Drift Tires

Drift tires are available in multiple performance tire categories built to fit various performance sedans, sporty coupes, and dedicated sports cars on the market. Some examples of modern vehicles that are best suited to run on drift tires include sports cars from Mazda, Porsche, and Nissan, performance sedans like BMWs and Audis, as well as sporty coupes from Ford, Toyota, and Chevrolet.

Ready for new tires, but not sure what will best fit your vehicle? Explore Tire Rack's array of unbiased tire test videos, consumer reviews, and other resources to get started!

Almost all tires commonly used for drifting are DOT-approved for street-legal track competitions. While a tire's construction and tread patterns may fall within acceptable parameters to be suitable for public roads, drivers should take caution not to consider street-legal drift tires to be safe for regular use. Because tires for drifting often feature soft, high-performance rubber compounds that rapidly wear, they can easily become bald with extended use, which is not only illegal but also unsafe to use on public roads.

From Streetable Track & Competition tires to Extreme Performance Summer tires, Tire Rack offers a variety of performance and racing tires for drifting that are also considered street-legal.

Drifting puts extreme friction and pressure on tires, building heat in the tread rubber compound that can lead to rapid wear, burning rubber, and the eventual destruction of the tires. Frequent tire replacements can be expected, but how quickly your drift tires are worn down can vary significantly between drivers.

Professional drivers running practice laps may be able to make their drift tires last maybe a day or two of driving; however, in drifting competitions where high-speed maneuvers and aggressive driving are frequent, the tires may only last a few minutes. Beginner drifters or drifting enthusiasts just starting out might take it easy and make their tires last a few days.

When you know which drift tires you want to get, choose from one of Tire Rack's 10,000+ independent Recommended Installers across the country for convenient tire installation that works within your schedule. For added convenience, select locations can also opt for our Mobile Tire Installation service for tire delivery right where you are.

Yes, all-season tires can be used as drifting tires.

All-season tires offer the responsive handling and enhanced grip that's required to confidently drift around corners. Featuring harder rubber compounds and balanced construction for year-round versatility, these tires are able to withstand the high temperatures and extreme demands of drifting longer. Because of their lower traction, all-season tires enable beginner drifters to break away easily during transitions, providing more predictable handling at lower speeds so they can learn how to drift properly.

Smoke commonly appears in drifting events. The aggressive sideways motion and intense heat buildup from drift tires can cause the tires' rubber compounds to break down. More smoke can indicate higher speed and higher power drift from the vehicle, which may award more points to drivers for their drifting precision. However, smoke also indicates that more rubber is burning off the tires, which can lead to delamination, blowouts, or even the drift tires catching fire.