Tire suggestions 2026

[Bob Lob Law]

My buddy who owns a tire shop got to go to Uvalde last week for a tire comparison showcase. They were there paid for by Continental. They used '25 ecoboost mustangs, Camry, and M2s. They normally compare them to BFG and General. This year they put the ECS02s up directly against the Michelin PS4. All on PS4 and ECS02. They did a flood track, dry track and a few other situations. He has always been a Michelin fan, but came away blown away by the Conti's since they are roughly $60 cheaper per tire and were just as good in the dry and better in the rain.

Edited: Wrong town LOL

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[HoldenSSVandGT350]

My buddy who owns a tire shop got to go to Austin last week for a tire comparison showcase. They were there paid for by Continental. They used '25 ecoboost mustangs, Camry, and M2s. They normally compare them to BFG and General. This year they put the ECS02s up directly against the Michelin PS4. All on PS4 and ECS02. They did a flood track, dry track and a few other situations. He has always been a Michelin fan, but came away blown away by the Conti's since they are roughly $60 cheaper per tire and were just as good in the dry and better in the rain.

The EC Sport 02s are better than the PS4S in the wet and cold, and they’re as good in the dry easily. I’ve run them all and others on my SS Sedan and in 275/35-19 they were close to $75/tire less with the same 30k treadwear warranty coverage for square setup.

 

[HoldenSSVandGT350]

Not to get all conspiracy theories guy, but I don't trust tire rack for reviews. They are a known industry shill, sort of like JD Power awards only exist to try to make car commercials sound better.

Tyre Reviews UK is the best independent reviewer I've found, where they actually put the different tires on the same car and test it in snow, wet, etc. Have yet to find them seeming very biased after a lot of years following their info.

https://www.tyrereviews.com/Tyre/Continental/ExtremeContact-Sport-02.htm

Thanks for your feedback though! I am debating trying the continentals just to try something different from what I've had.

Tire rack runs tires on same car/wheel sets and has a damn good testing methodology to separate the pretenders. Not sure why they’d be called industry shills when they rank tires based on the measured results and definitely call out the poor performers. So far, their impressions have aligned pretty much spot on with all the tires I’ve purchased over the past 30 yrs for better and worse.

 

[skinnyb]

I just swapped out my PS4S on Friday (305 30 19/315 30 19) for a set of Conti ECS 02 (305 30 19/325 30 19) and I LOVE them so far. I hit the tail of the dragon Sunday and the only discernable difference is the Conti is just a little softer on turn in (they are new though) whereas the Michelin has a little more firm initial bite, but once they move, they grip and go just as well as the Michelin, no problems whatsoever. The Michelin were a bit twitchy as they aged (ran 18K miles). I am impressed so far. They were a few bucks cheaper than the Michelin too..

 

[Pagey]

almost impossible to get Conti EC Sport 02s here in Australia. What are Sport Contacts or Ultra Contacts like compared to PS4s and ECs?

 

[geep81]

OK I pulled the trigger on the ECS 02's. I can tell I won't regret it, and after 2 sets if Michelin's in a row will be fun to mix it up.

 

[robvas]

Another vote for the Continentals, the PS4S is great but the Continentals are just as good. I have them on my car (I will switch to a Nitto DR once it warms up a little more)

Don't forget for the month of May you can get a $110 rebate on the ECS

https://continentaltire.com/promotion

 

[HoldenSSVandGT350]

OK I pulled the trigger on the ECS 02's. I can tell I won't regret it, and after 2 sets if Michelin's in a row will be fun to mix it up.

You’ll be happy. The first thing Continental did that I really appreciate is they tuned the just off center response to have a very slight lag before the bite happens. This is very nice for S550s and my SS Sedan, which both have very direct and quick steering response (SS more so even). I can’t wait to get them on my ‘18 GT350 because we all know about the tramlining fun in those.

The second thing Conti engineers did is somehow come up with a max perf summer compound that grips like crazy in dry and wet but also about 5-10F lower than any other tire I’ve sampled in the category. As I said before, I cut a Dragy best of 1.9 0-30mph on the prior Gen EC Sports in my SS Sedan on regular street asphalt at 39F outside. And it was repeatable in the 1.9s, not a one-off lucky launch.

 

[MidwayJ]

Don't forget for the month of May you can get a $110 rebate on the ECS

I just bought a set of ECS 02s for my S650 and took advantage of that rebate.

 

[skinnyb]

I just bought a set of ECS 02s for my S650 and took advantage of that rebate.

Yes, this was a reminder to me to submit mine I about forgot

 

[Hack]

I just swapped out my PS4S on Friday (305 30 19/315 30 19) for a set of Conti ECS 02 (305 30 19/325 30 19) and I LOVE them so far. I hit the tail of the dragon Sunday and the only discernable difference is the Conti is just a little softer on turn in (they are new though) whereas the Michelin has a little more firm initial bite, but once they move, they grip and go just as well as the Michelin, no problems whatsoever. The Michelin were a bit twitchy as they aged (ran 18K miles). I am impressed so far. They were a few bucks cheaper than the Michelin too..

It always impresses me when people can notice a detail like initial bite. For me, this is a big point in favor of the Michelins. However, I'm not sure I would notice the difference.

I owned a FiST for a while and it had really quick steering. It didn't want to turn as much as the GT350, but I learned to quiet my hands on the steering wheel by driving the Fiesta. I had a C5 Z06 and slow steering is one of the biggest knocks for me of that platform. There's an aftermarket fix, but I like a sporty car to have quick turn in. I don't mind if I have to concentrate a little bit to avoid small steering wheel movements that will translate to a significant change of direction for the car.

 

[skinnyb]

It always impresses me when people can notice a detail like initial bite. For me, this is a big point in favor of the Michelins. However, I'm not sure I would notice the difference.

I owned a FiST for a while and it had really quick steering. It didn't want to turn as much as the GT350, but I learned to quiet my hands on the steering wheel by driving the Fiesta. I had a C5 Z06 and slow steering is one of the biggest knocks for me of that platform. There's an aftermarket fix, but I like a sporty car to have quick turn in. I don't mind if I have to concentrate a little bit to avoid small steering wheel movements that will translate to a significant change of direction for the car.

You know, I did notice it initially, but for me the older the Michelin got, the more twitchy they were right off center. So actually I welcome the slower, softer turn in now. The cup 2 tires I had on it when I first bought it were ridiculous. I almost got a DUI driving it home from the dealership lol.

 

[Hack]

You know, I did notice it initially, but for me the older the Michelin got, the more twitchy they were right off center. So actually I welcome the slower, softer turn in now. The cup 2 tires I had on it when I first bought it were ridiculous. I almost got a DUI driving it home from the dealership lol.

I could imagine Cup 2s on a GT350 would do that. I never wanted a tire with ultra short life like the Cup 2, so I have never tried them.

 

[MAGS1]

I could imagine Cup 2s on a GT350 would do that. I never wanted a tire with ultra short life like the Cup 2, so I have never tried them.

The Cup2’s are good on track (what little track time I have anyway), but they tramline like hell to Alex’s point. Same goes for the Trofeo’s on the DH HP, really sticky tire but they tramline like crazy. I wouldn’t use them for normal street driving, probably why most folks swap them out almost right away

 

[skinnyb]

I could imagine Cup 2s on a GT350 would do that. I never wanted a tire with ultra short life like the Cup 2, so I have never tried them.

Yeah the Mach 1 HP wheels come with Cup 2's just like the Shelby. I hated them on the road. They wandered REALLY bad. So hence almost a DUI The PS4S were much better, but still a bit twitchy as they aged. The Conti I am VERY impressed with so far. And they look good too I rarely drive in rain, but I have heard they are much better in rain too.

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