Choosing the right tires is one of the most critical decisions for your vehicle’s safety and performance. The correct set can improve handling, reduce braking distances, and provide confidence in various weather conditions. This guide cuts through the noise to present a clear overview of highly-rated options, from all-season champions to specialized summer performers, helping you make an informed choice for your driving needs.
We have compiled a list of nine notable products based on user and expert ratings. Our roundup includes everything from ultra-high performance tires for sports cars to a practical accessory for truck and SUV owners. This selection is designed to give you a comprehensive look at what is available for achieving maximum performance on the road.
Top Tire and Accessory Picks for Your Vehicle
- Nilight Folding Heavy Duty Tire Step
- Michelin Pilot Sport AS 4
- Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 PLUS UHP All Season
- Pirelli P Zero All Season Plus 3
- Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R Summer Tire
- Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate All-Season Radial Tire
- Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 Summer Performance Tire
- General G-MAX RS Ultra High Performance Tire
- BFGoodrich g-Force COMP-2 A/S Plus All-Season Tire
Nilight Folding Heavy Duty Tire Step
For owners of trucks, SUVs, and RVs, accessing the roof or upper parts of the vehicle can be a challenge. The Nilight Folding Tire Step provides a sturdy and convenient solution. Its steel tube frame and heavy gauge stamped steel platform support up to 350 pounds, offering a secure foothold for various tasks like cleaning, loading cargo, or performing maintenance.
The step features significant adjustability with five depth positions to fit tires from 10 to 14 inches wide and three height positions. The open design allows mud and debris to fall through, while the metal grating surface with anti-slip tape provides reliable grip. Adjustable rubber bumpers protect your wheels from scratches, and the black powder coating ensures long-term durability against the elements.
Michelin Pilot Sport AS 4
The Michelin Pilot Sport AS 4 is an ultra-high performance all-season tire designed to deliver responsive handling and grip throughout the year. It is engineered for sports cars and performance sedans, offering a blend of dynamic capability and long-lasting tread life. Its reputation is so strong that it was the first all-season tire selected by Chevrolet for the Corvette, a testament to its capabilities.
This tire is built to provide confidence in a variety of conditions, from dry roads to wet weather. The focus is on providing consistent performance that does not significantly degrade over time, making it a smart choice for drivers who want a single tire solution without sacrificing the feel of a performance-oriented product.
Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 PLUS
Continental’s ExtremeContact DWS06 PLUS is a standout in the ultra-high performance all-season category. It is engineered with the brand’s SportPlus Technology, which aims to provide a balanced experience of responsive handling, strong grip on both dry and wet pavement, and a long tread life. This makes it a popular choice for drivers who face diverse weather but still want a sporty feel.
A key benefit of this tire is its focus on safety, with short braking distances in wet and dry conditions. It also offers competent performance in light snow and ice, providing year-round usability. Backed by a 50,000-mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, it represents a durable and high-performing option for performance coupes and sedans.
Pirelli P Zero All Season Plus 3
The Pirelli P Zero All Season Plus 3 is designed for drivers of performance-oriented coupes and sedans who require a tire that can handle every season. It represents the latest evolution in Pirelli’s all-season performance line, focusing on improved traction, handling, and braking across a wider range of temperatures and conditions compared to its predecessors.
This tire features an asymmetrical tread pattern that is key to its performance, helping to channel water away and maintain a solid contact patch. It also comes with a 50,000-mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, offering peace of mind alongside its performance credentials for daily driving and spirited weekend trips.
Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R
The Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R is an ultra-high performance summer tire developed for maximum grip and responsiveness. It is a favorite among autocross and track day enthusiasts due to its exceptional cornering capabilities and precise steering feedback. This tire is engineered for warm, dry conditions where it can perform at its peak.
It is important to note that as a dedicated summer tire, it is not intended for use in near-freezing temperatures, snow, or ice. Its compound is optimized for warmth, providing outstanding dry and wet road holding when the weather is suitable. Please be aware that this product has specific regional availability restrictions.
Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate All-Season
The Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate is an all-season radial tire designed for performance cars. It incorporates Goodyear’s ActiveGrip Technology, which is intended to provide exceptional handling and traction in various conditions. This makes it a solid choice for drivers looking for a tire that can perform reliably throughout the year.
Additional features include ActiveBreaking Technology, which is designed to enhance braking performance, and an enhanced rim protector. The rim protector is a valuable feature that helps guard your wheels against accidental curb damage, helping to keep them looking new and avoiding costly repairs.
Firestone Firehawk Indy 500
The Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 is an ultra-high performance summer tire known for providing a significant boost in grip and handling at a competitive value. It is a popular option for drivers who want to enhance their vehicle’s performance for street use or occasional track days without a major investment.
This tire features a tread design that improves water evacuation, offering more control and resistance to hydroplaning on wet roads. Along with its functional benefits, it also sports a bold, aggressive design that complements the look of performance vehicles.
General G-MAX RS Ultra High Performance Tire
The General G-MAX RS is an ultra-high performance tire focused on delivering sharp handling and strong dry traction. It is designed for sports car and performance sedan owners who prioritize a dynamic driving experience. The tire’s construction and compound are tuned for responsive steering and stability at higher speeds.
While excelling in dry conditions, it also handles wet roads competently. The G-MAX RS positions itself as a compelling option for drivers seeking performance characteristics often associated with more premium brands, but at a more accessible value point.
BFGoodrich g-Force COMP-2 A/S Plus
The BFGoodrich g-Force COMP-2 A/S Plus is an all-season ultra-high performance tire built to handle aggressive driving in a variety of weather conditions. It is an upgrade from its predecessor, offering improved tread life and winter traction while maintaining the sporty handling the line is known for. It suits a range of sporty coupes and sedans.
This tire is engineered with a focus on providing grip in dry, wet, and even light snow conditions, making it a true year-round performance option. Its durable compound and construction are designed to withstand the demands of spirited driving while providing consistent performance over its lifespan.
Buying Guide: How to Pick the Best and Worst Tire Ratings for Maximum Performance
When I’m shopping for new tires, I don’t just look at the brand name or the price tag. I’ve learned that the real secrets to a tire’s personality are hidden in its ratings. Understanding these numbers and letters is the difference between a car that feels glued to the road and one that feels like it’s skating on ice. To get the best and worst tire ratings for maximum performance, you need to know what you’re looking at on that sidewall.
First up is the Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG). This is a government-mandated system that gives you three key pieces of information. The one I care about most for performance is the Treadwear Grade. This number is a comparative estimate. A rating of 200 means the tire should last twice as long as one with a rating of 100 under controlled testing conditions. For maximum performance, you often see lower treadwear numbers (like 200-300) because softer rubber grips better. A high-performance tire with a 500 rating might be a red flag; it’s likely a harder compound that sacrifices grip for longevity.
Next in the UTQG is the Traction Grade. This measures a tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement in a straight line. The grades are AA, A, B, and C, with AA being the best. For any performance driving, especially if you see rain, I would never settle for anything less than an A. An AA rating is what you want for true maximum performance and safety. A “B” or “C” rating here is a sign of a subpar tire for spirited driving.
The final UTQG grade is Temperature Resistance, which tells you how well the tire dissipates heat and resists heat-related failure at high speeds. The grades are A, B, and C. For performance driving, you absolutely need an “A” rating. A “B” or “C” rating means the tire can’t handle the sustained high speeds or aggressive cornering that generates a lot of heat, making it a poor choice.
Beyond UTQG, pay close attention to the speed rating. This letter at the end of the tire size (e.g., 225/45R17 94W) tells you the maximum speed the tire can sustain. For a true performance car, look for a W (168 mph) or Y (186 mph) rating. A tire with an S (112 mph) or T (118 mph) rating is not built for performance handling; its internal construction and compound are designed for comfort and economy, not cornering forces.
Finally, I always, always read owner reviews and professional tests for real-world feedback on dry and wet grip, steering response, and road noise. A tire might have great paper ratings but be terrible in the real world. By combining these official ratings with real user experiences, you can confidently separate the true performers from the pretenders.
FAQ
What is the most important tire rating for dry road grip?
For pure dry road grip, the UTQG Treadwear rating is a great indirect indicator. Lower treadwear numbers (like 140-280) typically mean a softer rubber compound, which provides more mechanical grip on dry pavement. However, this comes at the cost of faster wear. The best performance summer tires will have a low treadwear rating, a high-speed rating (W or Y), and an AA traction grade, giving you a complete picture of a tire built for maximum performance.
Is a higher treadwear rating always better?
Not at all. While a higher treadwear rating (like 600 or 800) means the tire will last longer, it achieves this by using a harder rubber compound. A harder compound provides less grip, making the tire feel less responsive and more slippery, especially in corners or during hard braking. It’s a trade-off. For a performance-oriented driver, a very high treadwear rating is often a sign of a “worst” tire for the intended purpose of dynamic driving.
How much does the traction grade really matter?
It matters a lot, especially for safety. The traction grade (AA, A, B, C) specifically measures a tire’s wet braking capability in a straight line. An AA-rated tire will stop significantly shorter on a wet road than a C-rated tire. If you live in an area with frequent rain, prioritizing a high traction grade is non-negotiable for maintaining control and safety. A low grade here is a major mark against a tire’s overall performance envelope.
Can I mix tires with different speed ratings on my car?
I strongly advise against it. Mixing tires with different speed ratings (and often different performance characteristics) can lead to unpredictable handling. Your car’s stability control and anti-lock braking systems are calibrated for four identical tires. Using mismatched tires can confuse these systems and create a dangerous imbalance, especially during emergency maneuvers. Always replace tires in sets of at least two (both axles) and ensure they have identical size, type, and speed ratings.
Are expensive tires always better performers?
Price is often correlated with performance, but it’s not an absolute guarantee. Some mid-priced tires offer an incredible balance of grip, comfort, and longevity, delivering what I’d call the best value for maximum performance. Conversely, a very expensive tire might be focused on track-day extremes, making it noisy and harsh for daily driving. The key is to match the tire’s specific ratings and reviews to your driving style and needs, not just its price tag.