Looking to up your tire game, but unsure which kind to pursue? Read on to see suggestions from tire enthusiasts and find out if performance or touring tires suit your needs best.
Mike Skoropad, CEO at United Tires.
Differences Between High–Performance And Touring Tires
High-performance tires offer superior grip and traction in comparison to touring tires. This extra grip means that high-performance tires will slow you down and wear faster when driving on roads that are not paved regularly.
Therefore, unless you are driving on a freshly tarmacked road. you are better off using touring tires. Touring tires still offer better performance than all-terrain tires, and they are most suitable for all but racing conditions.
The low profile and stiffer sidewalls of high-performance tires also means that they are more susceptible to bumps and blowouts (if driven on unpaved roads). This, again, makes touring tires more suitable for (non-racing) road conditions.
The Uses of Touring and Performance Tires
Touring tires are the ideal choice for anyone who drives their vehicle to work and back, takes family vacations in moderate climates, and sometimes ventures into moderate offroad conditions. Most touring tires are used as all-weather tires. They provide good handling and grip on a variety of road surfaces. If you spend a lot of time behind the wheel, these are the preferred choice.
On the other hand, performance tires are designed for more spirited drivers and those who frequently hit the race track. They are designed to improve the performance of sports cars and modified vehicles by providing better traction in turns and during braking. Although they improve the vehicle’s general performance, performance tires contribute to terrible fuel efficiency, shorter tread life, and louder tire noise compared to touring tires.
Cody Crawford, Co-Founder of Low Offset.
Melanie Musson is a tire expert with CarInsuranceComparison.com.
Day-To-Day Driving vs. Thrilling Rides
Touring tires are what you should use for regular day-to-day driving. They’re suitable for commuting, dropping kids off at school, taking road trips, and other similar routine activities.
As the name implies, performance tires are for performance. They hug the road for tight cornering, quick acceleration, and braking. They’re perfect for taking fun and thrilling drives. Performance tires are specially designed for sports cars, and they aren’t appropriate for the average family car. They get lower fuel mileage, have a shorter lifespan, provide a stiffer ride, and typically handle more poorly on wintery roads than touring tires.
Touring tires are best for driving for necessity, and performance tires are best for driving for pleasure.
Touring For Daily Drivers; Performance Tires For High-Performing Vehicles
Touring tires are ideal for vehicle owners seeking to get the most out of their tires. They should be used for daily driver vehicles in all seasons. Performance tires are best suited for sports cars and other high-performance vehicles (where cornering, handling, and responsiveness is required).
Robert Walden, Editor-in-Chief and Founder of VehicleFreak.com.
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