YONKERS, N.Y.—Consumer Reports' tire testing team has deemed Michelin as the best tire brand based on its latest test results and tire performance across the model line.
The consumer products testing organization created a list of what it considered the best tire brands, with the proviso that many well-known brand names offer strong product lines.
Consumer Reports' (CR) ranking included:
c Michelin—Michelin North America Inc.'s flagship brand, according to the magazine, “across the board...offers nearly a perfect blend of grip, handling, low rolling resistance for good fuel economy and long tread life. In many instances, tread wear is class-leading, and Michelin has tread wear warranties on all replacement tires, including winter and summer tires.”
CR noted that Michelin tires “can be pricey and that holds back a lot of potential buyers.” The publication ranked Michelin's top models as the all-season Michelin Defender; performance all-season Michelin Primacy MXV4; ultra-high performance Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3; summer Michelin Pilot Super Sport; and winter Michelin X-ice Xi3, Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 (performance) and Michelin Latitude X-Ice Xi2 (truck). For truck tires, CR lauded the Michelin Latitude Tour (all-season), Michelin LTX M/S2 (all-season) and Michelin LTX A/T 2 (all-terrain).
c Continental—”Continental con-sistently offers high-scoring tires. Handling and impressive stopping grip on dry and wet roads are typical of this brand. As a bonus, they are attractively priced.”
Top models, according to CR, include the discontinued all-season Continental ProContact EcoPlus; performance all-season Continental PureContact; ultra-high performance Continental ExtremeContact DW(summer); winter Continental ExtremeWinterContact (truck); and Continental CrossContact LX20 EcoPlus (all-season truck).
c Goodyear—”Not every model is a hit, but in the last two years Goodyear has come on strong with some recommended truck and ultra-high-performance tires. All-season car tires are a bit long in the tooth; still the Goodyear Assurance TripleTread All-Season car tire is impressive.”
CR said the top models are: all-season Goodyear Assurance TripleTread All-Season; ultra-high-performance Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric All Season; and summer Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2. For trucks, the top models are the Goodyear Assurance CS TripleTred All-Season and Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure (all-terrain).
c Pirelli—”Known for ultra-high-performance tires, Pirelli supplies original equipment rubber for many prestigious sports cars. Pirelli also offers some solid models for less exotic vehicles, too. Tread life is not always a strong point, but in recent years there have been updates with a 'Plus' added to existing models, some of which we are testing now,” CR said.
Top models include: all-season Pirelli P4 Four Seasons; performance all-season Pirelli P7 Cinturato A/S; ultra-high performance Pirelli P Zero Nero All Season and Pirelli P Zero (summer); Pirelli Winter 210 Sottozero Series II; and truck tire Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season Plus.
Rounding out the list are Hankook, Cooper, Nokian and Yokohama. “This final ranking is a tough spot to call, as there are many fine brands vying for the title. Rather than make a single selection, we consider this a four-way tie,” CR said.
c Hankook—CR praised the tire maker's top-rated Dynapro AT-M in the all-terrain category, along with a couple “impressive” ultra-high performance tires: the Hankook Ventus S1 noble 2 (all-season) and Ventus V12 evo2 (summer).
“The Winter I*cept evo has been around for a number of years and still impresses with its well-balanced grip on cleared and snow-covered roads. Absent are all-season tire models that the company is now updating,” CR said.
c Cooper—CR said Cooper Tire & Rubber co. is “strong” in truck tires. “The Discoverer A/TW is an all-terrain tire with winter tire-like grip, and the Discoverer SRX is a very good four-season tire. The Cooper Discoverer A/T3, once a top-rated all-terrain tire, is a favorite around our neck of the woods and gets high marks in user reviews at www.ConsumerReports.org.”
CR also recommended the Cooper Zeon RS3-A all-season ultra-high-performance tire.
c Nokian—CR noted the tire maker's expertise in winter tires, including the Hakkapeliitta R2 and the Hakkapeliitta R2 SUV. “The best-kept secret, though, might be the WR G3 and WR G3 SUV—winter tires that you can keep on your car or truck all year long. Nokian can make sporty tires, too; the zLine is an outstanding summer ultra-high performance tire. The downside is Nokian tires are not cheap,” CR said.
c Yokohama—The magazine said Yokohama tires “have characteristically impressed us with their sporty flair in three-season weather. The Advan Sport V105 offers excellent dry and wet grip, responsive handling, and good tread life for a summer tire.
“For family cars, the Avid Ascend all-season tire offers very good dry and wet grip and impressive tread life.”
This story first appeared on www.tirebusiness.com.