Tire manufacturers are now expanding their role in helping lower a tire's impact on the environment by developing technologies that help reduce fuel consumption. New compounds offering lower rolling resistance, new manufacturing methods and the use of more eco-friendly raw materials all contribute to a more eco-friendly tire. Our Tire Rack team has recently compared four of the new generation of tires in order to determine what the impact on mileage really is. See comparison results.
Michelin HydroEdge with Green X (Passenger All-Season)
The HydroEdge with Green X was designed to combine long tread wear and low rolling resistance with hydroplaning resistance and year-round traction. The HydroEdge with Green X radial features Michelin’s Energysaver Construction technology, resulting in a low-rolling resistance silica-based tread compound molded into a directional tread design blending dry and wet road traction with long wear.
Continental ProContact with EcoPlus Technology (Standard Touring All-Season
The ProContact EcoPlus is designed to promote driving pleasure, fuel savings and maintain wet braking grip while providing long wear and all-season traction. The ProContact EcoPlus tire's all-season tread compound features Continental's Tg-F Polymers and +Silane additives improving treadwear, fuel efficiency and traction on slippery roads.
Goodyear Assurance featuring Fuel Max Technology (Passenger All-Season)
The Assurance Fuel Max is designed to lower rolling resistance to enhance fuel economy over the tire’s lifetime and provide year-round traction in wet, dry and wintry weather conditions. The Assurance Fuel Max molds a low rolling resistance all-season compound into a tread design featuring distinct zones. Inboard and outboard Dry Tread Zones feature strong shoulder blocks to enhance handling in dry conditions, while a central Wet Tread Zone features Dual Aquachannel grooves that provide hydroplaning resistance.
Kumho eco Solus HM KR22 (Standard Touring All-Season)
The eco Solus HM KR22 offers extra long wear, low noise and good ride with competent handling and all-season traction. The eco Solus HM features Kumho's traction-enhancing carbon compound molded into a symmetric tread pattern to provide predictable handling, straight-line tracking and low noise.
As stated in a previous post, I recently purchased a 2010 Volkswagen GTI.
What GTI tires, or what shoes for that matter, should I get?
If I were to be the weekend warrior with my local SCCA it would be to my benefit to consider an Extreme Performance Summer tire, or even a track and competition, R-compound tire with a nice set of lightweight racing wheels. Using our handy shoe parallel, would I put running shoes on my car?
In my neck of the woods, weather changes with the beating of a butterfly's wings, and something with versatility may be more financially feasible. (I'll get to that point in my next post.) How about the equivalent of a cross training shoe, an Ultra High Performance All-Season tire?
I like taking long road trips on the weekends with my fiance and don't want her to complain about the rough ride of my new car. Maybe I should consider something like an oxford shoe in the Grand Touring category?
I will use the line of Michelin Radial Tires as a visual example because they have a very comprehensive list of tires in their line. (Some of these tires do not come in a size that would work for my vehicle.) There are also many other tires in each category that will allow me to fine-tune my selection.
Streetable Track & Competition: Track shoe=Pilot Sport Cup.
These tires are sticky! Not something to drive everyday, but they hook-up on the track to leave the competition staring at your bumper.
Max Performance Summer: Running shoe= Pilot Sport PS2.
About as much fun I'll have on the road during warm weather, but not the tire for driving to and from work unless I feel like a new set every couple of summers.
Ultra High Performance Summer: Tennis shoe= Pilot Exalto PE2.
Sporty performance, but practical tire wear.
Ultra High Performance All-Season and
High Performance All Season: Cross trainer= Pilot Sport AS Plus
Practicality has set in. I still like having fun, but want some more life in the tire, and want the tire to work when it gets cold.
Grand Touring All Season: Oxford=Primacy MXV4
Sporty styling on the sidewall, but more oriented towards long rides and longer treadlife.
Passenger All-Season: Walking shoe= HydroEdge
About as basic as tires can get. They are designed for high mileage and for maximum practicality.
Studless Ice and Snow: Snowshoe=X-Ice XI2
In an area that gets deep snow, ice, and cold temperatures this will forge through the worst.
As we are trimming budgets and looking for ways to do more with less. Why not try a low rolling resistant tire from Tire Rack. Now you can further refine your search results to see only the low rolling resistant tires (LRR). As a car enthusiast I see the low rolling resistant tires as a way to be more efficient in what we do stretching the dollar a little further and a gallon of fuel a little further.
We typically think Hybrid vehicle when it comes to low rolling resistant tires but any more that's not the case. For example I just put a set of Michelin Radial Tires with Green X Technology on a GMC Duramax pick up truck today. Typically you would not think of a big truck like that with low rolling resistant tires, but technology has met with practicality.
How to view the Low Rolling Resistant (LRR) Tires at
Tire Rack. Let us know the
vehicle you have or
shop by tire size, when the tire options show up scroll all the way to bottom, then look on the left hand side search results and click "Show ONLY LRR Tires"
If any Michelin Green X Tires are available they will shown now or any of the Bridgestone Ecopia Tires, along with any low rolling resistant (LRR) tire available as well.
Michelin has always been at the forefront of tire development. They commercialized the first Michelin radial tires back in the 1940s and have been growing ever since. Today, they are a worldwide brand whose tires can be seen in private driveways and on international race tracks alike. And as your Michelin tire dealer, you can find them in
Tire Rack's inventory, too.
Whether you need winter / snow tires or something to cover every season, and even if you like to hit the mud and sand on occasion—Tire Rack can help you find Michelin radial tires. Just
search our inventory according to your vehicle's make, model and year.
We'd like to mention the following, though our
list of excellent Micheline radial tires is certainly longer than these three:
HydroEdge (Passenger All-Season)
Latitude Tour(Crossover/SUV Touring All-Season)
Primaxy MXV4(Grand Touring All-Season)
