steady at speeds up to and a little beyond 110. Note the tire size, 30mm wider up front, 10mm wider out back, than the S550 GT/PP.




But if you're still stuck with lots of brand loyalty to Nitto, the tire of theirs that you want is the NT555 G2. A better tire than the "regular" NT555 for sure (which was already an 'old' tire in 2010), and it also comes in your car's OE sizes.


Norm

 

My only question would be, what's the tread life on the Michelin Pilot SS tires? I loved the fact that I got nearly 60k miles out of the nittos.

 

The PSS carries the same 300 treadwear rating as the NT555 does. I know they aren't directly comparable, but they shouldn't be s misleading that you only get half as many miles out of them driving the same way.

When I last checked the tread wear on mine, I'd only lost about 2/32" of tread. That was from over 3000 fairly enthusiastic street miles and about 1000 track miles (which are maybe 10 times as abusive as the street miles). In street-only use and my driving, I'd expect to get at least 35,000 miles out of them.

It's great that you could get 60k from yours, but I'd never let a high number like that drive my tire choice.


Norm

 

I have one other small question... if I wanted to go wider than 275 in the rear, what's the biggest size could I go with?

 

9" wide wheels limit you to 275/40's, 9.5" gets you 285/xx. You will find people who'll go up another width size on either or both of those wheel widths, but that's outside recommended guidelines and ends up sacrificing some steering response and precision all of the time even if the peak ultimate cornering grip goes up a hundredth of a lateral g or two (which you might not ever actually take advantage of).


Norm

 

If I changed to a 285 in the rear would i need to go down to 35 for the sidewall height?

 

Depends on whether you want a tire that's a little over 1/4" taller than OE (285/40-19) or a little more than 3/4" shorter (285/35-19).


Norm