High-Performance Tires

Best all-season tires for fast cars

Analysts at Consumer Reports magazine say that many people are gravitating to high-performance and even ultra-high-performance tires, in part because of their better handling and heat resistance. Federal investigations cited heat buildup as a contributing factor in the 270 deaths and 800 injuries tied to tire failures of Firestone tires back in 2000. High-performance tires, which are usually H-rated (130 mph) or V-rated (149 mph), get better grip, can brake and corner more precisely and won't get as hot on long highway trips in warm weather than standard all-season tires. But the advantages usually come at the expense of tread life and higher prices.

One exception is the Michelin Primacy MXV4 (*Est. $130). It is one of the most expensive performance all-season tires you can buy, but it also has one of the best government treadwear ratings in this category. Owners who post at The Tire Rack report that the Primacy MXV4 really does last longer than other performance all-season tires.

Canadian Driver reviewer James Bergeron spent a day track-testing the Michelin Primacy MXV4 on a 2007 Toyota Camry. He finds it "provides excellent value for a touring car," handling confidently in both a wet braking test and wet and dry autocross-style tests. However, although the Primacy MXV4 wins its latest expert test at The Tire Rack, testers give it only mediocre scores on wet roads: "A luxurious Grand Touring All-Season tire that seems to have lost some of its wet weather prowess," they conclude.

Still, reviews recommend the Michelin Primacy MXV4 more often than any other performance all-season tire. If you're particularly concerned about wet roads, some reviews prefer the Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S (*Est. $135). It has no problems with hydroplaning or braking on wet roads in one expert test, and it handles dry roads confidently. Consumers who post at The Tire Rack agree, and several add that the Pilot Exalto A/S drives well in normal -- but not heavy -- snow.

On snowy and icy roads, an inexpensive high-performance tire gets the best reviews: the Continental ContiExtremeContact (*Est. $90). In a leading test, no non-winter tire does a better job on wintry roads. Consumers at The Tire Rack -- including some in snowy Minnesota -- say the ContiExtremeContact handles reliably in winter. Experts at The Tire Rack note its "reputation for best-in-class winter traction," although the ContiExtremeContact performs only adequately on dry and wet roads in tests there. Some consumers complain that the ContiExtremeContact wore out faster than they had expected, but others point out that this tire is optimized for snow, which usually means a shorter tread life. The ContiExtremeContact gets a middling treadwear rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Consumers who post at The Tire Rack prefer the Bridgestone Potenza RE960A/S Pole Position (*Est. $115). This tire's AA government traction rating puts it in the top 3 percent of tires for traction, and it shows: The RE960A/S Pole Position sticks to the road and corners like a champ, say consumers at The Tire Rack. Experts give this tire decent scores across the board (for ride, noise, etc.), but it doesn't reach the very top in any test. Its treadwear rating is not as high as the Michelin Primacy MXV4's; some consumers say their Pole Positions have worn out after 40,000 or 50,000 miles.

The Dunlop SP Sport 5000 (*Est. $95) also boasts an AA government traction rating. This ultra-high-performance all-season tire is a favorite among consumers who post at CarReview.com. But its recommendation from the Automobile Protection Association is tepid: "A suitable choice," and less expensive than average, the review notes. Quality is "not bad, but is not the most uniform on the market."

The Dunlop SP Sport 5000 runs neck-and-neck with the more expensive Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S (*Est. $135) in one top test. The Pilot Exalto A/S has only a single-A traction rating, but experts say it handles wet and dry roads just as well as the AA-rated Dunlop. Consumers who post at The Tire Rack say the Pilot Exalto A/S handles light-to-medium snow nicely, too. But the Pilot Exalto A/S isn't recommended as often as the top-rated Michelin Primacy MXV4, and we found no sources that compare the two tires head-to-head.

All-season tires are always a bit of a compromise. Tire professionals say all-season tires can never match the speed and handling capabilities of ultra-high-performance summer tires, nor can they move through snow and ice like dedicated snow tires. Depending on the type of driving you commonly do and the climate in which you live, a more specialized tire may be appropriate.