Are summer tires safe to drive in winter?

No. A summer compound stiffens in the cold and loses grip well before there is any snow, so braking and cornering get noticeably worse below about 45 degrees. If you see real winter, run a dedicated winter tire or an all-weather tire rated 3PMSF for the cold months.

What does ultra-high-performance (UHP) mean?

UHP is the top performance tier, built for sports cars and sport sedans that prioritize dry and wet grip and quick steering response. UHP tires carry higher speed ratings and a stickier compound, which means more grip but typically shorter tread life and a firmer ride.

Do performance tires come in my size?

Performance tires concentrate in the wheel sizes sport cars actually use, so coverage is strong in those fitments and thinner elsewhere. Pick your car in the tire picker to confirm your factory size, then match it here against the listed sizes.

Performance & summer tires

Performance and summer tires use a grippier compound and a stiffer construction that sharpen steering response and shorten braking on warm, dry, and wet roads. The family spans mid-tier performance tires and ultra-high-performance (UHP) tires meant for sports cars and sport sedans. Summer compounds give up cold-weather grip in exchange, so they are a warm-season choice. We score each on tread quality, ingredient health, and environment, then rank by that score.

This list shows performance and max-performance (UHP) tires on the summer season axis.

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Michelin Pilot Sport 4S Tire

Max-performance (UHP)Summer103Y XL

7.4CCT score

Fits 17-inch, 18-inch, 19-inch, 20-inch, 21-inch, 22-inch, 23-inch wheels

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Falken Azenis FK510 Max-Performance Summer Tire

Max-performance (UHP)Summer100Y XL

6.9CCT score

Fits 17-inch, 18-inch, 19-inch, 20-inch, 21-inch, 22-inch wheels

View on Amazon

Match these to your car

The right type still has to come in your size. Pick your year, make, and model to confirm your factory (OE) tire size, then match it to a tire above.

Find tires for your car

Performance & summer tires questions

Are summer tires safe to drive in winter?: No. A summer compound stiffens in the cold and loses grip well before there is any snow, so braking and cornering get noticeably worse below about 45 degrees. If you see real winter, run a dedicated winter tire or an all-weather tire rated 3PMSF for the cold months.
What does ultra-high-performance (UHP) mean?: UHP is the top performance tier, built for sports cars and sport sedans that prioritize dry and wet grip and quick steering response. UHP tires carry higher speed ratings and a stickier compound, which means more grip but typically shorter tread life and a firmer ride.
Do performance tires come in my size?: Performance tires concentrate in the wheel sizes sport cars actually use, so coverage is strong in those fitments and thinner elsewhere. Pick your car in the tire picker to confirm your factory size, then match it here against the listed sizes.

As an Amazon Associate and affiliate partner, CarCareTruth earns from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure