What Are Touring Tires?

‍What are Touring Tires?

Touring tires are some of the most versatile types of tires that can be fitted on passenger vehicles, SUVs, sedans, and minivans. These types of tires are ideal for anyone who drives a lot.

One of the major characteristics of touring tires is the wide tread. That allows the tire to have a bigger surface contact with the road.  That design also helps to deliver excellent traction and responsive handling. Drivers can enjoy a comfortable and quiet ride. These tires are designed to last and be fuel-efficient.

Touring tires in N. America are all-season tires, which means you can use them in wet and dry conditions thanks to their excellent traction.

Types of Touring Tires

Touring tires are categorized into:

Ultra Touring and Grand Touring Tires

Grand Touring and Ultra Touring are terms used interchangeably and refer to a category of tires designed for long-distance driving.

Grand touring tires are used for OEM equipment and can work both in dry or wet conditions. Their main focus is on handling to create safe driving conditions when driving at high speeds.

SUV and Crossover Touring Tires

These tires are meant for crossovers, pickup trucks, and SUVs.

SUV and Crossover touring tires have high load and ply ratings to match the car's weight and load capacity. There are some models that are built to work with all-wheel-drive traction systems. You can use these tires all year and drive with them in light snow.  A few of these types of touring tires will have a sporty look, but this doesn’t interfere with their ability to deliver a smooth ride.

Performance Touring Tires

Performance touring tires are built for luxury sports cars and vehicles.  They are designed to handle fast driving, while still delivering the much-needed comfort and traction on the road.

On the downside, performance touring tires lack long tread life like standard touring tires. Their fuel economy and rolling resistance aslo decrease, but they still deliver better performance compared to regular tires.

Standard Touring Tires

Standard touring tires are built for everyday driving. Apart from their performance in different road conditions and excellent traction, these tires also deliver a smooth ride and good handling.

Although they have a low-speed rating, standard touring tires have a large aspect ratio. That balance helps with rider comfort and better control.

What’s the Difference Between an All-Season Tire and a Touring Tire?

You may notice that touring tires are also referred to as touring all-season tires. However, they are different from all-season tires.

All-season tires are designed for use in all road conditions and types of weather. Their tread can easily get you through light snow, rain, and slush. You can also easily maneuver on dry pavement.

High-performance all-season tires provide better handling and grip compared to regular tires. All-season tires are great if you drive a standard type of car and live in an area with seasonal temperature changes.

Touring tires on the other hand are meant to deliver a comfortable ride with increased handling on the road. They have a wide tread and better traction compared to regular all-season tires.

These tires are suitable for any driver looking for better handling and wants to enjoy a comfortable/quiet ride on the highway.

Who Should Use Touring Tires?

You should get touring tires if you:

Want a Long Tread Life

If your main goal is durability, you might want to consider touring tires as they are built to work in all types of weather and road conditions.  Apart from the rubber being built to last, it wears out evenly, which further extends your tire’s lifespan.

Noise Reduction

Touring tires offer a quiet ride as their treads have increased surface contact with the road.

Comfort

Regular tires only provide movement frm one place to another. However, touring tires are designed to deliver optimal ride comfort thanks to their large sidewalls. You can be sure of better cushioning when braking or going through bumps on the roads.

Better Performance and Responsive Handling

Touring tires have a bigger aspect ratio than regular tires. That makes them provide better performance and responsive handling. You can be assured of good traction on the road on high speed or road condition. Previous users have also loved the tire’s high curve stability.

Versatility

You should opt for touring tires If you’re looking for tires that perform in all driving conditions. You can comfortably drive in all four seasons without worrying about the tread life or durability of the tire.

What Should You Consider When Buying Touring Tires?

Shopping for touring tires can be overwhelming given the multiple options available. If this is your first time picking these type of tires, here are some key features you need to evaluate.

Tire Size

The tire size is stamped on the side of most tires.  You need to check the current size of your tires before buying a new set. That will ensure you get the right-sized tires, which prevents the tire from slipping off of the rim and increases fuel economy.

Tire Material

Although rubber is mostly used in tire manufacturing, there are advanced tires that incorporate silica and other tough materials. That guarantees extra strength and durability.

Additionally, advanced tires made from other materials provide better road grip and increased handling.

Speed Rating of the Tire

A tire’s speed rating tells you how fast the tire performs. The indicated rating is the maximum limit and you should stick to that limit when driving.

Tread Pattern

Tread pattern is crucial as it impacts fuel efficiency and grip on the road.. You’ll get better fuel economy and traction with a tire surface that’s close to the road.

With a symmetrical tread, you can rotate the tires fully, but you won’t have as much traction. Tires with assymetrical tread have limited rotation capabilities, but deliver better traction.

Circumferential Grooves

Grooves are the deep holes that run around the tire’s circumference. If you mostly drive when its snowy or rainy, having circumferential grooves ensures you have enough traction on wet surfaces.