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Head-to-head Updated

General G-MAX RS vs Nitto NT555 G2 — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.

G-MAX RS leads, 65–61 Narrow edge

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Tire AGeneral

G-MAX RS

Tests – · 1 test Owners 62 · 567 reviews

Best test result: #3 of 22 in 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance Summer Tires (overall ranking)

“I deplore the treadwear of the Michelins, but haven't had them on the 435i. I've ran almost every manufacture tire in UHP form on my 135i though. For the 435i GC (which I do drive aggresively but do NOT track) the General G-Max RS are extremely satisfying on the back roads, highway, street, and in the wet. Sizes are 245/35/19 in front and 265/35/19 in the rear. I've put them through their paces in the not-so-sticky backroads of South Dakota, driven through 40 degree temperature swings from here to CA, and found out how well they will hook from a greenlight in the oily hot streets of Las Vegas. *Hint: A lot, they hook a lot. Noise varys depending on road surface. They are silent on good roads, but can be a bit loud on rough ones. I'm sold on them. They look great around the BBS's and feel great as well for the limits I've taken them to. Hope that helps.”

Tire BNitto

NT555 G2

Summer

Tests 59 · 2 tests Owners 61 · 411 reviews

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

“Finally slapped on the widened steelies with 285/40/17 Nittos NT555 G2.”

Category by category

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

  1. 71

    Dry

    G-MAX RS +15
    56
    Why this score
    SourceG-MAX RSNT555 G2
    Professional tests (TWG score)–49
    Reviews found online7367
  2. 72

    Wet

    G-MAX RS +20
    52
    Why this score
    SourceG-MAX RSNT555 G2
    Professional tests (TWG score)–48
    Reviews found online7359
  3. 34

    Snow

    NT555 G2 +14
    48
    Why this score
    SourceG-MAX RSNT555 G2
    Reviews found online1034
  4. 68

    Comfort

    Level
    68
    Why this score
    SourceG-MAX RSNT555 G2
    Reviews found online6667
  5. 64

    Noise

    NT555 G2 +2
    66
    Why this score
    SourceG-MAX RSNT555 G2
    Reviews found online6065
  6. 70

    Treadwear

    NT555 G2 +5
    75
    Why this score
    SourceG-MAX RSNT555 G2
    Professional tests (TWG score)7380
    Reviews found online6667
    Tested Tread Life (Miles) (% of best) · 1 shared test69%100%
  7. 67

    Handling

    Level
    67
    Why this score
    SourceG-MAX RSNT555 G2
    Reviews found online6767
Scores at a glance
CategoryGeneral G-MAX RSNitto NT555 G2
Relative Score 65 61
Dry 71 56
Wet 72 52
Snow 34 48
Comfort 68 68
Noise 64 66
Treadwear 70 75
Handling 67 67

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

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Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.

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Recomputed
Headline score

G-MAX RS

NT555 G2

The professional test results behind the scores

Per discipline: the average % of the best tire over every test both tires were in, and how many of those tests each one won. “Different tests” rows compare results from separate tests.

DisciplineCategoryG-MAX RSNT555 G2ΔHead-to-head
Overall Ranking Overall #3/22 #21/22 – 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance Summer Tires
Tested Tread Life (Miles) Treadwear 69% 100% −30.8 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance Summer Tires

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A G-MAX RS

Pros

  • Outstanding price-to-performance ratio compared to premium brands
  • Strong dry and wet weather traction and hydroplaning resistance
  • Quiet and comfortable ride quality for a performance tire

Cons

  • Softer sidewalls can lead to some squirm or less crisp steering response during hard cornering
  • Prone to temporary flat-spotting or vibration when sitting overnight in cooler weather
  • Unpredictable or slippery performance if driven in cold temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit
All owner themes in the G-MAX RS 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

General G-MAX RS

Positive

Community sentiment toward the General G-MAX RS is broadly positive, with users frequently praising its exceptional value and strong dry and wet traction as a budget-friendly ultra-high-performance summer tire. While often favorably compared against premium alternatives like the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S or Firestone Indy 500, some owners note compromises including elevated road noise and occasional handling inconsistencies on specific sports car platforms.

r/tires ·3 upvotes ·2024-09-10

“G-max rs I put 7k miles on these tires and this is the front how many miles would you say I have before problems occur I plan on replacing in a few weeks Read more”
bobistheoilguy.com ·2023-10-28

“Looking to replace a set of Conti EC Sport (which have been great), but the current 02 model is on backorder with no ETA in the size I need. Considering a Plan B, like the G-Max RS, which is a segment down (UHPS), and might not be an issue since it will be a street tire. Firestone Indy 500 (BS RE003) are in the same class, but heavier, and not as good in the wet. So the main debate is whether to wait for the ECS02, or take a chance on the RS next time it goes on silent "in cart price" sale, which also made them about $200 cheaper for a set, sans rebate or similar promo.”
rennlist.com

“Quote: Originally Posted by SBG200 Any updates? I need a new set on my '08 Turbo and I'm curious about noise level. The old Michelins are getting really loud, even on "smooth" surfaces. I have these on my turbo and for a daily driven car they are great. Perform very well in dry and serviceable in the rain. There’s a bit more road noise than a premium tire but for $700 with the rebate (if still offered), I think they are totally worth a shot.”
Top themes
#value and pricing#dry and wet grip#comparison to Michelin PS4S#comparison to Indy 500#road noise levels#treadwear and longevity#Porsche and Corvette fitment

Based on 53 community posts

Tire B

Nitto NT555 G2

Mixed

Community sentiment regarding the Nitto NT555 G2 is divided, with many owners appreciating its affordable price point, quiet street ride, good tread life, and availability in hard-to-find wide sizes. However, numerous drivers express frustration over poor straight-line traction on higher-horsepower vehicles, significant loss of grip in cold temperatures, and dangerous handling or hydroplaning in wet weather. Additionally, several users report persistent issues with flat-spotting when vehicles are parked for extended periods.

r/ft86 ·152 upvotes ·2020-06-17

“Finally got new tires on, NT555 G2s”
myg37.com

“It’s been about 8 months and about 17,000 miles or so. I have 120 miles total a day to work and back home. Tread depth is still plenty in the front and the rears aren’t bad either. I didn’t have a tread depth gauge on me for an accurate measure. The tires still grip very well through these cold, rainy days we’ve been having lately. Front left tire Front right tire. Rear right tire Rear left tire”
corvetteforum.com

“If you daily drive them, and the temps stay up (you are in Florida) you should be ok. As I have stated a bunch of times (as well as others) they flat spot quick. In my case 3 days. NTB replaced them for me, under warranty, customer satisfaction after less that 5000 miles. I will never own another Nitto tire again. Once they flat spot (in my experience, can't say for others) it will take 10 to 20 miles of driving to warm them up enough to go over 55 mph without severely shaking the car. I talked to Nitto and their BS response was to put the car on jackstands when it was not being driven. No care about the customer, no thought that they might not be the right tire for where I live with a car that is not driven daily. They should come with a set of those plastic blocks that help prevent flat spotting while keeping the tire round when it is parked, not being driven.”
Top themes
#Wet traction issues#Cold weather performance#Affordable budget option#Straight line grip#Temporary flat spotting#Wide size availability#Michelin tire comparisons

Based on 84 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · General G-MAX RS B · Nitto NT555 G2
Category—Summer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available4888
Rim diameters16″ – 20″15″ – 22″
Tread depth10/32″10.2/32″
UTQG360 - 700 A - AA A320 A A
SidewallBlack Side WallBlackwall
Max pressure50 - 51 psi50 psi

Which one should you actually buy?

General G-MAX RS

Nitto NT555 G2

Winner: General G-MAX RS — better wet and dry. Pick the Nitto NT555 G2 if snow and treadwear matter most to you.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

General G-MAX RS scores 72 vs 52 on wet.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

General G-MAX RS scores 71 vs 56 on dry.

Pick tire B You drive through snowy winters

Nitto NT555 G2 scores 48 vs 34 on snow.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Nitto NT555 G2 scores 75 vs 70 on treadwear.

Tire A · General G-MAX RS
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Tire B · Nitto NT555 G2
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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.

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

65

Narrow edge

G-MAX RS

Amazon