[CMM3]

Originally Posted by Gary@TireRack

While this may surprise some, the weight of a tire is actually a poor indicator of a tire's real world performance. Using tire weight as an important factor to consider when buying a tire sounds beneficial in theory, but other factors like grip, handling, and steering response have a much greater effect on performance. I've been testing tires on identically setup BMW test cars for over ten years and have found no correlation between tire weight and real world handling on the track or on the street.

Sometimes the heaviest tire will have the best handling and fastest autocross times in a given test; sometimes the lightest tire will. Just one example of the lightest tire performing the worst in a test would be in a recent test is a test of extreme performance summer tires, which many use for autocross. In this test the lightest tire, the Kumho ECSTA XS, came in dead last, while the heavier Bridgestone RE11 and Yokohama AD08 were better. (link to test http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...iate=FH8<br />. )

Keep in mind that while wheel weight can be an important factor to consider, tire weight should actually be one of the last things to consider when making a tire purchase decision. Dry grip, wet grip, and steering response are more far important factors for an enthusiast trying to maximize performance.

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