Track vs Street Tires

Does having the most expensive tires mean that you will have the best grip? Or does having track specific tires make the car have the best grip? Continue reading to find out what's myth and what's fact!

Some point in every car owner's life, he/she will have to change out the tires. It's a normal wear and tear item that can last between 15-30k miles depending on the driver. On the track it may only last a few thousands miles vs the street. Choosing the right tires can mean the difference between life and death. 

Track tires are generally meant to be used in dry weather where the slicks don't need to expel much water from underneath the tires. Normal tires for daily use on the streets have threads which provide areas for water to flow from underneath the tire. If the water cannot be expelled quickly enough, the tire will lose grip and thus hydroplane. This creates a dangerous situation, even if you are an experienced track driver. On the track the lane is much wider and there is less traffic. One the road, there may be cars immediately in front, behind and to your sides. This leaves very little room for error and little room for correction. 

Another thing about track tires is that they are advertised to have certain amounts of grip, but that can be deceiving. Those astounding figures are when the tire is operating at optimal temperature. In other words, the tires must be warmed up sufficiently or else the grip will be much less. To be honest, in everyday street driving there is simply no way for the tires to be warmed up to proper operating temperatures for track tires. Even if you drive hard in the canyons, it's not the same as one track with constant full throttle and hard braking. Even performance street tires may have a lot more grip than your track tires when running them out on the open roads. 

Performance street tires are designed to provide the best between grip, ride quality, sound, durability and wet performance. These are things that a track tire doesn't need to consider except for grip. Out on the track, these other factors simply aren't an issue or else you wouldn't track your car to begin with. However, out on the street, street tires need to perform in a variety of conditions. They will provide sufficient grip at most temperatures. They are simply much more forgiving than track tires. 

Don't look at grip and cost figures when looking at tires. Choose the right tires for the right mission. It will save you a lot of money, pain and even your life! Drive safely!

Some good tires for the street are:

1) Michelin Pilot 4S
2) Michelin Pilot Super Sport
3) Continental Extreme Contact

Some good tires for the track are:

1) Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2
2) Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R

Remember that these are just some examples of great tires. Don't take my word for it but ask your trusted shops and dealers for the best types of tires for you situation.