SOUTH BEND, Ind. (Sept. 29, 2015) — Online retailer Tire Rack Inc. awarded the Michelin Premier LTX the top score in recent road and track tests of all-season crossover/SUV touring tires.
Tire Rack's recent testing also included the Kumho Crugen Premium and the Yokohama Geolandar G055, with the Michelin showing its advantage primarily in wet conditions, the South Bend-based company said.
The tires were mounted, at full tread depth, on 18x8.0 wheels of a 2016 Porsche V6 Cayenne and evaluated on Tire Rack's test track at its South Bend headquarters and along a six-mile road loop.
Tire Rack said it tested stopping times and distances, maneuverability and traction in both dry and wet conditions. The real-world road course offered a combination of expressway, state highway and country roads, allowing Tire Rack to evaluate the tires at a variety of speeds on a variety of surfaces, including smooth and coarse concrete and new and patched asphalt.
In dry conditions, the three tire models performed remarkably similar, Tire Rack said. The distances that each needed to complete a panic stop from 50 miles per hour were separated by only one foot. The difference in time needed to complete a lap around the test track spanned just one quarter of a second.
Fuel consumption differences were also negligible, Tire Rack said. The Michelin model generated an observed 22.7 miles per gallon in fuel economy, with the Kumho and Yokohama tires close behind at 22.5 miles per gallon each.
However, wet conditions delivered a clear lead, the company said. The Michelin Premier LTX tires “demonstrated superior traction that raises the bar for tires in this category. The Kumho tires performed well in terms of handling, traction and stopping distance, however they couldn't quite measure up to the Michelin model. Yokohama tires lagged behind, literally, with a wet-course lap time almost five seconds slower than the best model.”
The Kumho Crugen Premium took second place in Tire Rack's ratings due to a slightly lower level of wet traction than the Michelin.
For complete results and more detailed information, visit www.TireRack.com.