Brake System

After putting a nice Tire & Wheel Package on my son's car, we noticed that we could see a lot more of the brake caliper than we could with the old wheels. We had previously upgraded the brake system with good looking and great functioning Ate PremiumOne Slotted Rotors and Goodridge Stainless Steel brake hose, but the brake calipers looked dull, faded and rusty.

Rather than buy new calipers, we decided to clean and coat the existing parts with the G-2 Brake Caliper PaintSystem. The PaintSystem Sets are available in nine high-gloss, wear-resistant colors. Available colors include: red, yellow, blue, silver, gold, black, purple, green, white, pink and orange.

We decided to paint the brake caliper mounts silver and the calipers red, so we had to purchase two kits. The G-2 PaintSystem Set provides sufficient material to paint four brake calipers, or two brake calipers and two brake drums. However, vehicles with large brake calipers on the front axle and large brake drums on the rear axle may require two complete PaintSystem Sets to assure adequate coverage. We had plenty of paint for two coat coverage and even had half a can of each color left over when we were finished.

G-2 Brake Caliper PaintSystem's two-part paint system does not require caliper removal, however because we decided to use two different colors we removed and cleaned the caliper mounts. We then masked the brake hose and bleeder screw and supported the caliper at each corner with coat hangers.

G-2 Brake Caliper PaintSystem has a shelf life of six months and must be used between 56-70°F (13-21°C) ambient temperatures. Higher temperatures will cause paint to harden faster than normal. Unfortunately the day we had to complete this job was much warmer, so we had to work fast. We did our best to shade the area we were working in but, once the paint and reactor are mixed, there are only 4-6 hours working time. After that, paint left in the can will harden and will not be useable. I still had plenty of time to apply two coats of paint on both the calipers and the mounts. Give yourself at least two hours curing time before reinstalling wheels and don't use the vehicle for 24 hours to allow the paint to fully harden. Plan application accordingly.

The G-2 Brake Caliper PaintSystem Set consists of:

• Detailed Instructions
• Brake Cleaner Spray
• Brake Caliper Paint
• PaintSystem Reactor
• 1 stir stick
• 1 application brush

Since our calipers were not new and accumulated rust over the years from exposure to Northern Indiana's weather, I spent a little extra time with a wire brush, a little sand paper and a Scotch-Brite pad on the exposed metal surfaces initially. I then used the brake cleaner spray provided to degrease the surfaces to be painted and let them dry thoroughly prior to paint application.

As you can see from the photos of our final product, this kit will give your stock brake calipers the look of expensive, high performance calipers. The final coating will even help protect vital brake components from potentially harmful oils, chemicals and rust. When you are all done you will have:

• High-gloss finish
• Fade resistant colors
• Seals and protects exposed metal
• Heat-resistant up to 950º F
• Oil and chemical resistant coating

If you do it right, you can be seeing red too.

With all the talk about horsepower, torque, 0-60 times and top speed, what often gets overlooked is the performance of a vehicle's braking system. Let's face it, how important is 600 bhp and a 0-60 in 2.9 seconds if your car takes a country mile to stop? This may be obvious to some, but ask yourself when was the last time you saw a commercial for a car or truck bragging about engine performance without ever mentioning the brakes?
 
Brake pads, referred to in the industry as friction material, are the least expensive component of the braking system, yet they offer the most impact on performance. Like tires, not all brake pads provide the same performance characteristics and it's important to know which products best fit the vehicle and the driver's needs.

Ceramic pads are designed for very low dust and noise, but compromise on braking force. Ceramic pads are O.E. on most domestic and Japanese coupes and sedans.  

Semi-metallic pads provide maximum braking force or bite but are louder and leave heavier dust on a car's wheels. These pads are commonly O.E. for performance European vehicles and the most aggressive semi-metallic pads are used in specialty applications such as cars used in racing events.

Composite friction material offers a balance between braking force and low dust/noise. Think of these pads as a happy medium over ceramic and semi-metallic.

Akebono ProACT Ceramic Pads

Hawk Blue 9012 Track Only Pads

Satisfied GranSport 6 Pads

Shop by vehicle to find the brake components that work best for your vehicle.

As soon as you see ATE PremiumOne® Rotors, you know they’re different. A distinctive set of elliptical grooves have been machined into the rotor face. A satin silver coating covers the entire rotor.

The patented RotorLife® Elliptical Groove Wear Indicator and MetaCote® protective coating deliver performance and convenience unequalled in other rotor lines.

The unique pattern you see on the face of the ATE PremiumOne Rotor is the RotorLife Elliptical Groove Wear Indicator. It’s a groove cut into the rotor surface at complementary angles to allow heat and gases to escape more easily from under the brake pad when it’s in contact with the rotor. Moving the gases out quickly reduces brake fade and extends pad life.

As an added feature, the RotorLife Groove shows you when it’s time to replace the rotor. When the groove’s worn away, it’s time for new rotors – simple as that.

Most rotors look good when they are first installed. But, after only a few trips their looks start to fade. They develop rust around the edges of the rotor face –- and sometimes over the whole rotor face -– making your car’s appearance less than it could be.

MetaCote protective coating provides an attractive, durable surface that helps prevent rust and corrosion and sheds water and dirt, to maintain a clean appearance. MetaCote protects against road salt, brake fluid and other corrosives, and it looks great behind alloy wheels. MetaCote also eliminates the need to use removeable coatings that need to be cleaned off prior to use, saving installation time.

"These brake rotors are great. Way better than OEM rotors. Car stops on a dime now even at highway speeds. I am very impressed with the product and would buy these rotors for every car I buy and the price is not that expensive for a slotted rotor." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review

ATE PremiumOne Rotors all feature an application-specific design. The brake parts that ATE make for your vehicle have been engineered to work with your vehicle’s brake system, vehicle weight and handling characteristics.

Unlike other rotors that take a one-size-fits-all approach, ATE PremiumOne Disc Brake Rotors are based on the Original Equipment design and engineered to tighter tolerances.

Brembo Big Brake Kits upgrade the look and performance of your vehicle's braking system. The brake systems combine fixed 4-piston aluminum calipers and high performance brake pads, with 1- and 2- piece vented discs and Goodridge® steel braided brake lines. These race inspired Brembo Big Brake kits are designed to offer superior stopping power for drivers that are serious about getting their sports cars, sedans, sporty coupes, light trucks and SUVs to slow down in a hurry.

In most cases,the Brembo Big Brake Kit's massive aluminum calipers and large diameter brake discs require an aftermarket wheel with the necessary brake clearance. Take a look at the chart below to see the full line of Brembo Grand Turismo Big Brake kits.

Contact one of our sales specialists to ensure product compatibility as they have developed a list of appropriate wheel options per vehicle based on exact brake kit options.

Brembo Gran Turismo Brake Systems
Caliper Styles	Style 1	Style 2	Style 3	Style 4
	4-Piston Black	4-Piston Black	4-Piston Red	4-Piston Red
Rotor Styles	Style A	Style B	Style C	Style D
	1-Piece Drilled Vented	2-Piece Drilled Vented	2-Piece Drilled Vented	2-Piece Slotted Vented

Style 1A	Style 2B	Style 3C	Style 4D

Shop by vehicle to see which braking options work best for your vehicle.

Additional Information:

• Producing Brembo Brake Components and Systems
• Brembo Product Description

Disc Brakes Australia (DBA) Rotors bolt right onto your vehicle with no mechanical changes. Thermo-Graphic markings are placed on the outer edge of all DBA 4000 and 5000 series disc rotors and are used to monitor core temperatures achieved during braking application. Markings change color as the rotor begins to heat up, alerting the driver to rotor temperatures that exceed optimum levels.

Initial Color	When rotor exceeds this temperature...	The color will change to...
Green	458°C	White
Orange	550°C	Yellow
Red	630°C	White

Also helping with heat management is the latest technological patent from DBA, the "Kangaroo Paw" ventilation system. The Kangaroo Paw design allows more air to flow through the vents on the rotor, resulting in cooler operating temperatures to minimize distortion.

The ''Kangaroo Paw'' is designed with a series of 144 diamond- and tear drop-shaped pillars and columns individually spaced between the rotor faces.

DBA Autocross/Track Rotors

DBA 4000 Series Rotors	DBA 5000 Series 2-Piece Rotors

See which DBA product works best for your vehicle.

Many Porsche owners are looking for better lap times at the track and more aggressive brake performance on the street from their 911.

If you have already tried changing your brake pads and still lack the performance you are looking for, it may be time to upgrade to a larger caliper and rotor.

Brembo has built a reputation of producing quality products for drivers looking for the ultimate in braking performance. The Brembo Gran Turismo Systems provide excellent stopping power in everyday traffic, as well as high performance during street and track driving.

For more information, contact one of Tire Rack's sales specialists.

As spring nears, many drivers wonder if they should replace their rotors, or simply turn them? To address this question, there are a few basics to consider.

Technically speaking your brakes are an energy transfer device. They take the force of your vehicle and absorb it into the braking system, causing heat from the friction.

The bigger the "heat sync" or rotor, the better the chance of dispersing that energy and recovering in time to stop. The relationship between the pad and rotor is key in the strength and ability to dispense the heat for your brakes.  

Will your car be affected if you choose to turn your rotors instead of replacing them? The answer depends on the manner in which you drive your vehicle. If you drive in a pedestrian manner and never push the limits of your car, turning your rotors would be allowed. If you push your vehicle's limits in a sporty manner, you may find yourself in a situation where your braking power is diminished and turning your rotors is not an option. However, rotors are inexpensive and can be changed for less than the cost of labor for turning.  

If you decide to replace your rotors, check out options by vehicle here.

Some three years in development, the new Michelin Pilot Super Sport is the long-awaited replacement for the class-leading Pilot Sport PS2 that has been a popular Max Performance Summer tire option for enthusiasts since 2004.

Michelin’s target for the Pilot Super Sport is to maintain the PS2’s good level of road manners and fuel efficiency, improve handling and braking in dry and wet conditions, while also stretching treadwear on the road and at the track. 

Like its predecessor, the new Pilot Super Sport features side-by-side tread compounds across its asymmetric tread pattern. In the outboard third of the tread, Michelin uses a compound mixed with a special carbon black elastomer taken directly from the endurance racing tires used to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans, that helps provide high levels of long-lasting dry grip. A different compound is used on the inboard two thirds of the tread, which focuses on providing traction in wet conditions. 

Michelin has further developed the behavior of the tire’s contact patch, equalizing footprint pressure to aid handling and stretch treadwear. Part of this comes from the internal architecture of the tire which uses a layer of the unique aramid fiber Twaron to control the centrifugal forces as the tire rolls at high speed.

The Pilot Super Sport has already been homologated by Ferrari as the Original Equipment tire on the stunning Ferrari 599 GTO, earning the 2010 Ferrari Technology Award along the way.

Since only select Ferrari sizes are currently available today, Michelin gave us the opportunity to preview the Pilot Super Sport’s dry and wet performance at the Dubai Autodrome in the United Arab Emirates.

With the Pilot Super Sport already established with Ferrari as an O.E. fitment, Michelin is also working with Porsche, BMW M and prestigious tuners to homologate the Pilot Super Sport on some of the world’s most potent sports and super cars. Michelin brought along their lead test drivers, responsible for tuning tires to suit the distinctive performance characters of each O.E. fitment. Their team provided insight into what it takes to develop a tire for each unique fitment and provided us with some exciting hot laps to show off the fruit of their labor. Watch for the Pilot Super Sport to appear on several other top sports cars in the months to come.

Finally it was time for us to get behind the wheel and drive the Pilot Super Sport for ourselves. First up was wet cornering, where we drove Audi TTs around a 200' diameter skidpad, comparing the traction of the Pilot Super Sport with a competitor. The Pilot Super Sport felt as if it provided some additional cornering grip, as well as more predictable break away and recovery characteristics.

We followed this with an ABS-assisted panic stop in both dry and wet conditions, using different cars and a different competitor tire. Here, the Pilot Super Sport provided a slightly shorter stopping distance in the dry and an equivalent distance in the wet.

Our favorite test was dry handling, using a 1.1 mile section of the circuit. We drove two Porsche 911 Carrera S, fitted with Pilot Super Sport and a competitor’s tires. We didn’t compare lap times, but were able to feel a difference from behind the wheel.

The Pilot Super Sport felt more responsive, and used its cornering power to turn down to the apex with authority. The massive Porsche ceramic brakes made easy work of the stopping duties. While we could easily engage the ABS with both tires, the Pilot Super Sport allowed for a harder application before triggering the anti-lock system. Also impressive was the overall handling balance of the car fitted with the Pilot Super Sport tires, bolstering driver confidence during cornering and allowing for a harder application of the throttle on corner exit. 

We installed our RaceLogic DriftBox data acquisition system in the car with Pilot Super Sport tires, and found the tire + vehicle combination was pulling over 1.0 lateral g-forces in several of the corners (shown in red).


Michelin also brought along a few of their favorite toys to show off the capabilities of the Pilot Super Sport. Their test drivers provided hot lap rides in an AC Schnitzer-tuned BMW M3, Audi R8, Ferrari 458 Italia, Gumpert Apollo, Koenigsegg Agera, Lamborghini Gallardo, Mercedes-Benz SLS, a 1,000 horsepower MKB P1000 Mercedes-Benz SL65, Porsche 911 Turbo, and more. The Pilot Super Sport proved stable, predictable and very capable of harnessing the power of these amazing cars.


Scheduled to be released to North America in a wide range of sizes in the spring of 2011, we’re looking forward to the opportunity to evaluate the Pilot Super Sport back at our Indiana headquarters on our Real World Road Ride and Performance Track Drive.

Stay tuned for a full test report coming in 2011. Until then, take a look at more photos from our trip to Dubai on our Facebook page.

Meet your stopping needs with brakes and brake rotors available for your Acura. Don't worry about picking the wrong products. We check every order before we ship it out and offer lots of user reviews on the brake system products we sell. And our search results by vehicle will only generate a list of products that are specifically a fit for your vehicle.

Use our brake performance rating system too, to help you pick brakes that meet your needs. Ratings are provided in three categories: stopping power, low dust and noise. The more red dots you see the better stopping power, lower noise level and lower dust. Original Equipment (O.E.) replacement brake pads all the way up to all-out track pads are available.

Some of the most popular Acura brake pads available are:

• Akebono ProACT Ceramic Pads: Better stopping power with much lower noise and much lower dust ratings than O.E. brake pads. Suggesedt for street use.
• Hawk HPS Street Brake Pads: Much better Stopping power with lower noise and more dust. Suggested for performance street use.
• Hawk Performance Ceramic Brake Pads: Better stopping power with lower noise and lower dust ratings. Suggested for street use.

Today I tested the Kumho Solus KL21, the Michelin Latitude Tour HP and the Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season Crossover/SUV Touring All-Season Tires.

I pushed the tires to their limits on our test track which is always interesting when the sprinkler system is on and you slide through some of the turns.

For handling in the corners and braking, I found the Kumho and Pirelli dead even, but the Michelin handled better in both cornering and braking under wet conditions and gave me more confidence as a driver. 

Watch for complete test results online.

Here's an easy project that increases the bling appeal of your brakes and makes your calipers easier to keep clean.

G-2 Manufacturing Brake Caliper PaintSystem Set shows off a vehicle’s brake components through open-spoke style alloy wheels like Borbet rims. It can be used to give a vehicle’s stock brake calipers or rear brake drums the look of expensive, painted, high performance calipers. It applies easily and is engineered for universal application on all automotive brake calipers and drums.

Tire Rack hears lots of questions regarding the use of snow tires. Many people are considering winter tires right now, so check out Tire Rack's answers to the most frequently asked questions shown below. 

• Do I really need winter tires?
• Won't all-season tires work just fine?
• Why four winter tires?
• What if my car has traction control?
• What if my car has ABS brakes?
• What if my car has front-wheel drive?
• What if my car has all-wheel drive?
• Isn't it better to stay off the roads if it's really bad?
• Won't it help if I just drive slowly and carefully?
• Aren't winter tires expensive?

Using winter / snow tires will take the white knuckle driving out of winter, but remember to use snow tires in the manor they where intended to be used. Things like ABS, all-wheel drive, front-wheel drive, stability control systems and terrain management systems are just tools that work in conjunction with tires to start, stop and steer the vehicle safely.

Look through the maintenance schedule in the average owner’s manual and you probably won’t find a specific change interval for brake fluid. But, just because no specific time or mileage recommendations for ­replacing brake fluid exist, doesn’t mean you should ignore it, especially if you are using your car for competition purposes.

 

As a rule of thumb, the minimum preventative maintenance interval for brake fluid should be at least every two years, more frequently, if the vehicle is used in a high performance, or heavy duty use environment. Brake fluid should always be changed when the brakes pads or shoes are replaced or when replacing a caliper, wheel cylinder, brake line, hose or master cylinder. Bleeding and flushing brake fluid is the best way to minimize the danger of fluid boil and internal corrosion in the brake system.

DOT3 and DOT4 brake fluid contains glycol, as well as various corrosion inhibitors and seal conditioners. When brake fluid is manufactured, it contains no moisture. But the properties of brake fluid make it hygroscopic in nature, meaning it attracts water.

Moisture contamination causes several things to happen. When the fluid absorbs water, it lowers the fluid’s boiling temperature. DOT3 brake fluid, which is most commonly used in domestic cars and light trucks, has a minimum dry boiling point of 401ºF. A 3% level of water contamination will lower the boiling point 25% or 100ºF!

 

After just one year of service, DOT3 fluid may contain as much as 2% water. After 18 months, the level of contamination can be as high as 3%. And after several years of service, it’s not unusual to find brake fluid that has soaked up as much as 7-8% water. The problem is even more acute in older vehicles due to internal seal wear and porosity in the brake hoses. Replacing your hoses with a Goodridge G-Stop Brakeline Kit with stainless steel brake lines goes a long way toward reducing this possibility.

Under normal driving conditions, neglected brake fluid may not pose a serious safety concern. The calipers on most cars and trucks won’t get hot enough in everyday driving to make the fluid boil. But under severe conditions, such as: driving down a mountain, towing a heavy trailer or the occasional track day, the brakes may get hot enough to make the fluid boil. Braking generates a lot of heat. A quick stop from 40 or 50 mph can raise the temperature of the front rotors a couple hundred degrees. Several hard, quick stops in rapid succession or riding the brakes while driving, can increase rotor temperatures to 600°F or higher. Since vapor is compressable but liquid is not, once brake fluid turns to vapor, the bubbles cause an increase in the distance the pedal must travel to apply the brakes. This is called “pedal fade” and it may result in brake failure.

You really can’t tell how contaminated brake fluid is just by looking at it. New fluid may be clear to amber-colored. The fluid will typically become darker as it ages, but this doesn’t necessarily mean it’s contaminated. If you see rust or sediment in the fluid, the fluid is long overdue for a change. High brake temperatures accelerate the rate at which the corrosion inhibitors in brake fluid break down. As the fluid ages, oxidation eats away at metal surfaces, creating dissolved acids and sludge that are carried with the fluid. These contaminants increase seal, piston and bore wear in the calipers, wheel cylinders and master cylinder. They can also damage ABS solenoid valves and cause them to jam and stick.

ATE Type 200 Amber Brake Fluid

ATE Super Blue Racing Brake Flui

For performance or heavy duty applications I would recommend ATE Type 200 Amber Brake Fluid or ATE Super Blue Racing Brake Fluid. Both are designed to excel within the extreme demands made on a heavy duty or race vehicle and exceed all DOT4 standards. They are compatible with and will mix well with most DOT3, DOT4 or DOT5.1 fluids. Their formulations offer higher boiling points (wet or dry) and minimal drop in boiling point with age, resulting in a longer lasting fluid. By alternating the use of blue and amber colored fluids, evidence of a more complete system flush can be accomplished. When adding fluid to the system, use the type of brake fluid specified by the vehicle manufacturer (DOT3 or DOT4). Brake fluid specifications can be found in the vehicle's owner’s manual, maintenance guide, or on the master cylinder reservoir or filler cap.

 

 

 

Winter tires need winter wheels. Especially with the mandated onset of Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems, it is far less expensive in the long term to have an extra set of wheels on which your winter tires are mounted than to pay some one at least $20 per tire twice a year to switch the tires onto the same wheel. But what to look for in a winter wheel?

My best advice is always the least expensive, most simplistic wheel that you can find. It used to be that a steel wheel was the automatic choice for people running winter tires. They were inexpensive, and hard to ruin, so they fit the bill nicely.  Nowadays, with steel prices running high and the demands of today's high performance vehicles' handling and braking potential, alloys are a much more practical choice. Also, sometimes they are your only choice, as they offer more clearance for today's larger brakes. They don't rust, they clear large brakes, and they actually look decent on the car.  However, they don't have to be expensive.

Dependent upon your car and its needs, I would suggest taking a look at the Sport Edition or Elbrus wheel line. Their simplistic, classic designs make them easy to keep clean and maintain properly. Check out your options for a Winter Wheels and Tires for your vehicle, and consider the easy way to make your car go in the snow this winter.

What makes the DBA (Disc Brakes Australia) rotors special?

Hard braking that is done during repeated stopping on the street or the track builds a lot of heat into the rotor. This can cause brake fade and the rotors to eventually warp. Heat is the number one enemy of rotors and brakes. DBA brake rotors combat heat with a unique design called the Kangaroo Paw.

The ''Kangaroo Paw'' design features a series of 144 diamond- and tear drop-shaped pillars and columns individually spaced between the rotor faces. This unique system is able to dissipate heat much quicker than a standard rotor giving you the confidence you need during high-speed braking.

I have used the DBA 4000 Series rotor on my car and can highly recommend them for yours as well.

When it comes to picking out new tires, you can't voucher a guess. The purchase must be educated, and it must make sense. Your safety on the road, after all, depends on it. So at Tire Rack, we offer a few different ways to reach a purchase decision. The easiest of which is to shop according to vehicle.

When you enter your vehicle's specifications into our search tool, our system is able to generate a list of tires that perfectly match your vehicle. It's a list that will offer Original Equipment and performance upgrade options, and it can be slimmed down by simply selecting your ideal performance characteristics. Every tire on your final list is accompanied by links to complete product descriptions, test results, tire reviews, specifications and warranty information.

We think it's the most complete way to search for a tire, especially if you don't know what you're looking for. But if you do know exactly what you want, you just need to find it in a size that fits your vehicle, you can search our inventory by tire size. The resulting list will match the tire size you determined, though it won't be specific to any particular vehicle. In this case, always check with a sales specialist if there's any doubt. We want your new tires to fit perfectly!

And finally, if you're in the market for more than just tires, we recommend you use our Upgrade Garage. Not only will we recommend vehicle specific tires, we'll take it a few steps further. You'll get a list of everything in our inventory that would fit on your vehicle. Think wheels, brakes, wiper blades and more. And the best part—the Upgrade Garage also creates a virtual representation of your vehicle, which allows you to actually see what certain tires and wheels would look like.

So really, the search method is up to you. Determine your needs, then search accordingly.

And as always, our sales specialists are on-hand and ready to help should you need it.

With many track and street enthusiasts focused on getting more horsepower to the wheels, braking systems often get forgotten.

On the track, upgrading your car's brakes can shave valuable seconds from lap times and increase braking consistency.

On the street, a Brembo brake kit will improve the appearance of your vehicle while also improving performance and safety.

Brembo GT caliper/rotor kits are available for many vehicles and in several colors. Common vehicle fitments include Corvette, Mustang, Porsche, BMW, Audi, Escalade, 350Z and Mercedes-Benz.

The process of cryogenically treating brake rotors can drastically improve the way a brake system performs. Cryogenically treated metal is cooled well below a zero-degree temperature, slowly returned to room temperature, and treated with heat to complete the process. Although you can't see the results, the metal is significantly altered and is able to stand up to abrasive wear. It's also much more durable. That means cryogenically treated brake rotors are denser and extremely smooth, both of which reduce wear and tear. And we all know how much our brake systems have to deal with.

At Tire Rack, the cryogenically treated rotors in our inventory come from Cryo-Stop. In addition to the cryogenic treatment, the Cryo-Stop rotors feature the company's Electrocoating finish to further protect the rotors against rust and corrosion.

"I bought a four-pack of Cryo-Stop rotors and high-grade ceramic pads. My OEM brakes were shuddering and squealing under moderate and light braking, respectively. The shudder went away when I swapped the fronts, and the squeal disappeared after changing the rear. Since then, it's been a smooth, silent and safe ride. Looks great, too. The black paint on the Cryo-Stop rotors is a nice touch, and I haven't seen any rust anywhere yet." — Tire Rack Consumer Review, Honda Accord, IL

Shop by vehicle to see if Cryo-Stop rotors are right for you.

Our tire tests consist of two parts.

First, we drive on a 6.6 mile Real World Road Ride to get a feel for a tire’s comfort, noise level and handling on all types of road surfaces. Next, we push the tires to their limits during our Performance Test Track Drives. This allows us to test a tire in the areas of emergency braking and steering responsiveness. Our purpose-built track also has a sprinkler system so we can test the tires in rain-like conditions.

Having the opportunity to test tires allows Tire Rack’s sales specialists to understand the best tire for a customer’s unique driving style and vehicle.

Want to learn more? You can watch videos about our tire tests online.