Tire Brands and Links

Updated April 2011

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In this report

Introduction{1 mention}{1 mention}{2 mentions}{1 mention}{2 mentions}{2 mentions}{1 mention}{1 mention}{2 mentions}{1 mention}{1 mention}
All-Season Tires{1 mention}{3 mentions}{1 mention}{1 mention}{3 mentions}{2 mentions}{2 mentions}
High-Performance Tires{1 mention}{1 mention}{3 mentions}{3 mentions}{8 mentions}{2 mentions}{8 mentions}
Summer Tires{3 mentions}{1 mention}{2 mentions}{1 mention}{3 mentions}{4 mentions}
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Related reports: Tires for SUVs/light trucks and snow tires

This report covers all-season and three-season tires for cars and minivans. Please consult our separate reports on SUV/light truck tires and snow tires for more information on those types of tires.

Tire recalls

None of the tires in this report had been recalled when we checked. For the latest tire recalls, visit SaferCar.gov. You can also sign up to get automatic emails or a notice via RSS feed any time your tires, vehicles or child safety seats are recalled. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) unveiled its free electronic recall alert system in 2008. Visit SaferCar.gov to sign up.

Penny test outdated

The old penny test is no longer good enough to tell whether your tires have enough tread left, according to TireRack.com and ConsumerReports.org. For decades, drivers have used the rule of thumb that when holding a penny upside down in a tire tread groove, if you can see the top of Lincoln's head, you've got less than 2/32-inch of tread left and it's time to replace your tires. But in July 2007, tests at TireRack.com showed that on wet pavement, it takes much longer to brake to a stop on tires that are worn so low (see video of panic stop tests here).

In November 2007, ConsumerReports.org announced it had conducted similar tests that found the same thing. Both organizations now recommend replacing tires with less than 4/32-inch of tread left, visible with a new quarter test (your tread should reach to the top of Washington's head).

Find your tire's ratings

NHTSA currently grades tires in three categories: temperature, traction and tread wear. Find these ratings at SaferCar.gov.

Temperature, or heat resistance, is graded A (highest), B or C (lowest and the minimum performance standard required by federal regulation). These grades represent the tire's heat resistance when properly inflated and not overloaded. Sustained high temperature can cause the material of the tire to degenerate, reducing tire life and possibly leading to sudden catastrophic tire failure. According to NHTSA, the majority of tires rate B for temperature.

Traction is also rated with letter grades. A tire with a higher grade should allow a car to stop on a wet road in a shorter distance than a tire with a lower grade. Grades are AA (highest), A, B and C (lowest). The traction grade is based on braking straight ahead and does not include cornering or turning traction. Currently 3 percent of tires are rated AA; most are A-rated.

Tread wear is graded in comparison to a hypothetical control tire that is assigned a grade of 100. The tread-wear grade indicates the expected life of a tire in comparison to the control tire. A tire with a grade of 200 would be expected to last twice as long as the control tire. However, it is important to remember that the relative life of tires depends on the actual conditions of their use, including driving habits, service practices and differences in road characteristics and climate.