Consider purchasing some ultra-high-performance tires if you drive a high-performance car or are upgrading your vehicle. Ultra-high-performance tires, which are only appropriate for summer driving, place the most significant importance on the grip. They are additionally referred to as max-performance tires or extreme-performance tires. An ultra-high-performance tire has a maximum speed rating of 149 mph or more. On dry pavement, these tires have extreme levels of traction. Ultra-high-performance tires work best on wet surfaces, though they can also be used there.
If you enjoy going to the track, participating in autocross competitions, or engaging in (safe and legal) canyon driving, you might want ultra-high-performance tires. Of course, these tires will cost more than all-season or standard-performance tires.
This post will show you some of the top ultra-high-performance tires available. We’ll discuss their advantages, disadvantages, ideal applications, and appropriate vehicle types.
Michelin Pilot Super Sport
The Michelin Pilot Super Sport is the only high-performance tire you need to consider if you don’t mind spending a little extra money.
Regarding ultra-high-performance tires, this has long held the segment leadership position. The Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires are balanced and offer some of the highest levels of grip available among ultra-high performance tires. They function well in dry and wet conditions, provide good comfort and road noise, and are durable.
If the Michelin Pilot Super Sports are still insufficient to convince you of their superiority, consider that many high-performance vehicles, including the BMW M3, come standard with them. Therefore, manufacturers, as well as enthusiasts, trust the Michelin PSS.
Blackhawk HU02
You might not be familiar with Blackhawk, but they have a wide range of tires for everything from passenger cars to commercial trucks. Blackhawk’s HU02 stands out among ultra-high-performance tires.
The Blackhawk HU02 has an asymmetrical, variable-pitch tread design that provides drivers with a quiet, comfortable ride because it was explicitly created for high-performance sport coupes and sedans. With water evacuation in mind, the interior tread pattern was designed to provide outstanding traction on wet surfaces. The outside tread pattern offers a larger contact patch, which performs best in dry conditions.
The cutting-edge tread compound is prepared to deliver cutting-edge cornering and handling when it’s time to perform. The silica compound improves braking, reduces rolling resistance, and assists in heat reduction.
A wide range of sizes for 16-, 17-, 18-, 19-, and 20-inch wheels are available for the Blackhawk HU02. Even three unique order options are available for 21-inch wheels.
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2
Some of the fastest automobiles in the world, including the Porsche 911 GT2 RS, which once held the Nurburgring lap record, come standard with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires.
Porsche doesn’t mess around regarding performance, so you can rely on the Sport Cup 2 to perform well on the track. Although the manufacturer doesn’t advise using these tires in wet driving conditions, they deliver absurd levels of grip in dry conditions. They are suitable for use in typical wet conditions but not in standing water.
However, they more than makeup for any shortcomings they may have in performance in wet weather elsewhere. As we previously stated, these tires have very high dry grip and good durability for a tire that is so performance-focused. The comfort and road conditions are also suitable. It’s difficult to go wrong with Pilot Sport Cup 2s if you drive a high-performance vehicle on the racetrack.
Yokohama Advan Neova AD08 R
The Yokohama Advan AD08 R provides high grip levels in dry and wet driving conditions.
These tires’ aggressive treads can generate a lot of road noise, but their soft, sticky compound gives them extreme levels of grip. According to track tests, these tires perform consistently and don’t significantly degrade once they heat up. The AD08 Rs are an excellent choice if you want to turn in fast lap after fast lap over several sessions on a track day.
These tires lack the balance of a Michelin Pilot Super Sport because of their incredibly soft, sticky compound and aggressive tread. Because of this, they make excellent performance tires but could be more suitable for use on roads. The AD08 R is the ideal dedicated track day tire. Utilizing them exclusively on the track could increase the tread’s lifespan and reduce your costs because they are also quite expensive.
Hankook Ventus R-S4
The Ventus R-S4 from Hankook offers superior handling and cornering performance as its predecessor, the Ventus R-S3. The Ventus R-S4 has a low-void, directional pattern and a new, high-grip compound made of silica and carbon black. The exceptional grip is provided by these tires’ sizable outboard shoulder blocks. A broad, continuous center rib helps the steering respond quickly.
The addition of highly dispersible silica to the tire also addresses the R-S3’s wet grip shortcomings, but they still need to be recommended for torrential downpours. These high-performance tires can handle performance driving even on vehicles with high camber thanks to an additional reinforcement in the shoulder.
Choose the appropriate size for your vehicle.
Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R
The Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R is a semi-slick road tire that should only be used on the racetrack. If you choose these soft and sticky tires, you may want to buy a second set of wheels for your “track only” wheel and tire background because they will wear out quickly on the street.
Due to their extremely high levels of grip, these tires will offer excellent dry traction but may deprive your car of some steering feel. On the road, they are also very loud.
Therefore, even though the Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R is one of the best high-performance tires on the market right now (it is even on the Lamborghini Aventador SV J that holds the Nurburgring record), they won’t perform well on the road because they wear out quickly, are noisy, and have poor grip in wet conditions.
Toyo Proxes R888 R
The Toyo Proxes R888 Rs is viewed as a replacement for the Pirelli Trofeo R due to their similar soft compound and aggressive tread.
They, therefore, work best when applied to a dry track. They have low traction in wet conditions and high road noise, but they are great tires for your car when you get on the road and take off before you leave. Despite their shortcomings, they are safe to drive on the road.
These tires have a long lifespan and are reasonably priced for ultra-high-performance tires. If you need a lot of grips but are willing to trade off some comfort, durability, and road noise, the R888 Rs might be the tire for you.
Conclusion
Get ultra-high-performance tires if you race your car or participate in autocross competitions.
These tires are safer because they are rated for extremely high speeds between 149 mph and 186 mph and higher, making them better suited for track use due to their high levels of grip. However, ultra-high-performance tires have little traction in cold weather, so remove them as soon as the temperature drops below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Consider this before purchasing because some ultra-high-performance models perform poorly in the rain and standing water.