If you’ve ever shopped for tires, you’ve probably heard some of them called “touring” or “high performance” tires. But what exactly does that mean, and which one is best for you? They each have their strengths and weaknesses, and the right one for you is mostly dependent on your vehicle and driving preferences. Let’s take a closer look at the differences between these tires.
Touring Tires
These tires are designed to offer a smooth, cushiony, comfortable, and quiet ride. They usually offer much longer tread life as well. Typically, fuel efficient or eco-friendly tires fall into this category. Tires that have bigger sidewall profiles (a.k.a. aspect ratios of 50 or higher) are more commonly touring tires, since the larger sidewall provides more cushion; though many high performance tires are offered in sizes with bigger sidewalls, too. The downside of touring tires is that they don’t offer the same handling and responsiveness (like quick cornering and braking) as high performance tires do – though they are still totally safe in terms of traction.
A few popular models of touring tires include: Michelin Defender, BFGoodrich Advantage T/A, and Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring
Ideal for: sedans, minivans, family vehicles, commuter vehicles; people who prioritize comfort, noise reduction, fuel efficiency, and/or longer tread life over sporty handling.
High Performance Tires
These tires are designed to offer sporty handling, fast responsiveness, and superior grip. People who really enjoy their vehicles and like to “feel the road” when they drive will likely prefer this style of tire. Typically, tires with low or ultra-low profiles (aspect ratios of 30-45) are high performance tires, due to the already stiff nature of the sidewalls. The downside of these tires is that they are much noisier, bumpier, and typically offer lower tread life than touring tires.
A few popular models of high performance tires include: Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3, BFGoodrich g-Force Super Sport A/S, and Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric
Ideal for: sports cars / sporty coupes, exotic cars, racing cars; people who prioritize grip and responsive handling over comfort and tread life.
As technology advances, many manufacturers aim to mitigate some of the cons of each style of tire, e.g. a touring tire that handles very well, or a high performance tire that has longer tread life. With that in mind, due to the extreme variety of vehicles on the road, we’ll probably see different styles of tires for a long time to come. So, which one is best for you? Whether you don’t know where to start, or you have the perfect tire in mind, Wiygul Automotive Clinic has you covered. Come by any of our 8 locations and our skilled tire technicians will get you the perfect set of tires in no time!
