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Head-to-head Updated

Hankook Optimo 4S vs Nitto NT555 G2 — Compared

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

Optimo 4S is ahead, 72–62

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Tire AHankook

Optimo 4S

All Season

Tests – · none yet Owners 73 · 32 reviews

Best test result: #6 of 9 in 2011 Auto Express Winter Tyre Test (overall ranking)

Tire BNitto

NT555 G2

Summer

Tests 59 · 2 tests Owners 61 · 411 reviews

Best test result: #21 of 22 in 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance Summer Tires (overall ranking)

“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”

Category by category

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

  1. 71

    Dry

    Optimo 4S +15
    56
    Why this score
    SourceOptimo 4SNT555 G2
    Professional tests (TWG score)–49
    Reviews found online7467
  2. 76

    Wet

    Optimo 4S +24
    52
    Why this score
    SourceOptimo 4SNT555 G2
    Professional tests (TWG score)–48
    Reviews found online7859
  3. –

    Snow

    No comparison
    48
    Why this score
    SourceOptimo 4SNT555 G2
    Reviews found online–34
  4. 73

    Comfort

    Optimo 4S +5
    68
    Why this score
    SourceOptimo 4SNT555 G2
    Reviews found online7667
  5. –

    Noise

    No comparison
    66
    Why this score
    SourceOptimo 4SNT555 G2
    Reviews found online–65
  6. 67

    Treadwear

    NT555 G2 +8
    75
    Why this score
    SourceOptimo 4SNT555 G2
    Professional tests (TWG score)–80
    Reviews found online6767
  7. 73

    Handling

    Optimo 4S +6
    67
    Why this score
    SourceOptimo 4SNT555 G2
    Reviews found online7367
Scores at a glance
CategoryHankook Optimo 4SNitto NT555 G2
Relative Score 72 62
Dry 71 56
Wet 76 52
Snow – 48
Comfort 73 68
Noise – 66
Treadwear 67 75
Handling 73 67

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

Weight the categories that matter to you

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

Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost

Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.

Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost

Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.

Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score

Optimo 4S

NT555 G2

Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.

The professional test results behind the scores

Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.

DisciplineCategoryOptimo 4SNT555 G2ΔBoth?
Overall Ranking Overall 17% #6/9 · 2011 Auto Express Winter Tyre Test 5% #21/22 · 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance Summer Tires +11.9 Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A Optimo 4S

Pros

  • Excellent traction and confidence in snow and icy conditions
  • Strong performance in wet weather and standing water
  • High levels of ride comfort and low road noise

Cons

  • Dry road handling can feel slightly compromised compared to dedicated summer tires
  • Some reports of increased noise levels when the tires are brand new
  • Occasional reports of uneven tread wear or balancing issues
All owner themes in the Optimo 4S 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

Hankook Optimo 4S

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

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/Autocross ·3 upvotes ·2021-06-21

“How to make the most of my nt555 g2s? Hey, I have 285 front 305 rear 20" 555 g2s on my Camaro 1LE and I'm really struggling at autocross. I find that my braking ability and front grip mid corner are aweful. I drove a friend's car on Better 200tw tire and loved out. How can I make the most of my G2? I ran 28psi last event. I'm not trying to win a class, just learning what I can. I plan on upgrading tires after I burn these but I don't want to drop 1400 on good tires until I need to since my car is not only used at Autocross. It's drag raced, autoXd, going to go to a road course, and I want to go to Canada and the tail of the Dragon lol. Yes, I know wheels/tires for the street and track Seperate would be the best idea Read more”
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.”
r/Challenger ·40 upvotes ·2025-02-27

“Nitto NT555 G2 305/35/20 Just got my G2’s from American Muscle. 5% off and free shipping. Ready for that hot pavement of spring/summer. What summer tires you running? Read more”
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 · Hankook Optimo 4S B · Nitto NT555 G2
CategoryAll SeasonSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available3588
Rim diameters13″ – 17″15″ – 22″
Tread depth—10.2/32″
UTQG—320 A A
Sidewall—Blackwall
Max pressure—50 psi

Which one should you actually buy?

Hankook Optimo 4S

Nitto NT555 G2

Winner: Hankook Optimo 4S — better wet, dry and handling. Pick the Nitto NT555 G2 if treadwear matters most to you.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Hankook Optimo 4S scores 76 vs 52 on wet.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Hankook Optimo 4S scores 71 vs 56 on dry.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Nitto NT555 G2 scores 75 vs 67 on treadwear.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Hankook Optimo 4S scores 73 vs 67 on handling.

Tire A · Hankook Optimo 4S
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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.

72

Leads

Optimo 4S

Amazon