All-Season Tires
- Pros: All-season tires are designed to provide reasonable performance in a wide range of driving conditions such as dry, wet and light snow. They typically feature tread patterns with a harder rubber compound for increased tread life and tire siping for both wet and light winter traction.
- All-season tires typically are expected to last longer than tires designed for only one specific capacity, such as summer tires. The main goal here is to provide moderate traction for as wide a spectrum of weather conditions as possible.
- Cons: Since they're a "jack-of-all-trades" type tire, they are not going to perform the best in any one specific driving condition. As the weather gets colder, the rubber compound in all-season tires becomes more rigid. When temps drop below 45 degrees, the rubber loses its flexibility, leading to a loss of traction. Compared to a summer tire, all-seasons typically have deeper tread blocks and a stiffer rubber compound which leads to more tread squirm and a loss of cornering and handling abilities.
Summer Tires
- Pros: Summer tires are designed for responsive performance in both wet and dry driving conditions, specifically in warmer months. They typically have large contact patches and low-profile sidewalls that deliver traction and responsive cornering. They have higher speed ratings and soft rubber compounds for optimal traction and performance.
- Cons: The downside to a summer tire is faster treadwear and increased rolling resistance, making these tires less energy efficient. Lower profile sidewalls create a less comfortable ride while the larger contact patch can contribute to an increase in road noise.
Performance Tires
- Pros: Performance tires are designed to provide excellent traction and responsive performance.
- High-performance tires feature softer enhanced rubber compounds for better traction, handling and braking as well as the ability to disperse heat more efficiently—excellent for maintaining integrity at high speeds and in high temps. Higher speed ratings lead to better handling than standard tires and feature large contact patches and shorter sidewalls, improving traction and steering response. High-performance tires are available in summer, winter and all-season types.
- Ultra-high performance (UHP) tires deliver the highest level of performance and grip in dry weather conditions. Low-profile sidewalls offer responsive handling and super soft rubber compounds give excellent grip, handling and braking. They feature the highest speed ratings for heat dispersion and are made of lightweight materials for enhanced handling and high-speed control. Large contact patches increase grip.
- Cons: Shorter reinforced sidewalls can create a rougher ride while softer rubber compounds might lead to a decrease in expected tread life compared to standard tires. The larger contact patch could also potentially generate increased road noise. Advanced performance features also typically mean increased cost.
Snow/Winter Tires
- Pros: Winter tires (often also referred to as "snow tires") are designed for traction in harsh conditions brought on by winter weather. Winter tires have a special tread compound that is designed to remain flexible at temperatures below 45 degrees. They feature special tread patterns with extra-dense siping for grip in snowy and icy driving conditions. Some winter tires can be studded to provide more grip in icy conditions, one of the most dangerous road conditions drivers can encounter.
- Some winter tires can be studded, giving more grip on ice, one of the most dangerous road conditions drivers encounter.
- They typically feature the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake winter weather rating.
- Cons: Winter tires do not function well outside of winter conditions. They typically wear out faster in hot temperatures and do not handle as well as an all-season or summer tire. A good rule of thumb is to change back to your standard tires when temperatures no longer regularly drop below 45 degrees.
Run-Flat Tires
- Pros: Run-flat tires have a reinforced sidewall or, in some cases, an internal support ring to support the weight of the vehicle after a loss of air pressure. These tires allow a vehicle to be driven at reduced speed for a limited distance in the event of a flat tire. This eliminates the risk of stopping on the side of the road to change to a spare tire.
- Cons: Reinforced sidewalls can lead to a harsher ride compared to standard tires. Run-flat tires can still blow out. If they are driven on while underinflated, internal damage can occur leading to tire failure. It is necessary to have a TPMS system equipped for your vehicle if you intend to use run-flat tires. These tires are associated with higher costs due to their advanced safety features.
Competition Tires
- Pros: Track and competition tires feature the highest level of street-legal performance. There are several segments of track and competition tires: wet, dry, autocross, road and drag racing. These types of tires meet the minimum tread depth and construction criteria for Department of Transportation (DOT) approval. They give maximum tread contact and tread designs optimized for exceptional dry traction, cornering and braking.
- Since they are street-legal, they can be driven to and from events without requiring a tire change. They are available in a wide range of sizes and fitments.
- Cons: The shorter reinforced sidewalls which deliver their notorious responsive performance can create a harsh ride. Outstanding grip and performance from the soft rubber compounds also tend to wear rapidly. Although they are street-legal, they are not intended for street use. They are designed for high-speed traction and performance on the track and should be used conservatively on the street.
- They often require a break-in period to achieve optimal traction and performance. They are designed for very specific driving conditions and performance capabilities, such as extreme traction in dry conditions (which lead to sacrifices for wet performance).
- If track conditions change, you may need to change your tires to continue racing. They are not intended to perform in temps near freezing.
Highway Truck Tires
- Pros: Highway truck tires provide a smooth, quiet ride for trucks and SUVs. They tend to have less aggressive tread designs to prevent vibrations and road noise. Their tread uses a basic all-season tread pattern to deliver good cornering and braking in comparison with other truck and SUV tires.
- They are produced in a wide range of sizes to meet the requirements of a huge array of vehicles.
- Cons: Less aggressive tread designs mean there may not be adequate traction for winter or off-road driving conditions such as dirt, gravel, sand and mud.
All-Terrain Tires
- Pros: All-terrain tires combine the best elements of highway truck tires and Mud Terrain Tires. They are designed to provide adequate wet traction and braking on pavement in addition to their more formidable off-road capabilities. They have large tread blocks and deep, diagonal grooves to remove debris more efficiently.
- They come in a wide variety of ply ratings to support multiple classes of trucks and SUVs. They also feature large tread openings near the sidewall for additional grip off-road and most feature thick, reinforced sidewalls for added protection against off-road obstacles.
- Cons: More air can flow through the large openings near the sidewall, which can create road noise. Larger tread blocks also mean an increased risk of tread squirming, leading to less stable on-road handling. To provide off-road capabilities, wet weather performance is sacrificed.
Mud-Terrain Tires
- Pros: Mud Terrain tires are engineered for off-road performance in muddy terrain. They are geared toward off-road enthusiasts. They have increased durability, stability and wear thanks to the largest diagonal grooves of all tire types. These large grooves provide exceptional grip and their overall tread designs often extend down past the sidewall to enhance off-road traction.
- Sidewalls are often reinforced to be cut and bruise-resistant when used in low air pressure conditions for off-roading.
- Cons: Larger tread blocks create more road noise at higher speeds and produce tread squirm, leading to less stability on pavement. Ride comfort and longevity are not usually taken into account as they are designed for off-road conditions. Though they have excellent grip on the trail, they do not perform well in wet or icy conditions.
Sport Truck Tires
- Pros: Sport truck tires are intended for better handling, cornering and braking than any other tires for trucks and SUVs. They are available in a wide range of sizes and speed ratings. And they work great in both wet and dry conditions.
- Cons: As they have higher speed ratings and softer tread compounds, they will likely wear out faster than highway truck tires. Typically, sport truck tires have shorter sidewalls that absorb bumps less efficiently, leading to a stiffer ride. They also do not offer as much off-road performance as other truck tires.
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