Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S

*Est. $155
Reviewed
April 2011
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Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S

Great all-season performance tire, but you can do better for the price

Pros
  • Very good performance on wet and dry roads
  • 45,000-mile tread-wear warranty
Cons
  • Not the best on snow and ice
  • Better tires can be had for the price
 
 
 
 

Reviews say the Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S is a fine performance all-season tire -- it's just not the best. The top-rated Continental ExtremeContact DWS (*Est. $155) performs better overall in expert tests, and users give it especially higher marks on snow and ice. The Continental has a longer tread-wear warranty, too -- 50,000 miles versus 45,000 miles for the Pilot Exalto A/S (usually, performance tires include no tread-wear warranty). A less expensive performance all-season tire, the Sumitomo HTR A/S P01 (*Est. $115), performs just as well in expert tests, although owners say it's not as good on ice and snow.

ConsumerReports.org's 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 TireRack.com elaborate more on the Pilot Exalto A/S's strengths and weaknesses, but their comparison includes fewer tires than ConsumerReports.org's analysis. TireRack.com also collects owner-written reviews -- including more than 850 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.

     
   
 
 
 
Where To Buy
 
 
Featured StoresStore RatingNotesTotal Price
Shoebuy.comShoebuy.com rated 4.13 (531 reviews)531 store reviewsIn Stock. Ships in 1-5 business days$165.95
OnlineBootStore.comOnlineBootStore.com rated 3.49 (61 reviews)61 store reviewsIn Stock. $144.99
Work N GearWork N Gear has not yet been reviewed0 store reviewsIn Stock. New$154.99
 
 
 

Our Sources

1. ConsumerReports.org

ConsumerReports.org tests the H-rated and V-rated versions of the Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S alongside other performance all-season tires. Editors rank the tires according to their traction, comfort and more.

Review: Performance All-Season Tire Ratings, Editors of ConsumerReports.org

2. Tire Rack

The Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S ranks third in this comparison test of four performance all-season tires, but staff testers at this retail site still call it "well-rounded." The Pilot Exalto A/S grips securely on the wet test track but not quite as well as some competitors.

Review: Function Meets Fashion in High Performance All-Season Tires, Editors of TireRack.com, June 13, 2008

3. Tire Rack

Owners who post reviews at this retail site give the Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S the best scores in the high-performance all-season category. They say it drives confidently on both dry and wet roads, though somewhat less well on snow and ice.

Review: Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S, Contributors to TireRack.com

4. SaferCar.gov

Consumers can look up government-mandated tread-wear, traction and heat-resistance scores for tires at this website. The Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S gets an A for traction (the highest rating is AA) and the top score of A for heat resistance. Its tread-wear score is not as high as the Michelin Primacy MXV4's.

Review: Tire Rating Lookup, Editors of SaferCar.gov

5. 1010Tires.com

More than 75 owners had posted ratings for the Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S at this Canadian retail site when we checked. Some include written comments, others only numeric scores. The Pilot Exalto A/S gets good ratings overall, with lower ratings for snow performance.

Review: Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S, Contributors to 1010Tires.com

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