Nitto Tires Review - Brand Guide

‍About Nitto Tires

Nitto is a Japanese tire brand launched in 1949. Around the 1970s, this tire brand started experiencing some financial challenges, leading to a drop in production. And in 1979, it was eventually acquired by Toyo tires.

Since its acquisition by Toyo tires, Nitto has experienced massive growth and expansion. Today, this tire manufacturer has production plants spread across different parts of the globe such as the U.S, Malaysia, China, and Japan, among others. It’s currently based in Cypress, California.

Most Popular Nitto Tires

Nitto produces a wide range of tires, in almost all categories. From on-road to off-road tires, all-season to ultra-high performance (UHP) tires, Nitto has a tire for almost every driver on the road. Apart from conventional tires, Nitto also produces racing tires and street performance tires. Some of the most popular tires from this manufacturer include:

Nitto Motivo

Launched in 2011, the Motivo is one of Nitto’s best-selling high-performance tires. This ultra-high performance tire is designed for luxury sedans, sports coupes, and CUVs. According to Nitto, this tire is equipped to handle a wide range of road surfaces and conditions. It’s also engineered to deliver a smooth, quiet and comfortable ride.

Features

Nitto has outfitted this all-season ultra-high performance tire with a silica-enhanced tread compound as well as other advanced tire technologies. This tread compound is designed to provide maximum grip in all weather conditions while increasing the tire’s lifespan.

The Motivo also comes with larger tread blocks. These tread blocks help to provide stability, resulting in enhanced cornering performance and dry traction. It also sports a continuous center rib, which helps to provide straight-line stability. Also, the continuous center rib helps to enhance the tire’s steering response and handling.

Nitto has also equipped this tire with advanced siping technology, featuring its proprietary 3D Multiwave sipes. This siping technology allows the tire’s sipes to lock together during braking, resulting in short braking distances. Also, this locking mechanism helps the tire to deliver the maximum grip needed for acceleration.

If you happen to encounter rainy conditions or wet surfaces, this tire has got you covered. Its tread features four wide and deep circumferential grooves as well as open lateral grooves. The wide circumferential and open lateral grooves enhance the tire’s water evacuation, resulting in increased hydroplaning resistance and enhance wet traction.

The Motivo also comes with an asymmetrical tread pattern. This tread pattern helps to reduce road noise, whether you are driving on paved or unpaved surfaces. As a result, you will enjoy a smooth, quiet and comfortable ride.

Sizes and Fitment

Nitto produces the Motivo in several sizes, ranging between 17 inches to 20 inches. Some of the vehicles that this tire can fit include:

• Acura TL, TSX and RL
• Cadillac STS, DTS and CTS
• Dodge Stratus, Caravan and Challenger
• Nissan 370Z
• Ford Taurus, Mustang and Focus
• Toyota Matrix, Avalon and Camry
• Audi A8, A3, A6 and A4
• Subaru Impreza and Forester
• Chevrolet Malibu, Camaro, Corvette and HHR
• Volkswagen Golf and Passat

Pros

• Outstanding wet and dry traction
• Decent cornering grip
• Smooth, quiet and comfortable ride
• Exceptional winter handling

Cons

• Average wet braking

Verdict

From dry roads to wet conditions, the Motivo performs exceptionally well in almost all conditions. Also, its steering response is top-notch, the cornering grip is great and the ride is comfortable. Overall, the Motivo is a great choice for drivers who are in the market for a reliable and budget-friendly ultra-high performance tire. And with a 60,000-mile mileage warranty, you are assured of getting your money’s worth.

Nitto NT555 G2

If you own a sports coupe, sports sedan or sports crossover, you will need a tire that can match up to your vehicle’s performance. You will need a tire that can bring out your vehicle’s best performance attributes.

And that tire is none other than the NT555 G2. The Nitto NT555 G2 is a UHP summer tire, released to replace the original NT555. According to Nitto, this tire is specifically built for performance drivers.

Features

Nitto utilized a silica-enhanced tread compound for this tire. This tread compound has then been formed into a symmetrical tread pattern, designed to boost its grip, braking, acceleration and high-speed cornering. And according to drivers who have used this tire, it delivers exceptionally well in all these areas.

Nitto has provisioned this tire with large tapered tread blocks, designed to enhance its stability during high-speed cornering. Also, these tapered tread blocks help to improve its traction during aggressive acceleration.

The NT555 G2 also features twin center ribs, which help to enhance its steering response while delivering better straight-line tracking. Nitto has also outfitted this tire with reinforced shoulder blocks, designed to enhance its wet and dry cornering grip.

While the NT555 G2 is designed to be used in dry and warm conditions, it also performs well in rainy and wet conditions. And this can be attributed to the four wide circumferential grooves on its tread. These circumferential grooves help with water evacuation, thus preventing aquaplaning resistance.

Similar to other tires from this brand, the NT555 G2 doesn’t lack in the looks department. It features a stylish design, which will help to accentuate your ride’s sporty look. It’s without a doubt, one of the most visually appealing tires in its class.

Sizes and Fitments

The Nitto NT555 G2 comes in a wide range of sizes, running between 17 inches and 20 inches. It’s also available in W-speed ratings. It’s compatible with several sports coupes and sporty sedans such as:

• Cadillac CTS, ATS and XLR
• Infiniti G35
• Audi A4 and A6
• Dodge Challenger, Charger and Dakota
• Mitsubishi Eclipse and 3000GT
• BMW 3 Series and 5 Series
• Chevrolet Cobalt, Camaro, Malibu and Corvette
• Ford Taurus and Mustang
• Lexus IS and GS
• Pontiac Grand Am, Firebird Trans Am, and GTO

Pros

• Excellent cornering grip
• Outstanding dry traction
• Top-notch high-speed stability
• Budget-friendly prices

Cons

• Average wet performance

Verdict

The original Nitto NT555 was a serious performer. However, this updated version has taken the tire’s performance to a higher level. It delivers decent wet and dry traction, outstanding cornering grip and great high-speed stability.

Also, its steering response is quick and precise, giving you confidence on the highways and on the racing track. You will also enjoy a comfortable ride on smooth roads. Besides, it’s cheaper than most of the other ultra-high performance tires on the market. Overall, the NT555 G2 ticks almost all the right boxes.

Nitto Invo

The Invo is yet another Nitto high-performance tire, designed for sporty sedans and coupes. According to the manufacturer, this tire is built to deliver a combination of performance, a comfortable ride and longevity.

Features

Similar to other performance tires from this brand, the Invo features a silica-enhanced tread compound, formed into an asymmetrical tread pattern. This combination helps to deliver an enhanced cornering grip while reducing sidewall flex.

The Invo also comes with outside shoulder tread blocks, which work together with slanted 3D grooves on its tread, to maximize its contact patch. And this helps to increase the tire’s steering response and control. On the other hand, the inner shoulder blocks increase its contact patch, resulting in better braking performance.

Nitto has also outfitted this ultra-high performance tire with two circumferential grooves, which play a vital role in dispersing water from under its surface. Its tread further features lateral slits, which help to boost its water dispersion capabilities. As a result, you will enhance enhanced traction and grip combined with assured handling behind the wheel – even when you encounter pools of standing water.

The Invo also comes with Nitto’s proprietary 3D Multiwave sipes, featuring an interlocking ripple design. These features allow the tire’s sipes to lock together when brakes are applied, thus resulting in short braking distances. Also, it helps to supply the adequate grip needed during hard acceleration.

When it comes to road noise, Nitto has done everything possible to reduce it as much as possible. Whether you are driving on paved or unpaved roads with this tire, you will not experience excessive vibrations coming into the cabin or noise, thanks to the use of specialized digital testing equipment during the tire’s manufacturing.

Sizes and Fitment

The Invo is available in a vast selection of sizes. Its sizes range between 17 inches and 22 inches, meaning it can fit most of the sporty sedans and sports coupes on the market. Here are some of the vehicles that this tire can fit:

• Ford Mustang
• Audi S4 and A4
• Infiniti M35, G37X and G35
• Porsche 911 and Cayman
• Dodge Charger, Viper, Magnum SRT and Caliber SRT
• Mercedes Benz SLK 320 and C Class
• Scion TC
• Chrysler Crossfire and 300
• Pontiac GTO and Trans Am
• Subaru Forester and Impreza WRX

Pros

• Excellent dry traction and grip
• Reliable wet traction and handling
• Smooth, quiet and comfortable ride

Cons

• No mileage treadlife warranty

Verdict

If you are in the market for a stylish, sporty and reliable ultra-high performance tire for your sports sedan or coupe, then you should check out this tire. It performs exceptionally well across varying conditions and terrains. Also, it delivers a smooth and comfortable ride, which is usually not the case with performance tires. And with its budget-friendly price point, it’s easy to see why this tire is increasingly becoming popular among drivers of performance cars.

Nitto Neo Gen

The Neo Gen is an all-season ultra-high performance tire, designed to deliver a safe and comfortable ride in all weather conditions. It’s also built to deliver superior street performance, more so on lowered vehicles.

Features

Nitto has equipped this tire with a wide range of great features, to ensure it can deliver on its objectives. And one of those features is the silica-enhanced tread compound. This tread compound has been molded into an asymmetrical, non-directional tread pattern, to deliver reliable performance and comfort all year round. Also, its non-directional design means you can mount or rotate it in any direction, to achieve uniform tread wear.

The Nitto Neo Gen also features the company’s exclusive 3D Multiwave sipes, which deliver additional traction in wet and slippery conditions. These sipes also help to keep the tire’s tread blocks firm and stable, thus helping to minimize irregular tread wear.

The Neo Gen also comes with deep and wide circumferential grooves, which work together with the 3D tread blocks, to help with water evacuation. As a result, the tire will maintain adequate contact with the road surface, resulting in superior traction in wet and slippery conditions.

Nitto has also outfitted this tire with larger outer shoulder blocks, which helps to increase its surface contact, for improved traction during cornering. On the other hand, the inner shoulder features one continuous block, designed to enhance stability while minimizing tread flex. The single continuous inner block is also the feature that makes this tire ideal for lowered vehicles.

Sizes and Fitment

This tire is available in several sizes, ranging between 16 inches and 18 inches. It can fit several cars within this size range such as:

• Audi A3, A4, A5, A6, S4, R8, S5, TT,A3 Quattro, A4 Quattro, A5 Quattro, A6 Quattro, and A5 Sportback
• Cadillac STS, ATS, CTS and CT4
• Ford Fusion, Fiesta and Focus
• Lexus GS series and IS series
• McLaren P1, 720S, GT and 765 LT
• Subaru Impreza, WRX, BRZ, and Legacy
• Porsche Cayman, Boxster and 911
• Mercedes Benz C Class, E Class and SLK series
• Chevrolet Malibu, Corvette, Cruze, and Cruze Limited
• BMW M series, 428 series, 340 series, 328 series, 330 series, M2, M3, Z4 and X1

Pros

• Rugged tread design
• Exceptional wet performance
• Superb dry traction and handling
• Comfortable and quiet ride

Cons

• It doesn’t come with a treadlife mileage warranty

Verdict

The Nitto Neo Gen is a great tire that performs as advertised. It delivers outstanding wet and dry traction, a comfortable and quiet ride as well as superb handling. Its steering response is fast and accurate, the cornering grip is more than adequate while braking and accelerating grip is reliable.

Overall, if you are looking for a high-performance all-season tire that will deliver superior performances and offer great value for your money, then the Nitto Neo Gen ticks all the boxes.

Nitto Tires Warranties and Guarantees

Nitto tires come with two key warranties – a workmanship and materials warranty as well as a treadwear limited warranty. In this section, we will walk you through what’s covered under each warranty.

Workmanship and Materials Warranty

As its name suggests, this warranty is designed to protect you against loss, in case your Nitto tire becomes unserviceable, due to defects caused by workmanship or materials used. Under this warranty, Nitto offers to replace your tire with a comparable new one.

If the tire is removed from service due to workmanship or materials defects when less than 25% of its original usable tread is worn, this company will replace it with a comparable new one, free of charge. However, you will be required to pay for the tire’s mounting and balancing costs, applicable taxes other miscellaneous fees.

If the tire’s tread is worn by more than25%, Nitto will replace it with a comparable new one, but on a pro-rated basis. Hence, you will be required to contribute towards the tire’s replacement costs. The amount you will pay will depend on when the tires are removed from service. You will also pay for the tire’s mounting and balancing charges, as well as applicable taxes and other service charges.

Treadwear Limited Warranty

Most standard passenger tires from this brand also come with a treadwear limited warranty. Under this warranty, Nitto offers to replace your original tire, if it wears down uniformly to its treadwear maintenance indicators, before delivering the warranted mileage. The replacement will be done on a pro-rated basis, where you will contribute a certain amount for the tire’s replacement.

Why Choose Nitto Tires

Nitto produces tires in a highly competitive market segment. So, why choose Nitto tires instead of those sold by the other tire brands? Well, here are some reasons that may convince you to choose Nitto tires.

High-Quality Tires

While Nitto tires may come with a budget-friendly price tag, it doesn’t mean they are of poor quality. Nitto is renowned for its attention to detail. And this is evident with every single tire that it releases on the market.

All the materials it uses to make its tires are carefully selected, to make sure you will end up with a tire that will deliver exceptional performance and offer value for your money. Besides, every step in its tires’ manufacturing process undergoes strict quality checks.

From traction and grip levels to handling, noise output to cornering performance, Nitto tests all its tires thoroughly using advanced equipment and software, to ensure each tire it releases to the market aligns with its strict quality standards.

Budget-Friendly Tires

Nitto produces tires for the budget tire consumer. While its tires may not be the cheapest on the market, you can rest assured that you will get value for your money when you purchase a set of Nitto tires.

A Wide Range of Tires

Nitto understands that every driver on the road has unique needs and personal preferences when it comes to tires. To this end, Nitto produces a wide range of tires, designed to meet the varying needs of different drivers.

Whether you own a light truck, a sedan, an SUV, a crossover, a Jeep or any standard vehicle, you can rest assured that Nitto has a tire for you. Nitto also produces tires for various conditions and terrains.

From all-season tires to summer tires, winter tires to all-terrain tires, there’s simply a Nitto tire for almost any terrain or weather condition. It also produces unique tires that you may not find elsewhere. For instance, you can find a Nitto 15-inch tire, which is quite rare with other tire brands.

Durable Tires

As earlier mentioned, Nitto employs a strict quality control process when manufacturing tires. And this helps the company to come up with high-quality tires, which perform according to expectations.

Besides their outstanding performances across varying conditions and terrains, Nitto tires are also renowned for their outstanding durability. With Nitto tires, you will not experience issues such as premature wear and tear. Besides, they are backed by solid warranties and guarantees.

Decent Handling

Exceptional handling is one of Nitto’s key priorities when it comes to tires. All its tires deliver fast and precise steering response, as well as high-speed stability. Whether you are driving on paved roads or unpaved roads, you will not experience any handling issues when using Nitto tires.

Outstanding Fuel Efficiency

Tires have a huge impact when it comes to the amount of fuel a vehicle consumes. If they have high rolling resistance, then the vehicle is forced to use more energy, resulting to excessive fuel consumption.

Fortunately, you will not experience such issues with tires from this brand. Nitto tires have low rolling resistance. So, whenever your vehicle is outfitted with a set of tires from this brand, you will enjoy high fuel efficiency – holding all the other factors constant. So, you will not only save money when purchasing a set of these tires but you will also enjoy huge savings down the road.

Nitto Tires Pros

• High-quality tires that perform exceptionally well
• A vast selection of performance tires
• Budget-friendly tires
• Durable tires

Nitto Tires Cons

• A limited selection of winter tires

Our Take

Nitto tires are a great choice for drivers looking for performance tires. They perform well, they are durable and visually appealing. Besides, they are also quite affordable, compared to its competitors. With Nitto tires, you are assured of getting a tire that will deliver value for your money.