Competition Tire

Tire Rack is proud to have continued our title sponsorship of this year's One Lap of America event. One Lap consists of 17 timed events over 8 days. In total, competitors traveled over 3,400 in just over a week. It is a true test of endurance and performance

For the third year in a row, the overall winner's vehicle was equipped with the Michelin Pilot Super Sport. The Super Sport has been on the winning vehicle since it was introduced to the market in the spring of 2011. As the 30th running of this extreme challenge for driving enthusiasts, this year's competition featured many of America's fastest street-legal cars. View results for the 2013 event here.

If you're in the market for the best of the best in wet and dry traction performance, check out the Pilot Super Sport. It has proven its worth not only in the One Lap competition, but also in our testing and feedback from customers. The tire is the top-ranked option in the Max Performance Summer category. After reading a few of our customers' comments, you'll understand why:

"Quite honestly the BEST tire I have ever had on my cars." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX.

"These tires have oooogles of mega grip, even wet. I am going to need a new seat with harness just to stay in the seat." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2005 Subaru Impreza WRX STI

Also, when you buy a set of four Michelin Pilot Super Sports before June 18, 2013, you can receive a $70 MasterCard Reward Card.

There are many rivalries in today's competitive world: Chevy versus Ford, Coke versus Pepsi and Burger King versus McDonald's may come to mind when thinking of two prominent companies within an industry. When it comes to tires, Goodyear and Michelin is one of the most common rivalries.

In some categories, such as the Crossover/SUV Touring All-Season, the Goodyear Assurance CS TripleTred All-Season ranks just a bit higher than Michelin's competing tire, the Latitude Tour. In other categories that include performance tires, Michelin's tires often rank higher. For example, in the Max Performance Summer category, the Michelin Pilot Super Sport is on top. I was so impressed by this particular tire that I bought a set for my own car. My experiences with the tire can be found by reading, "Michelin Pilot Super Sport Tires Installed on My Car." The Pilot Super Sport also picked up a win against Goodyear's Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 last summer during our testing. You can see how well the Michelin tire performed by taking a look at "Testing Max Performance Summer Tires."

Michelin Pilot Super Sport

Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2

So, who really has the better tires? When it comes to performance tires, Michelin is tough to beat right now. However, the tire market is fast paced and new technology is constantly pushing the performance envelope further. When changes are made, you can always count on us to provide you with the best tire options for your vehicle.

The Hoosier A6 and R6 are two of the most successful DOT-legal racing tires in recent years. A6 and R6 tires look identical, but are designed for different types of competition. How do you know which is best for your vehicle?

The Hoosier A6 was developed with autocross competition in mind. It uses a softer compound for maximum grip and comes up to temperature more quickly to reach optimal grip between 110 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. A6 tires deliver more traction, but give up longevity to do so. In autocross, where runs are extremely short, this lack of longevity is not a problem and allows a set of A6 tires to last for multiple events. Though the tires are generally ready to run when brand new, a light scuff-in can be beneficial.

Hoosier R6 tires are designed for roadrace competition. They have a more durable compound that's better able to hold up to multiple lapping sessions, higher speeds and larger race courses. The R6 should be heat cycled before competition use for the most consistent performance. Tire Rack offers heat cycling service for competition tires. With this service, the tires arrive ready to use.

Hoosier A6

Hoosier R6

Some drivers will also use the A6 on road courses for sprint races or qualifying sessions where a few fast laps are of the utmost importance. Used in this way, the A6 will often be used up in one session. Using the A6 in a roadrace setting is only recommended for experienced drivers who know exactly what they need and are willing to go through a set of tires in one event. Lightweight vehicles with moderate horsepower may also use the A6 in cooler weather when they're not able to get the R6 up to the optimal temperature range of 180-200 degrees Fahrenheit .

Drivers preparing to run Hoosier tires on the track should also read Hoosier's care and feeding document.

With spring here, many drivers are getting ready to purchase tires for roadrace or autocross use.  

For those who want tires they'll use mostly on the street, but want to do some racing, the Extreme Performance Summer category offers some good options. Tires in this performance category won't give you the fastest lap times compared to competition tires, however they are a good choice for the less serious racer. If this sounds like what you're looking for, consider the following options:

• BFGoodrich g-Force Rival
• Dunlop Direzza ZII
• Bridgestone Potenza RE-11A

For the more serious race enthusiast, take a look at our selection of Track & Competition DOT tires. These are options that shouldn't be driven on the street and are for the track only. If you are looking for a tire for your roadrace event, consider the Hoosier R6. If autocross is your event, take a look at the A6 from Hoosier.

BFGoodrich g-Force Rival

Hoosier R6

Hankook Ventus Z214

Hoosier's set-up process to maximize treadwear and handling is more involved than other tires, however their tires are hard to beat! For those that want a good competition tire at a lower price point, the Hankook Ventus Z214 is available in both a roadrace and autocross compound. 

Will your new set of tires need to be saved? If so, how far should they be shaved? Read "Shaving Tires for Autocross / Track Use / Competition" to see how this service can help you maximize your tire's performance capabilities early in their life.

What's all the buzz about the new Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Plus?

For years, Bridgestone had a top-rated tire with its line of luxury touring tires, the Turanza Serenity. When we last tested one of these tires, it resulted in a virtual tie with the Michelin Primacy MXV4. If this particular Michelin tire is one you're considering, read "Michelin Primacy MXV4 Tires Installed on My Crossover" for more information.

In today's fast paced competitive tire market, products are constantly being improved. Enter the new "Plus" version of the tire, simply called the  Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Plus. This new version features improved wear, ride and grip levels which have contributed to its rise to the top of our Tire Survey Results in the Grand Touring All-Season category.

This category of tire is perfect for drivers looking for a blend of dry and wet grip, light snow traction, long wear and a very quiet ride. In these areas, the Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Plus really delivers, especially considering it comes with a treadwear warranty of 50,000-80,000 miles depending on the speed rating. The tires also mold a silica percentage reinforced, Long Link Carbon Black tread compound into an asymmetric design featuring Resonance Noise Attenuated (RENOA) silencer grooves designed to reduce acoustic tones.

To see if the Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Plus is a fit for you application, shop by vehicle.

Tire Rack offers a tire shaving service that has been primarily used for preparing competition use, while this same service is used to remove tread rubber from new pairs or street tires to allow them to match the remaining tread depth of the other partially worn tires that will remain on the vehicle. In addition to providing equivalent tread depth to eliminate driveline stress, shaved tires will better match the traction and handling qualities of the remaining worn tires. This service can be performed on a tire with a starting tread depth higher than 4/32".

While the cost of our street tire shaving service ranges between $25 and $35 for each tire, it is significantly less than the cost of unnecessarily replacing the remaining two or three good tires with lots of mileage still available from them. We can't accept tires at one of our locations to be shaved, they must be purchased from us and we will ship the tire after shaving to you.

When it comes to tires for autocross and track use, the reason they're so effective is because they feature shallow tread depths and their contact patch acts as a single unit. Any tread design that breaks up the contact patch into smaller elements or adds more tread depth will increase the tread block squirm and reduce dry performance. Tires typically provide their worst wet traction and best dry performance just before they wear out. The heat generated every time a tire is driven activates bonding agents in the rubber. As this process repeats throughout the tire's life, its rubber compounds gradually harden and lose flexibility reducing the tire's grip. Therefore, a shaved new tire will provide more traction than a tire worn to the exact same tread depth after being driven for thousands of miles on the road.

Tire shaving is an effective means of permitting more of a tire's performance capability to be realized early in its life. In many cases, shaved tires used in competition actually have a longer useful life than tires that enter competition at full tread depth. A shaved tires's tread profile will usually result in a little more increase in the width of the tire's contact patch putting a little more rubber on the road. The resulting shallower tread depths reduce the slip angle, increasing its responsiveness and cornering power by minimizing tread block squirm.

To gain a better insight into tire shaving, read "Shaving Tire for Autocross / Track Use / Competition."

As the spring season gets underway and customers begin to shop for race tires, I have taken a few calls concerning the differences between BFGoodrich's Dry Racetrack & Autocross Only offerings, the g-Force R1 and g-Force R1 S.

The BFGoodrich g-Force R1 is the tire most suited for extended road course use. It features a more durable compound designed for longer life and consistency. Like all competition products, life will be considerably shorter than any street tire. However, several weekends of fun in competition events are possible if the tire is properly driven!

In contrast, BFGoodrich's g-Force R1 S is designed for light bursts, most commonly associated with autocross. The "S" designation implies the tire is intended for sprint use. Featuring a softer compound, this tire comes up to temperature quickly, but exchanges life to do so. It's best suited for autocross use or for individuals looking to set competitive qualifying laps.

BFGoodrich g-Force R1

BFGoodrich g-Force R1 S

Both tires are not appropriate for highway use. They aren't recommended for driving in wet conditions where standing water is present and there's the risk of hydroplaning; drivers should drive cautiously at reduced speeds if they encounter these conditions. It's also essential these tires be stored indoors at temperatures maintained above 32 degrees F.

The relationship between these two tires is very similar to that of the Hoosier R6 and A6, which are also meant for track and autocross use.

Get your racing season off to a good start by shopping by vehicle and finding the tire best suited for your driving style!

Depending on where you live, race season will soon be upon us or is now in full swing for many SCCA racers and other racing organizations. We carry a variety of street legal race tires from Hoosier, BFGoodrich, Michelin, Kumho, Hankook and Toyo. If you know Hoosier is the brand for you, take a look at "Hoosier A6 and R6 Race Tires."

While Tire Rack offers an easy-to-use shop by vehicle feature, many racers use wider, non-standard sizes in order to maximize track performance. Since racecars often have more flexibility in sizes that can be used, it's often helpful to see a list of sizes that a given tire is available in. Therefore, shopping by size is a more efficient way to find the race tire you're looking for. 

However, if you already know which specific race tire you want and would simply like to know what sizes are available and how that tire compares to its competitors, follow these steps: 

1. Visit our Tire Survey Results
2. Select the tire that interests you
3. Click on the 'Sizes" tab

Now that you've found your tires, it may be a good idea to have them heat cycled. Heat cycling actually makes Track & Competition DOT tread compounds more consistent in strength and more resistant to losing their strength the next time they're used. For more information, read "Competition Tire Heat Cycling Service."

The Continental ExtremeContact DWS has been a customer favorite for almost five years. It has stood the test of time, especially with its good ratings in winter conditions. Bridgestone's Potenza RE970AS Pole Position was the latest entry to threaten Continental's number one ranking. We put them up against each other in a test cycle where we run them on a wet and dry track, as well as on the road. Our team favored the Bridgestone in the meeting. The Bridgestone gives a better overall performance feel and traction in both the wet and dry, especially in the track events which are designed to simulate emergency maneuvers.

In an earlier test, we noted we'd like to see an improvement in winter conditions where the Bridgestone was concerned. This happens to be the Continental's strong suit and as it turns out, the ace in the hole. When the Bridgestone initially debuted on the survey results, it came it in at number one. The Bridgestone takes top honors in wet and dry traction, as well as cornering and steering response. However, as owners had some time to experience the winter elements, the ExtremeContact DWS rose back to the top. This Continental tire betters the competition in traction in light snow, deep snow and on ice.

Continental ExtremeContact DWS

Bridgestone Potenza RE970AS Pole Position

To see the complete results of our latest test, read "Testing Ultra High Performance All-Season Tires."

2013 is a great year for enthusiasts of high performance cars looking for street tires that are trackable. This year we are excited to offer three new Extreme Performance Summer tires. These tires primary focus is going to be on extreme dry grip for spirited or competitive driving such as autocrossing. We can't wait to get a chance to test them at our facility this spring!

While we haven't had a chance to test the BFGoodrich g-Force Rival on our track, we did have the chance to drive on it at NOLA Motorsports Park near New Orleans and the feedback was very positive. The tire was very easy to drive on, had excellent responsiveness and is designed to wear very well over the course of a competitive event. It has the 200 UTQG treadwear rating that is required by many sanctioning bodies.

The next new tire for 2013 is the Dunlop Direzza ZII. This tire is replacing the Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec. Compared to its predecessor, it's designed to have better responsiveness, as well as an improvement in wet and dry grip. Also offered with the 200 UTQG treadwear rating, the Direzza ZII is available in a variety of hard-to-find smaller sizes. Last fall, we tested a production-spec set of Direzza ZII tires against the Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec and found that Dunlop hit the mark with this new offering as it was faster and more predictable in the dry and wet. For a complete recap of our test, read "Dunlop Direzza ZII Introductory Track Drive."

Bridgestone's Potenza RE-11A is replacing the previous model, the Potenza RE-11 in 10 sizes. This newer tire has an updated rubber compound designed to improve wet and dry traction. While sharing the same tread design, the Potenza RE-11A adds an exclusive tread compound that combines silica with a new long-link carbon black that increases road contact and abrasion resistance while promoting tread rubber flexibility across a range of cool to hot temperatures. The internal construction includes a custom asymmetric shape that helps distribute footprint pressure more evenly.

BFGoodrich g-Force Rival

Dunlop Direzza ZII

Bridgestone Potenza RE-11A

Are you a serious driving enthusiast looking for dry road response, traction, handling and high speed capabilities? If so, take a look at our Extreme Performance Summer tires and find the one that's right for your vehicle.

The anti-roll bar, also called an anti-sway bar, connects the left and right suspensions together and anchors to the vehicle frame. Typically used at the front and rear of the vehicle, the anti-roll bar is commonly used to adjust the handling balance of the vehicle and limit the amount of sway or body roll during cornering.

In essence, an anti-roll bar works as a torsion spring, so as you approach a high speed corner, the vehicle will begin to lean downward toward the outside corner pushing upward on the outside end of the anti-roll bar. The upward movement of the outside end of the anti-roll bar is transferred to the inside end of the anti-roll bar, which responds by also applying the same upward movement to the inside cornering of the suspension. This compresses the inside corner of the suspension while also providing torsion to the anti-roll bar so the outside edge can better resist the upward movement. All this results in a vehicle that'll remain level even while making high-speed corners and keep traction more equal for the inside and outside tires.  

Whether you're looking to increase performance on your daily driver or looking to have the ultimate autocross/road race machine, we offer a wide array of anti-roll bar products. 

Eibach Anti-Roll Kit

H&R Anti-Roll Bar

Hotchkis Sport Anti-Roll Bar

Performance Street Anti-Roll Bars:

Eibach Anti-Roll Kit:

• Further reduces body roll
• Cold-formed from high strength aircraft grade steel
• Designed to fit without vehicle modification

H&R Anti-Roll Bar:

• Perfectly complements H&R springs, coil-overs, performance shocks and cup kits
• Crafted from spring steel that is stronger, more resilient than other materials
• Bent on proprietary machines designed by H&R to produce complex curves and a perfect fit

Hotchkis Sport Anti-Roll Bars:

• Improves handling while reducing body roll
• Designed for the everyday commuter and occasional road course or track use
• Includes tubular front and rear anti-roll bars

Hotchkis AutoX Anti-Roll Bar

Hotchkis Competition Anti-Roll Bars

Autocross/Track Anti-Roll Bars:

Hotchkis Sport Suspension AutoX Anti-Roll Bar:

• Improves handling and reduces body roll
• Track-tested, lightweight, hollow
• Includes greasable bushings and brackets

Hotchkis Competition Anti-Roll Bars:

• Designed for the highly competitive road course and autocross course
• Maximizes tire performance and achieves slight oversteer
• Tubular front and rear bars with greasable polyurethane bushings, brackets and 90-degree zerk fittings (where applicable)

Shop by vehicle to view all anti-roll bars offered for your daily driver, autocross or road race vehicle. Also, take a look at replacement shocks and struts to complement your new anti-roll bars by reading, "Which Bilstein Replacement Shock or Strut is Best for Your Vehicle?"

Hankook's Ventus R-S3 provides an affordable street tire that best mimics the grip of a racing slick intended for the track. The R-S3 entered a very competitive group of Extreme Performance Summer tires dominated by the Bridgestone Potenza RE-11 and the Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec, both of which are considered excellent dual purpose tires for performance street and occasional track / autocross use. We had the opportunity to compare the Hankook against both these tires, as well as the Yokohama ADVAN Neova AD08 and Kumho Ecsta XS on our test track. Results were published in the August 2011 issue of Grassroots Motorsports Magazine. During this test, the R-S3 shaved nearly a full second off the Dunlop's lap time and came in quicker than the Bridgestone, too! Our tester remarked: "The tire inspires confidence from the first turn of the steering wheel, making it easy to attack the course's elements."

Our extensive Tire Survey Results put the Bridgestone Potenza RE-11 just slightly ahead of the Hankook in cornering stability and hydroplaning resistance. With that said, customers really like this tire and have spoken with high praise for this Hankook and say they would buy this tire again!

"I love this tire. I bought it mostly for autocross use. However, I have driven quite a few highway miles now and have had no problems. I'd say this is one of the best performance tires you can buy, especially for the price. Needless to say, I'll be buying another set when the time comes." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2002 Honda S2000

"I purchased this tire for mainly track use and it did not disappoint. The traction was great when accelerating, cornering and braking. I have just purchased another set for my TT. Excellent value!" -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2007 BMW Z4 M Coupe

Do you want to see if the Hankook Ventus RS-3 is available for sports car, sports coupe or performance sedan? Then shop by vehicle!

If you ask a random person to name a few tire brands off the top of their head, odds are one of the first to come to their mind is Goodyear. Goodyear tires come as Original Equipment on many makes and models of cars, trucks, SUVs and crossover vehicles. In addition to being one of most well-known brands worldwide, Goodyear makes some of the top tires on the market in various categories.

An oldie but goodie, the Goodyear Eagle GT (V-Speed Rated) is still holding its own against the competition in the High Performance All-Season category. It's currently ranked fourth out of seventeen tires in our Tire Survey Results. During our in-house testing, we liked the tire's reasonable ride quality and good winter weather traction.

The Goodyear Eagle GT has an asymmetric tread pattern so you can rotate them for longer treadlife and help maintain an even treadwear for a quieter ride. To learn more about tire rotation, see my blog post titled "Should I Rotate My Tires?"

Take a look at what some of our customers are saying about the Goodyear Eagle GT (V-Speed Rated):

"These babies are sweet. I've got 20,000 on a set of four and it's like I'm riding on rails still. Treadwear looks normal for my "spirited" driving, probably 50-60% left and looks totally even. For my mom's Hyundai we ordered the Kumhos... On my Mustang I just couldn't do it. Goodyear Eagle GT's go a lot better on Sally."  -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2000 Ford Mustang Convertible.

"Good price, a great tire and good wet road and dry road ride." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2004 Honda Accord Sedan EX V6.

"These are my second set of Goodyears. Old set went over 40,000 miles, much better than the Original Equipment which I only got about 12,000 miles out of. I also tried Yokohamas, which were good but extremely noisy and went about 30,000-35,000 miles; so the Goodyears are great and superior to the other two and I recommend them on your small car." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2005 Suzuki Reno LX.

Shop by vehicle to see if the Goodyear Eagle GT is available for your application.

On January 22nd, I flew down to New Orleans to attend the launch of the BFGoodrich g-Force Rival. The event was held at NOLA Motorsports Park with wonderful hospitality from BFGoodrich. They had a full team to provide background on the mission and development of the tire. We started with a presentation on the new tire, and then had the opportunity to take part in four driving demonstrations: skidpad, short autocross, long autocross and road course. 

The presentation highlighted the goals of the g-Force Rival as a tire that can be driven on the street and also be effective on the track and during competition. Its focus is on maximum dry traction. While the tire can be used in the wet, the dry is where it truly shines. 

Each driving exercise served as a demonstration of the Rival's capabilities. Skidpad testing is pretty basic, just drive around in circles as fast as you can. Even though it may seem simplistic, it's an excellent way to really feel the characteristics of a tire. In addition to a simple test of how sticky they are, it gives plenty of time to push tires past their limits of grip in a controlled way, and then observe how they recover.

Testing during short autocross showcased steering response and durability as we flogged the cars around numerous tight corners. The road course highlighted stability under braking as we hauled the cars down from speeds much higher than those on the skidpad. We ended the day on the long autocross which provided an excellent synthesis of all-around handling with a varied mix of corners. 

Through a full day of testing, the most impressive characteristics of the BFGoodrich g-Force Rival were: 

• Precise turn-in - Thanks to very stiff sidewalls, initial turn-in and transitional response were direct and immediate. Stiff sidewalls are something that I especially like in a performance tire, so this was a big plus to me

• Excellent durability - We were able to inspect the tread before and after each event. The g-Force Rival seemed to wear very well, and was especially impressive for how evenly it wore. These tires took a beating and we were encouraged to push them to and past their limits to test their ability to recover. Treadlife during street driving likely won't be as long as basic passenger tires because of the sticky compound, but they seem to be well built to take abuse on the track. 

• Usable grip - The Rival delivered excellent grip across a wide range of slip angles, meaning that grip doesn't drop off too suddenly if you miss the sweet spot. It had a forgiving nature that indicates a pretty wide band of usable grip. 

It'll be exciting to see how the BFGoodrich g-Force Rival compares to competitors like the new Dunlop Direzza ZII on our test track later this year!

New for 2013, Dunlop has released their latest Extreme Performance Summer tire, the Direzza ZII. This tire is replacing the ever popular Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec. Testing of this tire is scheduled for spring, but from our time with the tire during our introductory track drive, we saw the tire offer better dry traction than its predecessor. From the initial look of the tire, it has fewer circumferential grooves and directional sweeping treads, along with larger shoulder blocks - thus promoting better dry traction and improved stability in cornering.

The Direzza ZII features Dunlop’s True Circle Profile that distributes tire deflection forces along the sidewall to provide more control by better communicating tire performance limits to the driver. Its internal structure includes JointLess Band (JLB) Technology that spirally winds polyamide cord over the two wide steel belts to promote strength, uniform ride quality and high-speed capability. Two-ply polyester sidewalls help resist lateral deflection to provide responsive handling and cornering stability.

With 27 sizes expected to arrive for race season, get the Dunlop Direzza ZII and beat your competition.

We have been eagerly awaiting the Dunlop Direzza ZII, which will replace the Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec. The Z1 Star Spec is a longtime favorite, and I even owned a set myself. However, the Extreme Performance Summer category is very competitive and Dunlop wants to stay a step ahead of its competitors. 

In preparation for the launch of this new model, we had the chance to do some preliminary testing of the Direzza ZII against the Z1 Star Spec to get a feel for how the new option compares to the older one. The biggest improvement we noticed was in steering response and predictability.

The new tire was faster to respond to driver inputs and imparted greater confidence with its traction and stability. This resulted in noticeable improvements in both wet and dry lap times. We weren't able to run enough laps to begin to see significant wear on either tire, however what there was already showed the Direzza ZII wearing at least as well as the Z1 Star Spec.

Faster and more predictable in the dry and wet, and at least equal wear rate shows that Dunlop hit the mark with the Direzza ZII. Stay tuned as we'll be doing a full road, dry and wet track comparison later this year to see how this newer tire compares with other options in the Extreme Performance Summer category. The Dunlop Direzza ZII is expected to arrive in mid-to-late January, with more sizes filling out the lineup as we approach spring.

To see our initial report of the tire, read "Dunlop Direzza ZII Introductory Track Drive."