A prolongated silica bound zeolite support comprising from about 85 wt % to about 95 wt % zeolite. A catalyst composition comprising a prolongated silica bound zeolite supporting at least one Group VIII metal and at least one halide. A process of making a prolongated silica bound zeolite support comprising mixing a zeolite, a prolongated silica, and water to form a mixture, and shaping the mixture into the prolongated silica bound zeolite support. A process of making a prolongated silica bound zeolite catalyst comprising mixing a zeolite, a prolongated silica, and water to form a mixture, shaping the mixture into a prolongated silica bound zeolite support, and adding one or more catalytic compounds to the prolongated silica bound zeolite support to form the prolongated silica bound zeolite catalyst. A process for converting hydrocarbons to aromatics comprising: contacting a prolongated silica bound zeolite catalyst comprising at least one Group VIII metal and at least one halide with a hydrocarbon feed in a reaction zone under aromatization conditions; recovering an aromatic product from the reaction zone; and purifying the aromatic product to produce benzene, toluene, paraxylene, orthoxylene, metaxylene, or combinations thereof.