Most people have heard of winter tires or all-season tires, but rarely do people speak about summer tires.

What Are Summer Tires?

Often referred to as performance tires, summer tires are lighter and made out of a softer rubber that gets more contact with the ground in warmer weather.

Although all-season tires are normally recommended for the average tire purchaser, summer tires are a great option depending on where you live and what you’re looking to get out of your tires. Summer tires often have larger tread blocks, making them have better grip than the average set of tires.

Weather & Climate

Where you live and the usual weather conditions of your location should always play a role in deciding which types of tires you should be shopping for. For example, if you live in Chicago, IL it would make more sense to purchase all-season or winter tires than if you lived in Oklahoma.

If you live in a city that consistently has warm weather, it’s probably wise to look into purchasing summer tires. In addition, if you find yourself driving in the rain a lot, that may also be a reason to purchase summer tires. Because of the large tread blocks, summer tires are great for grip when it comes to rain or any sleek streets you may be riding on.

Performance-Based

Like mentioned above, summer tires are usually referred to as “performance tires”. If you live in a warm climate or have a car that you rarely use except for in the spring and summer, summer tires could be right for you. If you’re looking for speed and agility, summer tires are a great option. However, that’s only accurate in the right climate, so be cautious.

Summer tires can make great turns and are often used on supercars like a McLaren because of their ability to perform incredibly well in the right conditions. Although, it’s worth noting that if used in temperatures under 45 degrees, summer tires can go from peak performance to dangerous very quickly.

Should I Buy Summer Tires?

If you live in a climate that is almost always warm, summer tires can be a great fit for you. With shallow, wide tread blocks, summer tires are able to move much quicker and more agile than your average set of tires. Summer tires have efficient cornering and braking capabilities so if you’re someone who likes quick, agile driving, summer tires could be perfect for you!

Another reason that may affect your decision to purchase summer tires is the amount of rain you drive in. Because of the way the tread blocks are created, summer tires are great for rain-heavy climates on sports performance cars.

Overall, choosing to purchase summer tires really comes down to where you live and the reason for choosing such high-performance tires. As long as your lifestyle, location, and vehicle match up with the purpose of summer tires, they’re a great choice. However, if you don’t think that your reasoning for choosing performance tires lines up with what they will allow you to do, it might be time to consider looking into all-weather or other types of tires.

Consult a professional and discuss your options before purchasing tires. They’re an investment, so you deserve to know what you’re getting yourself into!