The 10 Best Low Profile Tires on the Market
Low profile tires offer various benefits. They enhance the vehicle’s looks on which they’re installed, improve its handling characteristics, and boost its acceleration. Plus, by increasing the car’s grip on the road surface, low profile tires shorten its braking distances.
These qualities make it clear why low profile tires are the first choice of enthusiasts or anyone who wants to enhance the looks and dynamics of their car. But not every low-profile tire will offer the desired results. In fact, the cheap ones may end up making things worse.
This article will look at the 10 best low profile tires on the market. We have made sure to mix things up so that you can find a set for the vehicle you’re driving, whether it’s a passenger car, muscle car, SUV, or even a crossover. Make sure to choose a model that fits you.
At the same time, pay attention to the tire’s tread compound. Modern low-profile tires come with all-season, summer, or winter tread compounds. That wasn’t the case in the past when you could only buy summer tires. For this reason, think about your weather.
To help you better understand all these factors, we created a buying guide section. It’s right after the detailed reviews of the ten best low profile tires. If you could go through that section before picking a model, chances are you’d be able to make a better choice.
#1. Continental PremiumContact 6 – Best Overall
Price Check
Check the price of this tire at the following retailers:
Amazon TireRack DiscountTire PriorityTire SimpleTireDon't know the correct size tire to purchase? Start here!
The Continental PremiumContact 6 is one of the best low profile tires. This model has the aggressive looks most people expect from low-profile tires. Its handling, responsiveness, and road grip are also what allow low-profile tires to stand out from the competition.
This tire also offers reliable year-round performance. A silica rubber compound gives it the perfect mix of firmness and flexibility to stay useful in summer and winter conditions. The tread compound also has what it takes to withstand mild-to-moderate wintry conditions.
Next comes the three circumferential grooves that form the tire’s water evacuation system. The two grooves in the middle are wider and thus expel most of the water from the tread area. The third groove, which is on the side, helps keep the contact patch dry.
This PremiumContact 6 also has a refined highway drive for a low-profile tire. Continental’s ContiSilent Technology relies on a foam placed inside the tread to absorb most of the road noise. In addition, the rubber patch’s thickness enables it to absorb vibrations.
The PremiumContact 6 also has the features to enhance your drive’s handling. For example, a micro-block design enhances responsiveness for greater feedback at the steering. It also makes this tire quick to respond to steering inputs and improves handling.
Pros
- Offers dynamic handling
- Has sportier looks to enhance your vehicle’s outlook
- Short braking distances in wet conditions
Cons
- Ride isn’t that refined
#2. Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2 Performance Radial Tire – Best Value
Price Check
Check the price of this tire at the following retailers:
Amazon TireRack DiscountTire PriorityTire SimpleTireDon't know the correct size tire to purchase? Start here!
The Hankook Ventus S1 Noble 2 has many things in common with our top pick. This low-profile tire is designed to perform reliably in dry, wet, and light wintry conditions. It also sports aggressive looks and delivers an improved handling and steering response.
An all-season tread compound helps this model behave reliably on dry, wet, and light snowy roads. The presence of silica inside the tread compound brings down the rolling resistance. This, as you might guess, has a positive effect on the S1 Noble2’s fuel economy.
Its tread design and notched shoulders join forces to offer high cornering grip and dry traction. The tread design’s asymmetric shape also has an impact on steering responsiveness. Compared with other A/S tires, this model offers impressive feedback at the steering wheel.
Four circumferential grooves and Hankook’s Aqua Hydro Block Technology improve wet performance and lower the risk of hydroplaning. The two features also reduce the tire’s braking distances on wet roads, thereby lowering the risk of any untoward incident.
To further sweeten the deal, Hankook backs the S1 Noble2 with a 50,000 mile warranty. This warranty may look average when you compare it with standard A/S tires, most of which are backed for 70,000 miles or higher. However, it’s excellent for a low-profile model.
Pros
- Comes with a 50,000-mile treadwear warranty
- Excellent wet traction and braking distances
- Offers impressive dry traction and cornering grip
Cons
- Wears down very quickly
#3. Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack – Best Grand-Touring Tire
Price Check
Check the price of this tire at the following retailers:
Amazon TireRack DiscountTire PriorityTire SimpleTireDon't know the correct size tire to purchase? Start here!
The Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack offers everything you expect from grand touring tires. That includes an excellent performance on the highway, sure-footed driving experience in wet conditions and low rolling resistance for an improved fuel economy.
Aside from that, the Turanza QuietTrack is an incredibly quiet tire. This model doesn’t emit as much as a squeak at speeds at which its fellow grand touring tires roar. As a result, you won’t have to make any arrangements to block out outside noise.
Wet performance is another area where this tire shines. A combination of circumferential and lateral grooves ensures that all the water particles inside its tread area are expelled before they can accumulate and have a go at this model’s wet traction.
Ride comfort is also taken care of. Bridgestone’s Comfort Cruise Technology ensures that most of the vibrations and road noises this tire encounters are dissipated before they can reach the cabin. The result, as you might guess, is plush riding.
An 80,000-mile treadwear warranty further distinguishes this model from competitors, most of whom are backed for 70,000 miles or less. However, don’t expect this tire to perform reliably on snow. Like most GT tires, it will struggle in wintry conditions.
Pros
- 80,000-mile treadlife warranty
- Excellent dry and wet performance
- Exceptional ride quality and minimal road noise
Cons
- Snow performance is quite limited
#4. Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 – Best All-Season High Performance
Price Check
Check the price of this tire at the following retailers:
Amazon TireRack DiscountTire SimpleTireDon't know the correct size tire to purchase? Start here!
On the UHP side of things, we have an all-season model from Michelin. The Pilot Sport All Season 4 is an excellent tire, worthy of being on today’s list.
Michelin has taken cues from its racing division, using its Extreme Silica+ rubber compound for this tire. Thanks to it, the Pilot Sport All Season 4 is a tire that can deliver performance throughout the year.
The tread design is the most essential feature of the Pilot Sport All Season 4 and one that offers the performance in various conditions. For dry roads, the asymmetric pattern is designed with wider shoulder blocks, which is ideal for improving traction and grip.
Wet performance is backed by the 360-degree variable sipes, aimed at improving traction on damp surfaces. For harsh rain, the Pilot Sport All Season 4 features wide grooves designed to channel water and help the tire deliver excellent aquaplaning resistance.
As an all-season tire, Michelin backed the Pilot Sport All Season 4 with features for these conditions. The tread grooves are designed with biting edges that work with the interlocking sipes to provide good traction on snow.
Pros
- Solid snow traction
- More than enough dry and wet performance for most situations
- The tire is dynamic
Cons
- Not the most affordable option in this category
#5. Falken Azenis FK510 – Best Budget UHP Low-Profile Tires
Price Check
Check the price of this tire at the following retailers:
Amazon TireRack DiscountTire PriorityTire SimpleTireDon't know the correct size tire to purchase? Start here!
The Falken Azenis FK510 offers ultra-high performance on a budget. In doing so, it makes itself an attractive option for every driver who wants the kind of performance you get from premium UHP tires but don’t have the budget to make the purchase.
Falken has used a special tread called Adaptive Constant Pressure in the tire. We’re told that this design should help the tire evenly distribute all the pressure forces it’s subjected to. This, the lesson continues, must give it a sporty feeling, especially in corners.
Speaking of corners, the FK10 has wider shoulder blocks to increase its stability when taking sharp turns or entering/exiting corners at speed. The rigidness of the shoulders enables them to positively impact the tire’s responsiveness and stability at high speeds.
Even though it’s a UHP summer tire, the FK510 didn’t disregard wet traction. A combination of circumferential grooves and sipes helps channel water away from the tread area and provides this tire with all the grip it needs to stay reliable on waterlogged roads.
All of this is not to say that the FK510 has no shortcomings. For an ultra-high-performance summer tire, this tire could certainly use a bit more feedback on the steering. The other two flaws – poor ride comfort and long braking distances in wet conditions – were expected.
Pros
- Sharp and responsive steering
- Offers exceptional grip on dry surfaces
- Predictable at the speed and easy to handle
Cons
- Steering feedback could have been better
#6. BFGoodrich g-Force COMP-2 A/S Plus – Best UHP Low-Profile Tires
Price Check
Check the price of this tire at the following retailers:
Amazon TireRack DiscountTire SimpleTireDon't know the correct size tire to purchase? Start here!
Another excellent option from the UHP segment is a tire from BFGoodrich. The g-Force COMP-2 A/S Plus is an excellent tire that comes in several sizes for that lower profile look.
Like most all-season tires you’ll find on the market, the g-Force COMP-2 A/S Plus features an all-season compound designed to keep the tire performing in wet and winter conditions.
The design of the g-Force COMP-2 A/S Plus features BFGoodrich’s Performance Tread Profile, aimed at improving cornering grip. You also have the g-Control Sidewall Inserts, which help the tire be more responsive.
BFGoodrich went with a directional pattern, which helps in two areas. The first one is stability at higher speeds, and the second one is the aquaplaning resistance. This is thanks to the pattern’s ability to channel water efficiently, so it won’t compromise the stability.
The g-Force COMP-2 A/S Plus also features the Dynamic Suspension System, which mainly serves the purpose of control. It also helps with comfort, as the tire should handle bumps better.
Pros
- Superb wet performance
- Competitive pricing
- Solid traction on snow
Cons
- Noise levels aren’t the best
#7. Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS+
Price Check
Check the price of this tire at the following retailers:
Amazon TireRack DiscountTire PriorityTire SimpleTireDon't know the correct size tire to purchase? Start here!
Another great premium option for a UHP tire comes from Bridgestone. The Potenza RE980AS+ is an updated version of the regular RE980AS, meaning we have some improvements.
The Potenza RE980AS+ gets its all-season properties from the rubber. Bridgestone utilized its Ultra-High rubber compound, enabling the tire to perform even in winter conditions. In addition to that, it helps a bit with the comfort levels.
Regarding wet performance, the Potenza RE980AS+ features a tread pattern with open slots and see-through voids aimed at improving aquaplaning resistance. The water evacuation properties are backed by the tire’s wide circumferential grooves.
As far as traction in wet conditions is concerned, the Potenza RE980AS+ is designed with a tread pattern featuring chamfered slots and full-depth 3D sipes. The result of this combination is an excellent wet performer. As a bonus, they also help with traction on snow-covered roads.
Even though UHP tires are made to be driven hard, it doesn’t mean they aren’t long-lasting. A testament to this is the 50,000-mile treadwear warranty Bridgestone offers for the Potenza RE980AS+.
Pros
- Responsive with plenty of feedback
- Superb wet performance
- Plenty of grip and traction on dry roads
Cons
- The tire has a slightly firm ride
#8. Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
Price Check
Check the price of this tire at the following retailers:
Amazon TireRack DiscountTire PriorityTire SimpleTireDon't know the correct size tire to purchase? Start here!
The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S has got everything to make it the preferred choice of enthusiasts. This model has the looks to make your vehicle the center of everybody’s attention on the road. It also has the handling and acceleration you expect from low profile tires.
An asymmetric tread pattern is responsible for most of what is good about this tire. The tread pattern’s outer part, which is incredibly stiff, is the reason why this tire is so responsive. The inner part of the tread pattern, meanwhile, has enhanced its dry handling.
However, to give all the credit to the tread pattern would be a disservice to the V-shaped tread design. As it is the tread design that maximizes this tire’s straight line stability and makes it controllable at the limit. Plus, it also helps the tire offer a precise response.
An inner belt featuring nylon and aramid-fiber expands the tire’s contact patch at high speeds, ensuring maximum stability. Multiple grooves within the tread area evacuate water for enhanced wet traction, a novel quality for an ultra-high-performance tire.
Given the fact that this model doesn’t come cheap, it was surprising for us to note that its treadwear warranty (30,000 miles) cannot compete with rivals from Bridgestone and Continental.
Pros
- Exceptional cornering grip and stability
- Brilliant traction on wet and slippery roads
- Treadlife is excellent for a UHP tire
Cons
- Shorter treadwear warranty than rivals
#9. Bridgestone Alenza 001
Price Check
Check the price of this tire at the following retailers:
Amazon TireRack DiscountTire PriorityTire SimpleTireDon't know the correct size tire to purchase? Start here!
Let’s say you want a summer performance tire for your CUV or SUV. Bridgestone has you covered with the Alenza 001. It’s a tire that blends performance and comfort quite well.
The Alenza 001 is a summer tire, but there is something special about the rubber compound. It’s Bridgestone’s Nano Pro-Tech rubber that offers high resistance to heat and abrasion. The main goal of the compound is to help the tire wear evenly and last as long as possible.
You also have a multi-round structure on the blocks, which offers several advantages. The main one is the responsiveness and stability. In addition to that, this feature should also help with wet performance.
Bridgestone designed the ribs of the Alenza 001 with optimized rounded edges with the goal of increasing the contact pressure. This should help the tire deliver better grip in multiple conditions.
For wet performance, the Alenza 001 features 3D sipes aimed at helping it improve traction on damp roads. In harsh rain, you have wide grooves that help channel water and enable the tire to resist aquaplaning.
Pros
- High refinement levels
- Plenty of performance in dry and wet conditions
- Stable in harsh rain
Cons
- There is some noticeable flex in the sidewall when you corner hard
#10. Pirelli Cinturato P7 All-Season Plus
Price Check
Check the price of this tire at the following retailers:
Amazon TireRack DiscountTire PriorityTire SimpleTireDon't know the correct size tire to purchase? Start here!
The Pirelli Cinturato P7 All-Season Plus isn’t your standard touring tire. Mainly because your average touring tire doesn’t have 30% less rolling resistance than its competitors. Such low rolling resistance makes the P7 one of the most fuel-efficient tires on the market.
A computer-optimized tread compound keeps noise levels low. Pitch sequencing deflects road vibrations, even when you’re traveling on uneven roads, with four circumferential grooves doing an excellent job of resisting hydroplaning and improving wet traction.
Even though this model comes with a 70,000-mile treadwear warranty, it doesn’t mean it’s faultless. The P7 Cinturato wears way too quickly for us to be confident about its ability to outlast its treadwear warranty. This would be especially true if you attack corners.
Pros
- Available in a budget price point
- Backed with an excellent 70,000-mile treadwear warranty
- Offers outstanding fuel economy
Cons
- Wears pretty quickly
Buying Guide for Low Profile Tires
What are Low Profile Tires?
Low profile tires are those whose aspect ratio (the ratio of height to width) is less than 50. Standard tires’ aspect ratio is at least 55 or higher. Low profile tires were first used by BMW in the later 1960s when it put one of these on its vehicles.
Low profile tires can mostly be seen on sports cars and muscle cars, though passenger car owners can also use them to enhance their vehicle’s looks and handling. The main purpose behind these tires is to enhance a vehicle’s handling and increase its road grip.
What are the Benefits and Drawbacks of Low Profile Tires?
Although low-profile tires offer various benefits in terms of sporty looks and aggressive drivability, they also have their fair share of drawbacks. Let’s look at both:
Benefits
- Provide your vehicle with sporty looks
- Improve steering responsiveness and feel
- Enhance grip on most surfaces
- Contribute to sharper handling on dry surfaces
- Shortened braking distances on dry and wet conditions
Drawbacks
- Stiff ride than standard size tires
- Produce more noise at higher speeds
- Consume more fuel
- Generally perform poorly on snow
What are the Types of Low Profile Tires?
Low profile tires come in the following categories:
All-Season
All-season tires deliver the both worlds. These models deliver exceptional grip and traction in dry and wet conditions for a reliable year-round performance. Most all-season tires come with symmetrical tread patterns to reduce road noise and vibrations for a comfortable drive.
Summer
Summer tires are designed to deliver enhanced steering feedback, improved handling, and superior performance on dry roads. These tires have incredibly low rolling resistances and are highly controllable at the limit. Their sidewalls are stiffer for increased responsiveness.
Winter
Winter tires come with flexible tread compounds that stay useful in sub-zero temperatures. They are available in studded and non-studded categories and come with deep grooves and various sipes/biting edges for improved traction on snow-laden roads.
How to Choose Low Profile Tires?
Here are the factors you must consider while choosing low-profile tires:
- Tire Type: Make sure to pick those low profile tires that complement your driving style (the way you drive) and driving conditions. Otherwise, you’d get poor performance from your pick.
- Correct Size: Make sure to get the correct size or else the tires won’t fit your vehicle. To check your car’s tire size, check the doorjamb on the driver’s side. Alternatively, consult the owner’s manual.
- Traction Grade: It refers to the tire’s grip on wet surfaces. Low profile tires with A or AA traction grade offer the best traction on wet roads. So, you might want to opt for them if it rains frequently where you drive.
- Tread Life: All-season, all-season touring, and all-season grand touring tires all have excellent tread lives. If you could get a premium model in any of these categories, you won’t have to replace it for 5 to 6 years.
Conclusion
The best low profile tires will not only enhance the looks of your vehicle and improve its handling. They will also shorten braking distances in dry and wet conditions and ensure improved steering feedback. As a result, you should always prefer them over cheap, low-profile models.