You can make all the horse-power you want and all the suspension upgrades you can, but none of that matters if you can't get the tires to stick to the ground. Everything you do to the car, short of waxing or painting it, relies on the tires to make the fun happen. Although they are often an afterthought, especially when it comes to the average enthusiast, they are arguably the four most important components of your vehicle. That being said, we opted to take a look at the high-performance tire market as it relates to late-model Fords.
As with any vehicle component, there's always an upgrade you can make, and since you probably already have stock tires on your ride, we're going to show you what's available to help you make the most of your high-performance modifications. To gather more data, we called on the experts at American Muscle to give you some insight on wheel and tire fitment, and we dug up the latest information on what specific tires are required to run some of the popular racing series.
We focused on getting the word out on this hot rubber, so be sure to contact the manufacturer for more information on things like specific sizes, tire diameters, and more specific information regarding the UTQG, traction, and temperature ratings. We've also limited this discovery of information to just radial-constructed tires. There are a number of drag racing tires that are bias-ply in construction, and carry a DOT approval. Mickey Thompson, M&H Tires, and Hoosier all carry products like these. It's pretty much self-explanatory that they are for drag racing ,and most of them are optimized for straight-line acceleration.
Many readers have heard the DOT terminology thrown around with drag racing tires, but the truth is, there are a good number of tires designed for road racing that have been given the stamp of approval from the Department of Transportation as well. DOT-legal tires generally meet the minimum requirements established by the U.S. Department of Transportation for tires used on public roads. However, this approval doesn't necessarily mean that a tire is well suited for regular use on public roads, especially in inclement weather.
In putting together this article, we found both drag and road racing tires for you, and even a few high-performance radial tires that have reached the pinnacle of performance when it comes to maximum performance both on and off the track. Without further adieu, here are your contenders.
Hankook
Ventus Z214
Use: Designed for road racing, autocross, and other classes where a DOT tire is required.
Tech Notes: UTQG Treadwear 40, Traction C, Temperature ACompounds: C30 & C31 - Hard - Recommended for road racingC50 & C51 - Medium - Recommended for road racingC70 & C71 - Soft - Recommended for autocrossSize Range: 225/45/13 to 275/35/18
Hankook Tire
www.hankooktireusa.com
Hoosier
DOT Drag Radial
Use: Soft compound drag radial tire for competition use.
Tech Notes: DOT-labeled Hoosier racing tires meet Department of Transportation requirements for marking and performance only, and are not intended for highway use. It is unsafe to operate any Hoosier racing tire, including DOT tires, on public roads.
Size Range: 225/50/15 to 335/35/17
Hoosier Racing Tire Corp.
65465 U.S. 31Lakeville, IN 46536574/784-3152
www.hoosiertire.com
BFGoodrich Tires G-Force...
BFGoodrich Tires
G-Force Drag Radial (Formerly Comp T/A Drag Radial)
Use: Drag racing, high-performance street application
Tech Notes: UTQG Treadwear 00, Traction B, Temperature C. Never inflate the tire to less than 12 psi. Do not use screws to hold the tire to the rim.
Size Range: 205/50R14 to 345/30R18
G-Force R1 Use: Non-directional,...
G-Force R1
Use: Non-directional, symmetric tires intended for track use
Tech Notes: UTQG Treadwear 40, Traction B, Temperature A. Molded to 4/32-inch tread depth. No shaving required. They can be rotated clockwise or counter-clockwise and can be mounted with the dated DOT marking side in or out. Not suitable for use when standing water is present.
Size Range: P205/50ZR15 to P335/30ZR18/LL
BFGoodrich Tires
www.bfgoodrichtires.com
Bridgestone Potenza RE-01R...
Bridgestone
Potenza RE-01R
Use: Extreme performance summer tire
Tech Notes: UTQG Treadwear 140 or 180, Traction A, Temperature A. Not intended to be driven in near-freezing temperatures, or through snow or on ice.
Size Range: 195/50R15 82V to 275/30R19 92W
Bridgestone Firestone
North American Tire LLC
535 Marriott Dr.
Nashville, TN 37214
615/937-1000 Corporate HQ
800/807-9555 Retail Locator
www.bridgestonetire.com
Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1...
Dunlop
Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec
Use: DOT-approved summer performance tire for driving enthusiasts and car-club members. Superb dry traction and handling at regional car-club events, such as track days, driving schools, and autocross.
Tech Notes: UTQG Treadwear 200, Traction A, Temperature A
Size Range: 195/55/15 to 275/35/18
Dunlop Tires
800/321-2136
www.dunloptires.com
Falken Azenis RT-615 Use:...
Falken
Azenis RT-615
Use: Street-legal ultra-high-performance tire for spirited driving
Tech Notes: UTQG Treadwear 200, Traction A, Temperature A. Qualifies for SCCA Street Class competition
Size Range: 195/60/14 to 315/30/18
Falken Tire Corporation
13649 Valley Blvd.
Fontana, CA 92335
800/723-2553
www.falkentire.com
Goodyear Supercar F1 (shown)...
Goodyear
Supercar F1(shown)
Use: Max-performance summer tires, designed to emphasize dry road traction and handling
Tech Notes: UTQG Treadwear 180 or 220, Traction AA, Temperature A. Not intended to be driven in near-freezing temperatures, through snow, or on ice.
Size Range: 265/40/17 to 255/45/20
Eagle SS Dot Drag Radial
Use: DOT-approved tire suited for muscle, tuner, and high-performance vehicles
Tech Notes: The traction compound helps deliver consistent launches, and the tread design enhances tread life without sacrificing e.t. and straight-line performance. They also feature rim guards to help protect expensive aftermarket rims.
Size Range: 325/50/15
Goodyear Tires
www.goodyeartires.com