The 8 Best Tires for the Nissan GTR
The Nissan GT-R is one of the best performance-oriented coupes money can buy. As such, it makes sense to pair it with equally capable tires.
The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S could handle the bonkers velocity, physics-defying handling, and staggering power that has earned the GT-R the ‘Godzilla’ tag. To further sweeten the deal, it makes the GT-R’s otherwise busy ride comfier than ever.
Tired of summer tires? Michelin’s Primacy MXM4 could give you the all-season performance you have sorely missed. This tire not only offers the quietest ride of any of its kind. It also puts up high aquaplaning resistance and can be used in light snow.
Speaking of snow, you’d be better off with the Michelin X-Ice Snow. These tires have everything – 3PMSF and M+S ratings, a tread compound that stays soft in sub-zero temperatures, and super-aggressive biting edges – to navigate harsh weather safely.
Read on to learn more about these and other tires.
Best Summer Tires
Summer tires won’t just let you fully utilize this car’s performance potential. They can also optimize its performance and handling, especially during cornering and acceleration. You can thus count on them to complement the GTR’s impressive handling capabilities.
#1. Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
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Several qualities make the Pilot Sport 4S our top summer tire pick for the GTR.
The first of which is that this tire doesn’t start wobbling at the breakneck speeds the GTR subjects its tires to. It stays glued to the road no matter how hard you press the accelerator, ensuring you can fully enjoy the GTR’s performance potential.
Another is that it can be used year-round, especially if you live in an area that doesn’t experience any snowfall. Want to know why? An all-season tread compound similar to what you get in Michelin’s all-season tires, considered the best in their class.
An asymmetric tread pattern distinguishes it from its all-season peers, most of which come with the conventional tread design. Thanks to it, this model’s dry grip is the best in its class, letting you brake, accelerate, and turn with complete confidence.
All of the above may raise doubts about this tire’s tread life. However, as the 30,000-mile treadwear indicates, the myths about the Pilot Sport 4S having a short road life are fabricated.
Pros
- Superb dry and wet traction
- Exceptional straight-line tracking
- Backed with a 30,000-mile warranty
Cons
- Steering feedback could be higher
#2. Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02
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The Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02 might not be our top pick for the Nissan GTR. But it has everything needed to be yours.
Precisely because this tire’s major drawback, a firm ride over mid-to-larger bumps, may not irritate other GTR owners as much as it does us. Many of whom would probably side with better performance when the alternative is superior ride comfort.
Another reason you may want to pick this tire because it has upgraded the qualities that made its predecessor, the ExtremeContact Sport, great.
Think of a much improved dry handling, shorter braking distances on slippery surfaces, and an overall enhanced responsiveness to steering commands. All these upgrades are the reason why it’s now the preferred choice of the BMW driving school.
Lastly, it isn’t just its previous version that this tire can stand up to. Our tests reveal that its wet performance can rival that of the Pilot Sport 4S. Also, both are backed to last 30,000 miles. You can thus count on it to last as long as our top pick.
Pros
- Exceptional grip and tread life
- Great balance between dry and wet capabilities
- 30,000-mile treadwear warranty
Cons
- Ride may feel a bit firm over larger bumps
#3. Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2
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If you want incredible street performance and comfort and could do with slightly longer braking distances in the rain, the Pilot Sport Cup 2 is the tire to have.
These Michelins are one of the few tires out there that look extremely cool, regardless of whether you own the variation with curb protection or the one that has a conventional round sidewall. Your GTR will attract more eyeballs with these on its wheels.
Their performance matches the looks. That is due mainly to the outer tread block, which works together with the single radial groove to make the SC 2 an absolute phenomenon on dry roads. You can push it to the limits, and it won’t break road contact.
Unfortunately, its wet performance is average. Whatever grooves it has on the inner side of its tread cannot help it brake, turn, and accelerate reliably on wet roads at speed. As such, you’re advised to slow down when it’s slippery out there.
Finally, Michelin has equipped this tire with its proprietary aramid and nylon inner belts, as opposed to the steel belt tech you get from other brands’ tires. This carcass has helped make this tire stronger, lowering the risk of premature deformation.
Pros
- Has an eye-catching design
- Phenomenal dry performance
- Become quiet once they bed in
Cons
- Average wet performance
#4. Sumitomo HTR Z III
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Have you always dreamt of owning ultra-high-performance tires but backed away because they were too pricey? If so, the Sumitomo HTR Z III is your chance to experience the UHP world.
All the elements needed for exceptional performance on dry roads – silica in the tread compound, asymmetric tread design, huge shoulder blocks – are present here. As such, you should expect to get more than enough traction under the sun.
To further up the ante, Sumitomo has stiffened this tire’s center rib and made it shoulder blocks bigger. Both these improvements not only enhance this tire’s cornering grip. Together with the sidewall, which is also beefed up, they also improve its high-speed stability.
The result? You get a tire that lets you attack bends as well as straight roads at speed without ever have to worry about breaking contact with the road.
Bear in mind, though, that corners have been cut in some areas. Which was expected considering the budget asking price. You cannot expect its tread life to compete with the likes of the PS Cup 2.
Pros
- Available at an affordable asking price
- Give great feel through the steering wheel
- Offer solid handling on dry surfaces
Cons
- Average tread life
#5. Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT
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Similar to the HTR Z III, the SP Sport Maxx GT is another tire that offers exceptional performance without necessarily breaking the bank.
Much of the great deeds this tire commits on dry roads – above-average handling, superior cornering performance, and high feedback to the steering wheel – stem from its asymmetric tread pattern. Why? Because of the superb grip it offers.
Yet there is one quality – this tire’s high traction – that cannot be traced back to the tread pattern. Instead, it’s its carbon black tread compound that keeps this tire glued to the road.
Also, the SP Sport Maxx GT is one of the few budget tires that stay on the wheels regardless of how quickly you attack turns. Why is that so? Dunlop’s Hybrid Jointless Band Technology, which bonds otherwise separate components to reduce flex, deserves credit for this.
All in all, the SP Sport Maxx GT does everything you may expect UHP tires to do. Unfortunately, though, the similarities extend into the drawbacks. Like most tires in this category, the Sport Maxx GT isn’t the best tire for winter.
Pros
- Great grip in dry conditions
- Very good handling and cornering
- Crisp and precise steering response
Cons
- No snow or ice traction (as was expected)
Best All-Season Tires
Not everyone who purchases the GTR uses it for weekend driving. A few owners also use this performance-oriented car for everyday driving. For them, UHP tires will be an overkill, with the below all-season tires offering better value for money.
#6. Michelin Primacy MXM4
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Tires like the Primacy MXM4 offer plenty of reasons why all-season tires are the go-to choice for the majority of automobile drivers these days.
This tire does everything you may expect from premium tires in this segment. Think of reliable performance year-round, an above-average tread life, and decent road manners.
However, if there’s one area where this tire performs at its best, it is on wet roads. Want to know why? The grooves in its tread (which evacuate water to lower the risk of aquaplaning) and sipes (which enhance traction on slippery surfaces).
You can also count on this tire to soften the blow at the pump. Michelin’s GreenX Technology makes sure that it consumes less fuel than rivals, making it a decent option for budget-minded drivers.
Unfortunately, there is one thing about this tire that could prove to be a deal breaker – it is astronomically expensive. If that’s something that bothers you, check out the next tire on our list.
Pros
- Superb dry and wet traction
- Doesn’t consume as much fuel as rivals
- Comes with an extended treadwear warranty
Cons
- High asking price may prove to be a deal breaker
#7. Toyo Proxes Sport A/S
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While many people who prefer the Proxes Sport AS over premium all-season tires do so because of the price, this tire has various other qualities, too.
Take its handling on dry roads, which strikes the ideal balance between all-season and high-performance tires. That means you can expect better steering response than you get from most tires in this category, with a higher cornering grip.
At the same time, its fuel economy is pretty high, with an improved rib design providing this model with excellent lateral grip. You can thus count on it to stick to the lane without needing steering corrections.
Lastly, while its ride isn’t as refined as that of the Primacy MXM4, it’s still pretty decent. On paved roads, it won’t let much road noise inside the cabin, though its composure may take a hit on road imperfections and/or at higher speeds.
Pros
- Comes at a pocket-friendly price
- Offers excellent cornering grip
- 50,000-mile treadwear warranty
Cons
- Ride composure may take a hit at higher speeds
Best Snow Tires
While premium all-season tires can safely navigate mild wintry tractions, they tend to struggle when the snowfall gets heavy. Only dedicated winter tires can keep you safe in such challenging weather conditions.
#8. Michelin X-Ice Snow
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The Michelin X-Ice Snow is arguably one of the best winter tires on the market, especially for vehicles as performance-oriented as the Nissan GTR.
This is because the X-Ice Snow isn’t your average snow tire. One whose main job is to safely carry you from point A to point B in harsh wintry conditions (an area where this tire excels).
This tire also offers class-leading braking distances on ice. I have personally spoken to drivers who have used this tire in wintry conditions and can, therefore, vouch for its excellent traction on ice.
All of the above are the qualities you expect to see in premium winter tires. What you don’t expect them to do is come with a treadwear warranty of any sort. Neither is your average snow tire quiet, especially when the snowfall gets on the heavier side.
Guess what? The X-Ice Snow breaks from tradition on both counts. Besides coming with a 40,000-mile treadwear warranty, it offers superior ride comfort.
Pros
- Superb handling and traction in harsh weather
- Delivers a much quieter ride than competitors
- Comes with a 40,000-mile treadwear warranty
Cons
- Pricey