The Continental ExtremeContact DWS has been a customer favorite for almost five years. It has stood the test of time, especially with its good ratings in winter conditions. Bridgestone's Potenza RE970AS Pole Position was the latest entry to threaten Continental's number one ranking. We put them up against each other in a test cycle where we run them on a wet and dry track, as well as on the road. Our team favored the Bridgestone in the meeting. The Bridgestone gives a better overall performance feel and traction in both the wet and dry, especially in the track events which are designed to simulate emergency maneuvers.
In an earlier test, we noted we'd like to see an improvement in winter conditions where the Bridgestone was concerned. This happens to be the Continental's strong suit and as it turns out, the ace in the hole. When the Bridgestone initially debuted on the survey results, it came it in at number one. The Bridgestone takes top honors in wet and dry traction, as well as cornering and steering response. However, as owners had some time to experience the winter elements, the ExtremeContact DWS rose back to the top. This Continental tire betters the competition in traction in light snow, deep snow and on ice.
To see the complete results of our latest test, read "Testing Ultra High Performance All-Season Tires."
If your family hauler is a second-generation (2001-2007) Volvo XC70 AWD, you probably bought it for the safety it provides. Safety also requires focused driving and equipping your Volvo with the best tires for the conditions. Does tire choice make that much of a difference? Yes, consider the difference in wet braking distance between the top tires and the fourth place tire observed in this Grand Touring All-Season comparison test.
Choosing the right tires for your Volvo XC70 can be tricky. Most second-generation Volvo XC70 vehicles came with the relatively obscure 215/65R16 size. If wet braking is important to you, and it should be, you may want to consider one of the top three tires referenced above (Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Plus, Continental PureContact with EcoPlus Technology, Michelin Primacy MXV4). The problem is that they're not made in your size, therefore you'll need to look at the 225/60R16 alternate size. 225/60R16 is about 1/2" wider, 3/10" smaller in diameter and fits the Original Equipment 7" wide rim without rubbing.
Now that you know what size to look at, what tire should you purchase? Obviously, if you live in a dry area like Phoenix, Arizona, you'll want to choose your tire based on variables such as dry braking and steering response. With these parameters in mind, I'd recommend choosing between the Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Plus, Michelin Primacy MXV4 and Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus.
The Turanza Serenity Plus provides good wet grip, decent road manners and relatively long treadwear. Michelin's Primacy MXV4 shares theses traits, however the Serenity Plus offers a little more wet grip capability. Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus' strengths of crisp steering response and better dry grip make it appropriate for faster drivers.
If the Michelin tire options are what you're looking for, take advantage of their current special offer. When you purchase a set of four Michelin brand passenger or light truck tires, you can receive a $70 MasterCard® Reward Card. Offer ends April 15, 2013. View rebate details here.
The snow is beginning to melt and the sun is starting to shine a bit longer each day. To most of the country, this marks the beginning of spring, however if you're a car enthusiast, it's the beginning of autocross and track season. Now is the time to remove the car cover and start planning for the race season ahead. With each race season comes a host of new track products and this year is no exception. We have three of the biggest names in the autocross and track tire market introducing new tires for the upcoming season. New this season are the BFGoodrich g-Force Rival, Dunlop Direzza ZII and Bridgestone Potenza RE-11A.
All of these tires are new to the Extreme Performance Summer category, which means they're intended to be streetable track tires. If you require a tire that has near R-compound performance, but need it to be durable enough to be driven to and from the track, the Extreme Performance Summer category is for you. For additional tire category information, view "Looking for the Best Autocross Tires?"
g-Force Rival tires feature a silica-infused compound molded into asymmetric tread designs that are performance-tuned to match tire width (265mm and narrower sizes feature a 3-rib design, while 275mm and wider sizes use a 4-rib pattern). Large, solid outboard tread blocks and BFGoodrich’s Extreme Tread Edge (ETE) shoulder design wrap the tread compound farther down the sidewalls for predictable feedback and maximum cornering grip from start to finish. Also, the g-Force Rival has just been approved for SCCA use!
Direzza ZII tires have a high-grip tread compound that's molded into a directional design with a continuous center rib flanked by massive shoulders that form a highly rigid tread delivering high levels of dry grip and handling. Two wide circumferential center grooves channel water through the center of the tread design while angled independent grooves help direct water to the sides of the footprint for improved wet traction.
Sharing the tread design of the popular Potenza RE-11, the Potenza RE-11A adds an exclusive tread compound that blends silica with a new long-link carbon black to increase road contact and abrasion resistance. An asymmetric tread design features Bridgestone's 3D Seamless Stealth technology that combines massive independent outboard shoulder blocks interlocked with notches in the circumferential intermediate rib to deliver lateral tread stiffness that's needed to enhance steering response and cornering traction.
To view our full range of track and autocross tires, shop by size and choose an option that best suits your specific vehicle needs.
When Ford decided to bring the Focus ST to the United States, VW GTI and other hatchback owners finally had an American option. The Focus ST offers a lot of fun and performance at a very affordable price. At nearly 250 horsepower and 266 lb-ft. of torque, the ST packs quite a punch. ST owners will be looking for ways to enhance the performance and capabilities of this turbocharged pocket rocket. As we know, tires are an easy way to accomplish this.
Right off the assembly line, the ST comes with a very nice tire. As far as an Original Equipment tire goes, the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 was a smart choice by Ford. This is a Max Performance Summer tire that does a nice job transferring all that power straight to the pavement. Are there better tires out there? Yes, let's take a look.
If you want to keep a super sticky summer tire on the ST and improve upon the O.E. Goodyear, then go with either the Michelin Pilot Super Sport or Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole Position. These tires rank first and second in the Max Performance Summer category. Both options receive high marks in almost every category, including cornering stability, steering response and ride comfort.
Maybe you're in a climate where you'll need or want an all-season tire. After all, if those Goodyears wore out too soon, moving to an all-season tire typically gives you more treadlife. If that sounds like something you'd prefer, I would suggest the Continental ExtremeContact DWS. This has been our top-rated Ultra High Performance All-Season tire for quite awhile.
All these tires are available in the stock size, however if you want to go with a slightly more aggressive size, there's no problem stepping up to a 245/40R18. Shop by vehicle to find all tire options for your Ford Focus ST.
The Acura TL has been a very popular luxury sedan for many years. This sporty car offers great handling, horsepower and torque to go along with a comfortable ride. Many TL owners want a tire that's going to improve the performance of their vehicle.
If you're looking for a great Ultra High Performance All-Season tire, I would suggest the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus. This highly rated tire offers superior and sporty handling combined with good all-season traction, even in light snow. For a performance tire, it also offers a relatively quiet ride, so you don't have to sacrifice ride quality for performance.
Do you desire a tire that provides a quiet and comfortable ride, along with the ultimate in luxury? Then check out the Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Plus. In my opinion, this Grand Touring All-Season offers the best ride for the TL. It also has great all-season traction to go along with long-lasting treadwear. The tire is a low rolling resistant option from Bridgestone, which means it has a focus on improving fuel economy for your Acura.
Maybe you don't need an all-season tire, but want to move to a dedicated summer performance tire. By doing so, you'll improve your vehicle's wet and dry grip, handling and responsiveness. This will give your TL that optimum feel on the road. For this kind of driving, I would suggest the Continental ExtremeContact DW.
To view all Acura tires for your TL, shop by vehicle.
Everyone wants good, safe and affordable tires. However, sometimes the challenge can be getting these tires without going over your budget. Thanks to the hard work of our buyers, you can now save money when you purchase Fuzion HRi and VRi tires on closeout. Available options in selected sizes include:
This wide spectrum of sizes means the Fuzion (owned by Bridgestone) HRi and VRi tires on closeout are available for many applications:
The Fuzion HRi and VRi are more than just a great buy, they're also good tires as they tested well across the board in "Testing Value-Oriented High Performance All-Season Tires 2006." I was really impressed with each tire's wet grip capabilities. Customers are also impressed with the HRi and VRi, especially their ability to combine decent grip and good treadwear.
Good tires at a great price, what more can you ask for?
*Limited stock, prices subject to change
A couple of months ago I wrote "Get More for Your Money When Replacing Your Corvette's Run-Flat Tires" that covered fitments for the 1997-2004 C5 models of Corvettes. For those of you interested in the newer C6 model Corvettes (2005-2012), the front tire size is 245/40R18 and the rear size is 285/35R19. Although the original tires on the C6 Corvette are a newer design and generally higher regarded than the C5's tires, there's always room for improvement.
Ultra High Performance All-Season
If you need to drive your C6 Corvette in near-freezing conditions or light snow, take a look at an all-season tire. Two of my favorite run-flat all-season tires are made in the C6's sizes, the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus ZP and Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS Pole Position RFT. Even if you don't need the cold weather capability of all-season tires, they're quieter and have a bit longer treadwear than their summer-only counterparts.
Summer Tires
The top summer performance run-flat tires would be the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP and Firestone Firehawk Wide Oval RFT. Keep in mind that these tires will lose much of their grip as the temperature nears freezing. They're not designed to be used on snow-covered roads or during icy conditions.
To see all options available for your Corvette, shop by vehicle.
2013 Subaru Impreza WRX 5-Door
2010 Volkswagen Touareg 2
