Extreme-performance tires offer the highest level of street performance. What they lack in comfort and wet condition handling, they more than make up for with maximum dry-grip performance. While these are not specifically track tires, they are best used in situations where competition-level performance is needed. Using them for everyday short-trip driving is like using dynamite to kill flies.

These tires are designed to blend a performance tire's appearance with a passenger tire's smooth, quiet ride. Grand Touring tires are often used as Original Equipment and place more emphasis on handling and high-speed capabilities than high performance tires.

They are also almost always less expensive than their higher-performance cousins.

A slight step down from UHP summer tires, these are built for good performance and predictable handling at high speed, and provide good ride quality. Many OE tires, except for those on very high-performance cars, will fall into this category. HP tires are much more likely to carry “H” speed ratings.

Max Performance Summer tires are designed to offer the highest blend of dry/wet traction and handling via the latest in design and technology.

They're the pinnacle in tire technology, blending the latest in tread compounds and internal components with highly engineered designs.

UHP summer tires are generally low-profile, high-steering, response monsters made for cornering the hottest cars at the hottest speeds. They will almost always carry “V” or higher speed ratings. Their wet conditions capabilities will be more toward the useless side.

UHP tires can handle the extra horsepower of sports cars, but they’re pricier and don’t last as long as regular all-season tires.

Average predicted tread life is 35000 miles.

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 performance-tuned versions of mainstream vehicles, such as the Buick Regal GS, Chrysler 300S, and Ford Fiesta ST. Even the Chevrolet Impala and Lincoln MKZ come in versions that can be outfitted with UHP tires