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Summer tires are built for speed and agility and offer top performance on dry roads. They have better responsiveness, braking, and cornering capabilities.
This is largely attributed to their unique tread patterns and compounds which allow for improved precision on the road. Some low profile summer tires have tread patterns with less grooves for maximum road grip. Their rubber compounds are more flexible for better traction and grip.
All-season low profile tires deliver grip and confident handling in all seasons. They provide year-round traction, thanks to their tread designs and compounds that remain flexible in all weather conditions. The tread patterns are usually symmetrical and the tires have grooves and sipes that siphon away water. All-season tires don't produce a lot of noise and make for a comfortable driving experience. They provide good performance in both wet and dry conditions and good traction in snow.
It's important to get winter tires for winter.
Winter tires can be studded or non-studded and have deep grooves and treads that expel slush from the contact patches. These tires have tread patterns with larger gaps which increase traction on snow and ice. Low profile winter tires can be used in cold and snowy areas (with temperatures 7°C or below). They are made with soft rubber compounds that ensure they stick to the road even when temperatures go up. However, it's worth noting that these tires produce noise at higher speeds because of their complex tread patterns.
These tires also go by the name grand touring tires and deliver responsive handling and reliable all-season traction. They usually have a higher speed rating than all-season tires and mostly feature an asymmetrical tread pattern. Low profile touring tires are designed for comfort and make road bumps and road imperfections less noticeable. Their treads have increased surface contact with the road.
The tires are usually sold as all-season tires and offer a long tread life, good handling, and a comfortable, quiet ride.
Michelin is a French tire manufacturer based in Clermont-Ferrand, France. It’s one of the largest tire manufacturers in the world. The company was founded by Aristide Barbier and Édouard Daubrée and initially made farm equipment and rubber balls. It created the first detachable bicycle tire in 1891. The company has created many awesome inventions over the years, like the radial earthmover tire, Michelin XDR, and the Michelin CrossClimate Tire. If you’re in the market for a low profile tire, the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 Radial Tire is a great choice.
Goodyear’s full name is Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.
Frank Seiberling, an American innovator, started the company in 1898. It is currently based in Akron, Ohio. Goodyear makes tires for airplanes, cars, SUVs, racecars, trucks, motorcycles, earth-mover machinery, and farm equipment. If you love Goodyear tires, get the Goodyear Eagle RS-A Radial Tire for your vehicle.
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company specializes in the design and manufacture of automobile and truck tires. Its subsidiary, the UK-based Avon Tyres, develops and manufactures tires for trucks, motorcycles, and race cars. Cooper was established by John F. Schaefer and Claude E. Hart back in 1914 and was known as the M and M Manufacturing Company. It is currently headquartered in Findlay, Ohio. One of its bestselling low profile tires is the Cooper P275/60R15 107T Cobra G/T All-Season Tire.
They offer good grip, traction, and handling.As we mentioned earlier, low profile tires are split into four different categories. Each tire type has a distinct tread pattern and performs differently. For example, all season tires perform well in different conditions, but cannot handle extreme weather conditions.
Summer tires are ideal for warm weather and have large tread blocks for maximum contact with the road.
Winter tires are designed for use on snow and ice. They remain flexible in cold weather and grip the road better. Touring tires are designed for comfort. Many drivers prefer them because they don't produce any noise and make for smooth driving.
The next important feature you should look at is the size of your low profile tires. If you get the wrong size, they won't fit your car. Tire dimensions are usually indicated as 255/50R20 104V. The first three digits, 255, indicate the tire’s width in millimeters. The number 50 indicates the height of a tire's sidewall. The “R” means that the tire is a radial tire and its layers run radially across. The number 20 refers to the wheel diameter, which is measured in inches. The number 104 indicates the load rating or the maximum weight the tire can carry, and “V” refers to the tire's speed rating in optimal conditions. When it comes to speed rating, the later the letter falls in the English alphabet, the higher the speed rating.
Each low profile tire has a life expectancy (mileage). However, it's worth mentioning that the mileage the manufacturer gives is merely an estimate. Your driving habits, weather conditions, and other factors will determine how long your tires last. The rubber compound used to make a tire also dictates its lifespan.
For instance, some tires have softer compounds that allow them to grip the road tightly. However, they have a rapid tread wear rate because some of the rubber is left on the road after every drive. Tires with a higher mileage are made with harder compounds to last longer. Low profile tires made with silica improves tread durability.
The best low profile tires have the highest grade: AA. Most of the tires on the market have an A grade and a few have a B grade. Get tires with an A or AA grade and you’ll never have to worry about your car sliding on wet roads.Continental Extreme Contact All-Season Radial Tire
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This high-performance all-season radial tire will satisfy your year-round driving needs.
It blends dry and wet traction and features traction grooves and X-Sipe Technology. The tire also features Continental's SportPlus Technology which allows for enhanced handling. QuickView Indicators allow you to easily see how the tire performs in snowy conditions. They also alert you when you need to check your vehicle's alignment.
The DWS06 offers superior braking and cornering performance. It is a very responsive tire and you won't have a hard time driving in extreme conditions. The sport sidewall insert enhances the tire's steering response in different road conditions. The two-ply sidewall gives the tire added strength and cornering stability.
The Extreme Contact DWS06 is available in different sizes with Y and W speed ratings. The manufacturer also gives a 50,000 mile limited mileage warranty. However, this is not a run-flat tire and it’s also quite loud. It also doesn't perform well in snowy conditions.
Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2 Performance Radial Tire
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This all-season tire is perfect for all types of sedans and sports coupes.
It provides good traction and great cornering performance on wet, dry, and even snowy roads. A silica tread compound increases its traction and rolling resistance for better fuel efficiency. The tread design and notched shoulders offer impressive cornering grip and dry traction.
Hankook's innovative Aqua Hydro Block Technology and four circumferential grooves improve braking performance and wet traction. The two features also minimize the chances of hydroplaning by moving water away from under the tire. Two steel belts inside the tire are reinforced with nylon for increased strength and longevity at higher speeds.
Hankook offers a 50,000 mile tread warranty for this tire. It’s also built using 3D Vibration Analysis Technology, which promotes secure braking performance and even wear. However, the tread life could be better as it wears down very quickly. It also doesn't perform very well in snowy conditions.
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ All Season Performance Radial Tire
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This tire is designed for coupes, sports cars, and sedans.
It is ideal for car owners who seek optimum performance all year long. It offers good grip on wet surfaces, brilliant steering on dry roads, and excellent traction across seasons. The low profile tire is made using Michelin’s Hello+ tread compound which offers better traction in snowy conditions.
Circumferential grooves on the tire quickly remove accumulated water, slush, and snow. The grooves also reduce the risk of hydroplaning and enhance traction as your car moves through mud puddles. You’ll be able to go on that off-road trip you’ve been planning for years.
The Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ All Season Tire utilizes Michelin’s Variable Contact Patch 3.0 Technology. It evenly distributes all encountered pressure across its surface. However, it is not a comfortable tire and produces a significant amount of noise.
Pirelli P Zero Nero All Season High Performance Radial Tire
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The asymmetrical tread pattern on this tire is made from a versatile rubber compound.
The silica formula enables you to use this tire during hot and wet summers or cold and light snowy winters. The outer blocks are large to give extra support to the sidewall. Through the center of the tire are solid circumferential ribs for constant contact with the road. Internally, there are twin steel belts that wrap around the tire to give it stability and strength.
What makes this tire stand out is the extra sipes it has throughout the entire tread pattern. This gives you extra grip in slippery driving conditions. The increased traction will give you faster acceleration and braking.
The downside of these tires is that they can be noisy. Pirelli knows this, yet only limited sizes come with its noise-canceling system. Also, some users received old or defective tires.
Nankang NS-25 Performance Radial Tire
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This all-season tire provides you with high performance functionality throughout the year.
There are four wide circumferential grooves for channeling water away from the tire’s contact patch. Then each side has a different tread pattern that wraps around the tire’s shoulder. Both patterns have an open tread pattern for expelling water away. The tread’s rubber compound has an optimized silica to provide improved performance during braking, accelerating, and handling.
You’ll like driving on this tire because it gives you improved steering control, handling, and wet road traction. Built into the internal construction of the tire are noise prevention bars to reduce the tire noise and give you a quiet ride. They also hold up quite well when braking hard. This gives you a lot of durability whether you're a conservative or aggressive driver.
Unfortunately, this tire tends to struggle with traction on snowy roads. It also lacks stability when cornering.
Lionhart LH-Five All-Season Radial Tire
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This all-season tire has an extra wide stance to give you a larger contact patch with the road. It has four wide circumferential grooves for wet road traction. These feed to wide siping on both of the outer tread blocks for maximum water channeling. The unique tread pattern across the face of the tire creates a smooth ride.
What makes this tire stand out is the state-of-the-art technology used to build it. This will give you improved traction on dry, wet, and lightly snowy roads. You’ll have traction at all speeds while also having improved tread life.
Unfortunately, the tread can separate from the body of the tire. This results in immediate air loss and requires replacement. You may also find these tires are susceptible to puncture. This makes them not as durable, despite the long tread life.
Kumho Ecsta Summer Performance Tire
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This high performance summer tire features a micro silica compound. This helps to evenly distribute the silica throughout the tire construction.
The tire has a more effective contact patch as a result. It has a directional tread pattern with a solid center rib and a 3D dimple pattern. The internal structure is computer simulated to ensure even construction. This guarantees balanced wear throughout the tread pattern. This is supported by the reinforcement of two wide steel belts, a two-ply polyester casing, and two full layer nylon cap plies.
What makes this tire stand out is lateral grooves that are at angles in the tread blocks. They reduce wear and increase the durability of the tire. The 3D dimples are also unique in that they help the tire to dissipate heat better, which helps the tire perform better and last longer.
Unfortunately, this tire is loud. It only gets louder as the tire tread wears. The tire starts out sticky and with plenty of traction, but that wears away with use too.
Bridgestone Turanza Touring Tire
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This all-season tire is meant for use on luxury cars and crossovers.
The rubber compound features a high amount of silica. The tread features an asymmetrical pattern that uses Bridgestone’s Long Link Carbon Black technology. It also has Resonance Noise Attenuated (RENOA) silencing grooves to tone down acoustic tones. The tread pattern features continuous center and shoulder ribs for greater straight line stability. These are paired with circumferential grooves to channel water away.
What makes this tire stand out is its long tread life and low rolling resistance. Both of these will save you money. The long tread life reduces how often you’ll need to replace your tires, while the low rolling resistance will improve your fuel economy.
Unfortunately, this tire loses most of its traction abilities when hard-braking. This can result in a dangerous driving situation. Despite all of the built-in noise-canceling technology, these tires are still quite noisy. This is especially true when you drive at faster speeds.
Cooper Zeon All-Season Tire
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The Cooper Zeon tire is designed to deliver impressive performance and handling while also being durable enough for driving on year-round.
They handle well on dry, wet, and even lightly snowy roads. This is partially thanks to the internal construction of the tire, which features a two-ply polyester casing and twin steel belts that are spirally wrapped in nylon. It also has a very stiff bead filler that holds the tire steady during quick maneuvers.
What makes this tire stand out is the unique silica compound that provides maximum grip on both wet and dry surfaces. It’s molded into an asymmetrical pattern to give you a strong grip while cornering and dampen the sound you’d get with other tires. There are four deep circumferential grooves and wide lateral notches for powerful water channeling. The pattern is then finished with 3D Micro Gauge sipes for grip in light snow.
The downside of these tires is that they don’t grip as well in snow as they do on wet or dry roads. You’ll want to be more careful when driving in these conditions. You may also find the tire tread wears quickly when driving in colder temperatures.
Goodyear Eagle GT II Radial Tire
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This dependable tire is designed for use on SUVs, performance trucks, coupes, and sports cars. You’ll have predictable handling and year-round performance through wet, dry, and light snowy road conditions. The construction of the tire features twin steel belts that have nylon reinforcement.
What makes this tire stand out is the aggressive tread pattern. The tread block rows are separated by four deep circumferential grooves. Then there are lateral grooves separating the treads. These are lined by solid shoulder blocks that wrap around the sidewall to give the tire more stability.
The biggest problem with these tires is the lack of consistency in the quality. The lack of quality control can result in tires with flat spots, impossible to balance tires, and others with tread that separates from the body of the tire. They also struggle to provide dependable traction on wet roads.
A: Low-profile tires tend to have less cushioning than standard tires due to the extra height in the larger sidewalls.
You are more likely to feel the bumps on the road than you are with regular tires.
A: Low-profile tires can be used on a variety of cars, including models by VW, Honda, Audi, and Lexus as well as luxury brands. But unless your car comes with low-profile tires from the factory, you may need to upgrade other parts of your vehicle to accommodate them. This includes the suspension, rims, and brakes.
A: Some brands offer this technology. When you get a flat tire, run-flat technology allows you to drive as far as 50 miles even if the tire completely deflates. Since low-profiles have less air than other types of tires, it's easy to incorporate this type of technology into them.
Our pick for the best low-profile tires is the Continental Extreme Contact All-Season Radial Tire. They perform well in a variety of conditions, aren't as loud as some competing brands, and come with a 50,000-mile warranty.
For a more budget-friendly option, consider the Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2 Performance Radial Tire.
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RetailJune 27, 2019
Bob Ulrich
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High performance and low profile logically fit together when it comes to tire design. Or more accurately, high performance and aspect ratio.
The lower the aspect ratio, the wider the tire. That is because the aspect ratio is the height of the tire’s cross-section — its profile — divided by its width, sometimes called the section width.
Size 225/65R17 has an aspect ratio of 65, which means the tire’s profile is 65% the length of the width. A size 225/50R17 has a profile 50% of the length of the width. So the lower the aspect ratio, the shorter the profile (at least the shorter it looks comparatively) and the longer the width.
That begs the question: How low can a profile go?
“As section width is the ratio of section height to section width, 25 or lower must have a very wide tread to make the sidewall height adequate,” says Rick Brennan, executive director of marketing for Falken Tire Corp. “With any specific aspect ratio, like 25, the wider the section width, the taller the sidewall becomes in actual measurement.
“Ultra-low aspect ratios could be feasible sidewall heights, but the section widths would not only have to be much wider than we see today, but also need a certain amount of flex area to do all the things that are requested of it. And, of course, wider, taller tires need a big wheel well in the vehicle to fit.
So the minimum section height is the real limiting factor.”
Rudy Consolacion, executive vice president of the Tire & Rim Association (TRA), says the lowest profile TRA has standardized is a 25 aspect ratio. Six sizes have that aspect ratio:
| P295/25R19 | P335/25R20 |
| P265/25R23 | P275/25R24 |
| P405/25R24 | P275/25R26 |
TRA’s counterpart in Europe, the European Tyre and Rim Technical Organisation, has standardized a 20 aspect ratio size: 375/20R21, he adds.
Brennan says the lowest aspect ratio on a pneumatic tire he can remember is a 385/15R22, developed by Kumho Tire Co. Inc. in 2008.
At the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in 2009, I remember Nexen Tire America Inc. displayed its N3000 in size 365/15R24 on the trade show floor. But it was showcased behind glass and not in production. The tire is available in size 275/25ZR24, however. “With the sidewall height a hair above 3 inches, the lowest profile tire Bridgestone currently offers is a 255/30R19,” says Robert Saul, director of consumer tire product strategy in the U.
S. and Canada for Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations LLC. “This is not due to an inherent technical limitation; it’s just based on what we perceive there to be a market for — this size can be found on a handful of cars from BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz.
“The lowest profile size on any vehicle currently offered in the U.S. from the factory appears to be 245/30R20. That size has a sidewall height a little below 3 inches and is found on, most notably, the Honda Civic Type R.
“With pneumatic tires, ultimately the air is what carries the load of the vehicle. So all other attributes being equal, when you decrease the height of a sidewall, you are limiting the amount of air the tire can hold, thus limiting the load a tire can carry.”
In addition to load carrying limitations, Saul says low profile tires offer less dampening. “On the flip side, some drivers may prefer that more direct, responsive feel.”
So there is a realistic limit, at least with a pneumatic tire.
“As non-pneumatic, integrated tire/wheel and other emerging technologies evolve, it’s possible that the terms ‘profile’ and ‘aspect ratio’ could eventually become terms referencing only tires from the past,” says Bob Toth, director of industry relations for the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.
When that happens, the profile could go even lower.
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One of the latest fashion trends has been the focus on low profile tires. This is especially evident during the sale of summer tires. About how relates to the low-profile tire , what operating features it has, will be described below.
In today's world, a low profile tire is one that has a profile height (tire height) to width ratio of 55% or less. Thus, low profile tires include, for example, the following dimensions:
Given the current trends in the development of tire sizes and the emergence of new cars, we can say that the 55th series, as the border between standard profile and low profile, will no longer be considered as such in the near future.
In reality, this has already happened and among those who are deliberately looking for a tire with a narrow sidewall, the size 205/55 R16 is not considered low profile. And if we turn to history, then at the dawn of the appearance of low-profile tires, the parameter separating them from standard tires was generally 70%! And, for example, size 195/70 R14 was already considered low profile.
The first low profile tires were produced by Michelin in 1937. However, the condition of the roads and the equipment of mass-produced cars did not allow such tires to be widely used and they were installed exclusively on racing cars.
In the sports world, the idea of a low-profile tire was adopted almost immediately, as low-profile tires provide better vehicle stability during high-speed manoeuvres. At the same time, the use of such tires on conventional cars was abandoned for many decades and returned to it only in 1978 year.
One of the main benefits of the low profile tires is that they give the car a more sporty appearance.
The main difference from standard tires in behavior is the improvement in vehicle handling. So when cornering at high speed, there is almost no buildup of the car, which is characteristic of conventional tires, which occurs due to deformation of the sidewall of the tire under the influence of loads. The greater stability of the tire improves the handling of the car, and also increases the information content of the car as a whole. Also, a low-profile tire mounted on light-alloy wheels shows faster acceleration and also improves braking. nine0003
The disadvantages of this rubber are also related to its height. The lower the profile of the tire, the lower the tire sidewall height, which means the lower the damping ability of the tire to reduce vibrations from the road. As a result, all the bumps in the road are immediately felt on the steering wheel, because such low-profile tires are not suitable for roads with poor quality surfaces.
Lack of adequate cushioning can lead to even more unfortunate consequences than loss of comfort, since, for example, the load on the car's suspension is increased.
It is also worth remembering that the transition to low-profile tires is always accompanied by an increase in the landing diameter of the disks, which means that you need to purchase a new set of disks. In addition, low-profile tires themselves tend to cost more. nine0003
Select low profile tires according to the manufacturer's recommendations. As a rule, a car manufacturer offers 3-4 sizes for each model, among which there will be low-profile ones. The following is an example of tire selection for a Ford Focus:
| Recommended size | Tire profile nine0054 | MICHELIN tire model |
| 205/55R16 | Standard | Primacy 3, Pilot Sport 3, CrossClimate |
| 215/55R16 | Standard | Primacy 3, CrossClimate |
| 215/50R17 | Low profile | Primacy 3, CrossClimate |
| 235/40R18 | Low profile | Pilot SPort 4, Pilot Sport Cup 2 |
Some people prefer classic tires with a standard profile, while others prefer narrow profile tires.
What justifies the choice of low profile rubber, what features does this type of tuning have, what advantages and disadvantages can be identified? We talk about all this in detail in the article.
To determine whether a tire has a low or standard profile, it is necessary to measure three parameters - the height, the width of the profile, and the diameter of the disk itself. The complexity of the selection of tires lies in the fact that these parameters are interconnected. That is, by changing one value, it is necessary to adjust other values according to the manufacturer's recommendations. nine0003
The calculation formula is: Height/Width * 100%.
The values obtained show the relationship between the two quantities, but are not the absolute result of the calculations. That is, when choosing tires for an off-road vehicle, we can only say with certainty that the sidewall height of 205/55 R17 will be lower than that of 225/55 R17.
What is narrow profile tyre? This is a tire in which the height of the sidewalls, when measured from the roadway to the disk, has a minimum value in relation to the width. nine0003
Narrow profile tires differ even in appearance from classic tires. To find out the main parameters, you need to look at the side surface, where a special marking is applied. For example, consider the standard tire marking 205/55 R17:
Low profile tires have a height to width ratio of 0.55 or less. In the above example, the tire marking is already considered narrow-profile.
It is allowed to lower the profile as much as possible to a ratio of height and width of 0.2.
Low-profile wheels also differ in the index of permissible speed. This value is indicated in the marking on the sidewall. If standard tires have a limit of 190 km / h, then narrow-profile - 210 km / h. In such tires, the presence of a stiffener is mandatory, which protects the car disk from deformation.
As a rule, such tires are installed on a car to improve sports performance. The car moves faster, improves dry grip. In addition, a narrow profile is used for tuning cars. If you want to change your car and highlight it from the same type of flow, then this is one of the possible solutions. nine0003
As for the proper operation of such rubber, drivers have a lot of questions. For example, what pressure should be in low profile tires? In many tire services, they simply do not know how to pump low-profile tires and, in order to be safe, they make tire pressures of 2.
1-2.2 atm. As a result, the car drives on half-flat tires.
On average, it is recommended to pump at least 2.6 atm into tires for passenger cars. Depending on the parameters of the tire, the pressure of off-road tires can be 2.7-2.9atm.
Another common question is low-profile winter tires. Is it possible to use such rubber in winter or is it better to put the standard one? Winter tires differ from summer tires in the material of manufacture (softer), the presence of spikes, and the tread pattern. Accordingly, a narrow-profile tire is not suitable for driving in ice, heavy snow or on uneven and slippery roads. The wheels simply will not withstand the "surprises" of winter, and any unevenness will be given into the hands of the driver. nine0003
Low-profile off-road tires are on sale, and manufacturers also produce winter off-road tires. In any case, you should carefully consider the choice of such tires for operation in winter or in difficult road conditions.
Summer Drive Protection Run On Flat
Rating:
4.5
Tires Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric
Summer Drive protection
Rating:
4.5
Tires Goodyear Eagle Sport TZ
Summer Drive Protection Run On Flat
Rating:
4.5
Tires Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
Summer Drive protection
Rating:
5
Tires Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2
All season Drive Protection Run On Flat
Rating:
4.
5
Tires Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen-2
All season Drive Protection Run On Flat
Rating:
4.5
Tires Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen-3
Tires Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2
Winter Drive Protection Run On Flat Sound Comfort
Tires Goodyear UltraGrip Performance+
Winter Drive protection
Tires Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2+
Consider a few of the main advantages of rubber with a narrow profile:
In addition to the advantages, tires with such a profile have a number of disadvantages. Consider the main ones: nine0003
It is necessary to highlight such a minus - the complexity of installation. It is impossible to install tires on your own. At least special equipment is required, but not all workshops have it. Also, the tire design itself adds a “smut” when choosing wheels. Often, tires simply do not meet factory requirements.
We examined what a narrow profile tire is. We learned what it is used for, studied the features of operation in summer and winter, determined how much atmosphere should be pumped into the tire.
