The GTO was introduced in model year ‘63 as an option package for the LeMans, with a 389 c.i. V8 that put out 325 hp, and things only got crazier from there. Later iterations of this handsome-looking muscle car could be had with 3 2-barrel carburetors, putting out over 360 horsepower. The GTO was a separate model by 1966 with more interior niceties and comforts than most muscle cars of the era, with a complete redesign for the 1968 model year. In time, the GTO would be available with Pontiac’s 455 c.i. V8, flashy colors, ram air induction, the “Judge” appearance package, and more.
Later versions of the GTO would be built on the Chevy Monte Carlo/Olds Cutlass platform and still later, on the Chevy Nova/Pontiac Ventura body style. By the mid-70s, the oil crunch, rising insurance rates, and government regulations all hit Detroit hard and the muscle car went out of style. The name was reintroduced in 2004; the Chevy Lumina-based GTO was powered by the LS1 V8 for blistering performance, but it's bland, blah styling didn’t distinguish it from other GM and Pontiac models so it was never a hit in the market. The GTO was discontinued in 2006, and the Pontiac division was defunct by 2010.
Using SimpleScore, we’ve put together a list of the best Pontiac GTO tires, including all-season, ultra-high-performance (UHP), and winter tires. So without further delay, let’s get into it:
1. Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack - Best All-Season tire
We start off our list with the Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack; as the name suggests, this is a tire you can depend on for year-round traction with ride quality and noise levels that are on par with what you’d expect from a Grand Touring tire. Bridgestone designed the Turanza QuietTrack with features and enhancements that are precisely tuned to cancel out road noise frequencies for a whisper-quiet ride. Cornering, steering response, and braking are all outstanding thanks to a solid center rib in the tread pattern, robust shoulder design, and a rounded contact patch, for a SimpleScore of 9.6 in the handling department. Year-round grip comes from a deep tread that’s engineered to deliver great performance as the tire wears down and interlocking grooves for extra biting edges in snow and rain for a traction SimpleScore of 9.7. The Turanza QuietTrack features a long-wearing tread compound and internal construction that consists of a polyester casing with two steel belts and a nylon cap ply, with an 80,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty. Longevity is a strong point, for a SimpleScore of 9.8.
The Pontiac GTO was born to run and perform with precise cornering and sharp steering response, so a set of ultra-high-performance (UHP) tires could be an excellent option. The Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate is a race-inspired UHP tire that’s simply one of the best on the market. The focus of everything with the Eagle Exhilarate is around enthusiastic driving and the confidence it inspires as you push the limits. Goodyear starts with a tread compound that’s soft and sticky for a tenacious connection to the road, with Goodyear’s ActiveGrip system and asymmetric tread design for immediate, accurate braking, steering response, and cornering. Tread rigidity and resistance to deformation are essential to good handling, and the Eagle Exhilarate is designed with a tread area and shoulder that stand up to the inertia and forces of cornering. We rate the Eagle Exhilarate with a SimpleScore of 9.9 for handling. Whether accelerating, braking, or cornering, traction in wet or dry weather is improved by all these elements for a SimpleScore of 9.9. With its built-in rim protector, tread compound, and robust internal construction, durability is another strong point of the Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate. Goodyear covers the Eagle Exhilarate with a 45,000 mile warranty (notable since many UHP tires don’t have a mileage warranty at all) and we rate this tire with a SimpleScore of 8.6 for longevity. Just be sure to remember that summer/UHP tires are the opposite of winter tires in the sense that their softer, stickier tread compound will get stiff and lose traction if temperatures are below 40-45 degrees.
3. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10 - Best Winter tire
Now we come to our winter tire pick for the Pontiac GTO: the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10. In case the name is new to you, Nokian is a Finland-based company that knows all about the needs of drivers and tires when it comes to navigating a harsh Scandinavian winter (“Hakkapeliitta” is Finnish for their 16th-century cavalry troops, just in case you were curious about that). They also know that in a nasty winter situation (say, right after an ice storm) the only thing for it sometimes is a studded tire. The Hakkapeliitta 10 is designed with a double row of studs for those kinds of conditions (check your local and state laws for the legality of studded tires), and it has a stud pattern that’s optimized to suppress road noise while delivering the best traction possible. Its winter tread is designed with angled, sweeping grooves, a dense pattern of sipes, and a sticky, flexible winter rubber formulation to get through the nastiest snow and slush, bringing in a SimpleScore of 9.9 for traction. Not surprisingly, this tire is certified with the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake rating for severe winter service. An Aramid-reinforced sidewall, tough internal construction, and an eco-friendly tread formulation that stays flexible in subfreezing weather all add up to excellent durability for a SimpleScore of 9.1 in longevity. We gave this tire an 8.9 for handling, largely owing to stiffer sidewalls that deliver great cornering without affecting ride quality. It's also worth noting that the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10 is also designed for low rolling resistance (and is suggested for EVs), saving fuel over the tire’s service life.
While these are the best Pontiac GTO tires on the market today, there are plenty of other options available. Here are two more that caught our attention:
4. Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring - Great All-Season tire
Next up is our pick for a great all-season tire, the Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring. The CS5 Ultra Touring is backed by a 70,000 mile tread life warranty – we give it a very strong 9.1 SimpleScore for longevity. Year-round traction comes from broader shoulder block grooves (which also enhance handling), circumferential/angled grooves, 3D sipes, and an advanced tread compound. That means good resistance to hydroplaning in wet weather and improved grip in light snow for a SimpleScore of 8.5 for traction. Cornering, braking, and steering response are all excellent thanks to an asymmetric tread pattern and those robust shoulder blocks, for a SimpleScore of 8.6 for handling.
5. Falken Ziex ZE960 A/S - Great UHP All-Season tire
We’re going to round out this collection with the Falken Ziex ZE960 A/S. The Ziex ZE960 A/S isn’t technically a UHP tire, but it does deliver UHP-style performance in a premium all-season tire package. The Ziex ZE960 A/S is designed with Falken’s innovative Flask Siping, circumferential, angled, and cross-hatch grooves for enhanced hydroplaning resistance, pulling in a SimpleScore of 8.6 for traction. Cornering, braking, and steering response are all sharp and precise, with a tread face that’s optimized for rigidity and robust internal construction, and we gave this tire a SimpleScore of 8.6 for handling.
Order Pontiac GTO Tires Online
Buying tires online can be a stressful process, but it really doesn't need to be. SimpleTire offers a simple approach to finding the tires that are best for you and your Pontiac GTO. Select your Pontiac GTO below, then tell us a few more things such as year and trim level to determine your tire size. From there, we'll show you tires that fit your vehicle and are the best match based on performance characteristics, but you can also look for the best value tires, tires that are on sale or part of a promo, have the longest tread life, and much more
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