We swapped a 2024 Toyota Camry SE’s OE eco‑touring tires for max‑performance summer rubber and measured dry/wet 60–0 mph braking and cabin noise under controlled conditions. Here’s what changed and by how much.
Test car: 2024 Toyota Camry SE (FWD, 3,340 lb), 18x8.0-inch wheels, 235/45R18 tires. OE set: Michelin Primacy Tour A/S (94V). Performance set: Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02 (98Y XL). Both were new, scrubbed 200 miles, and run at 36 psi cold.
Testing at a closed-course asphalt pad (75–78°F dry; 68–70°F wet, 1 mm water film via sprinkler grid). Speed verified with VBOX; distances averaged over five stops with outliers removed. Cabin noise measured A‑weighted with a Class 1 meter at driver ear, HVAC off, steady-state cruise. Baseline on the OE eco‑touring tires: Dry 60–0 mph averaged 133 ft (best 131, worst 135).
Wet 60–0 mph averaged 192 ft. Consistency was good (±2 ft) once rotors were at operating temp. Subjectively, the Primacy Tours engaged ABS early with a slightly glassy initial bite and moderate front-end dive. In everyday use they felt predictable and forgiving, with soft sidewalls smoothing joints and patches.
Switching to the max‑performance set cut distances meaningfully: Dry 60–0 mph averaged 116 ft (best 114, worst 118), a 17 ft or ~13% improvement. Wet 60–0 mph averaged 162 ft, 30 ft or ~16% shorter. The Continentals generated more longitudinal grip from the first stop and were less heat‑sensitive over repeated runs, with shorter ABS cycling and stronger bite as speed bled off below 30 mph. Stability under hard braking also improved on the performance tires.
The Camry tracked straighter with fewer ABS pulsations felt through the pedal, and there was less tugging over surface seams. On the eco tires, mid‑stop bumps could momentarily lengthen the stop as the tire released and regripped; the performance compound and stiffer carcass rode those disturbances with less drama. Noise favored the OE set. On smooth asphalt, interior noise measured 66.8 dBA at 50 mph and 69.7 dBA at 70 mph on the eco tires, versus 67.9 and 71.1 dBA on the performance set (+1.1 to +1.4 dBA).
On coarse chip seal, the gap widened: 69.4/73.1 dBA (50/70 mph) for eco, 71.2/75.4 dBA for performance (+1.8 to +2.3 dBA). Beyond the numbers, the Primacy Tours produced a low, broadband hush; the Continentals added a faint 180–220 Hz thrum and light tread hiss that passengers noticed on rougher surfaces. Takeaway: On this car and size, expect roughly 10–15% shorter dry stops and 15–20% shorter wet stops from max‑performance summer tires, at the cost of about 1–2.5 dBA more cabin noise (more audible on coarse pavement). Choose performance rubber if braking headroom matters and your climate stays above ~45°F; stick with OE‑style eco/touring tires for quieter cruising, better cold‑weather versatility, and efficiency.
Ultra‑high‑performance all‑seasons will land between these results.
