235/45R18
Tires Cleveland

Choosing tires for a performance car

Performance tires are about three things · grip, response, and rim protection. If you're driving an M3, an Audi S-anything, a Hellcat, a 911 · the OEM tire on that car was matched to the car at the factory. Going down one tier in tire compound is the fastest way to make an expensive car feel cheap. What that doesn't mean · you have to pay $400 a tire. The mid-tier 'max performance summer' from Michelin (Pilot Sport), Continental (ExtremeContact), or Bridgestone (Potenza) gets you 85% of the grip of the top OEM tire at 60% of the price. The honest tradeoff · 15,000-25,000 miles of tread life vs the 35,000-mile touring tire on the same car. Ohio drivers · one note. Summer-only performance tires harden below 45°F. If you drive year-round, ask about 'ultra-high-performance all-season' instead · you give up a few percent of dry grip for tires that won't go dangerous in November. We don't recommend snow tires on most performance cars unless you're committed to a second set of wheels.

What to look for on the sidewall

• Speed rating W (168 mph) or Y (186 mph) for most modern performance cars
• Treadwear 300 or below for true performance compound · higher means harder rubber
• Sidewall stiffness — ask about 'rim-protector' edge if you have 19"+ wheels
• DOT date code matters more · old performance tires lose grip even unused

Worth checking while the tires are off