Best Grippy Tires

Grippy tires are sometimes called “sticky tires,” but that doesn’t mean they’re actually sticky like duct tape. Tire grip is the maximum potential friction between the tire and the road. The grip your tires have on the road is what keeps you in control when braking hard, taking a corner, or dodging something in your path.

In a way, a tire’s grip does actually refer to its adhesion, though. The surface of a tire can be measured in how well it can grip the road so you maintain stability and control as you drive. But too much grip -- say the surface of your tire was actually covered in something stickier than duct tape -- would require more force to get your car moving. 

 Tire grip is related to but not synonymous with two major dynamics of a tire:

• Traction: a rating designated by the NHTSA under the UTQG system that measures a tire's wet braking performance. 
• Friction: the physics principle that allows your tire to drive your car forward. Low friction causes your tires to slide on the road.

Grippy tires are designed for dry pavement. The goal is responsiveness, so you can turn, change directions, and brake quickly and confidently.

That responsiveness comes at a trade-off. Grippy tires don't perform well on snow, ice, or off-road surfaces because the compounds and tread patterns optimized for dry pavement can't bite into loose or slippery terrain.

Tire Grip vs. Traction

Winter and off-road tires work differently. Instead of gripping a smooth surface, they're built to dig into snow, mud, or gravel through aggressive tread patterns and sipes (small slits cut into the tread blocks that flex and grab low-friction surfaces).

• High Grip/Low Traction: A race car on dry tarmac has high grip, but if the driver floors it, they can lose traction (wheelspin).
• Low Grip/High Traction: A winter tire has low raw grip on ice but is designed with specific sipes to maximize the available, limited traction.

The tires below are examples of grippy tires that are great for dry-road driving control, as this is what is usually meant by a “grippy” tire. Most of these tires fall under the performance or performance summer category. They commonly have ultra-high-performance tread compounds designed for better road grip and maximum control on the road or track. 

Examples of Good Grip Tires

Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperCar

Starts at $299.30 per tire.* 

The Eagle F1 SuperCar tire is a wide, grippy summer performance tire designed for sports and performance vehicles. It’s built with a performance-focused tread compound, large shoulder blocks for better grip, and a multi-radius shape that smooths out the driving experience. This is a great example of a tire designed for comfort and maximized for control. 

Continental ContiSportContact 5P

Starts at $207.31 per tire.

Designed for sports cars, the ContiSport Contact 5P is a summer performance tire featuring a high-performance tread compound and pattern for maximum dry grip. This tire is a great choice if you’re looking for something uniquely positioned to perform well on both dry and wet surfaces. If you want a quieter version of this model, also check out the ContiSilent variation.

Hankook Ventus R-s4 Z232

Starts at $230.07 per tire.

The Ventus R-S4 Z232 is an ultra-high-performance tire built for both track days and everyday driving. Its symmetrical tread pattern keeps the tire balanced on dry surfaces, with the left and right sides mirroring each other across a center axis for consistent, stable handling. A solid pick if you want a competition-grade tire that you can still run on the street.

Falken Azenis RT615K+

Starts at $132 per tire.

The Azenis RT615K+ is a super grippy DOT-approved street competition tire that features Falken's 4D nano design tread compound that improves traction and durability without sacrificing flexibility. It has massive shoulder blocks that improve cornering and a solid center rib that improves the acceleration and responsive steering. Designed for high-speed handling, this is a strong tire for street driving. 

Michelin Pilot Sport PS2

Starts at $304.62 per tire.

One of Michelin’s grippy tires, the Pilot Sport PS2, is a summer performance tire designed for sports and exotic cars. It comes with a large tread footprint for improved grip and control and an asymmetric tread design for a balance of cornering and straight-line performance. An excellent choice for a grippy tire for sports and exotic car owners who want proven dry performance with solid wet capabilities. 

Mickey Thompson ET Street S/S

Starts at $267.89 per tire.

Mickey Thompson ET Street S/S is another DOT-approved street competition tire, and one look at the tread tells you why it fits the definition of grippy. It comes with a redistributed tread void designed to maximize road contact and dry grip, while having a special R2 tread compound for exceptional dry grip. It also comes with a tread designed to improve hydroplaning resistance. An ultra-high-performance choice. 

Shop for Grippy Tires Online

From any page, select Shop Tire and Wheels, then enter your vehicle's details. Verify the trim package, as even slight variations in trim packages can mean different size wheels and tires. From the filters on the left side of the screen, set Road Condition to Summer and verify your tire size before selecting your tires. You'll see many of the above-mentioned tires in addition to options from Nexen, Firestone, Kumho, BFGoodrich, Yokohama and more. 

*Tire prices are subject to change and are affected by tire size and, of course, economic factors. To find the right tire and the current price, use Tire Agent's tire-matching tool online.