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Sumitomo HTR Z5
  • Sumitomo HTR Z5
  • Sumitomo HTR Z5
Tire Rack Test

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The HTR Z5 is Sumitomo's Ultra High Performance Summer tire designed for the drivers of sports cars, sporty coupes and performance sedans looking for responsive high-speed handling and reliable traction in warm, dry and wet conditions. Like all Ultra High Performance Summer tires, the HTR Z5 is not intended to be serviced, stored nor driven in near- and below-freezing temperatures, through snow or on ice.

An aggressive, summer compound is molded into the HTR Z5's asymmetric, five-rib tread pattern. A continuous center rib aids stability and improves steering response, while the substantial shoulders improve lateral grip. Notches in the intermediate and center ribs combine with the tread compound for traction in wet conditions, and the four wide, circumferential grooves and lateral shoulder grooves evacuate standing water from the footprint for hydroplaning resistance.

The internal construction of the HTR Z5 consists of a two-ply, polyester casing supporting two high-rigidity steel belts. A full-width, nylon reinforcement ply improves high-speed stability, and a high-modulus bead insert strengthens the sidewall to aid handling.

Note:Tires exposed to temperatures of 20 degrees F (-7 degrees C) or lower must be permitted to gradually return to temperatures of at least 40 degrees F (5 degrees C) for at least 24 hours before they are flexed in any manner, such as by adjusting inflation pressures, mounting them on wheels or using them to support, roll or drive a vehicle.

Flexing of the specialized rubber compounds used in Ultra High Performance Summer tires during cold-weather use can result in irreversible compound cracking. Compound cracking is not a warrantable condition because it occurs as the result of improper use or storage. Tires exhibiting compound cracking must be replaced.

Tire Rack Test Results Sumitomo HTR Z5

Testing Two Ultra High Performance Summer Tires 2019: Sumitomo HTR Z5 (01:40)

Sumitomo recently released the HTR Z5 to continue the popular “HTR Z” line. We tested it to find out how this new player compares to some of the best in the Ultra High Performance Summer category.

Read the Full Test Report

Ratings Charts & Reviews Sumitomo HTR Z5

Tire Category: Ultra High Performance Summer

Consumer Surveys

 
Best in Category
Miles Reported
Recommended
Treadwear
Sumitomo HTR Z5
Good
94%
596K
7.8 - Good
8.0 - Good
8.1 Hydroplaning Resistance
8.0 Wet Traction
8.6 - Excellent
8.5 Corner Stability
8.8 Dry Traction
8.5 Steering Response
N/A
N/A Light Snow Traction
N/A Deep Snow Traction
N/A Ice Traction
8.4 - Good
8.5 Ride Quality
8.4 Noise
7.9 - Good

Customers Say

Owners report excellent dry grip and responsive handling, with many highlighting the tire's precise cornering and stability. Wet traction receives strong praise, offering confident performance with minimal hydroplaning concerns. Comfort is a standout, delivering a smooth and quiet ride even at higher speeds. Treadwear meets expectations for a summer performance tire, though some note faster wear under aggressive driving. Scores consistently land in the 7-10 range across key categories, reflecting high satisfaction for its intended ultra-high-performance summer use.

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Customers Like:

74 customers mention "Wet Traction"

  • 65 positive
  • 9 negative

Most customers give the Sumitomo HTR Z5 excellent wet traction scores of 9s and 10s, praising confident handling in rain. Some note lower scores (0-5), indicating occasional concerns with hydroplaning resistance.

April 01, 2025 (Verified Purchase)

4.8 out of 5 Star Rating
4.8 out of 5

...Wet traction is very good and I don't sense any hydroplaning unless the roads are extremely wet.

Good value for a summer tire. Overall the treadwear is good. Due to the staggered tire size on my car, I cannot do a traditional rotation. Steering input is very responsive. I do have a bit more front weight than the traditional Boxster due to some mods in the back. This gives me very responsive cornering with little to no under steer. Wet traction is very good and I don't sense any hydroplaning unless the roads are extremely wet.

Vehicle: 2003 Porsche Boxster
Miles Driven on Tires: 8,000
Driving Conditions: Mostly Highway
Location: SOBIESKI, WI
Driving Style: Spirited
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August 22, 2020 (Verified Purchase)

4.3 out of 5 Star Rating
4.3 out of 5

...Nice grip on take off, decent wet traction, does not hydroplane at reasonable speeds...

Pretty good tire for occasional spirited driving.
Holds an apex very well, and won't surprise you mid turn.
Nice grip on take off, decent wet traction, does not hydroplane at reasonable speeds.
Looks fantastic. Rim saver lip adds to styling.

Vehicle: 2017 Infiniti Q50S 3.0t RWD
Miles Driven on Tires: 2,000
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: SAYREVILLE, NJ
Driving Style: Spirited
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September 09, 2020 (Verified Purchase)

4.3 out of 5 Star Rating
4.3 out of 5

...From what I can tell these are better for wet traction and have more grooves for moving water out of the way compared to the HTR Z3s.

These seem to be slightly a step down from the HTR Z3s in terms of dry traction. They need to be broken in to get the oil and wax off the surface. Mine were very squirrelly for the first 500 miles or so. They settled down after that. From what I can tell these are better for wet traction and have more grooves for moving water out of the way compared to the HTR Z3s.

Vehicle: 2001 Porsche 911 Carrera Turbo
Miles Driven on Tires: 1,000
Driving Conditions: Mostly Highway
Location: AVON, OH
Driving Style: Spirited
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102 customers mention "Dry Traction"

  • 95 positive
  • 7 negative

Customers overwhelmingly rate dry traction as excellent, with most scoring 9s and 10s for responsive handling and grip. A few 7-8 scores note minor variability but affirm strong summer performance.

June 11, 2021 (Verified Purchase)

4.5 out of 5 Star Rating
4.5 out of 5

...Handling is very good on dry roads with normal wet performance. With the rears worn down do do start to notice some loss of traction in the wet and when accelerating through curves on the dry...

Purchased these tires for my '03 Base Boxster. I do not track this car so this review is for normal to fun road driving. Overall very good tires. Just ordered a new rear set to replace the originals with over 11k miles on them which are at the wear bars. Front tires still have plenty of tread left. Handling is very good on dry roads with normal wet performance. With the rears worn down do do start to notice some loss of traction in the wet and when accelerating through curves on the dry. Probably not the same performance as Michelin or Pirelli but for normal road driving and some fun in the twistys they work great.

Vehicle: 2003 Porsche Boxster
Miles Driven on Tires: 11,618
Driving Conditions: All Highway
Location: SOBIESKI, WI
Driving Style: Spirited
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August 03, 2021 (Verified Purchase)

4.2 out of 5 Star Rating
4.2 out of 5

...I find the cornering traction to be above par, but the rear tires will break traction in a straight line at speed. Which I prefer because a harder tire is just a little more fun to drive. My car is rated at 455 hp and the tires let me put down good take off speed and braking...

The honesty part of my purchase was purely economics. Not the least expensive, but close. I am a member of a car club and, well, we buy sports cars for a reason so, yeah I drive my car as such. I find the cornering traction to be above par, but the rear tires will break traction in a straight line at speed. Which I prefer because a harder tire is just a little more fun to drive. My car is rated at 455 hp and the tires let me put down good take off speed and braking. If I had more motor I would definitely look into an upgrade, but the tires seem to handle my level of “spirited” driving sufficiently. I will probably buy them again since I get about 24,000 miles out of a decent set of tires. I hope this helps.

Vehicle: 2016 Chevrolet Camaro SS COUPE
Miles Driven on Tires: 1,200
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: EDMOND, OK
Driving Style: Spirited
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February 13, 2024 (Verified Purchase)

4.9 out of 5 Star Rating
4.9 out of 5

...They offer excellent performance and a great ride in dry road conditions.

These tires are a great alternative for those looking to purchase a quality tire for a sports car without spending a small fortune. They offer excellent performance and a great ride in wet and dry road conditions.

Vehicle: 2007 Ford Mustang GT Coupe
Miles Driven on Tires: 8,000
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: CLARKSVILLE, TN
Driving Style: Average
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103 customers mention "Ride Quality"

  • 96 positive
  • 7 negative

Customers praise the HTR Z5's comfort, with most scoring ride quality and noise levels 9s and 10s. High marks highlight smooth, quiet performance, excelling in its Ultra High Performance Summer category.

July 14, 2023 (Verified Purchase)

3.3 out of 5 Star Rating
3.3 out of 5

...They're quiet, comfortable, and seem to be wearing nicely...

These are my “mess around” tires that I don’t really care about since they’re so cheap relative to all other options. I purchased these so I wouldn’t feel bad power sliding around with them.

They’re not as good as a PS4S or Indy500 (my benchmark 300tw tires). They grease out very quickly and they have soft sidewalls making steering input a bit dull.

That said, they’re so cheap I think they’d be perfectly adequate for a daily driver tire that’s able to preform better than an all-season. They’re quiet, comfortable, and seem to be wearing nicely.

I’m not sure if I’d purchase these again. If they didn’t handle heat so poorly I think they’d be acceptable at this price range. Don’t plan on driving more than 7/10ths with these tires.

Vehicle: 2018 BMW M2 Coupe
Miles Driven on Tires: 2,000
Driving Conditions: Track/Autocross
Location: ESCONDIDO, CA
Driving Style: Spirited
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September 09, 2020 (Verified Purchase)

3.3 out of 5 Star Rating
3.3 out of 5

...The ride is comfortable. They cost less than better tires...

After 3 years/30k miles of mild driving, these poor tires are completely shot. I originally got them as the cheaper option on a wheel and tire package for my 2015 Mustang GT from American Muscle. Also running a premium fuel performance tune and CAI, but that shouldn't affect things too much. I had about 30k miles on the car when I got these tires (picked up a nail in the originals), so I had already stopped accelerating like an idiot, etc. I drove in a pretty sedate fashion with a lot of highway miles and local trips on county roads. I run a square setup and rotate every 5K miles. I live in Georgia, so it was generally pretty hot.

These tires are cheap, not just inexpensive. They didn't balance well. I've got more weights on the wheels (RTR Tech 5) than I like. Treadwear is ok for performance tires, but the performance absolutely didn't live up to the rating. Acceleration was terrible even under partial throttle because they'd break loose. Trying to accelerate onto a road from a side road was an adventure. They'd want to hydroplane even on humid days, and wet roads ... I don't even want to get into it. It's bad. Obviously, they're garbage in the cold since they're a summer tire.

On the bright side, they're not noisy. The ride is comfortable. They cost less than better tires. They look decent.

I think they'd be a decent summer option on a light car like an MR2 (I ran Sumitomos on mine and like them) or Civic. Something without a ton of power. They'll be totally overwhelmed by anything with horsepower. I won't ever buy these for my Mustang again.

Vehicle: 2015 Ford Mustang Fastback GT
Miles Driven on Tires: 30,000
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: HARLEM, GA
Driving Style: Average
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April 12, 2020 (Verified Purchase)

2.8 out of 5 Star Rating
2.8 out of 5

...They are comfortable and quiet at least most of the time. At about 65 mph they start resonating. Feels like I am driving with mud tires on...

I guess It's true that you get what you pay for. These tires were very reasonably priced. They are also comfortable and quiet at least most of the time. At about 65 mph they start resonating. Feels like I am driving with mud tires on. By 70 they are quiet and smooth again.

I noticed that my abs was engaging more and thought it may have been malfunctioning as I didn't think I was on the brakes very hard. Turns out, the brakes are working fine. The tires just aren't as sticky as I am used to.

I finally got out in the twisties today and quite frankly, I had a terrible drive. These tires are terrible. They have poor feedback, tend to be squishy in turns and lack any reasonable amount of grip. I can't tell where they are going to break loose and therefore lack confidence to push them.
As a point in f reference, I had two sets of Potenza S-04's on the car Before and thought I would try something new. These are a relatively old tire design but worlds apart in performance.

After today's drive the tires shipped w no signs of wear. I suspect I will be stuck with these for the next 40k miles as they are a hard compound.

Vehicle: 2002 Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe
Miles Driven on Tires: 2,000
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: WOODLAND, CA
Driving Style: Spirited
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87 customers mention "Treadwear"

  • 74 positive
  • 13 negative

Most customers praise treadwear, scoring 7-10 with many 9s/10s. Some report faster wear, reflected in lower scores (0-6).

July 24, 2024 (Verified Purchase)

4.1 out of 5 Star Rating
4.1 out of 5

...Tread wear appears to be minimal after a year and 5,000 mi

Overall a great tire. I also bought these in 255 for my rears. Have good traction, even in the South FL monsoons that we occasionally get. Tread wear appears to be minimal after a year and 5,000 mi

Vehicle: 2013 BMW 335i Sedan BMW Performance Brake Option
Miles Driven on Tires: 5,000
Driving Conditions: Mostly City
Location: POMPANO BEACH, FL
Driving Style: Spirited
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September 07, 2020 (Verified Purchase)

4.1 out of 5 Star Rating
4.1 out of 5

...average tire-wear

Good looking profile, excellent traction, average tire-wear.

Vehicle: 2006 Ford Mustang GT Coupe
Miles Driven on Tires: 200
Driving Conditions: Mostly City
Location: CYPRESS, TX
Driving Style: Spirited
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May 05, 2023 (Verified Purchase)

3.5 out of 5 Star Rating
3.5 out of 5

...For the TW rating, the wear was within expectations...

Ran this tire for increased performance during the summer. Performed decently well at autocross events over the summer, needed a lot of air pressure due to softer sidewall. Good tire for daily driving too. Drove on this from KS to FL and back without issue. Had decent wet traction and response. Overall, for the price, this is a decent tire. For the TW rating, the wear was within expectations. However, I'd probably purchase a similar Yokohama or other brands offering in the future.

Vehicle: 2018 Honda Civic Hatchback EX
Miles Driven on Tires: 10,000
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: OVERLAND PARK, KS
Driving Style: Spirited
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Consumer Reviews

Media Gallery

Testing Two Ultra High Performance Summer Tires 2019: Sumitomo HTR Z5 (01:40)

Sumitomo recently released the HTR Z5 to continue the popular “HTR Z” line. We tested it to find out how this new player compares to some of the best in the Ultra High Performance Summer category.

Read the Full Test Report

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