The 8 Best Tires for the Toyota Supra
If you’re on the brink of wearing out your OEM tires from doing Supra stuff on the street or aren’t satisfied with them altogether, you have come to the right place.
The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S has what it takes to meet daily driving requirements. This tire strikes the optimal balance between longevity and performance. Plus, as indicated by its 30,000-mile treadwear warranty, it won’t need replacement soon.
If you want extreme performance, Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02 in 275 front and 295 or 395 rear would be a good bet. Besides offering high grip on dry roads, it offers decent treadwear capabilities and is super quick to respond to steering inputs.
Those who drive in harsh weather would be better off replacing whatever tire they use in the summer months with Yokohama’s IceGUARD iG52c in the winter. It has all the features needed to safely carry you from point A to B on snow and ice.
#1. Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
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The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (both the generic one and the one that comes with the BMW Star) are an excellent pick for the Toyota Supra.
For a daily driver, they are one of the best summer tires around. The level of performance on offer is almost on par with your much more costly track tires. But the fact that they have 300 tread wear means they will last longer, especially for a summer compound.
Another thing you’d like about the PS4S is that they are great in wet weather. The braking distances are short, aquaplaning resistance is high, and the risk of losing traction is quite negligible.
Also, while a few people have said that the mileage rating will be lower than the rated 30,000 miles, I think otherwise. As long as you can keep up with the air pressure and rotate them regularly, there’s no reason why these tires would need replacement soon.
All in all, if you live in an area with no snow and are willing to trade steering response for higher comfort and wet performance levels, the PS4S are worth a shot.
Pros
- Offer a quiet and comfortable ride
- Excellent on wet and slippery surfaces
- Backed with a 30,000-mile treadwear warranty
Cons
- Steering response may leave you wanting for more
#2. Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02
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While your fellow Supra drivers may tell you to opt for the ExtremeContact DWS06+, there are several reasons that make the Sport02 a better pick.
The first of which is that the Sport02s wear better than their previous version, probably because the DWS06+ had a much softer sidewall. True, the sidewall made it easier to drive at the limit, especially on cars with oversteer. But it also resulted in a short tread life.
Another area where this tire has improved is lateral grip. Run both on the same track, and you’d notice that the Sport 02s showcase better lane discipline. In plain English, this means that they need fewer steering corrections to travel in a straight line.
Wet grip is another area where the Sport02s are a winner. Sure, the difference may not be night and day. But push the accelerator hard in the rain, and you’d would feel it.
Lastly, despite all the above qualities, these tires cost less than the DWS06+. That’s a win in my book, since you’re getting all the same qualities as the old version (as well as a few not-so-minor improvements) at a lower price.
Pros
- Cost less than their previous version
- Wear extremely well for a summer tire
- Superb lateral grip and wet braking distances
Cons
- Ride may get a bit firm over larger bumps
#3. Bridgestone Potenza RE71
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If you’re seeking better traction on dry roads than what the above tires provide, and you don’t mind compromising longevity and wet weather handling, give the RE71s a try.
These tires are built for the track and/or aggressive driving. You can expect them to handle high speeds and aggressive maneuvers more easily than peers. Also, an impeccable cornering grip means you can attack bends without taking your foot off the accelerator.
To complement the above qualities, a stiffer sidewall comes to the fore. Besides improving responsiveness (quick lane changes will become a breeze), the sidewall enhances control. As such, the risk of understeering or oversteering during cornering is minimal.
Sure, as noted above, their wet performance is nowhere near levels set by competitors. That doesn’t mean that they’re unsafe for driving in the rain. It’s just that you’d have to drive a bit more carefully when it’s still raining or the roads are recovering from a splash.
Another thing you might want know about these tires – especially if you intend to push them to the max – is that they have an average tread life.
Pros
- Best in class dry handling
- Superb cornering grip
- Quick and precise steering response
Cons
- May wear quickly if pushed to the max
#4. Continental ProContact GX
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The Continental ProContact GX ticks several boxes for Supra cars who mainly use this sports car for everyday driving.
Start with the fact that they won’t need replacement year-round. An all-season compound joins forces with a multi-directional tread design to help them come in handy on dry, wet, and light wintry conditions. Unless there’s snow on the roads, they would stay useful.
Second, their fuel economy is pretty decent, especially vis-à-vis other tires in this category. This is thanks to the low rolling resistance which, again, is above-average for the type. You can thus count on these tires to soften the blows at the gas station.
Another reason to opt for these tires is ride comfort. As long as there are no major imperfections on the road, these tires will maintain their composure. You won’t have to put up with much road noise or vibrations sitting inside your Supra’s luxurious cabin.
Finally, depending on the size picked, you’d get a treadwear warranty ranging from 45,000 miles to 65,000 miles. I’d say these numbers are pretty decent.
Pros
- Won’t need replacement year-round
- Offers a quiet and comfortable ride
- Backed with a decent treadwear warranty
Cons
- Not the best for harsh wintry conditions
#5. Firestone Firehawk Indy 500
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If you’re looking for quality summer tires that won’t break the bank, the Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 could be the perfect fit.
These tires offer immense grip on dry roads without letting much road noise inside the cabin (a combination that is pretty rare these days). Plus, they grip like crazy on rainy days, so much so that you might mistake them for all-season tires.
Another point which may impress you about these tires is that they wear brilliantly. Unlike many of their competitors in similar price bracket, they can withstand hard acceleration and cornering for years, giving you an excellent return on investment.
To those of you who judge a book by its cover, the Indy 500s look great. That is thanks to the aggressive tread design, which is bold enough to stand out in a crowd.
Despite boasting the above qualities, these tires cost around half a grand cheaper than the PS4Ss (at the time of writing). This makes them an excellent option for those who are on the fence about getting some summer UHP tires but won’t pull the trigger because of price.
Pros
- Amazing performance for the price
- Offer remarkable dry and wet grip
- Quieter than much pricier competitors
Cons
- Zero treadwear warranty (as expected)
#6. Falken Azenis FK510
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The Falken Azenis FK510 is another excellent candidate for Supra owners who want Michelin levels of performance but don’t want to pay Michelin prices for it.
I have tested/driven these tires in the summer and can attest that they are absolutely the best for hot climate. The level of grip is amazing for any tire in this price bracket. As is the heat dissipation – no matter how hard you push them, they stay almost cool to the touch.
Also, they have a noticeably softer thud to bumps than similarly priced peers, translating to a less harsh and much quieter ride. And while they tend to drone a bit on the freeway (especially as you press the accelerator), the noise levels get barely audible.
You can also count on them to maintain your Supra’s fuel efficiency at levels set by the OEM Michelin tires. Sure, that isn’t a pretty high bar. Yet this should make you value these tires even more, considering they have a more aggressive tread pattern.
There is however one area where corners have been cut. The steering feedback is pretty low for any tire in this category. So expect a ‘dumb’ ride.
Pros
- Grip dry roads really well
- Offer a refined ride
- Easy to handle at the limit
Cons
- Steering feedback is low for the category
#7. Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate
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Looking for ultra-high-performance all-season (UHP AS) tires that excel in wet conditions? The Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate are your answer.
These tires have a number of most of their competitors on wet roads. They have a specially designed tread pattern that channels water away from the contact patch. This, in turn, results in shorter stopping distances and enhanced handling in the rain.
They are also an excellent option for cold conditions. Multiple sipes (small grooves in the tread) helps keep them firmly planted on nearly frozen surfaces, helping your Supra stop, accelerate, and turn effectively to reduce the risk of accidents.
Such excellent is their performance in inclement weather that Tire Rack and Consumer Reports – well-respected organizations known for their unbiased product ratings and reviews – deem them the best for wet handling in the UHP all-season category.
A 45,000-mile treadwear warranty further moves the needle for these tires. That is especially when you consider than an average American driver drivers around 15,000 miles per year, implying up to three years of road life for these UHP all-season tires.
Pros
- Perform remarkably on wet roads
- One of the best UHP all-season tires for cold weather
- Backed with a decent treadwear warranty
Cons
- Average dry handling
#8. Yokohama IceGUARD iG52c
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Over the years, many people have questioned the Supra’s snow capabilities, with one reviewer describing it “an absolute disaster in deep snow.” However, for those who have no other vehicle to turn to mild-to-moderate wintry conditions, the IceGUARD iG52C offers a lifeline.
On roads which are mostly clear with a few patches of snow and slush, the iG52C can safely carry you about. It has various aggressive sipes to stay firmly planted on the road. Plus, thanks to circumferential grooves, the risk of aquaplaning is pretty much nonexistent.
Luckily, its usefulness extends beyond snowy conditions. Even on wet surfaces, it delivers ample grip. You’d have to push your Supra pretty hard to cause the IceGUARD iG52C to lose its traction and braking power on slippery surfaces. That’s how good it’s in the rain.
Remember, the iG52c won’t lift the Supra’s belly, which sits at a lowly 4.5 inches off the ground, inviting snow to pile up under the car and potentially get it stuck, even with the Yokohamas installed. As such, you shouldn’t rely on this car for driving on thick snow.
Pros
- Superb grip in cold weather
- Comes in handy on wet roads
- Can be used on dry surfaces too
Cons
- Zero treadwear warranty