Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S

Reviews say the Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S is a fine performance all-season tire -- it's just not the best. Michelin places the Pilot Exalto A/S in a higher performance category than the top-rated Michelin Primacy MXV4 (*est. $130), so the two are never compared directly in reviews. The Pilot Exalto A/S does get higher marks on wet roads, but the Primacy MXV4 gets more nods from reviewers as an all-around performer, capable even on snow and ice. The Primacy MXV4 carries a 60,000-mile treadwear warranty, while the higher-performance Pilot Exalto A/S has a 45,000-mile treadwear warranty (usually, performance tires include no treadwear warranty). A less expensive performance all-season tire, the Continental ContiExtremeContact (*est. $90), gets better traction on snow and ice than either Michelin tire, according to some tests. However, the Continental carries no treadwear warranty at all.

Consumer Reports' thorough comparisons and reputation for objectivity makes it the most valuable review source here, although its test of the Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S does not include any narrative detail. Expert testers at The Tire Rack elaborate more on the Pilot Exalto A/S's strengths and weaknesses, but their comparison includes fewer tires than Consumer Reports'. The Tire Rack also collects owner-written reviews -- including more than 600 for the Pilot Exalto A/S -- but it breaks tires into so many categories (including six all-season categories, from passenger all-season to ultra-high-performance all-season) that the Exalto A/S isn't compared directly with some of its main competitors. Another retail site, 1010Tires.com, collects far fewer user ratings. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is a valuable source for government-mandated tire ratings.