Touring tires characteristically have a tread designed to give a smooth, quiet ride. Note the straight center
tread. This makes for a comfortable ride. Also built into this tread design are small shoulder lugs on the
outside rib, which improves cornering traction and makes water course out the side as the tire rolls through
water. Photo courtesy of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. Used with permission.
Touring Tires
Tires that fall into this category are designed to give superior ride and handling
out on the open road at highway speeds.
Touring tires typically have a straight rib tread design that is not aggressive,
offering a smooth, quiet ride. “Water coursing” is built into the tread design, but
these tires don’t do well in winter weather.
Touring tires are made of a rubber compound that lasts a long time. However,
unlike all-season or winter tires, the rubber tends to freeze at low temperatures
and become stiff, resulting in poor traction in inclement weather.
Performance Tires
These tires have a tread design that provides superior cornering, handling, and
traction in aggressive driving conditions at low and high speeds. They also tend
to hold up well under prolonged driving at high speeds. Tread lugs are typically
larger and have little or no siping. Shoulder lugs are larger, a feature that gives
maximum traction on cornering.