How much are you willing to test the limits of your vehicle? Do you enjoy the thrills of high speed driving and ultimate handling levels on any road at any season? Not all tires fit the bill for best-performing tires.
Only a few achieve this fete — those whose manufacturing uses advanced material and whose design focuses on addressing as many driving challenges as possible. There are several tire categories. Ultra high performance all-season tires stand tall among them.
These tires offer the finest solutions to everyday challenges that are predominant with standard tires. The best sports cars, luxury coupes, sedans, SUVs and top-of-the-range vehicles use ultra high performance all-season tires. There is no road you can’t experiment on, no season you can conquer.
The performances of the tires on wet roads, dry roads, dirt roads or gravel (hard-packed) roads are pretty impressive. As technology advances, the possibilities of these tires become limitless. Seasons that were once a nightmare have become regular driving surfaces.
We want to familiarize you with all the aspects that define ultra high performance all-season tires. We dissect the technical details, explain the main features, offer unbiased comparisons and reviews to help you make informed decisions when you go for your next tire shopping. If you are after neck-breaking speeds, seamless handling, maximum traction and responsive driving, then this article is for you.
| Tire name | Best in Category | Overall rating | Steering response | Wet performance | Hydroplaning resistance | Wet traction | Dry performance | Cornering stability | Dry traction | Comfort performance | Ride quality | Noise score | Treadwear performance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ ZP (W- or Y-Speed Rated) | 100% | 8 | 8.8 | 8.7 | 8.7 | 8.7 | 8.8 | 8.9 | 8.9 | 8.1 | 8.5 | 7.7 | 8.4 |
| BFGoodrich g-Force COMP-2 A/S PLUS | 100% | 9 | 9.3 | 9.4 | 9.4 | 9.4 | 9.4 | 9.4 | 9.4 | 8.6 | 9 | 8.2 | 8.5 |
| Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate | 96% | 9 | 9.2 | 9.1 | 8.9 | 9.2 | 9.2 | 9.2 | 9.4 | 8.5 | 8.8 | 8.3 | 8.7 |
| General G-MAX AS-05 | 93% | 8 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 8.7 | 8.8 | 8.9 | 8.8 | 9.1 | 8.3 | 8.6 | 8 | 8.2 |
| Dunlop Signature HP | 93% | 8 | 8.7 | 8.6 | 8.6 | 8.6 | 8.8 | 8.7 | 9 | 8.2 | 8.5 | 7.8 | 8.2 |
| BFGoodrich g-Force COMP-2 A/S | 93% | 8 | 9.2 | 8.9 | 8.8 | 9 | 9.2 | 9.2 | 9.3 | 8 | 8.3 | 7.6 | 7.7 |
| Riken Raptor ZR A/S | 90% | 8 | 8.9 | 8 | 8.1 | 7.9 | 8.9 | 8.8 | 9 | 8.3 | 8.5 | 8.2 | 8.5 |
| Pirelli P Zero All Season Plus | 89% | 8 | 8.9 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 8.9 | 9 | 8.9 | 9.1 | 8.5 | 8.6 | 8.5 | 7.3 |
| Cooper Zeon RS3-G1 | 89% | 8 | 9 | 8.6 | 8.7 | 8.6 | 9.1 | 9.1 | 9.2 | 8.5 | 8.6 | 8.3 | 7.6 |
| Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS | 89% | 8 | 9 | 8.6 | 8.6 | 8.6 | 9 | 8.9 | 9.1 | 8.1 | 8.2 | 8 | 7.5 |
| Kumho Ecsta PA51 | 88% | 8 | 8.8 | 8.2 | 8.5 | 8 | 8.9 | 9 | 8.8 | 8 | 8.1 | 7.9 | 7.5 |
| Laufenn S FIT AS | 85% | 8 | 8.4 | 7.2 | 7.1 | 7.2 | 8.4 | 8.1 | 8.6 | 8.3 | 8.5 | 8.2 | 7.9 |
What sets ultra high performance all-season tires apart?
Durable tread compound
With ultra high performance all-season tires, the first thing you need is a durable tire. It is among the costly tire categories. A set of tires should offer you remarkable service. Forget about tire changes across seasons for several years. Drive as many miles as you wish while maintaining superior performance all along. Ultra high performance all-season tires have rubber materials containing high silica content, blends of futuristic rubber materials and all-weather additives. The tread compounds contribute immensely to the traction capabilities of the tires.
Superior speed ratings
Well, not all tires are stable at high speed driving. Ultra high performance all-season tires are low-profile tires with the highest speed ratings. Most brands have W-, V- and Y-ratings, the highest for any category.
You can hit those speeds you always anticipate. Of course, you should be careful when embarking on record-breaking speed endeavors. Do you worry about the safety and stability of the tires at those high speeds? Well, with proper maintenance, the low profiles ensure that the vehicle remains stable at all times.
Tread design
Ultra high performance all-season tires use superior traction tread materials molded into adaptive, reliable and optimized patterns. They absorb road shocks effectively, minimize noise levels and grip firmly on the road. They guarantee excellent traction on wet and dry tarmac.
Manufacturers use computerized models to optimize the sizes of tread blocks, the width of the ribs and the depth of circumferential and lateral grooves. Tread materials are flexible enough to accommodate the high temperatures in summer and the sub-zero (freezing) temperature in winter.
Excellent snow traction
Aside from dry and wet traction capabilities, ultra high performance all-season tires have all the design features of winter tires to enable them to traverse through snowy and icy roads. The tires have deep sipes that improve snow-on-snow traction. The tires cut through the solid snow and ice surfaces with ease. Drivers enjoy superior steering and cornering, superb safety levels and predictable braking.
Deep grooves
Driving on wet roads when raining or after brief showers is as risky as driving in deep snow. When vehicles hydroplane, the tires become unresponsive to steering controls. Braking distances become longer and increase the possibility of swerving.
To protect car occupants, manufacturers incorporate deep grooves in their tire brands. It is vital to expel high quantities of water from the road. Grooving utilizes advanced design techniques to enhance the path of water flow to minimize water splashes.
Note: These tires have the best reinforcements. Internal tire casings have several plies made from a blend of polyester, nylon, or polyamide and tensile steel belts.
Pros & Cons of ultra high performance all-season tires
How do Best Performance Summer Tires Compare to Other Categories?
In practice, you can compare very few tire categories with ultra high performance all-season tires. These tires are miles away whether you are evaluating summer performance, winter performance or traction capabilities. In summer, they rank similar or better than performance summer tires.
In winter, they demean ordinary winter and all-season tires. Be it traction, handling and predictability —they tick every performance criteria. The few instances where these tires exhibit poor performance than specialized tires in that category is extreme off-road driving.
Their low profiles mean that they lack the aggressive tread patterns necessary for gripping small rocks and boulders. Otherwise, these tires are a real deal if you want to create exquisite memories when driving on different highways and streets in whichever season.
Verdict
With a suitable budget, you need to buy sets of ultra high performance all-season tires. You can confidently push your vehicle to the limits without worrying over regular tire changes across seasons. What’s more, enjoy luxurious safety and handling as other tire categories sacrifice part of these for performance-specific applications.
Frequently asked questions
How long should ultra high performance all-season tires last?
Tire durability is among the metrics that are difficult to quantify. The durability of the tire relies on how well you maintain the vehicle and the tires. If your driving habits are erratic, expect shorter lifespans. Generally, expect your tire to last several tens of thousands of driving miles.
Should I trade my tires for performance snow tires in winter?
Well, performance winter tires may have extra modifications to enhance their capabilities when driving under freezing temperatures. Fortunately, ultra high performance all-season tires have most of these features.
It is not mandatory to change the tire unless you have that luxury and time or envision driving in deep snow and thick ice.
