Head-to-head Updated

Bridgestone Potenza RE040 vs Nitto NT555 G2 — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 0 + 2 road tests and 49 + 412 owner reviews. How we score

NT555 G2 is ahead, 58–51

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Nitto NT555 G2
Tire BNitto

NT555 G2

Summer

± 7

Tests 60 · 2 tests Owners 58 · 412 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 22 in 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance Summer Tires (tested tread life (miles))

“Update! I ended up going with the Nitto NT555 G2’s, thanks for all the suggestions. They are amazing tires! They ride smooth for an ultra performance, the price was friendly, and they grip extremely well!”

Category by category

Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.

  1. 54

    Dry

    NT555 G2 +1
    55
    Why this score
    SourcePotenza RE040NT555 G2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 59 (est.)49
    Reviews found online4664

    Potenza RE040: 60% × 58.8 (est.) + 40% × 46 = 54

    NT555 G2: 60% × 49 + 40% × 63.9 = 55

    No road tests of dry for Potenza RE040. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.42).

  2. 51

    Wet

    Level
    51
    Why this score
    SourcePotenza RE040NT555 G2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 56 (est.)48
    Reviews found online4354

    Potenza RE040: 60% × 55.6 (est.) + 40% × 43.2 = 51

    NT555 G2: 60% × 48.3 + 40% × 53.9 = 51

    No road tests of wet for Potenza RE040. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).

  3. 49

    Snow

    Potenza RE040 +1
    48
    Why this score
    SourcePotenza RE040NT555 G2
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 59 (est.)≈ 59 (est.)
    Reviews found online3333

    Potenza RE040: 60% × 58.8 (est.) + 40% × 33.2 = 49

    NT555 G2: 60% × 58.6 (est.) + 40% × 32.7 = 48

    No road tests of snow for Potenza RE040. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.32).

    No road tests of snow for NT555 G2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.32).

  4. 46

    Comfort

    NT555 G2 +20
    66
    Why this score
    SourcePotenza RE040NT555 G2
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 62 (est.)≈ 68 (est.)
    Reviews found online3565

    Potenza RE040: 40% × 61.8 (est.) + 60% × 34.7 = 46

    NT555 G2: 40% × 68 (est.) + 60% × 65 = 66

    No road tests of comfort for Potenza RE040. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).

    No road tests of comfort for NT555 G2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).

  5. 54

    Noise

    NT555 G2 +11
    65
    Why this score
    SourcePotenza RE040NT555 G2
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 66 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)
    Reviews found online3564

    Potenza RE040: 60% × 66.3 (est.) + 40% × 34.8 = 54

    NT555 G2: 60% × 66.3 (est.) + 40% × 64.1 = 65

    No road tests of noise for Potenza RE040 or NT555 G2. The test half is the tested tires’ average (66): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests.

  6. 50

    Treadwear

    NT555 G2 +26
    76
    Why this score
    SourcePotenza RE040NT555 G2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 57 (est.)83
    Reviews found online4066

    Potenza RE040: 60% × 57 (est.) + 40% × 39.8 = 50

    NT555 G2: 60% × 83.3 + 40% × 66 = 76

    No road tests of treadwear for Potenza RE040. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).

  7. 48

    Handling (owners)

    NT555 G2 +14
    62
    Why this score
    SourcePotenza RE040NT555 G2
    Reviews found online4862
Scores at a glance
Bridgestone Potenza RE040 vs Nitto NT555 G2: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryBridgestone Potenza RE040Nitto NT555 G2
Relative Score 51 58
Dry 54 55
Wet 51 51
Snow 49 48
Comfort 46 66
Noise 54 65
Treadwear 50 76
Handling (owners) 48 62

Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.

Weight the categories that matter to you

Wet grip starts at “Important”. Treadwear starts at “Neutral” here: road tests measured it for at most one of the two tires, so it rests on owner reviews. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.

Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
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Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
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Recomputed
Headline score
± 8

Potenza RE040

± 7

NT555 G2

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A Potenza RE040

Pros

  • Excellent dry weather grip and handling
  • High level of steering feedback and directness
  • Progressive and predictable breakaway characteristics

Cons

  • Excessive and intrusive road noise
  • Poor performance and lack of confidence in wet or cold conditions
  • Harsh ride quality due to stiff construction
All owner themes in the Potenza RE040 review

Tire B NT555 G2

Pros

  • Aggressive, visually appealing tread pattern and sidewall design
  • Exceptional value and lower price point compared to premium brands like Michelin or Pirelli
  • Long-lasting tread life and slow wear rates for a summer performance tire

Cons

  • Poor wet-weather traction, with multiple users reporting hydroplaning and a slippery feel in the rain
  • Lack of straight-line traction and wheel spin under heavy acceleration, especially on high-horsepower RWD vehicles
  • Subpar performance in cooler temperatures or cold conditions, requiring heat to grip properly
All owner themes in the NT555 G2 review

What real owners are saying

From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score

Tire A

Bridgestone Potenza RE040

We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.

Tire B

Nitto NT555 G2

Mixed

Owners praise the NT555 G2 for its low price, quiet and smooth ride, good dry grip for street use, and long tread life (often 20k–50k+ miles). Many others report weak performance in cold and wet conditions, poor traction off the line on powerful cars (easy wheelspin), and flat-spotting after sitting. Some report quality issues such as balance problems, cracking and belt failure. It is often judged a budget or mid-tier performance tire that falls short of Michelin PS4S and Continental alternatives.

mustang6g.com ·1 upvote ·2019-07-12

“NT555G2 are lower end performance tires. They are not even in the same class as the PSS4S you mention. If you have the money buy the Michelin PSS4s’. Also go wider in the front and rear for better traction and honestly better looks. I run Nitto NT05’s in 275/305/35R19. They are 100% stickier than the 555G2’s and on a warm day the PSS4s’ too that came with my car But that’s the point of them and the rain performance doing the actual speed limit and taking it easy in the rain fine. I have about 530 to the crank and 460 to the wheels. They will not last as long as the 555G2’s but they perform better. When it comes to pure all around best street tire though, the answer is easy the Michelin’s you mentioned are the best if you have the extra money to spend. Get a 275/295/35R19 set up since the profile of the 305 in that tire is too small at just 30 in my opinion. You’ll be very happy with those. Or get the Nitto Nt05 but expect to replace the tires every 10-15k miles depending on how rough you are on them.”

r/NewedgeMustang ·5 upvotes ·2026-06-06

“Staggered tire recommendations? Title. I have 17x9 rims up front and 17x10.5 rims in the rear. Currently running 245/45R17 on the front and 275/40R17 in the rear. Ideally I’d like to keep these tire sizes. Tires all around are Nitto NT555 G2 tires, and I’m just not happy at all with the grip. They’re fine around corners, but if I even breathe on the throttle at all in 1st gear, I’m instantly spinning. It’s sketchy as fuck in the rain, too. I wanted Continental DWS06 tires, but they don’t make those in a 275/40R17 for my rear tires. I’d only be able to get the fronts. Thinking about Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 4s, but not sure. I want to be able to handle well enough around corners, handle Ohio weather no matter what it’s doing, and I wanna be able to floor it in 1st gear and get very little wheel spin. Obviously not trying to drive the car in snow, it’s still mostly gonna see nice weather and occasional rain, I usually like to store the car over the winter and drive something else. But still, Ohio is Ohio, and our weather can absolutely never make up its damn mind. So, I come asking for tire recommendations. Don’t really mind price all too much, but my car is completely stock engine wise minus the exhaust, so it’s not like I’m pushing crazy power. I “daily” this car whenever the weather is nice, so I just need a streetable all season tire that won’t lose grip instantly whenever I try having a little fun. Thanks!”

r/Challenger ·4 upvotes ·2026-10-20

“Like everyone else is saying, OEM tires are garbage! I’m on my 7th set of Nitto NT555G2’s and absolutely love them. Running staggered 315/35’s on 20x10 rear and 275/40 on 20x9 up front for the last 120k miles on my manual Scat and they hook up extremely well and actually last a long time. Even when I was running 275/40/20’s on my OEM wheels it was a night and day difference over the OEM tires! During Covid I couldn’t get them for the rear, so I got a pair of 305/45 NT555R2 drag radials on some Bravado 17x10 drag wheels to run for a few months and my god…felt like it dropped a full second of the 0-60!!”

Top themes
#Poor wet traction#Weak cold-weather grip#Wheelspin on high-power cars#Quiet smooth ride#Good value price#Long tread life#Flat-spotting when parked#Inferior to Michelin PS4S

Based on 85 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Bridgestone Potenza RE040 B · Nitto NT555 G2
CategorySummerSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available388
Rim diameters16″ – 18″15″ – 22″
Tread depth10/32″10.2/32″
UTQG140 A A320 A A
SidewallBlackwallBlackwall
Max pressure—50 psi
Sizes in common22

Which one should you actually buy?

Bridgestone Potenza RE040

Nitto NT555 G2

Winner: Nitto NT555 G2 — better treadwear, comfort and handling. Where the Bridgestone Potenza RE040 is ahead, it is by less than 3 points.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Nitto NT555 G2 scores 76 vs 50 on treadwear.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Nitto NT555 G2 scores 66 vs 46 on comfort.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Nitto NT555 G2 scores 62 vs 48 on handling.

Pick tire B You want a quieter cabin

Nitto NT555 G2 scores 65 vs 54 on noise.

Tire A · Bridgestone Potenza RE040
Tire B · Nitto NT555 G2

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Potenza RE040 or NT555 G2?

Which is better in the wet, Potenza RE040 or NT555 G2?

Neither, by our numbers: 51 vs 51 on the wet score, within 3 points.

Which grips better on dry roads, Potenza RE040 or NT555 G2?

Neither, by our numbers: 54 vs 55 on the dry score, within 3 points.

Which is better in snow, Potenza RE040 or NT555 G2?

Neither, by our numbers: 49 vs 48 on the snow score, within 3 points.

Which is quieter, Potenza RE040 or NT555 G2?

Nitto NT555 G2, 65 vs 54 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, Potenza RE040 or NT555 G2?

Nitto NT555 G2, 66 vs 46 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Potenza RE040 or NT555 G2?

Nitto NT555 G2, 76 vs 50 on our treadwear score.

How do we compare tires?

Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements), each result compared with every other tire in the same test and newer tests counting more. 40% comes from owner reviews found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates. Both use one scale: the average tested tire gets 70, the best 100. When a tire has only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from the other and the score stays closer to average; with no road test and fewer than five owner reviews it gets no score yet.

Handling is the exception: road tests measure it inside the dry and wet scores, so its own row comes from owner ratings only and starts as less important.

Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score. Full methodology