Tests 65 · 6 tests Owners 66 · 23 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 10 in 2020 UHP, UUHP and Track Day Tyre Test (dry braking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 vs Nitto NT555 G2 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Pilot Sport Cup 2 leads, 66–63 Narrow edge
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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.
-
82
Dry
Pilot Sport Cup 2 +2656Why this score
Source Pilot Sport Cup 2 NT555 G2 Professional tests (TWG score) 83 49 Reviews found online 81 67 Dry Braking (% of best) 100% 89% Dry Handling (% of best) 100% 94% -
54
Wet
Pilot Sport Cup 2 +252Why this score
Source Pilot Sport Cup 2 NT555 G2 Professional tests (TWG score) 51 48 Reviews found online 59 59 Wet Braking (% of best) 100% 80% Wet Circle (% of best) 88% 87% Wet Handling (% of best) 91% 89% -
–
Snow
No comparison48Why this score
Source Pilot Sport Cup 2 NT555 G2 Reviews found online – 34 -
55
Comfort
NT555 G2 +1368Why this score
Source Pilot Sport Cup 2 NT555 G2 Professional tests (TWG score) 49 – Reviews found online 66 67 -
65
Noise
NT555 G2 +166Why this score
Source Pilot Sport Cup 2 NT555 G2 Professional tests (TWG score) 64 – Reviews found online 67 65 -
58
Treadwear
NT555 G2 +1775Why this score
Source Pilot Sport Cup 2 NT555 G2 Professional tests (TWG score) – 80 Reviews found online 53 67 -
78
Handling
Pilot Sport Cup 2 +1167Why this score
Source Pilot Sport Cup 2 NT555 G2 Reviews found online 78 67
Scores at a glance
| Category | Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 | Nitto NT555 G2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 66 | 63 |
| Dry | 82 | 56 |
| Wet | 54 | 52 |
| Snow | – | 48 |
| Comfort | 55 | 68 |
| Noise | 65 | 66 |
| Treadwear | 58 | 75 |
| Handling | 78 | 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
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Neutral
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Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.
Less important
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Important
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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score
66
/ 100
Pilot Sport Cup 2
63
/ 100
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.
| Discipline | Category | Pilot Sport Cup 2 | NT555 G2 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 100% #1/10 · 2020 UHP, UUHP and Track Day Tyre Test | 89% #10/10 · 2025 Tire Rack UUHP Summer Tyre Test | +11.2 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 100% #1/10 · 2020 Auto Bild UHP 19 inch Tyre Test | 94% #10/10 · 2025 Tire Rack UUHP Summer Tyre Test | +6.1 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 100% #1/5 · 2017 Track Day Tyre Test | 5% #21/22 · 2022 Consumer Reports Ultra High Performance Summer Tires | +95.2 | Different tests |
| Subj. Dry Handling | Subj | 100% #1/10 · 2020 UHP, UUHP and Track Day Tyre Test | 79% #10/10 · 2025 Tire Rack UUHP Summer Tyre Test | +21.4 | Different tests |
| Subj. Wet Handling | Subj | 70% #6/10 · 2020 UHP, UUHP and Track Day Tyre Test | 76% #10/10 · 2025 Tire Rack UUHP Summer Tyre Test | −5.9 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 100% #1/5 · 2017 Track Day Tyre Test | 80% #10/10 · 2025 Tire Rack UUHP Summer Tyre Test | +20.3 | Different tests |
| Wet Circle | Wet | 88% #9/10 · 2020 UHP, UUHP and Track Day Tyre Test | 87% #10/10 · 2025 Tire Rack UUHP Summer Tyre Test | +1.5 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 91% #6/9 · 2018 Sport Auto 19 inch UHP and Track Day Tyre Test | 89% #10/10 · 2025 Tire Rack UUHP Summer Tyre Test | +2.2 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Pilot Sport Cup 2
Pros
- Phenomenal grip and stability in dry conditions
- Exceptional steering precision and driver feedback
- Strong, robust sidewalls providing great agility and balance
Cons
- Rapid tread wear and short lifespan
- High purchase price
- Requires significant heat to achieve optimal grip, making them less ideal for cold or short road trips
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
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Tire B
Mixed
Nitto NT555 G2
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 · Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 | B · Nitto NT555 G2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer | Summer |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 18 | 88 |
| Rim diameters | 18″ – 21″ | 15″ – 22″ |
| Tread depth | — | 10.2/32″ |
| UTQG | — | 320 A A |
| Sidewall | — | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | — | 50 psi |
Which one should you actually buy?
66
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2
63
/ 100
Nitto NT555 G2
Winner: Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 — better dry and handling. Pick the Nitto NT555 G2 if treadwear and comfort matter most to you.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 scores 82 vs 56 on dry.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Nitto NT555 G2 scores 75 vs 58 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Nitto NT555 G2 scores 68 vs 55 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 scores 78 vs 67 on handling.
Tire A · Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2
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.