As the Passenger Touring market starts to bleed more and more with the UHP market, tires are starting to show up in the market places as hybridized tires. Having the best features of a touring tire, and likewise, for a performance tire. Who doesn’t want a car that handles great around corners, and lasts 60,000 miles? Automakers are as good as anyone when it comes to understanding consumer wants. Many automobiles (Acura, BMW, Cadillac, Camaro, Corvette, Impala, infiniti, Mustang, Nissan Altima, Pontiac G6) are coming stock with OE tires that are UHP tires or Performance Touring. So it’s not uncommon these days to sell UHP or Performance Touring tires to these clients as their first or second replacement; tires with a V or higher speed rating and a aspect ratio of 55 or lower. These stock vehicles are coming with higher performance engines, more powerful brakes, sport-tuned suspension, and ultra-high- performance (UHP) tires. The RMA defines a UHP tire as having a V or higher speed rating whose primary design is on speed, response, & handling.

Do UHP Tires Make A Difference?

Remember this; there are two major classifications of passenger tires: Performance & Touring. The lines between the two are bleeding more and more each year, as performance tires are gaining more touring benefits & vice versa. UHP tires really can improve the performance of a vehicle, enhance a car’s grip, cornering capability, better dissipate heat, better responsiveness at higher speeds, light weight, & unique tread designs. Unfortunately, the tradeoffs are: they cost more, shorter tread life, harsher ride, usually require upgraded rims, & increased susceptibility to sidewall damage.

UHP Market Changes

UHP tires have been around for decades but were traditionally found on high-end sports cars.  Now more and more manufacturers are offering them on mainstream vehicles, such as the Impala, Pontiac G6, Nissan Altima, Acura, etc. As of 2014, there were about 18 million units of UHP tires sold and it is expected to increase by 5% each year, which means, 25 million units in 2020.

Automotive Industry Leading The UHP Charge

The automotive industry is the largest change agent in this trend. Noticing the wants of their consumers, these manufacturers are outfitting many of their existing car lines with UHP as original equipment (OE) tires. Consumers want more from their vehicles and an improving driving experience.

Always Choice A Speed Rating As Specified By The Manufacturer

If you own a car that’s designed to use UHP tires, don’t switch to a lower-speed-rated tire. The replacement tires should have the same or higher speed rating as the OE tires. You can check your owner’s manual for information about the different speed classes, additionally; you can find the speed rating on your vehicle: glove box door, driver side door jam, gas tank hatch, and occasionally in the owner’s manual.

My Car Has UHP Tires Do I Need To Replace Them With UHP Tires?

It depends what your vehicle manufacturer put on the vehicle as OE tires. If it was designed with UHP tires, it is highly recommended that replacement tires match or exceed the speed rating of the original equipment tires. That doesn’t mean you need to replace them with the same brand and model.

UHP Tire Market	UHP Tire Market by Vehicle	Characteristics Of A UHP Tire Consumer
Top 10 sizes in US (2014) 1.       235/50R18 2.       225/45R117 3.       225/45R18 4.       235/55R17 5.       215/45R17 6.       235/45R17 7.       225/50R18 8.       245/45R18 9.       245/40R18 10.   225/40R18	Acura 4% BMW 2% Cadillac 2% Camaro 4% Corvette 5% Impala 10% Infiniti 2% Mustang 8% Nissan Altima 2% Pontiac G6 2%	These statistics are from Cooper Tire & Rubber Company: 57% have a graduate or higher degree 38% typically earn more than $75,000 annually 71% Come from the baby boomer or gen x generations 72% work full time or are retired 64% are married 83% are Caucasian

What is a Passenger Touring Tire?

• Designed for ride quality & other all season capabilities
• They have a good blend of wet, dry, & winter performance
• Good to acceptable levels of performance & handling
• Provides sooth, soft ride
• Great tire for daily commutes & road trips
• Less expensive than their higher performance cousins
• Speed rating: T, H, V, W

What Are The Characteristics Of A UHP Tire?

• V & higher speed rating and designed for speed responsiveness, and handling
• Wider trade surface – Wider tread surface made from compounds to create a more sticky tread
• Short Side Wall – Low profile tires maximize handling and reduce the aspect ratio
• Stiffer Side Walls – Stiffer sidewalls maximize contact with the road during cornering – provide excellent traction and handling in dry conditions
• Rim Diameter – typically designed for a rim diameter of 16” or greater 

 

Shamrock Tire & Auto Repair is your one-stop tire shop for UHP tires, performance tires, truck, SUV, Passenger, & more.