How much do sports car tyres cost?
Sports cars can place particular and unique demands on tyres. This is because of the way they are used and the power in the vehicle that they need to support. Today, many sports cars and premium SUVs will come with Ultra High Performance tyres (commonly abbreviated to UHP) fitted as standard. These will often have been designed specifically for that make/model of vehicle and will have an emphasis on performance and handling.
Most UHP tyres are not designed specifically for track-use but many can be used on track days and are designed for maximum performance.
The main difference between UHP tyres and standard tyres is that UHP models are usually made from a different type of compound than standard tyres. They use a different variety of rubber/silica that enables the car to grip and react at higher speeds. They also tend to have specially-designed tread patterns that aim to maximise the contact between the tyre and the road, and reinforced tread blocks. A UHP tyre will almost always have a max speed rating of 149mph or above.
Perhaps surprisingly, it is not only the major brands that make UHP tyres. Some lesser-known brands have recognised that there is a gap in the market for lower-priced UHP offerings and this means a greater choice for sports car drivers. As a result, prices of UHP tyres vary considerably.
Cost range from around £130 per tyre to significantly over £1500 depending on specification. Some of the most popular brands and models of sports car/UHP tyres are outlined below.
Goodyear
Goodyear are a long-established premium manufacturer and provide tyres for a wide variety of vehicles. Not content with just making Ultra High Performance tyres, they have a range of Ultra Ultra High Performance (UUHP) tyres that offer superior performance on the road and track. Goodyear is the official tyre supplier for cars competing in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC).
The Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport is a race-inspired tyre that offers excellent grip and handling on dry roads, short dry braking distances, excellent dynamic steering, and impressive heat resistance for a road tyre.
The Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport RS is designed to be used exclusively on the Porsche 911 GT2 RS and Porsche 911 GT3 RS models. This is a track-ready but road legal tyre that offers exceptional performance and ultimate grip on dry surfaces.
The Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate is a dynamic UHP all-season tyre that offers excellent handling in the wet and dry, good levels of comfort, and low noise.
Michelin
Michelin is the second largest tyre manufacturer in the world and employs over 100,000 people worldwide. Michelin have an illustrious history in the racing/motorsports arena, including F1, endurance racing such as the Le Mans 24-hour, and NASCAR.
The Michelin Pilot Super Sport is a UHP tyre for premium sports cars and offers exhilarating dry handling and wet grip, high-level of control in corners, and excellent acceleration.
The Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 is a street-legal track tyre that offers high performance and precision handling on track, excellent grip and control, great consistency in lap times, and extra endurance/longevity.
The Michelin Pilot Sport 4 is a highly-acclaimed UHP tyre that offers precision handling, high levels of reactivity and steering control, excellent wet braking performance, and impressive longevity.
Pirelli
Pirelli is currently the sixth largest tyre producer in the world, with a revenue of over $4bn and manufactures tyres for cars, motorcycles, trucks/buses, and bicycles. Pirelli has long-established links to motorsport, and is currently the exclusive tyre partner/supplier for the FIA Formula One World Championship.
The Pirelli P Zero Nero GT is an Ultra-High Performance (UHP) summer tyre that offers excellent grip in both dry and wet conditions, good levels of wear resistance, and an overall comfortable and sporty ride.
The Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R is a UHP tyre predominantly for track use (although road legal). They provide excellent dry traction, extreme grip, and can be fitted to some of the most powerful vehicles from Porsche, Ferrari, BMW, and Lamborghini, (including the Nürburgring record holding Lamborghini Aventador SV J).
Falken
Falken have been a leading player in the professional motorsports arena for over two decades, and have partnered with manufacturers including Toyota, Nissan, Porsche, and BMW.
The Falken Azenis FK520 is a UHP tyre for sports cars and premium SUVs. This tyre offers impressive aquaplaning resistance, excellent handling and performance in dry and wet conditions, and low noise levels.
The Falken Euroall Season AS210 is an all-season UHP tyre that offers enhanced performance, impressive aquaplaning resistance, optimal handling, superb traction on snow, and extended tyre life.
GT Radial
GT Radial tyres are manufactured by Giti Tire who make tyres for passenger cars, trucks/vans, and race cars. GT Radial tyres are used on several BMWs in the Formula DRIFT PRO Championship in the USA, and on cars in the French equivalent.
The GT Radial SportActive is a UHP summer tyre that offers impressive braking (especially on dry), superb traction, excellent steering responsiveness, and safe and consistent handling at high speeds.
The GT Radial Winterpro HP offers outstanding performance, high stability when cornering, efficient aquaplaning resistance, and improved grip (even on snow/ice).
Toyo
Toyo have been in the tyre industry for 70 years and make tyres for sports cars, saloons, compacts, CUVs, SUVs, 4x4s, and vans. Toyo tyres have been used by cars competing in the Spa 24hour race, Porsche Club Championship (in the UK), and various endurance races.
The Toyo Proxes R888R tyre is a tyre specifically developed for track use and offers supreme dry handling, enhanced steering feel and response, high stability, faster cornering, and consistent performance.
The Toyo Proxes Sport 2 offers precise handling, exceptional wet grip, optimum safety, and maximum enjoyment for all sports drivers.
At Protyre, we sell a huge selection of tyres for all types of vehicles, including sports cars. This includes premium tyres from the brands such as Pirelli, Michelin, Goodyear, Continental, and Bridgestone; mid-range tyres from manufacturers including Falken, Sumitomo, BF Goodrich, and GT Radial; and economy/low-cost tyres from brands such as Budget, Ovation, Enduro-Runway, and Autogrip. We sell summer, winter, all-season, 4x4, XL, and commercial tyres, as well as motorcycle tyres.
In addition to tyre-fitting, Protyre garages offer services, MOTs, and a wide range of free safety checks. All of these can be booked online via our website or over the phone. All Protyre garages are staffed by experienced and qualified fitters and our tyre professionals are always happy to help, should you need advice.
