Best Low-Profile Tires: Our Picks for High Performance

Upgrade the look and handling of your car with these top low-profile tires

byMike Knott, Noelle Talmon|
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BYMike Knott, Noelle Talmon/ LAST UPDATED ON May 18, 2023

Many sports cars feature low-profile tires, which improve handling and performance. These tires give you more grip on paved roads and, combined with large rims and brakes, they also help you stop faster. Low-profile tires are also really sleek looking. If you're a fan of big rims with less rubber, check out the top low-profile tires on the market.

Best Overall
Continental Extreme Contact All-Season Radial Tire

Continental Extreme Contact All-Season Radial Tire

Summary
This ultra-high performance, all-season tires feature X-Sipe technology to improve braking, cornering, and acceleration in the rain, snow, and ice. The tires come with a 50,000-mile limited mileage warranty.
Pros
The SportPlus Technology provides precise handling and security on wet, slippery roads. They have a good tread life and are less noisy than some of their competitors.
Cons
They can wear out quickly if they are under or overinflated. They also don't perform particularly well in snowy conditions.
Best Value

Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2 Performance Radial Tire

Summary
These all-season tires are designed to handle well in both dry, wet, and light snow conditions. The sidewalls feature high-hardness bead fillers and casing plies that foster improved handling and steering response.
Pros
The Hankook tires are well made, have a good tread pattern, and are grippy. They are also moderately quiet, sharper, and more responsive than some competing brands.
Cons
The biggest problem with these tires is the tread wears down quickly. Also, they don't perform very well in the snow.
Honorable Mention

Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ All Season Performance Radial Tire

Summary
These tires feature an Extreme Silica+ compound that helps the tires stay grippy when wet, and large rain grooves and 3-D sipes help prevent hydroplaning.
Pros
These tires stick to the road, even in the cold weather, and they are terrific in the rain. Overall ride quality and handling is excellent, and they go over bumps nicely.
Cons
One of the biggest complaints about these tires is that they tend to be very noisy. They also may wear down rather quickly, which is common with many low-profile brands.

Summary List

Best Low-Profile Tires: Reviews & Recommendations

This high-performance all-season radial tire will satisfy your year-round driving needs. It blends dry and wet traction and features traction grooves and X-Sipe Technology. The tire also features Continental's SportPlus Technology which allows for enhanced handling. QuickView Indicators allow you to easily see how the tire performs in snowy conditions. They also alert you when you need to check your vehicle's alignment.


The DWS06 offers superior braking and cornering performance. It is a very responsive tire and you won't have a hard time driving in extreme conditions. The sport sidewall insert enhances the tire's steering response in different road conditions. The two-ply sidewall gives the tire added strength and cornering stability.


The Extreme Contact DWS06 is available in different sizes with Y and W speed ratings. The manufacturer also gives a 50,000 mile limited mileage warranty. However, this is not a run-flat tire and it’s also quite loud. It also doesn't perform well in snowy conditions.

This all-season tire is perfect for all types of sedans and sports coupes. It provides good traction and great cornering performance on wet, dry, and even snowy roads. A silica tread compound increases its traction and rolling resistance for better fuel efficiency. The tread design and notched shoulders offer impressive cornering grip and dry traction.


Hankook's innovative Aqua Hydro Block Technology and four circumferential grooves improve braking performance and wet traction. The two features also minimize the chances of hydroplaning by moving water away from under the tire. Two steel belts inside the tire are reinforced with nylon for increased strength and longevity at higher speeds.


Hankook offers a 50,000 mile tread warranty for this tire. It’s also built using 3D Vibration Analysis Technology, which promotes secure braking performance and even wear. However, the tread life could be better as it wears down very quickly. It also doesn't perform very well in snowy conditions.

This tire is designed for coupes, sports cars, and sedans. It is ideal for car owners who seek optimum performance all year long. It offers good grip on wet surfaces, brilliant steering on dry roads, and excellent traction across seasons. The low profile tire is made using Michelin’s Hello+ tread compound which offers better traction in snowy conditions.


Circumferential grooves on the tire quickly remove accumulated water, slush, and snow. The grooves also reduce the risk of hydroplaning and enhance traction as your car moves through mud puddles. You’ll be able to go on that off-road trip you’ve been planning for years.


The Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ All Season Tire utilizes Michelin’s Variable Contact Patch 3.0 Technology. It evenly distributes all encountered pressure across its surface. However, it is not a comfortable tire and produces a significant amount of noise.

The asymmetrical tread pattern on this tire is made from a versatile rubber compound. The silica formula enables you to use this tire during hot and wet summers or cold and light snowy winters. The outer blocks are large to give extra support to the sidewall. Through the center of the tire are solid circumferential ribs for constant contact with the road. Internally, there are twin steel belts that wrap around the tire to give it stability and strength.


What makes this tire stand out is the extra sipes it has throughout the entire tread pattern. This gives you extra grip in slippery driving conditions. The increased traction will give you faster acceleration and braking.


The downside of these tires is that they can be noisy. Pirelli knows this, yet only limited sizes come with its noise-canceling system. Also, some users received old or defective tires.

This all-season tire provides you with high performance functionality throughout the year. There are four wide circumferential grooves for channeling water away from the tire’s contact patch. Then each side has a different tread pattern that wraps around the tire’s shoulder. Both patterns have an open tread pattern for expelling water away. The tread’s rubber compound has an optimized silica to provide improved performance during braking, accelerating, and handling.


You’ll like driving on this tire because it gives you improved steering control, handling, and wet road traction. Built into the internal construction of the tire are noise prevention bars to reduce the tire noise and give you a quiet ride. They also hold up quite well when braking hard. This gives you a lot of durability whether you're a conservative or aggressive driver.


Unfortunately, this tire tends to struggle with traction on snowy roads. It also lacks stability when cornering.

This all-season tire has an extra wide stance to give you a larger contact patch with the road. It has four wide circumferential grooves for wet road traction. These feed to wide siping on both of the outer tread blocks for maximum water channeling. The unique tread pattern across the face of the tire creates a smooth ride.


What makes this tire stand out is the state-of-the-art technology used to build it. This will give you improved traction on dry, wet, and lightly snowy roads. You’ll have traction at all speeds while also having improved tread life.


Unfortunately, the tread can separate from the body of the tire. This results in immediate air loss and requires replacement. You may also find these tires are susceptible to puncture. This makes them not as durable, despite the long tread life.

This high performance summer tire features a micro silica compound. This helps to evenly distribute the silica throughout the tire construction. The tire has a more effective contact patch as a result. It has a directional tread pattern with a solid center rib and a 3D dimple pattern. The internal structure is computer simulated to ensure even construction. This guarantees balanced wear throughout the tread pattern. This is supported by the reinforcement of two wide steel belts, a two-ply polyester casing, and two full layer nylon cap plies.


What makes this tire stand out is lateral grooves that are at angles in the tread blocks. They reduce wear and increase the durability of the tire. The 3D dimples are also unique in that they help the tire to dissipate heat better, which helps the tire perform better and last longer.


Unfortunately, this tire is loud. It only gets louder as the tire tread wears. The tire starts out sticky and with plenty of traction, but that wears away with use too.

This all-season tire is meant for use on luxury cars and crossovers. The rubber compound features a high amount of silica. The tread features an asymmetrical pattern that uses Bridgestone’s Long Link Carbon Black technology. It also has Resonance Noise Attenuated (RENOA) silencing grooves to tone down acoustic tones. The tread pattern features continuous center and shoulder ribs for greater straight line stability. These are paired with circumferential grooves to channel water away.


What makes this tire stand out is its long tread life and low rolling resistance. Both of these will save you money. The long tread life reduces how often you’ll need to replace your tires, while the low rolling resistance will improve your fuel economy.


Unfortunately, this tire loses most of its traction abilities when hard-braking. This can result in a dangerous driving situation. Despite all of the built-in noise-canceling technology, these tires are still quite noisy. This is especially true when you drive at faster speeds.

The Cooper Zeon tire is designed to deliver impressive performance and handling while also being durable enough for driving on year-round. They handle well on dry, wet, and even lightly snowy roads. This is partially thanks to the internal construction of the tire, which features a two-ply polyester casing and twin steel belts that are spirally wrapped in nylon. It also has a very stiff bead filler that holds the tire steady during quick maneuvers.


What makes this tire stand out is the unique silica compound that provides maximum grip on both wet and dry surfaces. It’s molded into an asymmetrical pattern to give you a strong grip while cornering and dampen the sound you’d get with other tires. There are four deep circumferential grooves and wide lateral notches for powerful water channeling. The pattern is then finished with 3D Micro Gauge sipes for grip in light snow.


The downside of these tires is that they don’t grip as well in snow as they do on wet or dry roads. You’ll want to be more careful when driving in these conditions. You may also find the tire tread wears quickly when driving in colder temperatures.

This dependable tire is designed for use on SUVs, performance trucks, coupes, and sports cars. You’ll have predictable handling and year-round performance through wet, dry, and light snowy road conditions. The construction of the tire features twin steel belts that have nylon reinforcement.


What makes this tire stand out is the aggressive tread pattern. The tread block rows are separated by four deep circumferential grooves. Then there are lateral grooves separating the treads. These are lined by solid shoulder blocks that wrap around the sidewall to give the tire more stability.


The biggest problem with these tires is the lack of consistency in the quality. The lack of quality control can result in tires with flat spots, impossible to balance tires, and others with tread that separates from the body of the tire. They also struggle to provide dependable traction on wet roads.

Our Verdict on the Best Low-Profile Tires

Our pick for the best low-profile tires is the Continental Extreme Contact All-Season Radial Tire. They perform well in a variety of conditions, aren't as loud as some competing brands, and come with a 50,000-mile warranty.

For a more budget-friendly option, consider the Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2 Performance Radial Tire.

Benefits of Low-Profile Tires

  • Improved performance. Low profile tires have stiffer sidewalls and a larger contact area for increased grip on smooth surfaces. They also have stiffer springs that make for less weight transfer when you brake hard or speed up. You'll find it easy to accelerate and stop your vehicle.
  • Better fuel efficiency. Because of their stiffer sidewalls and simple tread designs, low profile tires have lower rolling resistance. The rolling resistance of a tire usually determines its fuel efficiency. Low profile tires also don't deform as much as high profile tires and flex less as you drive. Tires that flex more absorb more energy.
  • Support run-flat technology. Run-flat technology allows drivers to drive safely even when tires are fully deflated. Low profile tires have less air because of their short sidewalls, and support run-flat technology.
  • They look better. “More rims, less rubber” is a trend that has existed for a couple of years. Low profile tires can be easily installed on larger rims. Larger rims give a car a sporty look.

Types of Low Profile Tires

Summer

Summer tires are built for speed and agility and offer top performance on dry roads. They have better responsiveness, braking, and cornering capabilities. This is largely attributed to their unique tread patterns and compounds which allow for improved precision on the road. Some low profile summer tires have tread patterns with less grooves for maximum road grip. Their rubber compounds are more flexible for better traction and grip.

All-Season

All-season low profile tires deliver grip and confident handling in all seasons. They provide year-round traction, thanks to their tread designs and compounds that remain flexible in all weather conditions. The tread patterns are usually symmetrical and the tires have grooves and sipes that siphon away water. All-season tires don't produce a lot of noise and make for a comfortable driving experience. They provide good performance in both wet and dry conditions and good traction in snow.

Winter 

It's important to get winter tires for winter. Winter tires can be studded or non-studded and have deep grooves and treads that expel slush from the contact patches. These tires have tread patterns with larger gaps which increase traction on snow and ice. Low profile winter tires can be used in cold and snowy areas (with temperatures 7°C or below). They are made with soft rubber compounds that ensure they stick to the road even when temperatures go up. However, it's worth noting that these tires produce noise at higher speeds because of their complex tread patterns.

Touring

These tires also go by the name grand touring tires and deliver responsive handling and reliable all-season traction. They usually have a higher speed rating than all-season tires and mostly feature an asymmetrical tread pattern. Low profile touring tires are designed for comfort and make road bumps and road imperfections less noticeable. Their treads have increased surface contact with the road. The tires are usually sold as all-season tires and offer a long tread life, good handling, and a comfortable, quiet ride.

Top Brands

Michelin

Michelin is a French tire manufacturer based in Clermont-Ferrand, France. It’s one of the largest tire manufacturers in the world. The company was founded by Aristide Barbier and Édouard Daubrée and initially made farm equipment and rubber balls. It created the first detachable bicycle tire in 1891. The company has created many awesome inventions over the years, like the radial earthmover tire, Michelin XDR, and the Michelin CrossClimate Tire. If you’re in the market for a low profile tire, the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 Radial Tire is a great choice.

Goodyear

Goodyear’s full name is Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. Frank Seiberling, an American innovator, started the company in 1898. It is currently based in Akron, Ohio. Goodyear makes tires for airplanes, cars, SUVs, racecars, trucks, motorcycles, earth-mover machinery, and farm equipment. If you love Goodyear tires, get the Goodyear Eagle RS-A Radial Tire for your vehicle.

Cooper

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company specializes in the design and manufacture of automobile and truck tires. Its subsidiary, the UK-based Avon Tyres, develops and manufactures tires for trucks, motorcycles, and race cars. Cooper was established by John F. Schaefer and Claude E. Hart back in 1914 and was known as the M and M Manufacturing Company. It is currently headquartered in Findlay, Ohio. One of its bestselling low profile tires is the Cooper P275/60R15 107T Cobra G/T All-Season Tire.

Low Profile Tires Pricing

  • $50 to $100: Most of the tires in this category are all-season tires. They offer good grip, traction, and handling.
  • $100 to $300: These may be winter, summer, all-season, or touring tires. Most have a treadwear warranty and offer superior handling. Some manufacturers offer a 45-day test drive.
  • Above $300: These tires are sometimes sold in sets of four. Some come with wheels and feature run-flat technology. Other tires are inflated with nitrogen instead of air.

Key Features

Tire Type

As we mentioned earlier, low profile tires are split into four different categories. Each tire type has a distinct tread pattern and performs differently. For example, all season tires perform well in different conditions, but cannot handle extreme weather conditions.

Summer tires are ideal for warm weather and have large tread blocks for maximum contact with the road. Winter tires are designed for use on snow and ice. They remain flexible in cold weather and grip the road better. Touring tires are designed for comfort. Many drivers prefer them because they don't produce any noise and make for smooth driving.

Size

The next important feature you should look at is the size of your low profile tires. If you get the wrong size, they won't fit your car. Tire dimensions are usually indicated as 255/50R20 104V. The first three digits, 255, indicate the tire’s width in millimeters. The number 50 indicates the height of a tire's sidewall. The “R” means that the tire is a radial tire and its layers run radially across. The number 20 refers to the wheel diameter, which is measured in inches. The number 104 indicates the load rating or the maximum weight the tire can carry, and “V” refers to the tire's speed rating in optimal conditions. When it comes to speed rating, the later the letter falls in the English alphabet, the higher the speed rating.

Tread Life

Each low profile tire has a life expectancy (mileage). However, it's worth mentioning that the mileage the manufacturer gives is merely an estimate. Your driving habits, weather conditions, and other factors will determine how long your tires last. The rubber compound used to make a tire also dictates its lifespan.

For instance, some tires have softer compounds that allow them to grip the road tightly. However, they have a rapid tread wear rate because some of the rubber is left on the road after every drive. Tires with a higher mileage are made with harder compounds to last longer. Low profile tires made with silica improves tread durability.

Other Considerations

  • Traction. This refers to a tire’s grip capacity on wet surfaces. The best low profile tires have the highest grade: AA. Most of the tires on the market have an A grade and a few have a B grade. Get tires with an A or AA grade and you’ll never have to worry about your car sliding on wet roads.
  • Temperature Rating. There are three tire temperature grades: A, B, and C. They indicate a tire’s resistance to heat generation when a car is speeding. Tires with a temperature rating of A effectively dissipate heat up to a maximum speed of over 115 mph. Those with a B rating dissipate heat when the maximum speed is between 100 mph and 115 mph. C-rated tires dissipate heat at speeds between 85 mph to 100 mph.

Tips

  • While low-profile tires provide better grip, they also wear out faster than other types of tires. Their soft compounds improve traction, but the rubber doesn't last as long, so you may need to replace them more often.
  • Low-profile tires are typically louder than other tires because they have a wider contact patch area. The wider areas have more grooves, which foster more airflow, making them noisier. They also include extra reinforcements, which makes them louder.
  • Low-profile tires should not be used for off-roading. They have a stiff tread, so they don't handle well on uneven surfaces. The sidewalls are also less flexible, which isn't good on bumpy roads.

FAQs

Q: Are low-profile tires less comfortable than regular tires?

A: Low-profile tires tend to have less cushioning than standard tires due to the extra height in the larger sidewalls. You are more likely to feel the bumps on the road than you are with regular tires.

Q: Can low-profile tires be used on any type of car? 

A: Low-profile tires can be used on a variety of cars, including models by VW, Honda, Audi, and Lexus as well as luxury brands. But unless your car comes with low-profile tires from the factory, you may need to upgrade other parts of your vehicle to accommodate them. This includes the suspension, rims, and brakes.

Q: Do low-profile tires have run-flat technology?

A: Some brands offer this technology. When you get a flat tire, run-flat technology allows you to drive as far as 50 miles even if the tire completely deflates. Since low-profiles have less air than other types of tires, it's easy to incorporate this type of technology into them.

Why Trust Us

Our reviews are driven by a combination of hands-on testing, expert input, “wisdom of the crowd” assessments from actual buyers, and our own expertise. We always aim to offer genuine, accurate guides to help you find the best picks.

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