What are Ultra-High Performance tires (UHP) tires?
UHP tires are commonly found on high-end sports cars and a few select premium editions of mainstream vehicles. They are designed to perform well at high speeds and can sustain torque and added horsepower better than standard tires.
Grip… it's what sports cars live for right? Yes! When sports car enthusiasts say it's all about grip, they're not kidding. Power and performance are great, but those numbers don't really mean much without the sticky rubber to the pavement. That's why tire makers work so hard to deliver tires that can reach maximum traction on a variety of surfaces.
In this post, we're going to tell you about some of the best ultra high-performance tires on sale today. We'll tell you what makes them great and what features they have that make them stand out from other tires. We'll also tell you where to buy them and how much they cost.
So here's a look at the top-rated high-performance tires on the market today:
1. Michelin Pilot Super Sport ($206 to $602)
2. Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 ($274 to $684)
3. Yokohama Advan Neova AD08 R ($183.96 to $422.96)
4. Hankook Ventus R-S4 ($167.54 to $373.49)
5. Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R ($217.69 to $995.62)
6. Toyo Proxes R888 R ($154 to $608)
6Toyo Proxes R888 R
Pros: Very high dry grip, Durable for such an aggressive tire
Cons: Low wet weather grip, Very noisy
The Toyo Proxes R888 Rs are considered a good alternative to the Pirelli Trofeo Rs, carrying a similarly soft compound and aggressive tread.
Because they are made for dry tracks, they are a good tire to have on when you go to the track. But, they have low wet weather grip and high road noise, also not so great for daily driving. So, if you want tons of grip and are willing to sacrifice a bit of road noise and comfort to get it, R888 Rs may be the tire you’re searching for.
5Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R
Pros: Very high dry grip, Perfect for track use
Cons: Low wet weather grip, Noisy, Wear quickly
The Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R is a high-performance, soft, and sticky semi-slick tire that is best suited to track driving only. But, they will wear extremely quickly on the street, so if you go for these tires, you may want to get a second set of wheels as your “street” wheel and tire set.
These tires will give you an extremely good grip in the dry, but you may lose some steering feel due to their high levels of grip. They also make a lot of noise on the road.
While Pirelli's P Zero Trofeo R is one of the best tires on the market today (they are even on the Nurburgring record-holding Lamborghini Aventador SV J), they won't perform well on the road as they wear quickly, are noisy, and have low wet weather grip.
4Hankook Ventus R-S4
Pros: Great performance for the price
Cons: Not good in the wet
The Hankook Ventus R-S4 is a summer performance tire made for handling and cornering. It features a new carbon black and silica high-grip compound and massive outboard shoulder blocks that provide excellent grip. In addition, a wide, continuous center rib contributes to an immediate steering response.
The rubber on the R-S3 is replaced by a new material that increases wet grip through the addition of highly dispersible silica, but they’re still not ideal to use in heavy rain. These high-performance tires take advantage of an extra reinforcement in the shoulder to handle performance driving, even on vehicles with high camber.
3Yokohama Advan Neova AD08 R
Pros: Extremely sticky and soft compound, Consistent performance
Cons: Expensive, Noisy
The Yokohama Advan AD08 R features a tread pattern designed to offer high levels of grip in both wet and dry driving scenarios.
The aggressive tread on these tires can produce some road noise, but they deliver extremely high levels of grip due to their soft, sticky compound. Track tests show that these treads are consistent over multiple sessions and don't experience a large dip in performance once they get hot. If you want to turn in fast laps over and over again on your next track day, the AD08 Rs are well-suited to that task.
Yokohama Advan AD08 R tires are perfect for dedicated track days; however, they are not ideal for everyday road use. Their high cost can be offset by using them just for track days, extending their usable life and saving you money in the long run.
2Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2
Pros: Extremely high levels of dry weather grip, Durable
Cons: Expensive, Not designed for wet weather performance
When it comes to track performance, Porsche doesn’t mess around. That's why you can trust the Sport Cup 2 tires to deliver. In the dry, they offer levels of grip that seem absurd, but Michelin doesn't suggest driving with them in wet conditions. They will perform fine in regular wet conditions but should not be used in standing water.
The Pilot Sport Cup 2s should be your best-dedicated performance tire for track time. The dry grip is very high, and the tires' durability is also good for such a performance-focused tire. Comfort and road levels are also adequate. If you have a high-performance car that you use on the track, it’s hard to go wrong with Pilot Sport Cup 2s.
1Michelin Pilot Super Sport
Pros: Very high levels of grip in both dry and wet weather, Good noise and comfort, Durable
Cons: Pricy, Only suited for summer use
If you want a tire with excellent grip and don't mind paying a bit extra, the Michelin Pilot Super Sport is your tire.
The Michelin Pilot Super Sport is one of the best ultra high-performance tires for high-performance cars. Not only do they provide some of the highest levels of grip among all ultra high-performance tires, but they also offer good road noise and comfort and are very durable.
If you're still not convinced that the Michelin Pilot Super Sport is the best tire, take note that they are the factory-installed tire on many performance cars, such as the BMW M3. Not only do enthusiasts like them, but so do manufacturers.
The Bottom Line
Today, the majority of ultra-high-performance tires are radial tires. They're designed to provide better traction and handling even at high speeds. So if you're a speed demon or love to drag race, an ultra high-performance tire is your best option.