In the early 1980's Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company outfitted a few high performance cars, namely the Chevrolet Corvette, with their race inspired Gatorback tire. The tire's roots were based in formula one racing. The tire's design was radically different than most other passenger car tires and was an instant success with enthusiasts. The tire featured a very low profile side wall, large tread blocks for dry traction grip, a very stiff sidewall and a nylon cap over the steel belts to hold the tire together at high speeds. (This nylon cap act very much like a girdle does; it holds the insides of the tire "in" at high speeds.) The tire received a unique sidewall rating, called a speed rating, and it was designated with a "V". This "V" meant the tire had been safely tested in the laboratory to stay together at speeds up to 149 mph. Thus, the modern day high performance tire was introduced in America.
Tires Rims Centercaps Lug Nuts
What is a performance tire? Who needs a performance tire? Why do I need a performance tire? These are all questions that I am asked on a daily basis. To understand these answers, we need to look back at the history of the performance tire first and then discuss today's tire market, both original equipment and replacement.
The truth about performance tires is that every car and every driver is a performance driver. There is no getting around it. Performance tires are here to stay and so is the cost associated with them. The American consumer needs to understand that tires are a critical design criteria and choice for their automobile by the engineers that design them. They will continue to be expensive and the average cost of all tires will continue to climb due to technology and not good old inflation.
