Consumer Reports picks top tires for 2016

WASHINGTON (Feb. 26, 2016) — Most of the famous names in tire making — as well as a few more obscure companies — placed well in Consumer Reports' list of top tire picks for 2016.

The list appears on page 84 of CR's April 2016 issue, its annual automotive issue which lists the magazine's choices for top car brands and models for the year.

This year, CR put more than 150 tire models through a battery of tests including braking, hydroplaning resistance, handling, winter traction, rolling resistance and tread life, the magazine said.

CR also evaluated tire life by driving each set of tires around the clock for up to 16,000 miles at its course in western Texas, the magazine said.

“When shopping, you shouldn't buy solely by brand reputation,” CR said in the tire article. “Just as Nike sells running shoes of varying quality and durability at various prices, the same holds true for tire brands.—even from big names like Michelin and Pirelli.”

Here are CR's top tire choices in six different categories:

• All-season: Best: Michelin Defender, Continental True Contact. Also Recommended: General Altimax RT43, Pirelli P4 Four Seasons, Goodyear Assurance TripleTred All-Season, Kumho Solus TA11, Cooper CS5 Grand Touring.

• Performance All-season: Best in H- and V-rated: Continental PureContact, Pirelli Cinturato P7 All-Season Plus, Michelin Premier A/S. Also Recommended: General Altimax RT43, Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max (H-rated only).

• Ultra-high-performance (UHP) Summer: Best: Pirelli P Zero, Michelin Pilot Super Sport. Also Recommended: Yokohama Advan Sport V105, Nokian zLine, Continental Extreme Contact DW, Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2, Hankook Ventus V12 evo2, Vredestein Ultrac Vorti.

• UHP All-season: Best: Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3, Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric All-Season. Also Recommended: Hankook Ventus S1 Noble 2, BFGoodrich g-Force Super Sport A/S, Pirelli P Zero Nero All-Season, Cooper Zeon RS3-A.

• Truck/SUV All-season: Best: Michelin Latitude Tour, Michelin LTX MS/2, Goodyear Assurance TripleTred All-Season. Also Recommended: Pirelli Scorpion Verde All-Season Plus, Continental CrossContact LX20 EcoPlus, Cooper Discoverer SRX.

• Truck/SUV All-terrain: Best: Hankook Dynapro AT-M, Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure with Kevlar, Michelin LTX A/T2, Cooper Discoverer A/TW. Also Recommended: Falken WildPeak A/T01.

CR unveiled the April 2016 issue at a press conference at the National Press Club Feb. 23, featuring Jake Fisher, CR director of automotive testing, and Mark Rechtin, CR cars content development team leader.

Audi had the highest overall brand score for 2016, followed by Subaru, Lexus, Porsche, BMW and Mazda. Buick, at seventh, was the highest-rated U.S. brand. Fiat placed dead last of 30 auto brands, and all FiatChrysler brands placed low, Messrs. Fisher and Rechtin said.