Michelin Performance Tires

There are many rivalries in today's competitive world: Chevy versus Ford, Coke versus Pepsi and Burger King versus McDonald's may come to mind when thinking of two prominent companies within an industry. When it comes to tires, Goodyear and Michelin is one of the most common rivalries.

In some categories, such as the Crossover/SUV Touring All-Season, the Goodyear Assurance CS TripleTred All-Season ranks just a bit higher than Michelin's competing tire, the Latitude Tour. In other categories that include performance tires, Michelin's tires often rank higher. For example, in the Max Performance Summer category, the Michelin Pilot Super Sport is on top. I was so impressed by this particular tire that I bought a set for my own car. My experiences with the tire can be found by reading, "Michelin Pilot Super Sport Tires Installed on My Car." The Pilot Super Sport also picked up a win against Goodyear's Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 last summer during our testing. You can see how well the Michelin tire performed by taking a look at "Testing Max Performance Summer Tires."

Michelin Pilot Super Sport

Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2

So, who really has the better tires? When it comes to performance tires, Michelin is tough to beat right now. However, the tire market is fast paced and new technology is constantly pushing the performance envelope further. When changes are made, you can always count on us to provide you with the best tire options for your vehicle.

Is it time to replace the tires on your Honda Odyssey? If so, consider the following all-season options for your minivan. My favorite tire for this vehicle continues to be the Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring. This tire certainly lives up to its name. It's a premium Grand Touring All-Season tire that provides excellent ride qualities, including superior comfort and low tread noise. In addition to a great ride, the tire offers fantastic all-season traction and long treadwear with a 70,000- or 80,000-mile treadlife warranty depending on speed rating.

Another great option for the Odyssey is the Michelin Defender. Although it is only made in the 235/65R16 size for this van, it's still a very popular choice. The Defender is currently the top-ranked Standard Touring All-Season tire in our customer survey results. This tire also has superior all-season traction and comes with a 90,000-mile treadlife warranty. Designed to help enhance fuel efficiency, Defender tires meet Michelin's Green-X low rolling resistance objectives.

Finally, the Firestone Precision Touring is a good value priced option for Odyssey owners. This tire performed very well in our testing with good grades in wet traction and stable handling. Customers really enjoy the tire, as it sits is second place in its category, only behind the aforementioned Michelin Defender.

Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring

Michelin Defender

Firestone Precision Touring

To view all tire options for your Honda Odyssey, shop by vehicle.

Since 2005, the primary size found on the Honda Odyssey has been 235/65R16. Due to the overall size ,weight and higher center of gravity than a car, the Odyssey's tire wear can be disappointing to some. The following popular options can help deliver better performance, ride quality and longevity than the Original Equipment.

Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring

Continental Cross Contact LX20 with EcoPlusTechnology

Michelin Defender

Goodyear's Assurance ComforTred Touring has been a favorite with our customers for a few years. Sitting solidly in third place in the Grand Touring All-Season category, the tire carries an 80,000-mile treadlife warranty. The Assurance ComforTred Touring features a mildly asymmetric tread design that combines indepedent shoulder blocks with notched intermediate ribs to blend dry and wet road traction and handling. Four circumferential grooves evacuate water from under the tread to enhance wet traction while the grooves, notches and sipes form biting edges to deliver all-season traction in light snow.

"I have had these Goodyear tires on my van for 31,000 miles now (90,000 currently), have balanced them every 5,000 miles and they are in excellent condition! No cupping, no road noise, plenty of treadlife left!" -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2007 Honda Odyssey

The Continental CrossContact LX20 with EcoPlus Technology is a newer entry to the market that quickly became a best seller. Designed to enhance driving pleasure, save fuel and maintain grip when braking on wet surfaces, this Continental tire provides long wear and all-season traction.

"I drive the family van quite hard and the grip and handling of these Continentals is far better than the O.E. Michelins." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2010 Honda Odyssey

Michelin's Defender is the latest high mileage tire entry from the manufacturer and carries a 90,000-mile treadlife warranty. Currently ranked number one in its category by our customers, it appears Michelin has hit another home run with this offering. Defender tires enhance vehicle fuel economy by meeting Michelin's Green-X low rolling resistance objectives.

"This is the best tire I have ever purchased. Hands down!" -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2006 Honda Odyssey

Unfortunately, not all days can be sunny and dry. While we all experience varying weather patterns, some people see more wet weather than others. If you live in Florida, or another state known for heavy and frequent rains, you may choose a tire that performs well in the wet above all else.

If this sounds like the conditions you experience, take a look at my favorite Max Performance Summer tires that feature wet weather performance, yet make no compromises in the dry.

The Continental ExtremeContact DW features a large amount of tread void that does extremely well in the wet. Looking at its pattern will display a large amount of water channels to aid in hydroplane resistance. While one of our strongest tires in the wet, the ExtremeContact DW can also hold its own in the dry and has long since been a favorite amongst consumers looking for performance and value.

Michelin's Pilot Super Sport has been a standout in nearly every test we've done since it was released last year. This tire tends to be one of the fastest Max Performance Summer tires in the dry, and also has exceptional balance when the going gets slippery. While the tire doesn't quite have as much tread void as the Continental, it's an exceptional performer and is very composed at the traction limit.

Continental ExtremeContact DW

Michelin Pilot Super Sport

Take a look at all Max Performance Summer options and find the one that works best for you.

Arguably, one of the best bang-for-the-buck performance cars available on the market today is the fifth-generation Corvette. While it doesn't have the power figures of the C6 or the magazine coverage of the new seventh-generation Stingray, this car and its popular LS1 engine is capable of excellent power.

C5 Corvettes from the factory (non-Z06 models) use a 245/45R17 front tire and 275/40R18 rear. For those looking to step away from run-flat tires, your options are numerous. However, if you wish to keep the car equipped with run-flats, there are not as many choices. Our most popular sellers in the aforementioned sizes are:

Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus ZP is designed to last considerably longer than a dedicated summer tire. This Ultra High Performance All-Season tire has a speed rating up to 186 mph and features a responsive sidewall with a harder tread compound than the Original Equipment offering. Buyers will notice sharp turn-in response that is commonly associated with high speed rated tires, but will give up some ultimate lateral grip when compared to a softer compounded summer tire. While these tires aren't intended for track use, they are more than capable for aggressive street driving.

Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP has long been a front runner in the Max Performance Summer category. The PS2 is offered in a run-flat fitment for the C5 Corvette and is a great choice for a driver looking for a premium tire with excellent performance attributes. While the PS2 will sacrifice some wear compared to the A/S Plus ZP, its grip limit is exceptional. This tire has been well reviewed for its great performance and excellent road manners.

Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus ZP

Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP

Shop by vehicle to view all tire options for your C5 Corvette.

Very few of the pickup trucks and SUVs on the road today will venture off-road. However, many vehicles are still designed with tough off-road suspensions and come equipped with knobby tread tires. If you want to give your truck better on-road manners, consider a set of Michelin LTX M/S2 tires.

Michelin has built a reputation for providing quiet and comfortable tires for passenger cars, as well as durable tires for commercial vehicles. They have used this experience to combine both attributes into their light truck tires, including their newest Highway All-Season tire, the LTX M/S2.

The LTX M/S2 features a symmetric tread design and a long wearing, silica-enhanced, all-season compound to provide a smooth, quiet ride with year-round traction in dry, wet and light snow conditions. With over seven million miles of reported use by our customers, the M/S2 has received high marks for ride and noise comfort. Currently, the tire is ranked second in our Tire Survey Results.

Take a look at what some of our customers are saying about their experience with the Michelin LTX M/S2:

"Best tires ever purchased. On my third set and would buy again whenever possible." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2004 GMC Yukon Denali

"As I write this review, I am in the process of ordering a second set of the Michelin LTX M/S2, P275/65R-18 for my Tundra Crewmax. I have 56,000 miles on my old set and probably have another 5,000 or more on the tires (I drive a great deal of highway miles for work). Proper tire rotation has left me with very even wear. They are getting down there, so I want to stage the next set for replacement. Highly recommended tire!" -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2008 Toyota Tundra

"This is the best set of tires we have ever owned. These Michelins are on my wife's Honda Pilot and I must say, I am thoroughly impressed. They effortlessly handle our winter and the treadlife is outstanding. After witnessing the performance of these tires, I switched the tires on my Toyota to Michelins as well." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2004 Honda Pilot EX

For the quietest and most durable light truck tire on the market, it's tough to beat Michelin's LTX M/S2. Shop by vehicle to see if the LTX M/S2 is available for your application.

"Like a Rock." Chevy's full-size pickup keeps on trucking. The truck has evolved through the years, but one thing remains the same: dependability. Loyal owners hold on to their truck for many years, even through multiple sets of tires. Is it time to look for new tires for your Silverado?

If you're in the market for a new set, It's hard to go wrong with Michelin. That's why the Michelin LTX M/S2 is my favorite Highway All-Season tire for the Silverado. Besides its excellent ride qualities, including low noise and a comfortable ride, the LTX M/S2 has great all-season traction. The tire is also offered with a dependable 70,000-mile treadlife warranty.

Are you looking for a more aggressive tire? Take a look at the On-/Off-Road All-Terrain Firestone Destination A/T. This tire has been the top-rated option in the category for many years. The Destination A/T looks good while providing great off-road traction. It is tied or at the top of several performance ratings in the category, including:

• Hydroplaning resistance
• Wet traction
• Cornering stability
• Dry traction
• Steering response
• Ride comfort
• Noise comfort

One of the best value options for your Silverado is the Yokohama Geolandar H/T-S G051. It provides a combination of comfort, handling and year-round traction, even in light snow. With over 28 million miles reported, the tire continues to stay in the the top ten of our Tire Survey Results.

Michelin LTX M/S2

Firestone Destination A/T

Yokohama Geolandar H/T-S G051

Shop by vehicle to view all tire options available for your Chevrolet Silverado.

Porsche vehicles are known throughout the auto industry as one of the most highly engineered driving machines. Their engineers meticulously analyze every aspect of the vehicle's execution from weight savings and balance, all the way down to how the tires perform.

Porsche vehicles from 911 Carreras to Cayennes have tires that are specifically engineered for the vehicle through collaboration between tire manufacturers and Porsche themselves. Original Equipment Porsche tires are commonly referred to as N-Spec tires because the sidewall of the tire will be branded N0, N1, N2 or N3 and so on. The "N" is the designation for Porsche approved tires and the corresponding number identifies the version, with the higher number assigned to newer generations of the tire.

For instance, if you shop by vehicle and look at the 2011 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Coupe, when you choose "View Original Equipment Tires" the website will display all of the tires that may have come on the vehicle as Original Equipment from Porsche. You will find on the list the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 N2, Pirelli P Zero N2, Bridgestone Potenza RE050A N0, and Bridgestone Potenza RE050A N1.

Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 N2 Porsche

Bridgestone Potenza RE050A N1 Porsche

Pirelli P Zero N2 Porsche

Bridgestone Potenza RE050A N0 Porsche

For more information, read "Porsche N-Specification Tire Approvals."

Two of the most recognizable and respected brands in the industry are Michelin and Goodyear. Both brands have their fans, both brands have their detractors, but ask any sampling of people in the United States to name a couple of tire brands and Goodyear and Michelin will probably dominate the responses. A common question that we receive is: "Which brand is better?" The answer depends on the tire category and the specific needs of the driver, but I'll try to give an overview by comparing the top tires from each brand by category. This comparison focuses on categories for cars.

Category: Passenger All-Season

Contenders: Goodyear Assurance TripleTred All-Season vs. Michelin Energy Saver A/S

Verdict: The Goodyear has the advantage in bad weather traction. Michelin's Energy Saver A/S optimizes rolling resistance to slightly enhance fuel economy. Both have very good treadwear and rate well in our customer surveys, but the Goodyear is currently higher. Two strong contenders, however the Goodyear wins with superior traction in bad weather.

Category: Standard Touring All-Season

Contenders: Goodyear (none) vs. Michelin Defender

Verdict: No contest here as Michelin has the number one tire in the class and Goodyear has no entry. Michelin wins by default. Goodyear would need a heroic new entry to unseat the current king of this class.

Category: Grand Touring All-Season

Contenders: Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring vs. Michelin Primacy MXV4

Verdict: These two tires are both excellent entries into the category. I've driven both of these and prefer the Michelin, which also has slightly higher survey results over a larger number of miles. This round goes to Michelin.

Category: High Performance All-Season

Contenders: Goodyear Eagle GT vs. Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S

Verdict: The Eagle GT is solid but the Pilot Exalto A/S remains one of the best all-around tires in the category. It blends ride, handling and traction in a wide variety of conditions. The Pilot Exalto A/S takes this round for Michelin as well.

Category: Ultra High Performance All-Season

Contenders: Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric All-Season vs. Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus

Verdict: These tires are both right in the top tier of the category. We have not tested them directly against one another, and the Goodyear is relatively new. Both earned similar results against other tires in the category in tests one year apart. This one is too close to call.

Category: Max Performance Summer

Contenders: Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 vs. Michelin Pilot Super Sport

Verdict: This is an excellent match-up of two of the newest and stickiest tires in the Max Performance Summer category. The Michelin won their head-to-head test, and having done some of the driving for the test, I agree with the results. Honorable mention to the Goodyear, which is an excellent tire in its own right, but the Pilot Super Sport is the class of the field right now.

Category: Extreme Performance Summer

Contenders: Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar G: 2 vs. Michelin (none)

Verdict: Goodyear makes the Supercar G: 2 in very few sizes, but does enough to take the category unopposed. Any tire that looks this cool merits some points in a brand shoot by virtue of the halo effect it brings to the brand:

Roundup:

• Goodyear wins two categories: Passenger All-Season and Extreme Performance Summer.
• Michelin wins four categories: Standard Touring All-Season, Grand Touring All-Season, High Performance All Season and Max Performance Summer.

Whether you're a Goodyear or Michelin fan, both brands provide great options. Choose the tire from the brand you like that best suits how and where you drive.