
I learned about autocross tires the hard way. Halfway into my third ever autocross run, my all-seasons and I plowed straight through a tight left corner. Fortunately, I didn’t damage my VW Golf, but those little orange cones never had a chance.
A great set of tires makes one of the biggest differences in how your car performs at an autocross event. The most popular category of tires is the Super 200s which are track-focused yet can still be driven on the street. These tires are competitive for club-sponsored events like autocross, time trials, and even some endurance events. They also won’t drain your bank account.
Best of all, they are well-matched for street cars, which means they are well-matched for the skills of the average amateur racer. That’s not to say these tires won’t keep you from mowing down orange cones, but for a weekend warrior using their weekday car, they are the best autocross tires.
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2
- Bi-compound maximizes contact patch
- Excellent grip with precise handling
- Measurably faster than most other tires
- Pricey
- Prone to oversteer in the wet
Falken AZENIS RT660
- Low cost
- Sharp steering response
- Excellent lateral grip
- Forgiving contact patch allows for mid-corner corrections
- Needs warmup time
- Performance specs not as good as others
Yokohama ADVAN A052
- Delivers the fastest dry lap times
- Little to no warm-up time required
- Excellent lateral and longitudinal grip
- Impressive all-around performance
- Steering is a bit vague
- Prone to heat soak

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.
Learn moreSummary List
Best Overall: Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2
Best Value: Falken AZENIS RT660
Honorable Mention: Yokohama ADVAN A052
Best Updated/Improved: Bridgestone RE-71RS
Best for Consistency: BFGoodrich G-FORCE RIVAL S 1.5
Best Track Only: Hoosier R7
Our Methodology
Most experienced racers already have a tire preference. With that in mind, I approached this article from the standpoint of someone relatively new to the world of autocross. My knowledge about tires comes from a combination of experience and research. When in doubt, I tread lightly and seek out expert advice. My go-to resources are TireRack.com, which has a great mix of test data and individual reviews, and Grassroots Motorsports, which has a wealth of information for amateur racing. I leveraged all of these resources to compile this list of the best autocross tires.
Best Autocross Tires Reviews & Recommendations
Specs
- UTQG: 240/AA/A
- Max Inflation: 50 psi
- Tread Depth: 7.2/32 inch
Pros
- Bi-compound maximizes contact patch
- Excellent grip with precise handling
- Measurably faster than most other tires
Cons
- Pricey
- Prone to oversteer in wet conditions
Specs
- UTQG: 200/A/A
- Max Inflation: 51 psi
- Tread Depth: 8/32 inch
Pros
- Low cost
- Sharp steering response
- Excellent lateral grip
- Forgiving contact patch allows for mid-corner corrections
Cons
- Needs warmup time
- Performance specs not as good as others
Specs
- UTQG: 200/A/A
- Max Inflation: 51 psi
- Tread Depth: 7/32 inch
Pros
- Delivers the fastest dry lap times in this category
- Little to no warm-up time required
- Excellent lateral and longitudinal grip
- Impressive all-around performance
Cons
- Steering is a bit vague
- Prone to heat soak
Specs
- UTQG: 200/A/A
- Max Inflation: 51 psi
- Tread Depth: 7/32 inch
Pros
- Impressive lateral grip
- Excellent wet weather performance
- Accurate and communicative feel in corners
Cons
- Better suited to road courses than autocross
- Numb on center feel
Specs
- UTQG: 200/AA/A
- Max Inflation: 44 psi
- Tread Depth: 7.2/32 inch
Pros
- Excellent value
- Great stability and control
- Good consistency and feel
Cons
- Requires a warm-up
- Lack the feel or grip of other tires
- Not as fast as the leaders
Specs
- UTQG: 40/C/A
- Max Inflation: 44 psi
- Tread Depth: 4/32-inch
Pros
- Phenomenal levels of grip
- Lightning fast responsiveness
- Little to no warm-up time required
Cons
- Tires wear out fast
- Expensive
- Not suitable for street use
Our Verdict
The Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 barely nudges out the Yokohama ADVAN A052 for the top pick. You can’t go wrong with either tire, so it comes down to the number of laps and layout of the autocross course. For the best value, get the Falken AZENIS RT660. The Falkens offer great feel, and excellent performance for a fraction of the price.
Things to Consider Before Buying Autocross Tires
There is a lot of info on tires — more than enough to cover several articles. To simplify things, there are three items to consider.
Tire Type
The type of tire is the first thing to consider. While some people run all-season tires in autocross events, most opt for high-performance summer or ultra-high performance summer tires because they are softer and provide more traction. The tradeoff is they don’t perform as well in wet or cold conditions.
Tire Size
When evaluating tire sizes, you need to look at the tire's width and the sidewall's height. The wider the tire, the larger the contact patch and the better the grip, which leads to faster lap times. Sidewall height comes into play for responsiveness. A shorter sidewall means less sidewall flex leading to faster transitions in corners.
Treadwear
Treadwear is based on actual tire testing compared to a baseline. Tires that are expected to last as long as the baseline reference receive a treadwear rating of 100. If they are expected to last twice as long, they get a 200 treadwear rating and so on. The lower the treadwear rating, the softer the tire and the more grip it provides. But a softer tire wears out faster, so you’ll buy tires more often.
Autocross Tire Pricing
Autocross tires start at around $150 for a tire like the Falken AZENIS RT660 in a 15-inch size and go to over $630 for a 19-inch Hoosier R7. The midpoint seems to be $250 to $300, where you’ll see tires like the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 and Yokohama ADVAN A052 in a 17 to 18-inch size.
FAQs
You’ve got questions. The Drive has answers.
Q: Are wider tires better for autocross?
A: A wider tire is almost always better if it fits. Even if it means going to a larger tire diameter.
Q: Does autocross hurt your car?
A: Autocrossing can shorten the life of standard consumable items such as tires and brake pads, but it is extremely unlikely that it will damage your car.
Q: Do you need a helmet for autocross?
A: Helmets must be worn for all track and autocross events. Helmets certified as meeting the most current or the two most recent applicable Snell, FIA, or SFI standards are acceptable.
Q: Can I autocross my SUV?
A: Yes, as long as it’s not a rollover risk. Buy why? Why?
Q: What is the most popular car to race?
A: Once again, the answer is the Miata…