Choosing the right tires for your muscle car can feel like navigating a labyrinth, especially when performance is paramount. Atturo Tires, perhaps a lesser known player in the market, has built a reputation for delivering high-quality, high performing tires for both on and off the road.
Meet your new street tire setup:
Atturo AZ850 - A high performance summer tire for all around drivability and performance
Atturo AZ850DR - An ultra sticky drag radial offering maximum grip & stability
Atturo Tires are built for "mavericks, adventurers, racers, workers and doers who can't be slowed down by poorly constructed or overpriced tires." Atturo is 100% independently owned and operated, free from the restrictions of big corporate companies and their board rooms. Their stated mission is to "provide performance within reach with badass, high quality tires that don't make your pocketbook cry out for mercy."
Featured: We installed Atturo AZ850 tires up front and AZ850DR drag radials out back of our Mustang Giveaway build.
Today, we're diving deep into two standout models: the AZ850 and the AZ850DR. We'll help you sort out which tire suits your needs, whether you're tearing up the track or cruising the streets (or both!).
Originally, the Atturo AZ850 was designed for SUVs, sports trucks, and high-powered crossover vehicles. These SUVs generally run a 20" tire and with newer muscle cars using 20" wheels from factory, performance sports car guys began to take notice of this new tire option and Atturo's muscle market was born.
The AZ850 a versatile, high-performance summer tire that balances everyday drivability with performance. It focuses on providing excellent handling, stability, and grip in both dry and wet conditions, making it an excellent option for your street setup.
The asymmetrical pattern featured on the AZ850 tires offers an optimal contact patch for improved traction on the street. The solid center rib offers directional stability while the large outside tread blocks lead to improved cornering abilities.
Center Tread: Solid center rib remains rigid under stress for controlled turning.
Outside Shoulder Tread: Large outside sections remain strong under stress for precise cornering.
Center Channels: 4 center channels flush out water, improving traction in wet conditions.
Inside Shoulder Blocks: Smaller interior shoulder treads diffuse noise and allow water to flow from the contact area
Atturo AZ850 Pros:
High-Speed Stability: The AZ850 features an asymmetric tread design that enhances stability at high speeds, making it a solid choice for spirited driving.
Comfort: Despite its performance pedigree, the AZ850 offers a comfortable ride, absorbing road imperfections with ease.
Grip: Superior grip in both dry and wet conditions, thanks to the high silica content in the tread compound.
Affordability: Compared to other high-performance tires, the AZ850 is priced competitively, offering excellent value for money.
Atturo AZ850 Cons:
Seasonal Limitation: Not suitable for winter or extremely cold conditions as it is a summer tire.
Tread Life: May wear faster than all-season tires, especially if used aggressively.
In summary, the AZ850 is ideal for enthusiasts looking for a high-performance summer tire that offers enhanced traction. It offers a great balance of performance, comfort, and cost-effectiveness for daily driving and spirited road use.
Building off of the success of their AZ850 summer tire in the muscle market, Atturo introduced their AZ850DR drag radial. The Atturo AZ850DR is a drag radial tire designed specifically for the rear axle of high-performance vehicles. It is optimized for drag racing, offering maximum grip and stability during high-speed runs.
The AZ850DR features an ultra-sticky compound that is DOT compliant while being tailored for the strip, where grip is everything. These drag radials carry a UTQG rating of 100AA, with AA being the highest rating of grip there is.
Kelly Aiken of Kelltrac, a high performance drag racing suspension guru, shared his positive real-world experience with us on the AZ850DR:
Kelly’s experience underscores the importance of understanding and adapting to a tire's unique characteristics. His satisfaction with the AZ850DR after following Atturo's advice speaks volumes about the tire's potential when used correctly.
The familiar looking pattern featured on the AZ850DR drag radials have often been compared to the now discontinued, but super popular NT05R drag radials from Nitto Tire. The tread design combined with the ultra sticky compound makes an awesome performing drag radial. In testing, the Atturo AZ850DR outperformed the NT555R drag radial by .3 and came within a tenth of the very popular Mickey Thompson ET Street S/S.
Dual Wide Channels: The 2, wide set center channels helps to reduce tire noise both on the road and the drag strip
Extra Wide Center: The large center rib helps to stabilize the tire, improve handling and help to deliver the "on center" feel at high speeds
Large Directional Shoulders: The large directional shoulder ribs help to generate immediate launch traction with the help of the extra sticky compound
Atturo AZ850DR Pros:
Drag Racing Performance: Excellent traction and stability for straight-line acceleration, thanks to the specialized tread design.
Grip: Superior grip on dry surfaces, ideal for drag racing conditions.
Durability: Reinforced construction to withstand the high stresses of drag racing.
Design: Stylish and aggressive appearance suitable for performance vehicles.
Atturo AZ850DR Cons:
Versatility: Limited to drag racing applications; not suitable for handling/cornering or other types of racing. Also only available currently in select 18"-20" sizes.
Wet Performance: Reduced grip and safety in wet conditions, making it less ideal for everyday use.
Tread Life: Shorter tread life due to the soft compound optimized for maximum grip.
The AZ850DR Drag Radial is perfect for drag racing enthusiasts who need a tire designed for straight-line speed and maximum traction on dry surfaces.
Both the Atturo AZ850 and AZ850DR offer unique benefits tailored to different needs. The AZ850 is a versatile, cost-effective choice for those looking for a reliable tire that can handle both street and track conditions. In contrast, the AZ850DR is designed for those who demand peak performance on the drag strip and are willing to sacrifice streetability.
Have any questions? Give us a shout! Our techs are standing by to help you decide which Atturo tire is best for your build.