The Nitto NT555RII tire is a DOT-compliant drag radial built for people who run the same car on the street during the week and at the drag strip on weekends. It promises sticky launches without forcing a second set of wheels and tires. But is it the right pick for your car, your horsepower level and your budget?

This guide breaks it down in plain language: specs, available sizes, real-world feedback, pros and cons, pricing, and practical tips. It also covers where to look for the tire, because many readers search for Nitto NT555RII tire stores before they ever search for a review.

What Is the Nitto NT555RII Tire?

Nitto describes the NT555RII as a D.O.T.-compliant competition drag radial made for the weekend drag racer. In everyday terms, it is a street-legal tire with a race-style compound and a semi-racing construction. It sits between a regular summer performance tire and a full-on slick.

It is the newest member of Nitto’s drag radial family. Earlier drag radials such as the NT555R and NT05R came first, and the NT555RII borrows ideas from both while sharing its tread pattern with the NT555 G2 summer ultra-high-performance tire. That matching pattern lets a car look and feel consistent at all four corners.

Who Is This Tire Really For?

• Owners of modern muscle cars, such as Mustangs, Camaros, Challengers and Hellcat-powered models, who add power.
• Drivers of older, built street machines running wide rear tires.
• Weekend racers who want to drive to the track, run a few passes and drive home.
• Enthusiasts who prefer one rear tire over swapping wheels at the track.

Who Should Skip It?

Anyone looking for a quiet, long-wearing, all-weather commuter tire. The NT555RII is a purpose-built performance tire, and Nitto’s own ratings show it. Its manufacturer gives it top marks for dry performance but only middling scores for wet grip, ride comfort and quietness.

Nitto NT555RII Tire Specs and Ratings

Here are the headline numbers from Nitto’s published product information.

How Nitto Rates Its Performance

Design Features That Matter

Race-Style Compound

Nitto uses a high-grip compound to boost traction at the starting line. This is the main reason the tire hooks up on launch where a normal summer tire would spin.

Modified Sidewall Construction

The sidewall is tuned to help the tire wrap up and bite off the line. Nitto says the change improves 60-foot times compared with the older NT05R.

Twin Center Ribs for Dry Traction

Large ribs down the middle create a continuous contact patch. That keeps the tire stable and gripping as the car moves down the track.

Wide Circumferential Grooves

The big grooves move water out from under the tire, which helps on a damp ride to the track. They do not turn this tire into a rain tire, so treat wet roads with respect.

The NT555 G2 Pairing

Nitto designed the NT555RII and NT555 G2 to work together. The drag radial goes on the driven wheels, and the G2 goes on the non-driven wheels. Sizes and tread patterns were matched to suit modern performance cars.

Nitto NT555RII Tire Sizes

Nitto’s current size chart lists about 29 sizes across seven wheel diameters. Always confirm fitment against your wheel width, fender clearance and gearing before ordering.

Popular Choices for Modern Muscle Cars

• 305/35R20: a common rear fitment on widebody Dodge Challengers and Chargers, according to owner feedback on Nitto’s own page.
• 275/40R19: a typical drag-and-drive size for many late-model performance cars.
• P325/50R15: a classic big-rear choice for older cars with tubbed wheel wells.

Nitto NT555RII Tire Reviews: What Drivers Say

Across the retailer listings and Nitto’s own page, the feedback pattern is consistent. Owners praise launch traction, and many appreciate being able to drive the car on the street without swapping tires.

What Owners Like

• Strong hook-up off the line on cars making serious power. One owner of a supercharged Shelby GT500 around the 750 rear-wheel horsepower mark rated them well for that setup.
• Nitto’s own featured reviews include Hellcat owners who describe a big improvement over factory rubber.
• Some owners say the tire lasts longer than other drag radials, such as certain Mickey Thompson options, though experiences vary with driving style and horsepower.
• A published road test on a modified 1988 Mustang noted that the tires warmed up for the strip and then returned to street-friendly behavior in the staging lanes.

What Owners Warn About

• Retail Q&A on SimpleTire notes that Nitto recommends competition-oriented use and the NT555RII on driven wheels only.
• Wet and cold grip are weaker than on a standard performance tire.
• The tire is louder and firmer than a touring or all-season tire.
• Treadwear rate depends heavily on how hard and how often the car is driven.

Overall, the NT555RII looks like a strong fit for weekend drag-and-drive builds, but it is not a one-size-fits-all street tire.

Nitto NT555RII Tire Pros and Cons

How the Nitto NT555RII Compares

SimpleTire lists the Toyo Proxes R888R, Mickey Thompson ET Street R and Yokohama Advan A052 among its closest competitors. These tires serve slightly different jobs, so the right choice depends on what you actually do with your car.

Always check current specs and use recommendations from each manufacturer. Tire lines change, and a tire that is perfect for a drag launch may not be the right call for road-course driving.

Street Use and Maintenance Tips

1. Mount it on the driven axle only. Pair it with the NT555 G2 on the other axle, as Nitto recommends.
2. Check pressures often. Max pressure is printed on the sidewall and varies by size. Many racers adjust pressure for the strip, so ask your tire shop or tuner and stay within Nitto’s limits.
3. Be careful in the cold and wet. Nitto publishes a technical bulletin about proper use and storage of competition tires in colder climates. Read it before winter.
4. Inspect tread and sidewalls. Drag radials wear and age differently from touring tires. Look for cracks, uneven wear and any damage after each track day.
5. Store them properly. If you swap sets seasonally, keep tires cool, dry and out of direct sunlight.
6. Balance and align correctly. A good mount-and-balance helps with vibration at highway speeds. See our guide to mount and balance costs.

Nitto NT555RII Tire Price and Where to Buy

At the time of writing, one online retailer listed the tire at roughly $247 to $613 each, depending on size. Large sizes cost more. Prices and stock change often, so check current listings before you decide.

For a general sense of what tires cost, see our guide on how much a new tire costs.

Nitto NT555RII Tire Stores: Where to Look

• Nitto’s dealer locator: the manufacturer’s site has a “Find a Store” tool.
• Online tire retailers: large sellers such as Tire Rack, Discount Tire, Big O Tires, SimpleTire and TireAgent carry or list the model, depending on stock.
• Local performance tire shops: a shop with drag racing experience can help with sizing and mounting.
• Ask about shipping to an installer: many online orders can be sent straight to a shop for mounting.

Need a shop that is open when you are? Check tire shops open on Sunday. Also see our Costco tire warranty guide and the Michelin Defender tire review for a more relaxed daily-driver option.

You can also browse brand pages in our tire brands section.

Conclusion: Is the Nitto NT555RII Tire Worth It?