Spring is here, and summer is just around the corner! That means it’s grippy tire season! Pull those sad snow tires off or bust out the fare-weather fun car. It’s time to go visit your favorite windy roads and race tracks. If you’re due for a new set of tires and you want some high-performance options, here are the five best performance tires according to World Tire Review!
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
Michelin's Pilot Sport 4S tires turned my BMW M Roadster into a grip monster. https://t.co/FEQJF1d5nO pic.twitter.com/IryPL6tZXv
— Road & Track (@RoadandTrack) May 21, 2021
If you’re familiar with high-performance tires, you won’t at all be surprised to see the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tires sit atop this list. You’ll find these tires on many high-performance cars from brands like Porsche, Audi, BMW, and Ferrari.
The Pilot Sport 4S tires have amazing grip that makes steering precise, consistent, and reliable. Additionally, they have inbuilt supports so that the vehicle stays stable and controllable even at high speeds. Best of all, the Pilot Sport 4S lifespan is up to 50,000 miles, whereas many other performance summer tires only last between 15,000 and 25,000 miles.
Of course, all of this comes at a price. Depending on size, the price of these tires can range up to nearly $1,000 per corner.
Hankook Ventus S1 Evo3
Performance tailored to style and grace. The Ventus S1 evo3 SUV brings superior handling engineered for luxury vehicles. #HankookTire #Ventus pic.twitter.com/HPgFdRlyHf
— Hankook Tire USA (@HankookTireUSA) January 30, 2022
If you’re in a climate that gets a lot of rain, the Ventus S1 Evo3 is exactly what you want. Additionally, these make a great wet-weather alternative if you have other tires for track or spirited driving use.
The wide circumferential grooves in these tires push water away from the contact patch rapidly, giving them impressive wet grip, handling, and cornering. Additionally, in dry conditions, they have impressively short braking performance.
Unfortunately, these tires only fit certain wheel parameters because of their limited size. However, they are pretty affordable, with the price ranging from $226.99 to $291.99 per corner.
Bridgestone Potenza Sport
Bridgestone Potenza Sport tires on Lamborghini | Lamborghini
A fantastic middle ground for grip and performance in both the wet and dry is the Potenza Sport.
In the dry, they have great grip and heat dispersion. So, overheating them won’t become a problem. Additionally, they have reliable braking and handling characteristics in both wet and dry conditions.
With a price range of $149.00 to $361.00, they can get to be a bit on the expensive side. Additionally, they need to be replaced as soon as 20,000 miles.
Continental ExtremeContact Sport
#TireTuesdayWhen you have 750 horsepower under the hood and only 4 tires between you and the road, we chose to equip every '21 ROUSH Stage 3 Mustang with the @continentaltire ExtremeContact Sport tires.☑️ Precise handling☑️ Extreme grip
☑️ Confidence in wet conditions pic.twitter.com/cnAPgYpmIr
— ROUSH Performance (@ROUSHPerf) September 21, 2021
The ExtremeContact Sport tires offer phenomenal grip and handling performance at a moderate price when compared to the likes of the Pilot Sport 4S. It uses a thick patch of a dense rubber compound with a focus on handling and grip.
Unfortunately, this tire does not perform well in low-temperature environments. These are effectively the textbook definition of “summer tires.”
Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R
Like the Pilot Sport 4S, the P Zero Trofeo R is found on many high-performance cars. According to TyrePress, these are the tires that the Lamborghini Huracan Performante used to set the Nurburgring lap record.
Effectively, these are about as close to having all-out track tires while maintaining street legality. As you’d imagine, they are made pretty exclusively for dry conditions. These tires make for remarkable grip and responsive steering.
They can be a bit pricey, with figures ranging from $130.01 to $756.74 depending on size. They do produce a fair amount of noise, too. Great news for Honda and Miata drivers, though; they’re available in 15s.
Drive safe and ensure you’re on the right summer tire for the job!
No matter what tires you choose from this list, you’re sure to have a good time behind the wheel, whether you’re just on a windy mountain road, auto crossing in a parking lot, or on a full-blown road course.
Just be sure you’re in the right conditions for the tires you’ve got on your car, and be safe. Now get out there and enjoy the driving weather!
Keyword: Summer Tire Showdown: 5 Best Performance Tires for the Road and Track!