This past Saturday, I watched my niece play in her youth basketball league. I ended up running the scoreboard and used my close proximity to the court to offer words of wisdom, such as "use the backboard" and "shoot it." Kids, you got to love them!
Inevitably these kids will get bigger, their jump shots will start falling and they'll be teenagers driving themselves to practice. When that time comes, preparing them to be the best drivers they can be will be extremely important. One of the ways to do that is to take your teen driver to a one-day Tire Rack Street Survival class.
Classes are held at our headquarters in South Bend, Indiana, as well as locations across the country. Tire Rack Street Survival classes allow your teen to learn how to properly control his/her car so they don't panic during an emergency, along with helping improve their overall driving skills.
In addition to proper training, teenagers (and all drivers) need the safest tires. If you're in a snowbelt region, then dedicated winter / snow tires are the way to go. If you live in a warmer climate, an Ultra High Performance All-Season tire could work best because of how unpredictable weather can be. For example, in Dallas, Texas, it's not uncommon to receive some light snow, and the all-season option will come in handy compared to a summer tire.
View more information on the Tire Rack Street Survival program and find a class for your teen driver!
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.
I'm comparing these to the 225/45-15 RS3's I normally run. They are a bit sketchy at the limit and required a big setup change to get the balance back on the car, but once we did that the performance was very good. They drive differently than the RS3 so don't be shocked when it feels different. As far as time difference on a 60 sec course they seem to be a few tenths faster at most than the RS3...but we'll see in 2 weeks when I get to do a back to back test.
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 06, 2013
The only reason I would possibly buy these again is because I believe the performance is worth the extra money on the Blizzaks. These tires, though, are impressive in their own right as they have worn EXTREMELY well. I have had these exact tires mounted on a '95 //M3 as well as this '98 323 for most of the use. Believe it or not, the difference in suspension setups still provided for similar commentary:
These tires are quite noisy (expected with winter tires) but corner extremely well. They ride quite harshly as compared to a more pricey Blizzak or Vatiiva, but for the extended wear I'll take it! All in all, I still have about 6/32 of tread after literally 6 seasons of use. This is with SPIRITED driving style. The tires have shown some rot along the sidewalls, so it is now time to replace. Overall I am happy with these considering the money spent. If you have some more cash to lay down, I would recommend some Blizzaks. Beware more frequent replacement however.
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, 2,000 Miles on Tires March 11, 2013
This tire was purchased for a 2005 Honda Accord Hybrid. Tire performs great in wet and dry conditions. Very impressed with the noise levels experienced with this tire... nearly silent on good roads and greatly improved on all other surfaces. Fuel economy dropped 3 mpg as compared to the previous tires(Michelin Primacy MXV4) Much of the difference may be new vs. old tires. Rolling resistance is noticeably higher than previously. Takes more energy/power to accelerate to and maintain speed on highway.
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, 600 Miles on Tires January 28, 2013
Third set of tires on my CRV - stock Continentals and then Michelin Latitude and now these. Only about 600 miles on these but in an odd Utah mountain winter I've gotten to use them in dry, heavy rain, ice, light snow and today deep snow - 6-10inches - just no warm weather! So far so good! Initial impressions are that they are: 1) very quiet; 2) quite smooth rolling. In light snow, rain and even ice they hook up very nicely and get traction. In deeper snow they are quite good as well. Hard to compare to a new version of the other tires I've had on this vehicle (memory fades) but my initial thoughts are that they were just as good as the original Contis in deeper snow and comparable to the Michelins. Good all season performance - I drive in deep snow quite a bit in the mountains skiing etc. so I am happy. Other test this morning? Got to the parking garage at my office and headed up to the roof level which someone was in the process of plowing. The exposed ramp up to the top was covered in 6-8 of fresh snow and so I drove up the un-plowed portion (fairly steep - icy underneath as the snow came as a rain/sleet mix initially) without issue. I then went down the other unplowed side and then repeated this up and down a few more times letting snow fly everywhere - grinning big - maybe even a Dukes of Hazzard yee-haw! much to the confusion of the guy clearing the roof who stopped and looked at me like I was insane. Bottom line: they worked! (Note: testing done by an overgrown kid who loves the snow and was dreading being inside an office instead of outside playing in it or skiing it today! Don't try this yourself!) As I said, so far, so good. Will post a follow-up review in the dreaded warmer summer months in the future!
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, 18,000 Miles on Tires March 04, 2013
This is an excellent tire for all driving conditions! I bought theses tires in December 2011 and kept them on for a year because of how well they handled various weather/road conditions. They are slower than a performance tire, but that's a small setback compared to the excellent tread wear and all around use for this tire. Will definitely buy again and highly recommend.
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, 8,000 Miles on Tires January 06, 2013
I went from some cheap Toyo tires that the previous owner put on the car, and these tires transformed the car! The ride was drastically improved, handling was unbelievably good, and they performed excellent on the track. Comparing these tires to comparable tires, the value is great, especially considering they're the only max performance summer tires with a warranty. Due to having a staggered setup on my car, the rears did wear out pretty quickly, but I was not surprised at all due to the tires soft compound and not being able to rotate. I would recommend these tires to anyone that even THINKS about driving spiritedly. These tires are seriously awesome, it's no wonder Ferrari wanted these tires so bad for the 458 and the F12.
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, 700 Miles on Tires February 27, 2013
This tire came standard with the Toyota Camry Hybrid LE. These tires are rated low rolling resistance (LRR) and thus they might provide a better fuel efficiency. They perform well on dry or wet roads in the city. Cornering could be better; if your driving style is rather spirited, you will notice some sliding of the rear wheels when taking a turn too tightly. Where this tire disappoints is on wet and cold pavement. I drove up to Snoqualmie pass in Washington state last weekend and at 70 MPH going uphill on the wet freeway (outside temp 38 F) the tires lost traction and the car felt like it was slightly skidding. I had to slow down to 60 MPH. It wasn't really confidence inspiring. The tires handled well on slushy snow, although brisk acceleration caused the wheels to spin and the anti-skid light to come on. I have not had a chance to test these tires on ice or deep snow, yet. I always carry tire chains in the trunk just in case.
Overall, this tire is ok for driving in the city if you don't expect lots of snow. If you like to drive up to the mountain passes or you expect snow in your area, make sure that you have tire chains or install a set of winter tires in the winter. Also, this tire feels generally rather stiff, at least compared to the Pilot Exalto A/S that we had on the old car. I would not buy this tire myself and I wished that the Camry had come with a more reliable tire like the Primacy MXV4 (or even the Pilot Exalto A/S).
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, 10,000 Miles on Tires January 07, 2013
I have about 10,000 miles on these tires now. I drive very aggressive and came from a set of Aurora H107's. Those were rated as all seasons but are definitely summer only with unmatched treadwear and dry cornering paired with nonexistent wet traction, hydroplaning and snow traction. The car slides around in the rain as if I was on ice. It won't even move in the snow.
I needed to trade my performance for practicality. Enter the Kuhmo ecsta4x. The dry cornering just isn't there compared to the Aurora's, but it's still good enough even for me. Hydroplaning and wet traction is excellent. Driving 80 through a downpour is stable and easily done. Snow traction is acceptable, deep snow traction is less than acceptable - but that's what I have my snow tire set for.
Treadwear is iffy. 10k on them and they're halfway done (but again very aggressive driving).
I would recommend these tires to an aggressive or average driver that wants a great balance between wet and dry traction.
Are you a driver who's looking for a high speed rated tire with responsive handling? Would you like these characteristics without also having to purchase a set of dedicated winter tires? Then an Ultra High Performance All-Season tire might be the right option for you.
This class of tires allows for predictable handling at the limit, good amounts of dry traction and several options make excellent all-season performers. Even consumers in warmer climates that don't need an all-season by necessity have found comfort in the longer treadwear that this performance category provides. While mileage expectations will vary, UHP all-season tires typically last about twice as long as dedicated summer tires.
If this sounds like a category of interest, take a look at the Bridgestone Potenza RE970AS Pole Position and Continental ExtremeContact DWS. The Potenza RE970AS Pole Position is Bridgestone's flagship tire in the category and combines high speed capability with all-season traction for sophisticated sports cars, sport coupes and high performance sedans. A series of circumferential and lateral grooves help pump water and slush through the tire's footprint to enhance hydroplaning resistance, wet road and light snow traction.
Continental's ExtremeContact DWS satisfies year-round driving needs by blending dry and wet road performance with light snow and slush traction. The tire receives high marks in several areas, but really stands out in the light snow and deep snow traction ratings. Compared to the other options in the category, it has really separated itself in winter performance; this is a big reason why the tire is ranked number one in our Tire Survey Results.
As the top two tires rated in the Ultra High Performance All-Season category, each receives their fair share of praise:
"These are the best tires I have ever used! It doesn't get any better for an all-season performer. I've never written a review on any product, but I felt that strongly about these tires." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2004 Jaguar X Type 3.0 V6 Sport (Continental ExtremeContact DWS)
"This tire is so much better than the Original Equipment. They have dramatically improved traction in all conditions with the biggest improvement being in the wet and light snow. I love the improved cornering and braking. If you're like me and consider your tires to be a key safety component on your car, you will appreciate these tires." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2008 Cadillac STS V8 (Bridgestone Potenza RE970AS Pole Position)
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, 2,000 Miles on Tires February 12, 2013
This is my 4th set of Kumho brand tires and also the 4th different kind from this brand. In all 4 tries the tires have exceeded expectation, value and longevity. I always do the research 1st and always am comfortable with my final decision because I am as thorough as possible. While I can't make 'cost no object' decisions I try not to just make price the deciding factor. Therefore I will compare premium and value equally. I have used Bridgestone, GoodYear, Toyo, Perrelli, firestone, Falkin and many others. Some have been disappointments and some have worked out well but to be honest the Kumho's have consistently returned the best value and have been pretty consistent across all the lines I have tried.
As for the KUMHO ECSTA LX PLATINUM. I have now logged 2000 miles on almost exclusively Hi-way and all in about 3 weeks. The reason for settling on this tire was that it was being compared to the upper echelon of touring to hi performance touring tires some almost twice the price. Yet it was being scored just below or in the middle of the pack of the very best. Being that we don't really know the conditions or prejudices of the judges that score some of the subjective categories high for one and low for another I use a rule of thumb that variances of miniscule amounts qualify as not discernible or not readily noticeable to the average driver. Therefore the cost/Return rule comes into play. The Platinum was also moved to the top of the list because it had high marks in two critical areas; 1) high mileage rating 2) Quiet performance. These were critical since my last set of tires on the Genesis lasted only 30K miles and made so much noise it was ridiculous.
I have 2000 miles on these tires driving the winding roads of Appalachian mtns of GA / TN, NC,SC and the back hills and mtns, curvy roads of Rockey Mtn VA, pot holes, constructn, i85, i40, i75, i81, hard Rain, snow dusting, wind, black ice you name it, these tires been champs all the way. AAA+ VALUE.
Hankook's Ventus R-S3 provides an affordable street tire that best mimics the grip of a racing slick intended for the track. The R-S3 entered a very competitive group of Extreme Performance Summer tires dominated by the Bridgestone Potenza RE-11 and the Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec, both of which are considered excellent dual purpose tires for performance street and occasional track / autocross use. We had the opportunity to compare the Hankook against both these tires, as well as the Yokohama ADVAN Neova AD08 and Kumho Ecsta XS on our test track. Results were published in the August 2011 issue of Grassroots Motorsports Magazine. During this test, the R-S3 shaved nearly a full second off the Dunlop's lap time and came in quicker than the Bridgestone, too! Our tester remarked: "The tire inspires confidence from the first turn of the steering wheel, making it easy to attack the course's elements."
Our extensive Tire Survey Results put the Bridgestone Potenza RE-11 just slightly ahead of the Hankook in cornering stability and hydroplaning resistance. With that said, customers really like this tire and have spoken with high praise for this Hankook and say they would buy this tire again!
"I love this tire. I bought it mostly for autocross use. However, I have driven quite a few highway miles now and have had no problems. I'd say this is one of the best performance tires you can buy, especially for the price. Needless to say, I'll be buying another set when the time comes." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2002 Honda S2000
"I purchased this tire for mainly track use and it did not disappoint. The traction was great when accelerating, cornering and braking. I have just purchased another set for my TT. Excellent value!" -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2007 BMW Z4 M Coupe
Do you want to see if the Hankook Ventus RS-3 is available for sports car, sports coupe or performance sedan? Then shop by vehicle!
BFGoodrich's g-Force Rival was developed to fill the void between the Ultra High Performance Summer g-Force Sport COMP-2 and the Dry Racetrack & Autocross Only g-Force R1. Many autocross and road race drivers, as well as performance enthusiasts needed a tire with higher grip and better trackability than the g-Force Sport COMP-2. Alternatively, the same drivers couldn't use the g-Force R1 because they needed a tire with very high levels of dry traction, yet could be driven to and from the track. The g-Force Rival also boosts a higher UTQG rating of 200 as compared to the 40 UTQG rating of the g-Force R1, thus allowing the g-Force Rival to be used in a wider array of autocross and road race events which restrict tire use by UTQG rating.
g-Force Rival tires are developed for sports car, muscle machine and pro-touring car driving enthusiasts who want their tires to turn heads on the street and lower lap times at the track. Created with razor-sharp reflexes, the g-Force Rival is designed to raise the limits by delivering extreme grip that’s extremely predictable.
This Extreme Performance Summer tire features a Silica-infused compound molded into asymmetric tread designs that are performance-tuned to match tire width (255mm and narrower sizes feature a 3-rib design, while 265mm and wider sizes use a 4-rib pattern). To achieve predictable feedback and maximum cornering grip from start to finish, the g-Force Rival has large, solid outboard tread blocks and BFGoodrich’s Extreme Tread Edge (ETE) shoulder design that wraps the tread compound farther down the sidewalls. Lateral groove draft angles promote consistent performance and wear, while chamfered block edges resist feathering under extreme cornering and braking.
The tire’s internal structure features BFGoodrich’s Performance Racing Core reinforced internal structure that reduces flex to increase steering response. g-Control sidewall inserts tune the sidewall stiffening to promote steering response.
To see if the BFGoodrich g-Force Rival can transform your ride, shop by size.
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, 100 Miles on Tires February 06, 2013
I used these tires for 2.5 autocross seasons and they exceeded my expectations. I initially had them installed on a 2005 Subaru WRX with no suspension modifications, and the outside shoulders paid the price. Once I started running enough negative camber and added some stiffer sway bars, the tires performed much better and held up nicely. Very predictable at the limit and excellent feedback. They can get a little greasy on really hot summer days, but most of the time they are fine. I got to run 2 events in the rain and that's where these tires really shine compared to some of the other tires in this category. Other competitors with AWD cars, who weren't running RE-11s, seemed to have less traction in the wet compared to myself. I'll be buying another set of these for the 2013 season, and with the added suspension modifications they should perform even better.
Our database of Recommended Installers is always improving. We recently got all of our listed installers signed up for our Price Pledge program, to make sure everyone is able to fairly compare installation costs between different shops. Installers who participate in the Price Pledge program agree to display exact quotes for installation services based on tire aspect ratio. That's the middle number of your tire size. To learn more about a tire's aspect ratio, read "Tire Size Guide." Additional or optional related installation fees are also displayed. These services may include valve stems, disposal of old tires and service of TPMS sensors.
We have also recently added a map feature to our web search, so that you can easily see which locations are most convenient. This is especially helpful if the shop has an address that is not on a well-known street. As always, we accept customer reviews regarding your experience at the installers we work with. Reviews are averaged on a scale of 1 to 5 stars. Shops that maintain an average of at least 4.5 stars out of 5 are highlighted as Price Pledge Plus installers. These are listed at the top of the search results for their local area. But first, all Recommended Installers must meet our uncompromising criteria:
Use proper mounting and balancing equipment including touchless or rim clamp, European-style tire changers and high-speed computer spin balancers.
Employ properly trained technicians capable of safely performing damage-free installations.
Be an automotive business that can offer additional services to customers (alignments, complete repairs, auto detailing, etc.)
Possess a positive attitude and the ability to treat Tire Rack's customers with the highest level of professional courtesy.
The Nissan Maxima has been the flagship sedan for the Japanese automaker for many years. With its good looks, powerful drivetrain and dependability, the Maxima is very popular for good reasons.
If you're looking to improve the vehicle's ride quality, take a look at the Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Plus. This is an exceptional Grand Touring All-Season tire. It offers a very smooth, quiet and comfortable ride to go along with great all-season traction. Compared to its predecessor, the tire offers longer wear, greater snow traction and lower rolling resistance, which contributes to better vehicle fuel economy.
Do you want better handling or more of a performance tire? Then the Continental ExtremeContact DWS may be the right choice for your Maxima. This Ultra High Performance All-Season tire is one of our best sellers. It provides excellent handling and responsiveness to go along with top-rated all-season traction. Currently, the ExtremeContact DWS is ranked number one in its category.
Are you on a tight budget, but still want a good tire? The Kumho Ecsta 4X is an affordably priced Ultra High Performance All-Season tire that lets you forget about the weather forecast. While it's a sportier tire, it offers responsive handling, capable cornering and year-round traction to go in dry, wet and wintry conditions, even in light snow.
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 03, 2013
These tires perform extremely good for an all season tire. They feel more like a high performance summer tire than an all season. I had Kumho 4X before these and I sold them after 6 months because they felt so vague that I no longer enjoyed driving my car. These Dunlops transformed the car back to its glorious self. They have very good and linear response to steering inputs and feel very composed in the way they go down the road.
The Dunlops have very good dry and wet traction. Maybe a little less ultimate grip than the Kumho 4X, but more than enough for road driving. They are also reasonably good on snow and ice. Compared to Kumhos similar traction, but a little less cornering grip in winter conditions. They also have good comfort and noise levels, especially when you consider how responsive they are.
I would highly recommend these tires to anyone that needs some winter capability without sacrificing driving pleasure in the other 3 seasons. I will definitely buy another set of Dunlop SP Sport Signatures when it is time to replace 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 January 11, 2013
Good all around performance. Nice balance of handling, comfort and value for a 3 season tire. Ride comfort may not be quite soft as some all season alternatives. Our car isn't soft to start with, and the tires can be a little stiff on rough pavement, seams, etc. They don't -----up city bumps like a touring tire. But the trade-off is crisp steering response, no jiggle in loaded corners, and no howls, squeals or complaints in fast cornering, or quick transitions. Despite the all-season rating, I wouldn't recommend it for winter. Tried it briefly, and they do not compare to our dedicated snow tires in snow/ice driving here in Denver. Noise is far better than the Pirelli factory tires. Since install, I've never made mental note of noise being an issue at all. A good option if you don't need all-out Summer Tire price/performance, but would like to avoid soft touring tire pitfalls, and get better wear and improved handling.
1998 Lexus ES300
Our database of Recommended Installers is always improving. We recently got all of our listed installers signed up for our Price Pledge program, to make sure everyone is able to fairly compare installation costs between different shops. Installers who participate in the Price Pledge program agree to display exact quotes for installation services based on tire aspect ratio. That's the middle number of your tire size. To learn more about a tire's aspect ratio, read "
2004 BMW X3 3.0I