How to choose a high performance tire for a supercar

Naturally, everyone who can pay over six figures and above for a car expects a certain level of performance. As a supercar owner, the last thing you want is to be bogged down by an under-performing car part. This is why getting the right tires for your car is very important.

As the only part of the car that touches the road, tires are underrated but essential contributors to your car’s performance. No matter how much power your engine is producing or how expensive your brake kit is if your tires are not good enough, your car’s performance will be severely limited.

Here are a couple of things to look out for and consider when selecting high-performance tires for a supercar:

Where will you use your car?

If you’ll be using your car on tracks, then getting ultra-high-performance tires is essential. This type of tires is made of softer rubber compounds designed to have more bite harder on the road. Ultra-high-performance tires will get you not only more speed but more balance on the tracks, and hence, are safer. If your car will be used on the road, you may need to go with regular performance tires that suit your needs.

Another major concern is the weather you will be driving in. You can predict the weather of course, but you should consider what climate you live in and what are the most probable weather conditions throughout the year in your area.  While summer performance tires are the go-to for most people, they are notorious for performing poorly in wet weather. The difference in performance is typically due to the tire threading. The threading in summer performance tires is typically minimal and is poor at clearing water in wet conditions.

If you will be driving in both dry and wet conditions, you will have to find all-season tires. Tires like the Pirelli P Zero All-Season and Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 are excellent all-season performance tires.

The Size of The Car Tire

Getting the right size of tires can seem pretty straightforward since most retailers sell the tires by default sizes. However, if you want to change things up with your tires, you need to understand how tire sizes are calculated.

A tire’s size is typically represented by three parts – the tread width, the size of the rim and the height of the sidewall. If you’re changing the size of your car’s rim, make sure to get tires that match. Mismatched rims and tires negatively affect the handling and overall performance of your car.

The tire’s tread width can be alternated depending on your preferences.  A wider tread will give you a more aesthetic look and high speed when cornering. You may, however, have to deal with heavier steering and less fuel mileage than with thinner tread widths.  Your tire’s sidewall height should be picked to keep your new tire size the same as the old one, i.e. more sidewall height for wider tread tires.

The Speed Category:

Exceeding the speed rating of your car tire can be potentially hazardous for you; hence it is important to keep it in mind. The speed rating for tires is usually indicated on the sidewall of the tire alongside other important information like the tread width, wheel diameter, load index etc.

Supercar tire speed ratings are typically ranked from H upwards, which have a maximum speed limit of 130 mph. The other common tire speed categories for supercars are V – 149 mph, W – 168 mph and Y – 186 mph. Some manufacturers still use the ZR rating system, which was used pre-1990 to represent high-performance tires. ZR tires are typically rated from 150 mph upwards.

All-season performance tires are typically available in V and H ratings. On the other hand, Summer and ultra-high-performance all-season tires come in W, Y, and ZR ratings.

Conclusion

High-performance tires are as much an investment as your car is. They should be carefully picked out to ensure that they give the driver the best experience possible. It can be the difference-maker in races and near-accidents. Finally, if in doubt of what tires to purchase, you should always consult your mechanic.