Extreme Performance Tires

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.

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.

Unfortunately, not all days can be sunny and dry. While we all experience varying weather patterns, some people see more wet weather than others. If you live in Florida, or another state known for heavy and frequent rains, you may choose a tire that performs well in the wet above all else.

If this sounds like the conditions you experience, take a look at my favorite Max Performance Summer tires that feature wet weather performance, yet make no compromises in the dry.

The Continental ExtremeContact DW features a large amount of tread void that does extremely well in the wet. Looking at its pattern will display a large amount of water channels to aid in hydroplane resistance. While one of our strongest tires in the wet, the ExtremeContact DW can also hold its own in the dry and has long since been a favorite amongst consumers looking for performance and value.

Michelin's Pilot Super Sport has been a standout in nearly every test we've done since it was released last year. This tire tends to be one of the fastest Max Performance Summer tires in the dry, and also has exceptional balance when the going gets slippery. While the tire doesn't quite have as much tread void as the Continental, it's an exceptional performer and is very composed at the traction limit.

Continental ExtremeContact DW

Michelin Pilot Super Sport

Take a look at all Max Performance Summer options and find the one that works best for you.

The MAZDA3 came to the market in 2004 as a replacement for the Protege. It was later redesigned in 2010. With a number of configurations and trim levels offered, there are various tire size options in play. The first step will be using our shop by vehicle feature and verifying the size of tire that's on your vehicle. The following tires are some of the more popular and higher rated options in three of the most common sizes for this vehicle. Keep in mind, not all of these options may be available for your specific variation of the vehicle.

Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Plus

Continental ExtremeContact DWS

BFGoodrich g-Force Sport COMP-2

In 195/65R15, I would take a serious look at Bridgestone's Turanza Serenity Plus. This is the latest Grand Touring All-Season entry from this premium manufacturer. We tested this tire last season against three of the top competitors and it came in first. Designed to provide Bridgestone's ultimate in luxury, elegance and comfort, Turanza Serenity Plus tires blend long wear with dry, wet and wintertime traction, even in light snow.

205/55R16 is another common size for the MAZDA3 line of vehicles. This is one of the more popular sizes in the market, so there will be many choices. If you're looking for a performance oriented option, check out the Continental ExtremeContact DWS. This has been the top-rated Ultra High Performance All-Season tire by our customers for five years. It's particularly strong in the winter elements, while also receiving high marks in hydroplaning resistance, wet traction, dry traction and ride comfort.

The sports minded version of the MAZDA3 wears a 205/50R17. If this is the case for you, I would suggest the BFGoodrich g-Force Sport COMP-2. This Ultra High Performance Summer solution was released last year with great success. It's currently ranked number one in its category. If you're looking to accelerate faster, corner harder and brake shorter in dry and wet conditions, then take a look at the g-Force Sport COMP-2.

For more information on selecting the right tire, read "Shopping for Tires on Our Website."

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.

Two of the most recognizable and respected brands in the industry are Michelin and Goodyear. Both brands have their fans, both brands have their detractors, but ask any sampling of people in the United States to name a couple of tire brands and Goodyear and Michelin will probably dominate the responses. A common question that we receive is: "Which brand is better?" The answer depends on the tire category and the specific needs of the driver, but I'll try to give an overview by comparing the top tires from each brand by category. This comparison focuses on categories for cars.

Category: Passenger All-Season

Contenders: Goodyear Assurance TripleTred All-Season vs. Michelin Energy Saver A/S

Verdict: The Goodyear has the advantage in bad weather traction. Michelin's Energy Saver A/S optimizes rolling resistance to slightly enhance fuel economy. Both have very good treadwear and rate well in our customer surveys, but the Goodyear is currently higher. Two strong contenders, however the Goodyear wins with superior traction in bad weather.

Category: Standard Touring All-Season

Contenders: Goodyear (none) vs. Michelin Defender

Verdict: No contest here as Michelin has the number one tire in the class and Goodyear has no entry. Michelin wins by default. Goodyear would need a heroic new entry to unseat the current king of this class.

Category: Grand Touring All-Season

Contenders: Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring vs. Michelin Primacy MXV4

Verdict: These two tires are both excellent entries into the category. I've driven both of these and prefer the Michelin, which also has slightly higher survey results over a larger number of miles. This round goes to Michelin.

Category: High Performance All-Season

Contenders: Goodyear Eagle GT vs. Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S

Verdict: The Eagle GT is solid but the Pilot Exalto A/S remains one of the best all-around tires in the category. It blends ride, handling and traction in a wide variety of conditions. The Pilot Exalto A/S takes this round for Michelin as well.

Category: Ultra High Performance All-Season

Contenders: Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric All-Season vs. Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus

Verdict: These tires are both right in the top tier of the category. We have not tested them directly against one another, and the Goodyear is relatively new. Both earned similar results against other tires in the category in tests one year apart. This one is too close to call.

Category: Max Performance Summer

Contenders: Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 vs. Michelin Pilot Super Sport

Verdict: This is an excellent match-up of two of the newest and stickiest tires in the Max Performance Summer category. The Michelin won their head-to-head test, and having done some of the driving for the test, I agree with the results. Honorable mention to the Goodyear, which is an excellent tire in its own right, but the Pilot Super Sport is the class of the field right now.

Category: Extreme Performance Summer

Contenders: Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar G: 2 vs. Michelin (none)

Verdict: Goodyear makes the Supercar G: 2 in very few sizes, but does enough to take the category unopposed. Any tire that looks this cool merits some points in a brand shoot by virtue of the halo effect it brings to the brand:

Roundup:

• Goodyear wins two categories: Passenger All-Season and Extreme Performance Summer.
• Michelin wins four categories: Standard Touring All-Season, Grand Touring All-Season, High Performance All Season and Max Performance Summer.

Whether you're a Goodyear or Michelin fan, both brands provide great options. Choose the tire from the brand you like that best suits how and where you drive.

An Audi Q7 with Audi's quattro® all-wheel drive should have zero problems in the snow, right? Not if your Q7 came with 21" Original Equipment wheels and 295/35R21 summer tires. Unfortunately, none of the major tire manufacturers make an all-season in this size and there's not a good alternative 21" tire.

If you live in an area outside the Snowbelt, you may not need a set of dedicated winter / snow tires. However, the summer tires currently on your vehicle aren't going to be much help once the temperature begins to drop. The solution? Downsize to 275/45ZR20 Continental ExtremeContact DWS tires on 20" Andros Spec P wheels.

The ExtremeContact DWS features Tuned Performance Indicators -- visible letters molded into the second rib from the outboard shoulder to alert drivers of their tire's performance levels. A visible "DWS" indicates the tire has sufficient tread depth for dry conditions, as well as wet roads and light snow. After the "S" has worn away, the remaining "DW" indicates the tire has sufficient tread depth for dry and wet roads only. After the "W" and "S" have worn away, the remaining "D" indicates the tire has proper tread depth for dry conditions only.

20x10 Andros Spec P

275/45ZR20 Continental ExtremeContact DWS

275/45R20 has the same overall diameter as the 295/35R21 and is 1/2" narrower. The 275/45R20 is an Original Equipment size that Audi uses on certain Q7 trim levels and is compatible. Since your Q7 uses the Indirect ABS-based TPMS system, there are no direct TPMS sensors to purchase. We'll include our free mount and balance, therefore your Tire & Wheel Package ($1156* plus shipping) will arrive ready to install.

*Prices subject to change