With the snow melting in most of the country, driving enthusiasts are looking forward to a spring and summer of high performance driving fun. For those on a budget, there's a great selection of Ultra High Performance All-Season tires, including the Pirelli P Zero Nero All Season. The tire is currently ranked sixth in our Tire Survey Results.
Our extensive Real World Road Ride and test track have always separated the contenders from the pretenders. A couple years ago we tested the Pirelli against the Dunlop SP Sport Signature, Sumitomo HTR A/S P01 and Yokohama AVID ENVigor with the P Zero Nero All Season delivering the quickest and most direct-feeling steering of the group. The Yokohama AVID ENVigor and Dunlop SP Sport Signature followed, with Sumitomo's HTR A/S P01 right behind. All three options exhibited an excellent direct steering feel. Overall noise levels for all four tires were similar, with all producing some amount of tread pattern hum. The AVID ENVigor generated a small ringing tone when it encountered sharp impacts on the highway, and the HTR A/S P01 produced a little more tread noise than the rest.
On the track in dry conditions, the Pirelli P Zero Nero All Season had the quickest overall lap time with its very quick steering response and good overall grip. Dunlop's SP Sport Signature followed with plenty of cornering traction and similar predictable handling. The Yokohama and Sumitomo repeated their standings as before. In the wet, the SP Sport Signature was fastest, thanks to its responsive steering and good ultimate grip, especially under braking.
If you're in the market for new Ultra High Performance All-Season tires, read "Finding the 'Ultra' in Ultra High Performance All-Season Tires" before making your selection.
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."
As spring turns the corner, you may find yourself looking to upgrade your vehicle's suspension. The snow is clearing and soon non-winter Tire & Wheel Packages will find their way back on performance vehicles across the country. If you have already upgraded your vehicle with a Tire & Wheel Package, or are simply looking to upgrade the handling characteristics of your car, we have the parts from KONI to help.
KONI's vast experience has earned them a worldwide reputation for being able to optimize their products for any specific application. And by focusing on high quality shock absorbers, the manufacturer's no-compromise philosophy results in superb product performance and enhanced car control.
In fact, KONI's suspension experts recognize that all vehicles have unique dampening needs, and rather than build one type of shock absorber, they utilize three technologies (twin tube hydraulic, mono-tube high pressure gas and twin-tube low pressure gas) from which they choose the best solutions. KONI shock absorbers are designed for a specific car and even its specific driving conditions. They aren't a copy of the original, but a tailor made design to get the best handling and ride characteristics from your vehicle.
Now is the perfect time to upgrade your vehicle's suspension as select KONI products are now 20% off until June 30, 2013. View special offer 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.
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.
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.
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)
Toyota has a hit with their Scion brand and the tC is one of their most popular models. What's not to like? This sporty little coupe has got great styling and is a lot of fun to drive for not much money. Many tC owners are pretty particular about their ride and this includes their tires and wheels.
The most common sizes for the tC are 215/45R17 and 225/45R18. Popular tires for this vehicle tend to fall in either the Ultra High Performance All-Season or Ultra High Performance Summer category.
One of my favorite all-season tire choices for the tC is Continental's ExtremeContact DWS. This tire has been one of our best sellers for many years. It offers great handling, traction in all seasons and looks great on a Scion. Visible letters molded into the second rib from the outboard shoulder alert drivers of the tire's performance levels. A visible "DWS" indicates the tire has sufficient tread depth for dry conditions, as well as wet roads and light snow. After the "S" has worn away, the remaining "DW" indicates the tire only has sufficient tread depth for dry and most wet road conditions. And after the "W" and "S" have both worn away, the remaining "D" indicates the tire has appropriate tread depth for dry conditions only.
If you want to find a great value option for the tC, look at the Kumho Ecsta 4X. This Ultra High Performance All-Season tire does very well in just about all conditions. It provides a sporty ride for those you want to forget about the weather forecast. The tire combines responsive handling, capable cornering and year-round traction for dry, wet and wintry conditions, including light snow.
Are you looking to increase wet and dry traction while giving your vehicle a kart feel? Check out the Bridgestone Potenza RE760 Sport. This summer tire option maximizes sport driving pleasure without abandoning treadwear. Unlike the other two options, this tire isn't intended to be driven in near-freezing temperatures or through snow.
When looking for the right tire for your Scion, be sure to view wheel options and create the perfect Tire & Wheel Package!
1998 Honda Accord Sedan EX 4cyl
2006 Honda Pilot EX AWD
