If you landed on this post, it means that the term "touring tires" captivates you with something. Perhaps you're planning a long trip and you need the most suitable tires for this purpose. Or, maybe you've heard something about the level of comfort provided by them and you want to know more. No matter what the reason is, you've come to the right place.
Today we will decipher everything "touring tire" means, from the definition to the advantages and disadvantages. Yes, these tires, like all others, can also have disadvantages if you do not use them for their purpose. Either way, the decision to opt for touring tires is a superb one. They combine the traction and balance of performance tires with the comfort of all-season tires in one place. So, the first thing you need to know is that these are a kind of "multitasking" tires ready to offer you the highest comfort and handling possible.
Touring Tires, By Definition
This category of tires is very wide and suitable for almost any type of vehicle. They come with a rich profile of features that make them suitable for various conditions and seasons. The purpose of touring tires is to marry together comfort and ride quietness, as well as long-lasting serviceability and highly balanced handling.
Touring tires are widely used, especially by those who spend a lot of time on the road. These are great for drivers who have to travel long distances from work to home or travel a lot with their vehicles between states and countries. Touring tires usually have patterns oriented towards superior practicality through improved surface contact. These are extremely versatile for year-round usability and stand out for their extended tread life.
Last but not least, touring tires do great in both wet and dry conditions. Considering that they "spend" a lot of time on the road, touring tires are sufficiently prepared for all types of weather conditions including dry and wet surfaces.
Touring Tires Specific Features
Each type of tire has a certain set of characteristics. Each has features meeting certain goals that align with the tire's purpose. All these features together contribute to the universal performance of the touring tire. For example, aside from a larger road contact, the wider tread improves tire noise suppression, making these tires very quiet while driving. In addition, they provide responsive handling on both wet and dry surfaces. So, the driver does not have to worry about their reliability in changing weather conditions. Here are the main features of touring tires:
Touring Tire Advantages
The features of touring tires bring about a series of benefits. Stability and traction are just some of them. Here's what you can expect from touring tires, in case you're thinking of getting a set.
Comfort: One Of The Main Priorities
Touring tires are specially designed to ensure the driver's maximum comfort over long distances. For this, tire makers integrate all possible advanced technologies to increase drivers' degree of satisfaction. This means that a touring tire is necessarily able to absorb road imperfections. For this, tire makers use a special tire pattern as well as special components that make the tire adapt to the road while inhibiting vibrations and shocks. So, if you are looking for ride smoothness for your long trips, touring tires are the right way to go.
Long Life Service
Every tire is created for a specific purpose. In the case of touring tires, the goal is to serve not only comfortably, but also for an extended period. In this sense, tire makers integrate special technologies that help the tread to resist wear for a longer time, without compromising comfort and performance. By the way, touring tires are among the longest-lasting in the industry, along with Grand Touring tires.
The special composition of touring tires ensures resistance to tread wear. In addition, the thicker construction of the tread makes the tire more durable. As a result, drivers enjoy long serviceability excluding the need to replace tires too often.
Balanced Handling
The wider contact area of the touring tire makes it much more stable and precise in handling. Thanks to the specific pattern and the fortified construction, the touring tire communicates better with the driver through superior response. In addition, it is very precise to inputs, especially in cornering, as the wider contact patch aids against lateral forces.
Built To Improve Fuel Consumption
Fuel efficiency is a very important aspect of any tire. This aspect is especially critical for those who spend plenty of time driving on endless roads to changing destinations. Taking into account that it is rather difficult to find a fuel station while on highways, the tires must be as fuel-efficient as possible in order not to put the driver in difficulty on the way to his destination. In addition, tire fuel efficiency helps drivers save plenty of money.
In this sense, touring tires are among the most fuel-friendly tires in the industry. Tire makers optimize their rolling resistance as much as possible. The lower the rolling resistance, the better for the fuel tank. Besides, the traction of the vehicle is significantly better because the tire offers less resistance against the driving forces. While it is true that too low rolling resistance might be detrimental to the tire grip, manufacturers make sure to find the golden mean to provide efficient fuel consumption AND enough grip.
Solid Traction
Touring tires provide superb traction not only due to their lower rolling resistance but also due to their specific construction. These behave confidently on both dry and wet roads, with minimal to no risk of destabilization.
Different Types Of Touring Tires
The range of touring tires is very wide and varied. You can't just go for any touring tire without considering your specific needs. Besides, you must also take into account the type of vehicle you drive and the climatic fluctuations in the area where you live. So, Neotires' recommendation is not to jump on any touring tire you come across, but to think about the specifics of your driving. This way you will make the right choice to meet your needs.
Basically, there are 4 types of touring tires. Each of them serves certain purposes. Take a look at the image below to see what is the difference between them and which one suits your needs better.
Standard Touring All-Season Tires
The Standard type of touring tire is the most optimal for daily driving. This tire segment stands out for superior control, up-to-the-mark traction, and optimal balance. In most cases, these tires have a low-speed rating while focusing on comfort and leisure nature. Also, they provide reliable behavior in most weather conditions except for severe winters.
Performance Touring All-Season Tires
The Performance segment of touring tires is intended for sporty and luxurious vehicles. Their purpose is to provide maximal agility without compromising comfort. But their dynamics and agility sacrifice treadlife. As such, performance touring tires have a shorter lifespan than standard touring ones, but still longer than many other tires.
In addition, this category stands out for its impressive fuel friendliness due to its low rolling resistance. In most cases, they are more fuel-wise than standard tires.
Crossover and SUV Touring All-Season Tires
As the name suggests, these are designed to fit larger vehicles such as pickup trucks, CUVs, and SUVs. Consequently, these tires have a more fortified construction to withstand extra loads better. In most cases, these tires work perfectly in any season, including during severe winters if they feature the 3PMSF certification.
Grand Touring and Ultra Touring Tires
The Grand Touring Tire segment is mainly intended for long journeys. Learn more about Grand Touring Tires in our previous article. Basically, there is no big difference between the concept of Grand Touring tires and Ultra Touring tires. Both serve quite well for very long distances and enjoy all-season versatility. What makes them different is the size a few inches larger in favor of ultra touring tires. A good example of this is the CS5 Grand Touring and CS5 Ultra Touring tires.
Steps To Take Before Buying Touring Tires
A sales manager can help you find the right touring tires if you go to a physical store. But I assume that online buying is also an option for you. In this case, you must make sure that you choose the right touring tire.
First of all, you have to start with the tire size. See what size the existing tires are and look for the touring tire with the same size. This way you make sure that you will not make the wrong choice. A tire with the wrong size entails a series of adverse effects. For example, the vehicle will consume more fuel because it exerts more effort in propelling unsuitable tires. Besides, the tire could jump off the rim while driving if it doesn't match the right size.
Second, decide which type of touring tire suits you. Based on the previous information, you can choose the type that best meets your needs. Standard touring tires are for smooth and leisurely driving. Performance touring tires are mostly for spirited drivers who have a vehicle with a sporty essence. touring SUV tires suit drivers with relatively larger vehicles who prioritize all-season versatility. Finally, grand touring tires are for those who, metaphorically, "live" in their vehicles.
Last but not least, take into account the pattern of the touring tire. Most touring tires have an asymmetric design, but this is a variable rule. Either way, keep in mind that the asymmetric design provides great traction but less rotation, while the symmetric one offers less grip but allows full rotation.
Touring Tires Shortcomings
The subject of the disadvantages of touring tires is somewhat ambiguous if we do not compare them with other tires. That is, it is difficult to find a flow in them if they perfectly suit the conditions and the driving style of the driver. So, we'll try to make small comparisons with other types of tires to better understand where they lose points.
Touring tires provide enough performance for drivers who love a quiet driving style. But if we talk about spirited drivers, they are seen as average-performing tires. In other words, they are not suitable for extreme driving demands or aggressive maneuvers. If you are a driver with such expectations, you will feel a bit "lazy". So, you better opt for some best UHP tires to satisfy your thirst for ultimate performance.
In the same sense, a touring tire has a lower grip compared to performance tires, for example. This means that high-speed maneuvers will feel more unstable. After all, the essence of touring tires is NOT performance and agility. These are secondary in favor of longevity and superior comfort.
Last but not least, touring tires are not as viable in winter conditions as specialized winter tires. They will indeed do well whenever the snow is thin and low temperatures are occasional. But if we talk about extreme snow conditions, winter tires substantially surpass them in terms of performance, traction, and safety.
Touring Tires: FAQs
What Is a Touring Tire?
The category of touring tires refers to those tires whose purpose is comfort, longevity, and all-season traction. As a general rule, touring tires provide pretty responsive feedback on the road and deliver confident traction even at higher speeds. Compared to regular all-season tires, the touring class usually has a higher speed rating, which allows drivers to accelerate with confidence without much impact on the treadwear. Touring tires are recommended for those who prioritize comfort behind the wheel and are looking for tires that will serve them for a long time.
What Are the Disadvantages of Touring Tires?
Touring tires provide a pretty smooth and comfortable ride. However, you should not expect them to be as tenacious and responsive as performance tires, for example. Compared to high-performance counterparts, touring tires are more "lazy" but very stable, traction-oriented, and safe. Braking, acceleration, and cornering are a bit softer than in performance tires. Those looking for spirited driving might feel like touring tires are not enough for them. However, touring tires are a great option for those looking for nice and smooth driving without sacrificing traction and power.
Are Touring Tires Good for Racing?
The purpose of touring tires is comfort, longevity, and all-season versatility. They will take you confidently to your destination, but not in the most tenacious spirit as performance tires do. Having said that, touring tires are not the best for racing conditions regardless of their quality and price. You should orient your attention towards high-performance tires if your goal is racing agility.
Are Touring Tires Good for Highway Driving?
Touring tires will do pretty well on highways, providing nice and smooth driving. However, do not expect increased agility and tenacity. The purpose of touring tires is to deliver comfort, resist wear, and offer maximum safety in daily driving and long/short trips. If you are looking for enhanced grip and speedy spirit, performance tires are a better option.
Are Touring Tires Good in Rain?
Most of them are. At least, there are not many models that perform poorly in wet conditions. The point is that most touring tires are designed with all-season versatility in mind. This means that they have a special tread that provides safety and traction both in dry and wet conditions, some of them being optimal even in light snow conditions. The pattern of touring tires is asymmetric, in most cases. This type of pattern ensures a good drainage of water in rainy conditions which makes touring tires pretty reliable in rain.
Are Touring Tires Better Than All-Season?
Most of the touring tires have the all-season DNA. At the same time, not all all-season tires have the touring DNA. If the driver's priority is confidence and safe daily driving without sacrificing comfort and quietness, touring tires is the right way to go. These tires will provide all-season versatility due to their asymmetric tread pattern. In addition, touring tires usually have higher speed ratings than all-season tires. This feature allows drivers to push the limits for more spirited driving.
Are Touring Tires Quiet?
Usually yes. Touring tires are oriented towards comfort which implies driving quietness as well. Manufacturers usually use special technologies such as optimized tread patterns and special rubber formulas in touring tires. Their goal is to negate noises as much as possible to provide both a confident performance and a comfortable ride.
Are Touring Tires More Expensive?
The price of touring tires is usually higher than the usual passenger tires. However, this does not mean that these tires are not budget-wise. The impressive longevity of touring tires compensates for the price difference, as touring tires last much longer than regular passenger tires. In addition, tire makers pay special attention to reducing rolling resistance. Consequently, touring tires are quite economical in terms of fuel consumption. Here you have an approximate comparison of touring tires' prices:
Is it Worth Buying Touring Tires?
The decision is fully up to you. If your expectations correspond to the features of touring tires, then they will certainly satisfy you. If your list of priorities doesn't match them, then you will only be left with a bitter taste after using them. There is no "good tire" or "bad tire". There is only the tire that does not meet the needs. Starting from this premise, you will be able to decide how well the touring tires suit you.
Either way, keep in mind that the essence of touring tires revolves around comfort, durability, friendly fuel consumption, and dry/wet versatility. As such, these are worth buying whenever your expectations align with these criteria.
What Is The Average Service Life Of Touring Tires?
In general, touring tires serve up to around 50,000 miles. However, this figure is highly variable. Different tire makers can make them more durable or less durable depending on the materials and technologies they integrate into them.
Comparatively, touring tires are more durable than performance tires. The latter serves around up to 40,000 miles. On the other hand, touring tires are less durable than Grand Touring ones. They have an impressive service life of up to or even over 80,000 miles.
Why Trust Us?
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For us, it is important that drivers not only have access to attractive tire deals, but also to useful, truthful, and important information for their safety behind the wheel. In this sense, we are more than an online tire shop. We have a large team behind NeoTires. The whole team is dedicated to tire research and testing, reviews and technical works on them, analysis of market trends, as well as official informational resources.
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