If you're looking for a good performing summer tire on a budget, take a look at the latest offering from Sumitomo. Their HTR Z III features an asymmetrical pattern that provides noticeable noise reduction when compared to the directional, previous generation HTR Z II.
While this tire may not be the top-ranked option in the Max Performance Summer category, it has one of the most attractive price points in the group. Developed for sports cars, sporty coupes and high performance sedans, the HTR Z III showcases Sumitomo's technical resources by providing high speed handling stability along with traction on dry and wet roads. The inside shoulder is linked by a continuous circumferential rib that enhances wear quality to help reduce noise throughout the tire's life, especially on vehicles with independent suspensions and alignment settings that specify negative camber. Straight and wide circumferential grooves along with long, sweeping lateral grooves evacuate water from under the tire's footprint to increase hydroplaning resistance and wet traction.
Through May 31, 2013, when you purchase a set of four Sumitomo HTR Z III tires you may be eligible to receive a $50 Tire Rack Prepaid MasterCard by mail. See special offer details here.
With spring h
ere, 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:
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.
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.
Looking to get rid of the empty space between the tire and fender arch? Many people think they need to use taller tires to fill the space, but the right way of doing this is with lowering springs. A well tuned set of lowering springs will make the car look better, handle better and unlike oversized tires, it will not make the speedometer, odometer and other systems overestimate vehicle speed and mileage.
The good folks from Eibach dropped by to visit us last week and reminded us of all the wonderful things they do. All Eibach springs, from the popular Pro-Kit springs for street cars, to the special titanium springs they make for the Bugatti Veyron, to the custom springs they manufacture for the premier professional racing series are built to the same standards of quality and durability.
If your car is a daily driver, the Eibach Pro-Kit Spring Set is one of the best options available. It gives a nice boost to performance without compromising ride quality. The lowering is usually between 1" and 1.5" depending on the application. This amount of lowering generally doesn't require any special alignment parts to be added in order to obtain a proper alignment. It's recommended to have an alignment done after the springs are installed.
View all Eibach products and choose the one that best fits your vehicle.
With it starting to feel a little more like spring, many people are starting to bring out their toys. By toys, I mean: RVs, campers, ATVs, boats, personal water craft and motorcycles. While Tire Rack doesn't carry motorcycle or ATV tires, we do have a line of trailer tires and even some options for RVs. If you're concerned about your old, cracked and weathered trailer tires, now is a good time to consider replacing them.
Why use trailer tires instead of normal passenger car tires on your trailer? Simple, trailer tires are produced with heavier-duty materials and are constructed to be tougher than your typical passenger vehicle tire. A trailer will also be more stable on tires specifically designed for trailer use. For more information, read "Trailer Tires vs. Passenger Vehicle Tires."
The two tires we carry that are specifically designed for trailer use are the Power King Towmax STR and Goodyear Marathon Radial.
The following sizes are available for the Power King Towmax STR:
The Goodyear Marathon Radial is made in the following sizes :
Be sure to check the condition of your trailer tires before head out on your first spring adventure. If you find you're in need of replacement tires, Tire Rack has you covered.
Recently, the following question was posted on one of the BMW forums I moderate: "It's getting close to spring time, and I am just wondering when everyone puts their summer wheels/tires on? I live in Ohio, so I was thinking of putting mine on during the first week of April. Any thoughts? In Cleveland, you never know when the winter will permanently end.
Yes, it's difficult to believe the calendar says another winter season has ended, but that doesn't mean your winter tires have been removed. I'm often asked when is the best time to swap winter / snow tires out for all-season or summer tires? My advice is to wait until the threat of snow is gone. Many are tempted to take off their winter tires early because of an unseasonably warm weekend. However, it's important to remember why you purchased your snow tires in the first place: safety! Is it really worth taking the chance of getting caught in a late-season snowstorm just to have your "fun" tires on a week or two sooner?
If you own a set of all-season tires, you should make the change when low temperatures are consistently above freezing each night and the longer term forecast is showing the same. Getting caught in an early spring dusting shouldn't be an issue as all-season tires can still provide traction in light snow.
Summer performance tires are at their best when it's warmer, as they provide almost no traction in snow. If your area tends to have such unpredictable late freezes, put off the changeover a little longer than you would with all-seasons.
When the time does come, why not do the job yourself? Read "Do You Have the Three Tools Needed to Remove Your Wheels and Tires?" to see how easy it is to replace your winter tires with your non-winter set.
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.
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!
Was there a misrepresentation of an early spring? Yes, the world's most famous weather predicting groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, has been charged with that heinous act.
We all know the rule, if Punxsutawney Phil doesn't see his shadow, then we can look forward to an early spring. On Groundhog Day, Phil saw no shadow, yet we saw plenty of snow on the first day of spring.
Even though most of us our wanting warmer weather, winter conditions are going to appear later this year and we need to be prepared. Why not get ready now by taking advantage of some great closeout savings on Michelin winter / snow tires available in select sizes?
There are a few great Michelin tires available with closeout pricing, including select sizes of the Primacy Alpin PA3, Latitude Alpin and Pilot Alpin PA3; however, I particularly like the X-Ice Xi2 for its ability to combine good snow grip with decent handling. We were fortunate to receive the X-Ice Xi2 in a wide variety of sizes:
What should you do with all the money you've saved? The Punxsutawney Phil Legal Defense Fund might be a worthy cause.
*Prices subject to change, limited stock
An easy and inexpensive way to increase the performance and handling of your vehicle is to add lowering springs. By lowering the vehicle's center of gravity, you can reduce body roll in the turns, dive under braking and squat during acceleration. Eibach offers two different kits, the Pro-Kit Spring Set for performance street use and the more aggressive Sportline Spring Set for autocross and track use.
A key to choosing the one best suited for your needs is the amount of drop the kit can provide. The lower the drop from the spring kit, the lower the center of gravity - which provides the best performance. However, the lower the spring kit drops, the stiffer the ride for everyday driving will become. It's important to choose the Eibach Spring Kit with the appropriate amount of drop for your driving needs.
Eibach's Pro-Kit Spring Set is designed to provide improved handling and improve the look of the vehicle. It's the perfect balance between performance and handling, while still maintaining the original ride quality of the vehicle. Eibach Pro-Kit Springs minimize the fender gap that makes a car look lifted. The Eibach Pro-Kit typically lowers the vehicle 1.00"-1.25" depending upon the application.
If you're looking for the ultimate in track performance, the Eibach Sportline Spring Kit will give your car a low, race-replica look. A radical reduction in wheel well gap and improved handling is achieved for serious track and autocross enthusiasts. The Sportline Kit provides a drop typically between 1.50"-2.00" depending upon the application. This kit is for someone willing to give up some ride quality in exchange for the best cornering grip and turn-in response.
Shop by vehicle to see if an Eibach kit is right for your application. Also, be sure to read "Altitude and Attitude Adjustment" for more information on properly lowering your vehicle.
With the snow melting in most of the country, driving enthusiasts are looking forward to a spring and summer of high performance driving fun. For those on a budget, there's a great selection of Ultra High Performance All-Season tires, including the Pirelli P Zero Nero All Season. The tire is currently ranked sixth in our Tire Survey Results.
Our extensive Real World Road Ride and test track have always separated the contenders from the pretenders. A couple years ago we tested the Pirelli against the Dunlop SP Sport Signature, Sumitomo HTR A/S P01 and Yokohama AVID ENVigor with the P Zero Nero All Season delivering the quickest and most direct-feeling steering of the group. The Yokohama AVID ENVigor and Dunlop SP Sport Signature followed, with Sumitomo's HTR A/S P01 right behind. All three options exhibited an excellent direct steering feel. Overall noise levels for all four tires were similar, with all producing some amount of tread pattern hum. The AVID ENVigor generated a small ringing tone when it encountered sharp impacts on the highway, and the HTR A/S P01 produced a little more tread noise than the rest.
On the track in dry conditions, the Pirelli P Zero Nero All Season had the quickest overall lap time with its very quick steering response and good overall grip. Dunlop's SP Sport Signature followed with plenty of cornering traction and similar predictable handling. The Yokohama and Sumitomo repeated their standings as before. In the wet, the SP Sport Signature was fastest, thanks to its responsive steering and good ultimate grip, especially under braking.
If you're in the market for new Ultra High Performance All-Season tires, read "Finding the 'Ultra' in Ultra High Performance All-Season Tires" before making your selection.
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.
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.
2006 BMW X5 4.4i
2008 Pontiac G8 GT
