The following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.
Initial Review, 5,000 Miles on Tires March 19, 2013
I haven't had these very long but I thought I would share the experience at 5000 miles. They are good performing stiff tires and hardly seem to wear. They still have the same tread as 5000 miles ago similar to my last set of run flats (Michelins). The negative so far is even with a luxury class suspension and noise reduction you feel the road bumps like a sports car and hear noise. I don't know if non luxury class cars could deal with the bumps and noise. However, I am sold on run flat technology and feel the performance safety benefits far outweigh the noise and more vibration in the ride. That being said, these are good performing so far, I hope they last 45k miles like my last set of run flats did. So far so good.
The following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.
Initial Review, 4,500 Miles on Tires March 19, 2013
This is my first ever set of winter tires, so I can't really compare them to any other tire, except all-seasons. My first misconception was that the tires would make my car invincible in the snow - they didn't. You still have to be mindful of how you're driving. Having said that, I've only driven a handful of times in the snow with these tires, and I fully enjoyed all of them. I could drive twice the speed of the other cars, in a lane that was still snowed in and had barely any tracking. I've also played around in a parking lot with about 2-3 inches of fresh snow and the responsiveness of these tires is very good. You will still slide if you're braking too quickly or turning too sharply, but much less than with the all-season tires that I've had in the past. I had one experience with deep snow, and it wasn't a good one. I tried to plow through a foot of snow in my driveway and got stuck. Not really the tire's fault, but I did notice that FWD with an open differential is not very good for those instances. That's why I think that your drive train will play a big part in the overall performance of these tires. Last thoughts - they look nice and meaty, noise level is low, and ride comfort is great. Not recommended for spirited driving, but excellent for everyday use. I would like to compare these to the Bridgestone Blizzaks, if I ever get the opportunity. Snow tires are fun!
The following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.
Initial Review, 5,000 Miles on Tires March 19, 2013
I replaced my OE ContiProContact's at 36k miles after getting stuck in 6" of snow. These tires are just as quiet and proved increased traction in all weather conditions. In addition, the stiffer sidewalls greatly increase response, while not noticeably increasing harshness. I don't have enough mileage on the tires to comment on tire wear or fuel economy impact from switching to non LRR tires, but I would highly recommend these tires for a nice performance upgrade. They got me through a couple snow storms of 4-6" without too much drama, but they aren't a replacement for winter tires. They're more like a higher mileage summer tire with moderate winter capabilities, which is what I was looking for.
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.
2013 is a great year for enthusiasts of high performance cars looking for street tires that are trackable. This year we are excited to offer three new Extreme Performance Summer tires. These tires primary focus is going to be on extreme dry grip for spirited or competitive driving such as autocrossing. We can't wait to get a chance to test them at our facility this spring!
While we haven't had a chance to test the BFGoodrich g-Force Rival on our track, we did have the chance to drive on it at NOLA Motorsports Park near New Orleans and the feedback was very positive. The tire was very easy to drive on, had excellent responsiveness and is designed to wear very well over the course of a competitive event. It has the 200 UTQG treadwear rating that is required by many sanctioning bodies.
The next new tire for 2013 is the Dunlop Direzza ZII. This tire is replacing the Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec. Compared to its predecessor, it's designed to have better responsiveness, as well as an improvement in wet and dry grip. Also offered with the 200 UTQG treadwear rating, the Direzza ZII is available in a variety of hard-to-find smaller sizes. Last fall, we tested a production-spec set of Direzza ZII tires against the Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec and found that Dunlop hit the mark with this new offering as it was faster and more predictable in the dry and wet. For a complete recap of our test, read "Dunlop Direzza ZII Introductory Track Drive."
Bridgestone's Potenza RE-11A is replacing the previous model, the Potenza RE-11 in 10 sizes. This newer tire has an updated rubber compound designed to improve wet and dry traction. While sharing the same tread design, the Potenza RE-11A adds an exclusive tread compound that combines silica with a new long-link carbon black that increases road contact and abrasion resistance while promoting tread rubber flexibility across a range of cool to hot temperatures. The internal construction includes a custom asymmetric shape that helps distribute footprint pressure more evenly.
Are you a serious driving enthusiast looking for dry road response, traction, handling and high speed capabilities? If so, take a look at our Extreme Performance Summer tires and find the one that's right for your vehicle.
The following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.
Initial Review, 25,000 Miles on Tires March 17, 2013
This is my 3rd set.I get about 35000 to 40000 miles out of them till the wear bar.I don't baby cars! I love these tires and they look great on the car. For the price you get great performance. I drive fast and hard and they hold tight. Yes they have road noise louder then the stock tire but i can hit a corner as fast as I want and they hold true.You get what you pay for and these tires are a lot of bang for your buck. They run great in the rain. You get a little slipping in snow but no worse then every tire I ever had used in snow.Ice, who doesn't slip on ice, good luck with out studs.All in all I will buy them again.
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.
BFGoodrich's internal testing and their launch comparison indicate mission accomplished. The g-Force Rival excels when driven side-by-side with traditional Extreme Performance Summer leaders.
Our test drivers were particularly impressed with the g-Force Rival's combination of consistent, extreme grip with a high degree of predictability. Instead of "peaky" grip levels which leave the driver wondering what their tire and car are doing, BFGoodrich has endowed the Rival with more progressive grip levels. This allows for better control because the driver has no doubt what's happening with his/her car and tires.
The NOLA Motorsports Park launch test featured some good competitors, but how will the g-Force Rival do against the newest rivals in its class? Dunlop has launched the new Direzza ZII. Bridgestone's rolling out the new Potenza RE-11A. Yokohama has the ADVAN Neova AD08. Who's the king of that group? With all due apologies to Dennis Green, we won't crown it now. We'll crown the champ in early June after completing our comprehensive in-house test.
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 following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.
Initial Review, 5,000 Miles on Tires March 03, 2013
These tires are definitely impressive. I've had both Michelin Cross Terrain (factory tires), and two sets of Bridgestone Dueler Revo and Revo 2's, and these tires outperform both of them. The steering responsiveness, stability, and grip on road is the best for a light truck/SUV tire. The only other tire that would perform better in the snow and on ice is a true snow tire, but these are way better as they perform in all conditions. I no longer off road with my truck but I'm sure they would hold up fine in moderate to easy off road situations. These tires also help dampen the road bumps and keeps you on center better than any other tire. I've had them on for 4 months now, and about 5-6k miles and they still look brand new-- I haven't even had to put air in them yet. If you want the best all season road tires that money can buy, these are them.
The following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.
Initial Review, 1,000 Miles on Tires March 08, 2013
This is my second set of RE-11's. After sitting, they do tremble a bit until they roll out - under five miles. They also wear like a performance tire...which they are. But their performance is excellent. They transition from linear to non-linear and back with very little "nibbling" and provide excellent feedback the entire time. Dry traction is quite good and wet performance still impresses me. They are quite comfortable for this type tire, with very little tread noise and minimal "thumping" on impact. I claim no great expertise, but these tires are very good performance street tires.....I think an excellent compromise that offers performance similar to the track tires of the not too distant past while providing completely acceptable if not comfortable day to day driving performance. Obviously I like them.
The following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.
Initial Review, 150 Miles on Tires December 28, 2012
overall very nice performance, almost seems like a high performance tire rather than a grand touring tire.Dry, wet, I havent yet driven in snow, but great experience in all of the above conditions.I recommend these tires highly, although they are a bit pricy.I would buy these tires again.
The following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.
Initial Review, 12,000 Miles on Tires March 11, 2013
I descided to purchased these tires based on their excellent customer reviews. Obviously something must have changed shortly before I bought them as I see the ratings have dropped considerably. On dry pavement I have had little issue cornering and braking seem excellent but get the road a little wet and performance begins to drop. Put a small amount of slush on the road and you can just about forget about accelerating, stopping or turning. They have very little bite in hard packed snow and almost none in soft snow. These are bar far one of the worst sets of tires I have ever owned. Living in Wisconsin I see all types of weather and I will without a doubt be running different tires come next winter. I will not put up with these horrible tires for another winter. I can only hope I can manage to wear these things out during the summers that I will be stuck using them.
The following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.
Initial Review, 3,000 Miles on Tires March 06, 2013
This set of Blizzak WS-70s are superior to the previous older set I owned and ran for 9 New England winters. As long as one only runs them during winter months, they last a reasonable amount of time with very good performance. They really excel in icy and slushy conditions, which are common in the Northeast.
The following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.
Initial Review, 3,500 Miles on Tires February 28, 2013
Great for light snow and slippery roads. Not the best for deep snow but way better than all season. Tire performance in wet conditions is excellent overall. Handling is only slightly less than the OEM Bridgestones. Cornering on dry salty roads could use a little improvement
The following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.
The following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.
Initial Review, 5,000 Miles on Tires February 26, 2013
Bought these before the Wisconsin winter. They have made a world of difference. I fishtailed once in what was probably 3-4 inches, and without any weight in the back of the wagon. I slipped on a patch of black ice on a side road, but once the tires hit snow again, they gripped right up and I was on my merry way. That is my entire list of incidents this winter. Accelerating from stoplights, stopping, turning, highway ramps have all been fine. Next year, the wife will be getting a set for her car.
They are also nice and sticky in dry/wet(not frozen) conditions. Noticed an immediate increase in performance when I put them on.
The following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.
Initial Review, 3,000 Miles on Tires February 26, 2013
Best riding runflat I have ever owned. Quiet,smooth, excellent wet and dry traction in a performance all season tire. Much superior to the Continentals that came on the car.
The tire rack review was accurate. You can not tell these are runflats
The following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.
I purchased this tire to replace a pair of worn Blizzaks on my daily driven MR2. The tires were mounted on the stock rims on a car with a refreshed and slightly upgraded suspension setup (stock height), all parts replaced and aligned. Even though the stock tire size is 185/60/14, I went to the 195/60 in hopes of getting a bit more comfort, but still great traction, with this car that I DD (highway) and still hit up the backroads with on the weekends.
Based on reviews and ratings (price wasn't bad either), I opted for these Bridgestones. I haven't really done too much serious driving, but I can say that the tires are much quieter than the old Blizzaks and just as much so as the 215/45/16 Hankook RS2s (great tire, but not much creature comforts) I had last summer. Also, these Bridgestones are predictable and direct with inputs. On the highway they ride smooth, as a new tire should but, again, they are nice and quiet.
Just this evening, I took them down one of my favorite stretches of backroads, and for a tire so comfortable, they just blew me away! Very direct, predictable, and firm. I didn't feel any squirm or "mushiness" from the front to the back, even through some interesting set of turns. They catered amazingly to my mid-engined coupe's unique handling characteristics, and had me having to throttle down a bit because of how fast I was going with the car still feeling so secured to the road... Frankly I was shocked! I look forward to making these tires last, all while getting the best use out of them. I hope to report back in the future!
A note about a previous review; perspectively good tires don't make your car lose control, but a poor alignment might. Proper alignment is important when judging how well a tire performs. Side note, I was surprised at the number of Porsche owners who commented on how well these tires performed for them, certainly in the pursuit of comfort from day to day, and performance from weekend to weekend.
The following post was created from content submitted via Tire Rack's consumer surveys. Information shown is the opinion of the consumer and meant to be used for comparison shopping purposes.
Initial Review, 9,000 Miles on Tires December 24, 2012
this is a great snow tire. from light snow to the deep stuff, this tire performs excellent. with FWD and electronic traction control there is no need for 4wd with these tires. ice traction is very good as well. so, if you drive in a lot of snow, this is a perfect choice. if you drive mainly in slushy/icy conditions, there may be a better performing tire, but for superior snow traction, very good ice traction and no noticeable flaws, I would buy the ws60 again.
2006 Acura RL
2004 GMC Envoy XL 4wd
