New Tires

As of this past week, Tire Rack has announced the discontinuation of the Elbrus wheel brand. The Elbrus brand is made up of six designs of popular wheels, each with its own finish options. Developed to reach new heights in durability, strength and elegant styling, Elbrus uses a high pressure cast, a feature that is rare for wheels in their price point. They also come painted or machined with a clearcoat, durable I.C.E. coating.

Their machined face wheels feature mirror-machined diamond process for optimum shine. This combination of European design flare with advanced manufacturing technology results in excellent value, style, form and function.

Elbrus wheels fit many makes and models and can be purchased at a reduced rate, as many options have been marked down. Of their models, our most popular sellers are the 5-spoke I02 and BMW-styled I08.

Take advantage of this special offer before it's too late!

Lexus' mid-size SUV, the RX350, has been one of their best sellers for quite some time. It's very popular, stylish and reliable. Many have been on the road for a long time and are in need of new tires. If your RX350 is due for a new set, consider the following options.

Most RX350 vehicles came equipped with the 225/65R17 size. There are many great options in this size, but one of my favorites is the Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza. This tire has been a top seller for many years and is Bridgestone's premium SUV tire. It offers excellent all-season traction, a quiet and comfortable ride and comes with a 65,000-mile treadlife warranty.

Some RX350s came with 235/60R18 tires. If your vehicle has this size, I would suggest taking a look at the Michelin Primacy MXV4. This is a strong contender in the Grand Touring All-Season category. Like the Bridgestone, it also has a smooth ride, great all-season traction and is offered with a 55,000-mile tread life warranty.

There are a few versions of the vehicle that came with a 235/55R19 tire. Options in this size are a little more limited. However, based on what's available in this size, I'd recommend the Yokohama Parada Spec-X. The tire combines impressive looks and confident handling with year-round traction in a wide range of weather conditions, including in light snow.

Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza

Michelin Primacy MXV4

Yokohama Parada Spec-X

To view all options for your Lexus RX350, shop by vehicle.

For 2013, there's a great selection of new technology in the Extreme Performance Summer and Ultra High Performance Summer category. While we will be testing each newcomer this summer, we have already accumulated quite a bit of initial feedback and data indicates that this latest batch of tire offerings may turn out to be the best in some time!

BFGoodrich g-Force Rival and g-Force Sport COMP-2

With the g-Force Rival, BFGoodrich is setting a new performance standard for drivers that want ultimate grip at the track and a good blend of wet and dry traction on the street. Our introductory test provided an exciting taste of what we should see as summer progresses.

The g-Force Sport COMP 2 was released late last year and is positioned just one performance step below the Rival. It's aimed at drivers that'll take their car to the track and want that "racecar" feel. We have already tested this tire and it proved to be the class of the field. A combination of the g-Force Rival and g-Force Sport COMP-2 gives BFGoodrich a solid shot at being the hottest brand of the summer!

Bridgestone Potenza RE-11A

Building on the success of the Potenza RE-11, Bridgestone has added an exclusive tread compound to increase road contact and wear to the new Potenza RE-11A. While we have yet to test the Potenza RE-11A, its predecessor beat all contenders in our last test and we're expecting similar results from the new test.

Dunlop Direzza ZII

Like Bridgestone, Dunlop's had a real winner on their hands with the Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec and we're looking to make a great tire even better. Introduced late last year, the Direzza ZII builds on the great reputation of the previous model by improving steering response and lateral grip. Read "Dunlop Direzza ZII Introductory Track Drive" to view our initial thoughts of the tire compared to the Z1 Star Spec.

We know the Focus ST has enough power to be fast, but can it use a style infusion?

My colleague Joe recently picked up a tangerine scream Ford Focus ST. It's a great color for the car, but Joe wasn't equally thrilled with the Original Equipment wheels from day one. After scanning his options in our Upgrade Garage, he narrowed down is choices to the following 18x8 5-108 45ET options:

• Hyper Silver Bremmer Kraft BR09
• Matte Graphite Silver Sparco Assetto Gara
• Matte Grey MSW Type 25
• Black Painted Sparco Assetto Gara

They're all good options, however Joe decided on the Sparco Assetto Gara with a matte graphite silver finish. The wheel provides the perfect contrast to the car's bright tangerine scream finish while matching up with the vehicle's black trim. Joe now has the combination of speed and style he was truly looking for.

2013 Ford Focus ST FAQ:

1. What's the width and offset of my Original Equipment Focus ST wheels? The wheels are 18x8 with a 55mm offset (ET).

2. How do I add a new set of tires to my wheel purchase? Create a Tire & Wheel Package. First, pick the wheels you would like for your Focus ST. Next, you will be given tires that are a match for your vehicle. It's that simple! Also, mounting, balancing and any required hardware are included at no additional cost. 

3. Will my Focus ST automatically recognize my new TPMS sensors? We offer O.E. TPMS sensors, however you'll need to initialize them since each sensor has a unique serial number. You can either have your dealer do this (labor charges may apply), or use the FORDTRIGGER tool.

The Extreme Performance Summer category is targeted specifically for driving enthusiasts who demand the ultimate in grip and handling. These drivers may take their cars to autocross races, lapping days and other amateur motorsports events. For any racing class that requires true street tires, this is the class of tire to use.

Bridgestone's Potenza RE-11 has been very successful in this category, posting fast lap times and gaining high marks for its everyday usability. While it is currently the highest rated tire in our customer survey data, Bridgestone is aware they can't be complacent in this competitive class of tires. With competitors like BFGoodrich and Dunlop launching new tires, customers will have a wide variety of excellent options.

For 2013, Bridgestone is introducing the Potenza RE-11A in select sizes. This tire is an evolution of the Potenza RE-11, with revisions to enhance its performance and keep it at the forefront of this hotly contested market segment. The tire features a slightly revised tread pattern and a compound that combines silica content with a new long-link carbon black.

RE-11 sizes that are not being replaced by the RE-11A will continue to be available. View the RE-11A sizes that will be available this year and see if one is a match for your vehicle.

The brake wear sensor or brake wear indicator is an added safety feature on many vehicles that warns drivers if the brake pad friction material becomes too low. It's mounted on the back of the brake pad and the sensors monitor and determine the condition of the pads. Brake wear sensors alert the driver it's time to replace brake components with an audible chime or light on the dash. There's a small circuit embedded in the sensor mounted in the brake pad; when the friction material becomes too low the brake rotor wears through the sensor and cuts a circuit. This triggers the vehicle's computer to alert the driver brake service is needed. 

Centric Brake Wear Sensor

Brake Caliper

It's recommended to replace brake wear senors any time brake pads are replaced. Centric's Brake Wear Sensors are high quality replacement sensors that fit with no modifications needed and are now available at Tire Rack.

• Original Equipment replacement for vehicles equipped with brake pad wear sensors
• Monitors the condition of the vehicle’s brake pads
• Includes all necessary plugs and hardware

When searching for the best brake rotors and pads for your car, don't forget to replace the brake wear senors. Shop by vehicle to see if replacement brake wear sensors are offered to complete your brake upgrade.

Is it time to get your Honda Fit outfitted with new tires? Since 2007, the Fit has been a great choice for commuters, students and many drivers looking for dependable transportation while not breaking the bank. These fuel-efficient compact cars are very sporty, attractive and popular. Whether you've had your Honda for many years or just picked one up used, it may be time for some new tires.

The Fit is available with several tire size options. Unfortunately, there's not one great tire that will cover all four sizes available. For those of you with the 185/55R16 size, the best tire would be the Yokohama AVID Ascend. This is a Grand Touring All-Season tire with above average all-season traction and a 75,000-mile treadlife warranty. However, you may want to consider changing sizes, due to the limited tires available in this size.

Fit owners can also use 205/50R16 tires as an alternative. It's a little wider and you may see a slight drop in fuel economy, but you will experience better wet and dry traction, improved handling and a better selection of tire options. One of the better selections in this size includes the Continental ExtremeContact DWS. This best seller has great all-season traction, a 55,000-mile treadlife warranty and handles very well.

If your Honda fit is equipped with 195/55R15 tires, take a look at the Kumho Ecsta LX Platinum. This Grand Touring All-Season is very nice to drive on. It offers pleasant ride qualities and reasonable tread noise.

For Fits with the 175/65R14 tire, I would consider the Michelin Defender. This is a fantastic tire with superior all-season traction with a 90,000-mile treadlife warranty. It's designed to enhance fuel economy by meeting Michelin's Green-X low rolling resistance objectives.

Finally, in the 175/65R15 size, take a look at the General AltiMAX HP. The tire is designed to combine reliability, comfort and treadlife, as well as provide year-round traction, including in light snow.

Yokohama AVID Ascend

Kumho Ecsta LX Platinum

Michelin Defender

General AltiMAX HP

Regardless of the size of tire on your Honda Fit, shop by size to view all options available.

In a recent post, "Best Tire Brands for Long Treadwear", some of the longest wearing tires were discussed and how treadlife is one of the most important factors that consumers consider when deciding which tires to buy. In addition to treadlife, tire noise is a major factor to most drivers when selecting a new set of tires. Who wants to listen to the drone of a loud tire during a daily commute or road trip. Besides being a nuisance, loud tire noise can keep a driver from hearing other sounds that can affect vehicle maintenance and safety.

Tires that generally make the least amount of noise typically come from the following performance categories:

• Standard Touring All-Season
• Passenger All-Sean
• Grand Touring All-Season

Many years ago, summer tires were the quietest tires available while all-season tires were louder due to their more aggressive tread patterns. Tire technology has come a long way and the market has changed. Newer summer tires are now primarily focused on high levels of grip, handling and quick steering response, with less focus on road noise. All-season tires are now the best choice for those after a quiet ride. The following tires are some of the top picks for low road noise in three of the quietest categories:

Michelin Defender

Hankook Optimo H727

Goodyear Assurance ComforTred

Michelin Energy Saver A/S

Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Plus

Michelin Primacy MXV4

Tire Rack is proud to have continued our title sponsorship of this year's One Lap of America event. One Lap consists of 17 timed events over 8 days. In total, competitors traveled over 3,400 in just over a week. It is a true test of endurance and performance

For the third year in a row, the overall winner's vehicle was equipped with the Michelin Pilot Super Sport. The Super Sport has been on the winning vehicle since it was introduced to the market in the spring of 2011. As the 30th running of this extreme challenge for driving enthusiasts, this year's competition featured many of America's fastest street-legal cars. View results for the 2013 event here.

If you're in the market for the best of the best in wet and dry traction performance, check out the Pilot Super Sport. It has proven its worth not only in the One Lap competition, but also in our testing and feedback from customers. The tire is the top-ranked option in the Max Performance Summer category. After reading a few of our customers' comments, you'll understand why:

"Quite honestly the BEST tire I have ever had on my cars." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX.

"These tires have oooogles of mega grip, even wet. I am going to need a new seat with harness just to stay in the seat." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2005 Subaru Impreza WRX STI

Also, when you buy a set of four Michelin Pilot Super Sports before June 18, 2013, you can receive a $70 MasterCard Reward Card.

Upgrading the wheels on a car is one of the most popular modifications drivers like to make. It allows you to add a personal touch, while also helping it stand out in a crowd.

What wheels will fit on your car? Simple. Just use our shop by vehicle feature and we'll show options that are guaranteed to fit your vehicle. In some situations, our site will also let you know if a modification to the vehicle is needed for the wheel to fit. This message will appear under the "Important Notes" section. Situations like this are likely to occur with trucks where a lift kit is used. To ensure the wheel is a perfect match for your vehicle, we measure or verify many items, including:

• Bolt Pattern
• Centerbore Diameter
• Hub Diameter
• Load Capacity
• Lug Hardware
• Suspension Components Clearance

Once you have selected your wheel, the next step is choosing a set of tires that's best for how and where you drive. If you select a wheel diameter that's different than the Original Equipment, you may need a new set of tires. You can shop by size to help you find the tires that are right for your application.

For more information on selecting the proper wheel, read "What is Wheel Offset and Backspace?"

Starting with 2008 model year cars and light trucks, a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) has been required for all new vehicles sold in the United States. While some vehicles (Audi and BMW most recently) use the ABS system (or indirect system) to keep watch for a deflating tire, most use a battery powered sensor (based in the base of the valve stem assembly) to give the most accurate read of your tire pressure. When replacing tires or wheels and tires as a complete package, the presence of these remote sensors can require a few extra steps in the purchase and/or installation process.

Why does my installer charge a "TPMS" service fee for installing new tires?

Many of our Recommended Installers will charge a TPMS service fee as part of new tire installation. When the old tire is being removed from your existing wheel, it's best to remove the TPMS sensor (and the attached valve stem). This avoids any damage caused by breaking the tire bead loose from the wheel as well as seating the new tire onto the wheel. Once the sensor has been removed, it will require a new "O" ring and/or compression ring to seal the sensor properly.

What happens if I do not add new TPMS sensors to my Tire & Wheel Package?

When we sell a set of wheel and tires, we're happy to mount and Road Force balance the tires to the wheels at no cost prior to shipment. Given the TPMS sensors are located inside the wheel (opposite the valve stem hole), the sensors (if requested) need to go in the wheel before the tires are installed. Without the sensors installed, most vehicles will display a warning light and chime upon engine start up (the light will continue to blink as long as the engine is running). Some vehicles may also limit your ability to turn off traction control if you need to "rock" out of a snow drift in winter or even limit engine output. In many states, an active TPMS system is required as part of the state's safety inspection, and any illuminated warning lights may cause the vehicle to fail its annual safety inspection. With your purchase, you can elect to add the correct sensor (at an additional cost) or choose to have your existing sensors removed from your old wheels and installed on the new wheel. If run-flat tires are being purchased with new wheels, new sensors are required.

If I purchase new sensors as part of my Tire & Wheel Package, what else needs to be done before use?

Many vehicles require new TPMS sensors be activated or initialized at an authorized repair facility or dealership. This process normally involves connecting the vehicle to a service computer (via the ODB port under your dashboard) and having a technician load the new sensor's ID codes into the car's computer. Most cars will need to have this activation service performed each time wheels and tires are changed out (like when changing from dedicated winter wheels and tires back to your summer/all-season set). As always, consult your owner's manual or contact your dealer for more information. 

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.