7 Of The Most Durable Summer Tires

Most new cars nowadays come with a set of all-season tires that perform decently in both warm and cold months. While all-season tires are generally okay for most vehicle owners, some people would benefit from having a separate set of summer and winter tires for their vehicles.

If you live somewhere with extremely hot summers or you otherwise have a need for extra grippy tires in the summer, like racing as a hobby, you may find a set of dedicated summer tires quite beneficial. Compared to all-season tires, summer tires offer superior grip, better overall performance, and longer durability on hot roads.

Summer tires obviously do well on scorching asphalt, but they're less known for being some of the best tires for wet conditions as well. When hot barbecue weather and summer thunderstorms come to an end, you'll need to swap your vehicle's summer tires for either a set of winter tires or all-season tires.

Investing in a single set of tires can be expensive, so it's not in everyone's budget to have dedicated summer tires or winter tires in addition to all-season tires. However, new tires should last a decent while, and regularly swapping between two sets will extend the life of each set.

For multiple Reddit users, the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S is the go-to recommendation for those seeking durable, grippy summer tires. Michelin's Pilot Sport 4S tire can be pricey if you can't find a discount, but it's often worth spending a little extra on expensive tires instead of buying what's best for your wallet.

This is a Max Performance Summer tire with multiple sizes to choose from. For select sizes, each tire comes with Michelin's proprietary sidewall treatment that adds a "velvet-effect checkered sidewall" that simply looks cool but doesn't boost performance.

The tire features a dry-focused hybrid tread rubber that delivers better handling and braking on dry roads. For braking in wet conditions, there's a silica-infused wet compound on the tire's center ribs and inboard shoulder. Then, hybrid Aramid and nylon belts inside help boost the tire's durability, wear, and overall handling.

The Pilot Sport 4S doesn't have a Manufacturer's Road Hazard warranty, but it does have a Treadwear warranty that's good for six years or for 30,000 miles, a Uniformity warranty that lasts for one year or the first 2/32 inches of wear, and a Workmanship & Materials warranty that's good for six years.

If you're shopping for summer tires and decide you'd rather spring for a single all-season set instead, the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 4 is a great tire that still performs well in summer.

Another frequently recommended durable summer tire is the Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02. Compared to its predecessor, it features improved handling and performance, yet at a surprisingly cheaper price.

Although Continental, as a major tire brand, ranks somewhere in the middle, this particular Max Performance Summer tire is a fan-favorite among hobby racers and those who live in blazing climates. The ExtremeContact Sport 02 features a ribbed asymmetric design and Continental's proprietary SportPlus technology, which reportedly provides "precise handling, wet traction, and enhanced wear."

There are wide tread blocks on the tire's outside shoulder, which improve both lateral grip and handling at high speeds, and deep grooves to help prevent hydroplaning in pouring rain. Internally, this tire features a two-ply polyester casing with two steel belts, with a polyamide reinforcement ply to add extra stability at high speeds and improve overall performance.

For these summer tires, Continental offers a Treadwear warranty that lasts for six years or 30,000 miles, a Uniformity warranty and a Manufacturer's Road Hazard warranty that are both good for one year or the first 2/32 inches of wear, and a Workmanship & Materials warranty that's good for the six years, with a free replacement the first year or the first 2/32 inches of wear, and prorated afterward until 2/32 depth remains.

One of the most common tire myths is that all-season tires are able to withstand every possible weather condition out there, but that's not true. While all-season tires are able to withstand all types of weather, they're not well-equipped to handle any weather at its most extreme. If you're searching for the most durable summer tire, you won't see many, if any, all-season tires recommended.

One step below Max Performance Summer tires, there are Ultra High-Performance Summer tires like the Firestone Firehawk Indy 500. These tires do everything Max Performance Summer tires promise and slightly more. They provide even better grip on hot and wet roads, better handling, and better overall performance.

The Firehawk Indy 500 tire uses a silica-enhanced Long Link Carbon rubber compound that's been molded into an asymmetric tread design, which ultimately helps boost grip and handling on dry roads. Inside, there's a high-turnup polyester casing under two high-tensile steel belts that allows for improved stability and handling, even at high speeds.

These tires don't have a Treadwear or Manufacturer's Road Hazard warranty available, but there is a Uniformity warranty that's good for the first 2/32 inches of wear and a Workmanship & Materials warranty that lasts either five years, with a free replacement offered for the first three years, and then prorated until there's 2/32 inches of depth left.

Another great Ultra High-Performance Summer tire option is the Nitto NT555 G2. Whether you're driving a muscle car, a performance coupe, or a plain old sedan, it'll benefit from these grippy summer tires that'll likely last you multiple years.

Nitto's NT555 G2 tire utilizes a silica-reinforced high-stiffness compound that's molded into a directional tread design, unlike the asymmetric tread pattern commonly found in many summer tires. With large tread blocks that taper off, this tire grips dry roads extremely well. To handle wet roads and prevent hydroplaning, the NT555 G2 features four wide grooves that evacuate water seamlessly through the tread to lateral notches.

Internally, the Nitto NT555 G2 is constructed with a two-ply polyester casing and features two wide steel belts reinforced by two nylon cap plies. Put simply, this design helps add stability, durability, and improved handling, even in wet conditions or high speeds.

If you plan on road-tripping this summer, check out the other ways you can prepare your car for a cross-country trip besides investing in summer tires.

The Michelin brand is known for making high-quality tires, and the Michelin group has even expanded to include multiple other tire brands as well. The Pilot Sport 4S is one of the best performance tires you can get for the summer, but if you're looking for a touring tire that prioritizes comfort and fuel efficiency over performance for your commercial vehicle, the Michelin XPS Rib might be your next summer tire.

This light summer tire is typically used with vans, box trucks, and buses, but they're also a great choice for RVs and pop-up campers. Compared to Michelin's Pilot Sport 4S tire, the XPS Rib is a much more affordable option that promises low noise and even wear.

There's no Manufacturer's Road Hazard warranty for the XPS Rib tire, but Michelin does offer a Treadyear warranty good for six years or 60,000 miles, a Uniformity warranty for one year or the first 2/32 inches of wear, and a Workmanship & Materials warranty that lasts for six years, with a free replacement for the first year or the first 2/32 inches or 25% of wear, and then prorated until there's 2/32 inches of depth remaining.

The Bridgestone Potenza Sport is a Max Performance Summer tire that's best for anyone looking to get top-notch performance from their sports car, coupe, or sedan. Internally, the Potenza Sport is constructed with a single polyester casing and twin steel belts that are reinforced by an aramid-nylon cap ply.

Then, the tread design aims to enhance grip, increase stability, and improve handling, even at high speeds. To do all this in wet or dry conditions, the tire features large, uninterrupted circumferential ribs, outboard shoulder blocks, tuned tread block sequencing, and lateral notches. The proprietary tread compound used is also designed to boost traction in wet conditions.

Bridgestone offers a Uniformity warranty for the first 2/32 inches of wear and a Workmanship & Materials warranty for five years, with free replacement for the first three years, followed by prorated coverage until the remaining depth reaches 2/32 inches. However, there's no Treadwear warranty and no Manufacturer's Road Hazard warranty.

The Pirelli P Zero (PZ4) summer tires are designed with high-performance and luxury cars in mind. They're certainly not the most expensive tires on the market, but they're definitely up there.

What's unique about the P Zero (PZ4) tire is that it's tailored to fit specific needs. The "special silica and carbon black tread compound can be adjusted according to the vehicle manufacturer's needs," allowing customization for wet or dry grip, handling, comfort, tread life, and fuel efficiency.

This custom-built compound is then molded into an asymmetric tread pattern with one of two outer shoulder designs based on whether it's for a sports car or a luxury vehicle. No matter which outer shoulder the tire has, all P Zero (PZ4) tires feature wide grooves to prevent hydroplaning.

The tire's internal construction can also differ based on the type of vehicle it's being used for, with either a two-ply polyester casing or a one- or two-ply rayon casing. There are also twin steel belts that are reinforced by a hybrid cap ply consisting of nylon and Kevlar ZeroDegree.

The P Zero (PZ4) tire lacks a Treadwear warranty and a Manufacturer's Road Hazard warranty but does offer a Uniformity warranty that lasts for one year or for the first 2/32 inches of wear and a Workmanship & Materials warranty that's good for six years, with a free replacement in the first year or after 2/32 inches of wear, and then prorated until there's 2/32 inches of depth remaining.

To find the most durable summer tires available right now, we searched multiple Reddit threads and other forum posts and comments from people who have purchased or used multiple summer tires.

Additionally, we cross-checked personal reports with customer ratings from popular tire websites, including but not limited to Tire Rack, Discount Tire, and Tirebuyer. We found multiple tires that consistently earned positive customer reviews for longevity and durability during the summer months.