Tires

Speed ratings represent a tire's maximum sustainable speed. Lower speed ratings generally correspond to better ride quality and tread life, while higher ratings denote better handling and responsiveness, along with better heat resistance but shorter tread life. Historically, S-rated (112 mph) and T-rated (118 mph) all-season tires have been the most popular replacement tire for mainstream passenger cars and minivans. Recently, however, the trend is toward better handling, high-performance H-rated tires (discussed below). Standard S- and T-rated all-season models, however, strike a good balance between wet and dry performance, ride quality, price and product life. Many all-season tires have up to 100,000-mile treadwear warranties.

Standard all-season tires have overall good traction, especially in dry conditions, long treadwear and a comfortable ride. They lack the precise handling and grip of high-performance all-season tires. All-season tires usually come with S or T speed ratings. High-performance all-season tires are best for those who want better handling and grip without giving up too much comfort and wear. They carry speed ratings of H (130 mph) and V (149 mph). All-season tires can be used in mild to moderate winters, where snow is generally kept clear of roadways.

Ultra-high-performance tires are for those who want the best wet and dry braking and handling at the expense of tread life, but they are poor performers on ice and snow. Summer versions (ultra-high-performance summer and max-performance summer) are not appropriate for snow or ice. Most summer-specific models have no treadwear warranty at all. Ultra-high and max-performance tires have speed ratings of Y, W and Z (up to 186 mph).

Standard all-season tires

In tests, the Goodyear Assurance TripleTred (*est. $105) is the standout among standard all-season tires. More reviewers recommend it than any other tire in the category. The Goodyear Assurance TripleTred takes first place in tests at The Tire Rack, where testers find it provides "peace of mind in any driving condition." That includes winter conditions – to an extent. The TripleTred grips very well in snow in one test, and consumers who post reviews at The Tire Rack rate it best for winter traction among all-season tires.

But to get a good grip on ice with the Goodyear Assurance TripleTred, you'll need to go with its higher-performance H-rated version – not the T-rated version, reviewers and consumers say. In fact, some owners at Epinions complain about the TripleTred's winter grip. Experts agree that dedicated snow tires are better for winter driving, but among all-season tires, the TripleTred gets better reviews than most for four-season use.

For less money, the Hankook Mileage Plus II H725 (*est. $70) performs almost as well as the top-ranked Goodyear Assurance TripleTred. It doesn't brake well on ice (although that's nothing unusual for an all-season tire) and it can't quite match the TripleTred's outstanding performance on wet and dry roads in tests. But the Hankook Mileage Plus II H725 does perform very respectably. It's durable, too, displaying a long tread life in one test and a low rolling resistance that helps gas mileage, making it a good budget pick.

If you live in a wet climate, you might be interested in an all-season tire marketed specifically for wet-weather braking and cornering, along with resistance to hydroplaning, such as the T-rated Michelin HydroEdge (*est. $120). Interestingly, although the HydroEdge scores well all-around in two top tests, it doesn't perform quite as well on wet roads as the top-ranked Goodyear Assurance TripleTred or the much less expensive Bridgestone Turanza LS-T (*est. $90).

In winter driving tests, though, the Michelin HydroEdge fares better than either the top-ranked Goodyear Assurance TripleTred or the budget Hankook Mileage Plus II H725. Furthermore, its all-around performance bests two other competitors, the Goodyear Assurance ComforTred (*est. $100) and Michelin Harmony (*est. $100), in tests at The Tire Rack. The Michelin HydroEdge is noisy, though -- a comment that pops up in more than one review. It's also expensive for a standard all-season tire.

For long tread life, the $90 Bridgestone Turanza LS-T is a good choice, according to reviews. However, the Turanza LS-T lags behind all of the other standard all-season tires discussed here in terms of winter driving and rolling resistance. Testers at Canada's Automobile Protection Association point out that the Turanza LS-T performs similarly to another competitor’s all-season touring tire, the Yokohama Avid Touring (*est. $70). However, although consumers who post at Epinions say the Yokohama Avid Touring performs well at first, three of the four most recent reviews complain that the belts eventually separated on this tire.

High-performance and ultra-high-performance all-season tires

Analysts at Consumer Reports magazine say that many people are gravitating to high-performance and even ultra-high-performance tires in part because of their better handling and heat resistance. Federal investigations cited heat buildup as a contributing factor in the 270 deaths and 800 injuries tied to tire failures of Firestone tires back in 2000. High-performance tires, which are usually H-rated (130 mph) or V-rated (149 mph), get better grip, can brake and corner more precisely and won't get as hot on long highway trips in warm weather. Ultra-high and max-performance tires have speed ratings of Y, W and Z, and can reach speeds up to 186 mph. But the advantages come at the expense of tread life and higher prices. Treadwear is rated at between 40,000 and 70,000 miles or less. These tires are appropriate for wheel sizes from 15 to 18 inches. High-performance tires are also more expensive.

The Michelin Energy MXV4 Plus (*est. $165) has been around for more than five years; the MXV4 Plus sticks around because it has proven itself, reviewers say. This performance grand touring tire has shown up as standard equipment on everything from the Honda Accord to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and reviewers say it's a good choice as a replacement tire as well.

"Very reliable," Canada's Automobile Protection Association judges the Michelin Energy MXV4 Plus. It is a well-rounded tire, showing no real weak points on dry, wet or wintry roads in tests. Though very expensive, it performs better in snow and gets longer tread life than most of its competitors.

The Michelin Energy MXV4 Plus is also one of the most fuel-friendly tires you can buy. It is one of the few car tires recommended by Green Seal, a nonprofit organization that encourages environmentally responsible purchasing. That's because the Michelin Energy MXV4 Plus has an unusually low "rolling resistance," a key factor in gas mileage. Tires that roll easily on the road can stretch a car's gas mileage by as much as 2 mpg, Green Seal points out. Green Seal conducted independent lab tests of 51 tires, using a dynamometer to gauge their rolling resistance. It also gathered data on the tires' treadwear, traction and customer satisfaction from several independent sources. The Michelin Energy MXV4 Plus not only had one of the lowest rolling resistances, but also came out at or near the top in all of the other categories.

Michelin has a new tire, the Michelin Primacy MXV4 (*est. $125), that was developed to be the successor to the top-ranked Michelin Energy MXV4 Plus, according to The Tire Rack. Few reviewers have tested this new tire, but Canadian Driver reviewer James Bergeron spent a day track-testing it on a 2007 Toyota Camry.

Bergeron concludes that the new Michelin Primacy MXV4 "provides excellent value for a touring car," handling confidently in both a wet braking test and wet and dry autocross-style tests. You can even wear Michelin's MXV4 tread on your feet: Bergeron writes a sidebar about a new line of Michelin MXV4 footwear (*est. $100), with outsoles "inspired by the tire sculpture, and full-grain premium leather uppers in 60 different styles with colours to suit the most fashion-forward lifestyles."

Consumers who post at The Tire Rack prefer the high-performance all-season Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S (*est. $100). Echoing this tire's well-rounded performance in tests, consumers rate it "superior" or "excellent" on every measure.

Expert testers at The Tire Rack, however, prefer the Yokohama Avid V4s (*est. $90) in the high-performance, all-season tire category. They find it handles confidently on both wet and dry tracks, as well as on real-life highways and back roads. But other tests, and consumers who post at The Tire Rack, downgrade the Yokohama Avid V4s tires for their lack of traction on ice and snow. Its lower-speed-rated cousin, the Yokohama Avid H4s (*est. $80), performs even worse on winter roads in tests, although like the V4s it performs quite well on every other measure, and reviewers say both are fine choices if you never plan to drive them in the snow. They also cost far less than the Michelin MXV4 Plus tires.

Both the Yokohama H4s and V4s are among the most consistently high-scoring tires in government-mandated tests for traction, temperature rating and tread life, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data. Both rate among the top 27 percent of tires for withstanding high temperatures (a safety indicator, as overheating can lead to blowouts). They are also among the top 20 percent of tires for tread life and among the top three percent of tires for traction.

Stepping up from high-performance to ultra-high-performance all-season tires, the Automobile Protection Association tests two models in its review of high-performance all-season tires: the Dunlop SP Sport 5000 (*est. $100) and Pirelli P Zero Nero M+S (*est. $125). Both are top picks of at least two review organizations.

The Dunlop SP Sport 5000 is an ultra-high-performance all-season tire that is a favorite among consumers who post at CarReview.com. But its recommendation from the Automobile Protection Association is tepid: "A suitable choice," and less expensive than average, the review notes. Quality is "not bad, but is not the most uniform on the market." The Dunlop SP Sport 5000 does offer a bit better in wet and dry braking tests than the top-ranked Michelin Energy MXV4 Plus tires, but two reviews find the Dunlop tires wear faster than the Michelin.

The Pirelli P Zero Nero M+S ("mud and snow") is the ultra-high-performance all-season version of Pirelli's popular P Zero Nero ultra-high-performance summer tire. The APA recommends it largely based on its reputation for quality and on the good reports of consumers who have bought it. Testers at The Tire Rack like it too – but not really as an all-season tire.

The Pirelli P Zero Nero M+S takes first place in a dry- and wet-track test of ultra-high-performance all-season tires at The Tire Rack, besting the Goodyear Eagle F1 All Season (*est. $130), Michelin Pilot Sport A/S (*est. $145) and Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS Pole Position (*est. $120), in that order. Even though its wet traction is the worst of the group, the Pirelli P Zero Nero M+S tire's dry traction is impressive enough to make up the difference.

But when The Tire Rack ran a separate test on the same tires – this time to check winter performance – the Pirelli P Zero Nero M+S placed last. It kept the test BMW's traction control and anti-lock brakes busy on packed snow, and fared even worse on loose, rutted snow. It is "a tire with limited wintertime proficiency that doesn't match its summertime performance," the review concludes. On snowy roads, The Tire Rack's testers prefer the Goodyear Eagle F1 All Season.

Car owners who post at The Tire Rack place the ultra-high-performance all-season Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS Pole Position at the top of the category. After driving a combined 2.8 million miles on these tires, the multiple consumers who evaluate the Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS Pole Position grade it "superior" or "excellent" on every measure, from dry traction to deep snow traction.

All-season tires are always a bit of a compromise. Tire professionals say all-season tires can never match the speed and handling capabilities of ultra-high-performance summer tires, nor can they move through snow and ice like dedicated snow tires. Depending on the type of driving you commonly do and the climate in which you live, a more specialized tire may be appropriate.

Summer-only tires

Ultra-high-performance summer tires and max-performance summer tires are a step up from all-season tires. These are for the enthusiast who wants the fastest tire, and are best for pure performance on wet or dry roads. They are not equipped for snow and ice at all. Ultra-high- performance and max-performance tires come in 16- to 20-inch wheel sizes. As you'd expect, they have high speed ratings and, usually, high prices. Speed ratings top out at 186 mph with ratings of W, Y or Z.

The highest-rated max-performance summer tire in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers, the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 (*est. $190), is one tire upon which consumer testing experts, car enthusiast magazines and real-life users can all agree. It's also one of the most expensive. "That performance will cost you," Car & Driver testers note in their review of the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2. "Is it worth it? How important is all-around performance to you?"

The Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 does display all-around performance in more than one top-ranked test; Which? Online, a British consumer-testing organization, names it "class leader" in dry grip, adding that it's also competent on wet roads.

But although the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 gets more nods from reviewers than any other max- performance summer tire, it has close competition. It ties for first place among consumers who post at The Tire Rack, with the Bridgestone Potenza RE050A Pole Position (*est. $120) – and both tires only barely edge out the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 (*est. $160).

In Car and Driver's test, the max-performance summer Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 bests the more expensive Michelin Pilot Sport PS2. "As an all-around high-performance tire, you can't beat this Goodyear," Car and Driver concludes. Canada's Automobile Protection Association also recommends the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3, noting that it is "intended for the upper strata of the sports car world."

One test at The Tire Rack pits four of the highest-rated max-performance summer tires against each other: the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2, Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3, Continental ContiSportContact 3 (*est. $160) and Pirelli P Zero (*est. $205). The winner in that test: the Pirelli P Zero.

"The first Pirelli P Zero was introduced in 1987 as the original equipment tire on the Ferrari F40," The Tire Rack's review begins. But does Pirelli's updated P Zero live up to its heritage? Testers conclude that it does: the P Zero outpaces the other four tires on both wet and dry tracks.

Canadian Driver reviewer Tony Whitney is also impressed with the latest P Zero tires' wet- and dry-track performance, after testing it at Pirelli's world media launch of the tire at the Dubai Autodrome in the United Arab Emirates. "If you buy a new sports car or sports sedan at the very top of the market, there's a good chance it will be fitted with Pirelli P Zero tires," Whitney writes, adding a long list of the cars that come fitted with P Zero tires– from Lamborghinis, Ferraris and Porsches to Volvos and a new Audi model.

Behind these top tires, a slew of max high-performance summer tires earn a couple of recommendations each, including the aforementioned Continental ContiSportContact 3 and the Pirelli P Zero Nero (*est. $155), although neither is among the very top performers in tests. The ultra-high-performance BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDW (*est. $130), a favorite among consumers who post at CarReview.com, also gets high marks from the Automobile Protection Association: "Particularly high adhesion on wet surfaces," testers there write, judging the BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDW tire a "very strong performer."

Both expert testers at The Tire Rack and consumers who post there give top marks to the Bridgestone Potenza RE-01R (*est. $120) in the "extreme performance summer" category. On dry performance, consumer posters say it is especially superior to its direct competitors, including another extreme performance summer tire, the Kumho Ecsta MX (*est. $90).

Two more favorite summer tires among consumers who post at The Tire Rack also distinguish themselves in other reviews: the Sumitomo HTR 200 (*est. $70) and General Exclaim UHP (*est. $70).

The Sumitomo HTR 200 is a high-performance summer tire that is one of the least expensive on the market, and also gets one of the highest scores at Green Seal, a nonprofit organization that encourages environmentally responsible purchasing. Unlike most high-performance tires, the Sumitomo HTR 200 has a long tread life, Green Seal reports, along with a low rolling resistance to boost gas mileage. This tire comes in smaller sizes than most performance tires, fitting wheels from 13 to 15 inches in diameter.

Another budget-priced summer tire, the ultra-high-performance summer General Exclaim UHP is "for drivers who care more about performance (and money) than snobbery," writes Michael Posner at The Truth About Cars, a small automotive review site that prides itself on being independent from advertisers and the auto industry. Posner says he chose to review the General Exclaim UHP instead of more expensive status tires precisely because it is inexpensive and has managed to top the well-respected consumer rankings at The Tire Rack.

Posner tests the General Exclaim UHP on his own Audi A4, running autocross-style slaloms, panic stops and turns and wet-driving tests. The tires handle everything well, Posner reports, except for a tendency to hydroplane at speeds over 70 mph. Treadwear wasn't great, a finding backed up by another top test; Posner found half of the tires' tread gone after just 10,000 miles. But overall, he judges the General Exclaim UHP "a bargain among performance tires."

Important Features: Tires

First, experts say you must understand the kind of tire you need. Regular and high-performance all-season tires will satisfy the largest percentage of consumers, but models for SUVs and other trucks are different than those for cars and minivans. Ultra-high-performance tires are appropriate only if you're willing to sacrifice all-weather versatility, tread life and price to improve your car's acceleration and handling.

Choose a tire type and size to suit your vehicle and driving conditions:

• Standard all-season tires are best for most people. Standard all-season tires have overall good traction, especially in dry conditions, long treadwear and a comfortable ride. They lack the precise handling and grip of performance all-season tires. Treadwear is between 40,000 and 100,000 miles, and wheel sizes generally range from 13 to 16 inches, with S and T speed ratings.

• High-performance all-season tires are best for those who want better handling and grip without giving up too much comfort and wear. Treadwear is 40,000 to 70,000 miles, and these tires are appropriate for wheel sizes from 15 to 18 inches. They carry speed ratings of H and V.

• Ultra-high-performance tires are for those who want the best wet and dry braking and handling at the expense of tread life. Summer versions are not appropriate for snow or ice. Most models have no treadwear warranty at all. Wheel sizes range from 16 to 22 inches.

• Match new tire specifications to those of your existing tire. You'll need a tire that fits your existing wheels and has the same or greater load rating for your vehicle. You'll find these specifications on your existing original tires or in your vehicle's manual.

• Be cautious when considering plus-sizing. The latest trend is "plus-size" tires and wheels. Drivers buy larger wheels and shorter, wider tires. Experts say it is safe to do this within a certain range, and upping your wheel size by an inch can improve handling. However, it's imperative to buy tires with the same or greater load rating for your car. See our Alternative Considerations section below for more information on plus-sizing.

Tires come in varying sizes. You can find out what size tires are right for your vehicle by consulting your owner's manual or by looking on the sidewalls of the tires currently on your vehicle. Tire sizes are represented by a ratio followed by a whole number. The ratio comprises the width in millimeters and the percentage of that width that makes up the profile (the distance between the rim and the outer edge of the tire); the whole number is the rim diameter in inches. A tire with a size of 215/60-16 is 215mm wide, 129mm (60% of 215) from the ground to the rim, and is intended for a 16-inch wheel.

Tire manufacturers use letters to represent the maximum speed (in miles per hour) at which a tire should be driven. There are about twenty different speed ratings, but the most common are Q (up to 99 mph), S (up to 112 mph), T (up to 118 mph), H (up to 130 mph), V (up to 149 mph) and Z (169 mph and above). Experts say that even if you have no intention of driving at speeds of 130 mph or more, tires with a high-speed rating are also better performers at more mundane speeds. While snow tires and most all-season tires perform well with Q, S or T speed ratings, performance tires should have at least an H speed rating.

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

# of picks	Model (With Retailer Links)
5	Goodyear Assurance TripleTred (*est. $105)
5	Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 (*est. $190)
3	Dunlop SP Sport 5000 (*est. $100)
3	Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 (*est. $160)
3	Michelin Energy MXV4 Plus (*est. $165)
3	Pirelli P Zero (*est. $205)
3	Bridgestone Potenza RE050A Pole Position (*est. $120)
2	BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDW (*est. $130)
2	Bridgestone Potenza RE-01R (*est. $120)
2	Bridgestone Turanza LS-T (*est. $90)
2	Continental ContiSportContact 3 (*est. $160)
2	General Exclaim UHP (*est. $75)
2	Michelin HydroEdge (*est. $120)
2	Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S (*est. $100)
2	Michelin Primacy MXV4 (*est. $125)
2	Pirelli P Zero Nero (*est. $155)
2	Pirelli P Zero Nero M+S (*est. $125)
2	Sumitomo HTR 200 (*est. $70)
2	Yokohama AVID V4s (*est. $90)
1 each	Bridgestone B381 , Bridgestone G009 , Bridgestone Potenza RE750 , Bridgestone Potenza RE950, Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS Pole Position , Bridgestone Potenza S-03 Pole Position , Bridgestone Turanza ER300, Bridgestone Turanza Serenity , Continental ContiExtremeContact , Continental ContiProContact , Continental ContiSportContact 2 , Continental ContiTouring Contact CH95, Dunlop SP40 A/S , Dunlop SP Sport 9000 , Dunlop SP Sport Maxx , Falken Ziex ZE-512 , Falken Ziex ZE-912 , Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 , General Altimax RT , Goodyear Eagle F1 All Season , Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric , Hankook Mileage Plus II H725 , Hankook Ventus R-S2 Z212 , Kumho Ecsta SPT , Kumho 716 Ecsta HP4 BSW, Kumho Ecsta KH11 , Kumho Solus KH16 , Kumho Solus KR21 , Michelin Harmony , Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2 , Michelin Pilot HX MXM4 , Michelin Pilot Sport A/S , Michelin Pilot XGT H4, Michelin Primacy HP , Michelin X Radial, Nitto Invo , Nitto Neo Gen ZR, Sumitomo HTR +, Sumitomo HTR Z III , Toyo Proxes T1-R, Toyo Proxes TPT, Vredestein Sportrac3, Yokohama Advan Neova AD07 , Yokohama Advan S4, Yokohama Avid H4s , Yokohama Avid Touring , Yokohama Avid TRZ , Yokohama AVID W4s , Yokohama AVS dB S2, Yokohama AVS ES100 , Yokohama Parada Spec-2

According to the reviews we read, there are good tire choices in all price ranges. The Michelin Energy MXV4 Plus is still one of the best all-around tires, having proven itself on the market for several years. The Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 is picked more often in reviews than any other ultra-high-performance summer tire, and we've included it in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers. Less adrenaline-driven (and more wallet-friendly) all-season options include the Hankook Mileage Plus II H725 and the slightly better performing Goodyear Assurance TripleTred. The Yokohama V4s is a good lower-priced, high-performance all-season tire.

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