When our tire specialists talk about high performance tires, customers may think “I’m not a race car driver” or “I don’t drive that fast so why do I need high performance tires?” but the truth is there are some startling benefits to high performance tires that are worth considering.
The most obvious benefit drivers get from equipping everything from a Maserati to a Hyundai with high performance tires is safety. This is typically the most appealing benefit for our customers who opt for high performance tires on their heavy sedans or sport utility vehicles. Most of these cars were built with high quality tires from the factory, yet upgrading them can improve handling, steering response and most importantly, braking, in all conditions.
These benefits don’t come without tradeoffs. To achieve such crisp steering response and handling characteristics the tires usually have firmer sidewalls, and that leads to a little stiffer ride. The increase in grip on both wet and dry roads is due to the tires using a softer rubber compound, which also leads to quicker tire wear. You won’t see high performance tires rated at 80,000 miles, but you won’t see any 80,000 mile tires on sports cars, sport sedans, or high performance sport utility vehicles, either.
While there are tradeoffs to equipping your vehicle with high performance tires, the overall benefit of increased safety is usually enough for our customers to make the switch. If you still have questions about what tires might be the best for you, your vehicle, and your driving style, contact your local store and speak to one of our highly trained staff members who’ll be sure to steer you in the right direction.
