Tire Rack Consumer Review of the Michelin Pilot Super Sport

Friday, May 18, 2012 by Tire Rack Consumer Reviews

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.

Michelin Pilot Super Sport Reviewer's Overall Rating: 9.57
 
 

2006 BMW 330i Sedan
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Miles driven on tires: 2,500
Location: SLO, CA
Driving Condition: Spirited

Initial Review, 2,500 Miles on Tires
May 07, 2012

Have only had these tires a short while; replaced the OEM Bridgstone PolePosition RE050 RFT's; I did not have the same problems as other BMW owners, but after three sets, wanted to try something new. Read all of the reviews on Tire Rack and went with the SS's. Amazing. Took a few day's to get used to the lack of a sidewall not made of concrete, but man what a difference. Purchased the Continental ContiComfort Kit for emergency tire repair, and it stows away perfectly within the small storage area in the floor of the trunk. Back to the tires, I feel like I am riding on rails. Cornering, acceleration and hard braking are all met with positive road feel and feedback. I typically drive with a "Drive it like you stole it" mentality (when traffic permits, and have to say these tires are the most "sure-footed" of any tire I have ever used. These tires are also a much smoother and quieter tire on the Fwy (than the RFT's). In 6th gear at about 3000 RPM, my car glides along at about 90MPH, and these tires, while responsive, feel like i am driving a down pillow. What a change. There are other reviewers (look at the (Z06 guy) who have some track time on the tires; I can only compare to the RFT's which I had for the last 4.5 years, but for the money, comfort and ride--will never go back. Oh, not to mention, four tires, the ContiComfortKit, and BMW install, still $200 cheaper than the RFT's...
Hope this will help any of you on the fence about switching from RFT's, save your spine-you will not be disappointed. Will try to update this review when I get to 10-15K.

 

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the Bridgestone Ecopia EP422

Monday, May 7, 2012 by Tire Rack Consumer Reviews

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.


Bridgestone Ecopia EP422Reviewer's Overall Rating: 9.88

2011 Toyota Prius
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Miles driven on tires: 1,200
Location: Holland, MI
Driving Condition: Easy Going

Initial Review, 1,200 Miles on Tires
May 01, 2012

These tires perform much better than the Yokohama Avid S on my Prius. I saw an increase in my mpg by about 2-3mpg. They do give off a floaty feeling but almost all LRR tires give off a floaty feeling. I recommend changing your stock tire from Yokohama to something else. My brake issue when driving and hitting bumps went away as soon as I replaced them with tires that had more traction. If you drive a Prius and would like to save on gas I recommend getting these tires. Especially when there is a $70 mail-in-rebate going on right now.

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the Bridgestone Potenza RE760 Sport

Monday, May 7, 2012 by Tire Rack Consumer Reviews

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.


Bridgestone Potenza RE760 SportReviewer's Overall Rating: 8

2005 Scion tC
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Miles driven on tires: 1,200
Location: Santa Clarita, CA
Driving Condition: Spirited

Initial Review, 1,200 Miles on Tires
May 01, 2012

These tires transformed my grocery-getter tC into a worthy track machine. I drove my car to the limits on the tires that came on it, which were Goodyear Eagle RSA. Those are All-Season tires and they showed it in their grip levels. I canyon my car regularly to get to places around town, and the immediate improvement with these tires was staggering. My car now had the same traction my All-Seasons had in the dry, in rain with the Bridgestones. The dry traction on the Bridgestones is incredible. After they were installed, I also purchased drilled and slotted rotors with an aggressive brake pad to compliment the brakes, and took my car to Streets of Willow in Rosamond, CA. I was able to run successfully with Subaru STI's without falling behind on cornering, albeit my straight line speed lacked a huge amount of power.

Comfort wise, they are a definite improvement in smoothness on the regular road and even better on the highway. The noise levels are lower as well compared to the All-Seasons. I enjoy less banging and slamming over bumps with these tires and they do so without sacrificing traction and grip.

Treadwear however is the only thing that I see being the low point on these tires, but then again, I do a lot of driving(600 miles a week), and I purchased these UHP Summer Tires expecting to wear them out a tad sooner. I'm planning on rotation of these tires every 1.25-2k miles. And so far they still have 95% tread on the front axle and 100% on the rear.

Overall, these tires are an excellent replacement tire for any vehicle that sees moderate weather conditions. In the rain they give performance equal to a good quality All-Season without sacrificing the dry traction drivers of Summer Tires demand. A definite solid decision and I will certainly purchase these tires again. I highly recommend them to anyone considering them and all my friends like them too!

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the General Exclaim UHP

Monday, May 7, 2012 by Tire Rack Consumer Reviews

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.

General Exclaim UHP Reviewer's Overall Rating: 9.12
 
 

2008 Honda Fit Sport
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Miles driven on tires: 35,000
Location: Panama City, FL
Driving Condition: Spirited

Initial Review, 35,000 Miles on Tires
May 03, 2012

I've had this set of tires on for 35,000 miles and I must say they changed my first impression.

When I first drove the car (after tire install) the vehicle "tracked" left and right all over the road like I was hydroplaning but it wasn't raining! It did this for about 1000 or so miles but once they were "broke in" a little, they were fantastic. I put these on a 2008 Honda Fit to replace the factory Dunlap's. These tires were MUCH better than the original equipment tires. I have thoroughly put them through the wringer and they have held up remarkably well. I would describe my tire usage as "above average" because I corner fast and brake hard. I am getting ready to replace these with General G-MAX AS-03's, basically the "new" version. I would highly recommend this tire and I'm sure the G-MAX AS-03's will be just as good.

 

The New Michelin Defender Combines the Best from the Harmony and HydroEdge with Green X

Wednesday, May 2, 2012 by Zig Ziegler

Michelin's new Defender aims to replace two of Michelin's most successful tires: the Harmony and HydroEdge with Green X. The Harmony, as its name describes, has long been one of the most comfortable and quietest tires offered. And the HydroEdge with Green X is one of the most successful tires in the Michelin line-up for its wet traction and long treadwear.
 

Michelin sought to combine the success of each of these tires into one complete package. Defender tires offer the smooth, quiet ride and proven winter traction of the Harmony with the 90,000-mile treadlife warranty and superior wet traction of the HydroEdge with Green X. This tire also meets Michelin's Green X objectives, which provides less rolling resistance and saves you money on fuel cost. 
 

Michelin Defender
Michelin Defender
Michelin Defender
Michelin Defender


When compared to the Harmony, the Defender offers 22% better rolling resistance and 16% shorter wet braking. And compared to the HydroEdge with Green X, the tire provides 10% lower noise along with 15% better snow performance. Defender tires feature IntelliSipe Technology that increases the number of sipes in the tire's tread design to provide additional biting edges that enhance all-season traction in rain and snow.

IntelliSipe Technology enhances performance in three ways:

  1. Helps stabilize the tread block during acceleration, braking and cornering.
  2. Increases the number of sipes on the tread, which results in greater grip for confident braking.
  3. Interlocking action that creates a more rigid tread block and reduces tread depth without sacrificing longevity or fuel efficiency.

Shop by vehicle to see if there's a new Michelin Defender tire available for your vehicle.

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole Position

Monday, April 23, 2012 by Tire Rack Consumer Reviews

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.


Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole PositionReviewer's Overall Rating: 8.29

2007 Chevrolet Corvette C6 Convertible
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Miles driven on tires: 1,000
Location: Chestertown, MD
Driving Condition: Spirited

Initial Review, 1,000 Miles on Tires
April 18, 2012

I replaced the original Goodyears (23,000 mi) with these, even though they were my second choice. The new Pilot Sports do not come in my size. These tires are a huge improvement over the stock Goodyears. Much, much quieter, better ride and very responsive handling. Not enough experience yet in the wet and they are still in the break in stage but so far -wow! I believe they offer an excellent value as well. Need to keep in mind these are not run flats. The car has upgraded sway bars and brakes, both of which put more demands on the tires. I will be taking some extended trips in June including mountain driving and will update this review then. Service from Tire Rack and installer (Townsend Chevrolet in Dover, DE) was a 10 out of 10.

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the Goodyear Eagle GT (W)

Monday, April 23, 2012 by Tire Rack Consumer Reviews

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.


Goodyear Eagle GT (W)Reviewer's Overall Rating: 5.14

2005 Scion tC
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Miles driven on tires: 25,000
Location: Austin, TX
Driving Condition: Spirited

Initial Review, 25,000 Miles on Tires
April 19, 2012

Got these tires a couple years ago. I had to buy them pretty hastily since the tires I had previous to them exploded on the highway unexpectedly. I was very impressed with the level of traction, steering feel, and stability these tires provided when new. I particularly noticed that the amount of steering input I had to give was dramatically reduced on the highway. Unfortunately, my entire neighborhood was due for some infrastructure work, and I had to spend about a year and a half driving over some extremely rough pavement as the roads in my area were completely ripped out and replaced. I'm not sure how much life I should have expected from these tires in this kind of environment, but they were pretty beat up when I replaced them. They were never particularly quiet, but in the last few months the howling on the highway became almost intolerable, and It was to the point where I was embarrassed to even have passengers in my car. The noise they made when driving over expansion joints was similar to getting beaned in the head with a over-inflated kickball. Not a pleasant experience. I also had major issues with hydroplaning in heavy rain, even on highways with excellent drainage. Anything over 50 mph in a strong storm resulted in a total loss of steering, throttle, and brake function. Not a pleasant experience late at night in rainy traffic when everyone else is still zooming along at 65-70mph. Overall, i'd say these tires performed admirably in the dry, which is something that many people are looking for in a tire. I wouldn't ever purchase these again for my daily driver though.

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the Bridgestone Potenza RE970AS Pole Position

Friday, April 20, 2012 by Tire Rack Consumer Reviews

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.


Bridgestone Potenza RE970AS Pole PositionReviewer's Overall Rating: 7.09

2005 Subaru Legacy Sedan 2.5 GT
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Miles driven on tires: 15,000
Location: Bristow, VA
Driving Condition: Average

Initial Review, 15,000 Miles on Tires
April 14, 2012

Bought this tire to replace the stock Bridgestones that came with my car. Though the tires are marketed as all-season tires, these have not held up well for me in the snow conditions, with the car sliding everytime i braked in snowy conditions. Apart from this, the dry/wet performance of these tires and the grip in the dry and wet is very good. Hydroplaning resistance in heavy rain conditions has been very good and there is a good level of assurance in the rain with these tires. The tires are fairly quiet and the ride confort is good as well. Treadwear has been good and i have about 8/32" left after 15K miles. I will recommend these tires to anyone who wants good tires for dry and wet conditions, but not the snow.

Four Tire Choices for Your 2008 Camry LE to Cruise the 405

Friday, April 13, 2012 by Cy Chowattukunnel

It seems like everybody knows someone that drives a Toyota Camry. For a great combination of reliability, versatility and efficiency, the Camry is hard to beat. Take care of your Camry and it'll run forever. Part of that proper care is tire maintenance. With correct maintenance, the vehicle's Original Equipment tires should last anywhere between 40,000 and 60,000 miles. To gain a better understanding of when you should look for new tires, read "When Should I Replace My Tires."
 

If it's determined that you need new tires, what option should you purchase? The best choice will vary depending on how you drive and where you drive. Where you drive is a crucial variable and to ensure the following recommendations are accurate, let's focus on Southern California.
 

So what does the average SoCal Camry driver need from their tires? A tire with excellent emergency handling for battling traffic, effective braking for sudden bottlenecks, good treadwear, low tread noise and tire efficiency for optimal fuel economy. With little rain in Southern California, wet grip isn't as critical to the selection. 
 

Based on our test data, feedback from drivers and the tire manufacturer's internal testing, I recommend the following Grand Touring All-Season tires: BFGoodrich Advantage T/A, Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring, Yokohama AVID Ascend (H&V) or Kumho Ecsta LX Platinum.

 

BFGoodrich Advantage T/A
BFGoodrich Advantage T/A
Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring
Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring
Yokohama AVID Ascend
Yokohama AVID Ascend (H&V)
Kumho Ecsta LX Platinum
Kumho Ecsta LX Platinum

 

The BFGoodrich Advantage T/A gets good ratings in the dry traction portion of our surveys. Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring tires tested well on the dry track, drove well on the road and topped the test group in fuel economy. The Yokohama AVID Ascend (H&V) is the replacement for the proven Yokohama AVID TRZ. Yokohama's internal testing shows improvement across the board especially in fuel efficiency relative to the TRZ. Kumho's Ecsta LX Platinum offers a great combination of value and competency with good results in the dry portion of our test. 


2008 Toyota Camry FAQ:

  1. How often should I rotate my tires and what air pressure is recommended? Rotate your tires at least every 5,000 miles in the "X-Pattern." The factory recommend air pressure that's printed on the door placard is your starting point. For the 2008 Toyota Camry LE, factory recommend air pressure is 32 psi in the front and rear.
     
  2. I noticed that none of the above tires are directional, why? Directional tires are designed to emphasize hydroplaning resistance. Hydroplaning is normally a non-issue in the Southern California area. By selecting a directional tire, you can't rotate in the X-Pattern and you're more likely to develop irregular heel-and-toe and its accompanying noise.

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the General AmeriTrac TR

Thursday, April 12, 2012 by Tire Rack Consumer Reviews

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.


General AmeriTrac TRReviewer's Overall Rating: 7.08

2004 Ford F150 XLT Sup Cab 4wd
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Miles driven on tires: 48,000
Location: Fairfield, CT
Driving Condition: Average

Initial Review, 48,000 Miles on Tires
April 04, 2012

Original equipment on my 2004 F150 XLT. The front end of the truck drags a bit because of weight so inside treadwall wears a little quick from hard cornering which any tire would do. When tires were fairly new I had to hit the brakes hard at highway speed in poring and truck stayed straight and no hydroplaning. Traction in mud after 30,000 miles was so so but did get stuck in deep mud. I have over loaded my truck a few times well over the 1500 lbs, more like 2300 lbs, and the sidewalls held up but since a squishy sound comes from tires when you go slowly. (yes, more than recommended amount of weight on any tire may do that) Would I buy them again, Yes since the price is good and could probably get 55,000 miles out of them before they are completely down to wear indicator marks to replace. Pretty happy with the General Ameritrac Tr's and purchasing a new set soon

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDWS

Thursday, April 12, 2012 by Tire Rack Consumer Reviews

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.


BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDWSReviewer's Overall Rating: 6

2007 Ford Mustang GT California Special
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Miles driven on tires: 16,000
Location: Flemington, NJ
Driving Condition: Average

Initial Review, 16,000 Miles on Tires
April 10, 2012

These are the street tires on a Shelby GT. Overall I'm pleased with the KDWS but tread wear is disappointing given my relaxed on road driving style. They are ready to be replaced at 17,000 miles. In the rain it is easy to spin the tires when starting with any more than gentle throttle. The ride is comfortable and quiet and did not change much as the tires wore. The tires were maintained at the proper pressure and wear was uniform. Cornering and braking feel stable and accurate in dry conditions. I never drive this car in snow so I can't add much there but given the wet traction I wouldn't expect much.

What is the Best Brake Rotor for Your Vehicle?

Wednesday, April 11, 2012 by Zig Ziegler

Choosing the proper brake rotor is determined by the vehicle you drive and how you drive it. The majority of vehicles produced will have solid vented rotors. However, some high-performance vehicles like BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi are built with slotted or cross-drilled rotors, which are also vented.
 

If you were happy with your stock rotor's performance and stopping power, then direct O.E. replacements such as Centric Plain 120 Series Rotors , Centric High Carbon Plain 125 Series Rotors or Brembo Replacement Rotors would be a good choice. 
 

Centric Plain 120 Series Rotor
Centric Plain 120
Series Rotor

 
Centric High Carbon Plain 125 Series
Centric High Carbon Plain
125 Series Rotor
Brembo Replacement Rotor
Brembo Replacement
Rotor

Vehicles built from the factory with solid vented rotors may cause you to be unhappy with the stopping power, in that case, you may benefit from an upgraded rotor. Additionally, if you would classify yourself as a more spirited or aggressive driver I would recommend upgrading your rotors. The most common upgrade is replacing your solid rotors with either slotted or drilled rotors.
 

Under high heat and heavy stopping conditions, the rotor actually gets so hot that when the brake pads and rotors make initial contact, the pads release exhaust gases from road grime, water and overheating. The small air bubbles that form between the pad and rotor contribute to a spongy pedal feel. The slotting or drilling of brake rotors gives those gases a quiet way to escape; thus allowing the pad to make quicker contact with the rotor and provide you a stiffer and more precise pedal feel. Upgrades would include Brembo rotors such as the Sport Drilled and Sport Slotted, StopTech's SportStop Drilled Rotor, DBA's 4000 Series T3 Rotor and 5000 Series T3 2-Piece Rotor and Power Slot's Power Slot Rotor.

 

Brembo Sport Drilled Rotors
Brembo Sport Drilled
Rotor
Brembo Sport Slotted Rotors
Brembo Sport Slotted
Rotor
Stop Tech SportStop Drilled Rotor
StopTech SportStop Drilled Rotor

 

DBA 4000 Series T3 Rotor
DBA 4000 Series
T3 Rotor
DBA 5000 Series
DBA 5000 Series T3
2-Piece Rotor
Power Slot Rotor
Power Slot
Rotor


Whether you're looking for Brembo brake rotors or another brand, you can shop by vehicle to find the replacement option that's right for your application.

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the Goodyear Eagle GT (V)

Wednesday, April 11, 2012 by Tire Rack Consumer Reviews

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.


Goodyear Eagle GT (V)Reviewer's Overall Rating: 8.86

2003 Audi A6 2.7T
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Miles driven on tires: 150
Location: Appleton, WI
Driving Condition: Average

Initial Review, 150 Miles on Tires
March 28, 2012

These tires replaced ContiProContacts, and they are a step up in all categories except noise. The Eagles are very quiet, but not as quiet as the Contis were. They only make a light hum on concrete highways where the rain grooves are perpendicular to the path of travel. Otherwise, they cannot be heard unless all windows are open.
The only negative I can say is that the tires are 26 pounds compared to 22 pounds on the Contis, which I can feel in acceleration and braking and will also affect fuel mileage. The benefit of the heavier weight is that the sidewalls are reinforced, so no more destroyed tires when I hit a pothole in the spring. Out of the 4 Contis, 3 did not make it to the end of their service life due to sidewall destruction from road hazards. I would prefer to lose some acceleration and braking and not have to replace tires every year.
I'll keep updating this review as I put more miles on. I hope to get the 50k miles out of these, but I'm not holding my breath. They won't be used in the winter as I have dedicated snow tires.

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the Michelin Cross Terrain SUV

Wednesday, April 11, 2012 by Tire Rack Consumer Reviews

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.


Michelin Cross Terrain SUVReviewer's Overall Rating: 9.13

2007 Jeep Liberty Limited 4wd
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Miles driven on tires: 55,000
Location: Clayton, NC
Driving Condition: Spirited

Initial Review, 55,000 Miles on Tires
April 02, 2012

These tires were purchased to replace the original set that came on the vehicle. With my acceleration, cornering, and braking habits, I have never gotten more than 36,000 miles from a set of tires. We have always rotated our tires every other oil change (every 7,000 mile). These tires currently have 55,000 miles on them and they look like they will be good for another 10,000. This is the first set of tires I feel I have definitely gotten my money's worth.

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the Continental ExtremeContact DWS

Friday, April 6, 2012 by Tire Rack Consumer Reviews

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.


Continental ExtremeContact DWSReviewer's Overall Rating: 9

2008 Cadillac CTS 3.6L Direct Injection RWD
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Miles driven on tires: 6,000
Location: McMinnville , OR
Driving Condition: Spirited

Initial Review, 6,000 Miles on Tires
March 24, 2012

These Continentals will not disappoint drivers of sport sedans. Quiet, luxurious ride with progressive, linear cornering inspires confidence. Excellent wet/dry traction and high resistance to hydroplaning. While the softer sidewalls reduce immediate turn-in on corners, you are rewarded with aggressive stability. The challenging decreasing radius corners and multiple elevation changes of my commute are easily handled above the advised limit. Braking into corners is a thing of the past - increasing my driving experience and saving fuel to boot! Recommended replacement for the OE Michelin Pilot MXM4's.

Introducing the Michelin Defender

Wednesday, April 4, 2012 by Steve Huffman

Michelin DefenderRecently, Michelin introduced the Defender, a new Standard Touring All-Season tire. From what we have experienced in the past from Michelin, we expect this tire to be an excellent option for many drivers. This tire is replacing their HydroEdge with Green X and Harmony tires.
 

Michelin says this tire will help defend you from the effects of high fuel costs, protect you with shorter braking distances and will last longer, thus protecting your investment in new tires.
 

According to Michelin, the Defender has a 22% improvement in rolling resistance and a 16% improvement in wet braking over the Michelin Harmony. The Defender features Michelin's new IntelliSipe Technology which helps stabilize the tread block design during acceleration, braking and cornering. It also increases the number of sipes in the tread, resulting in greater grip in braking. The tire also features an interlocking action that creates a more rigid tread block and reduces tread depth without sacrificing safety, longevity or fuel efficiency.          

With most sizes meeting Michelin's Green-X low rolling resistance objectives, the Defender tire is designed to provide comfortable driving characteristics and all-season traction in dry, wet and wintry conditions while offering an option that's environmentally friendly. For more information on this fuel-efficient tire, read "Michelin Green X."

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the General Altimax HP

Friday, March 30, 2012 by Tire Rack Consumer Reviews

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.


General Altimax HPReviewer's Overall Rating: 9

2005 Kia Spectra LX
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Miles driven on tires: 70,000
Location: Campobello, SC
Driving Condition: Spirited

Initial Review, 70,000 Miles on Tires
March 15, 2012

These are some of the best tires I've ever had the pleasure of riding on. The dry traction is amazing and the wet traction is awesome too. They make wet roads feel like dry roads. I've even driven home in 7" of snow after a freak late evening snowstorm back when the tires only had 10k miles on them and not once did they ever hint at losing grip!

The treadwear is just as impressive as the grip. Mine were guaranteed for 40k miles and I'm on the verge of doubling that. The "REPLACEMENT TIRE MONITOR" engraving is just now wearing down to "REPLACE TIRE " which by the way is a great feature for those of us who sometimes forget to keep a check tread depth. The Visual Alignment Indicators on the tires also helped me diagnose a slight misalignment (negative camber) which may have gone unnoticed otherwise.

The dual rubber compounds helped tremendously with road noise over stock tires and hitting the occasional bump in the road was much softer. Grip was also much higher over stock tires with no squeal when cornering at highway speeds. Acceleration and braking also exhibited a noticeable improvement over OEM tires. These tires really came through for me many times when cars and deer alike decided to dart out in front of me.

Overall, these are some of the best all-season tires you can buy in my opinion and the price per performance is unbeatable. Just be sure to buy the correct OEM size for your car and pay attention to the load rating. Any tire is only as good as what it is designed for! Keep them rotated, balanced, aligned, and properly inflated according to manufacturer specifications and these tires will take care of you for years to come!

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the Continental ExtremeContact DWS

Tuesday, March 27, 2012 by Tire Rack Consumer Reviews

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.


Continental ExtremeContact DWSReviewer's Overall Rating: 7.88

2007 Acura TL
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Miles driven on tires: 26,000
Location: Marietta, GA
Driving Condition: Spirited

Initial Review, 26,000 Miles on Tires
March 14, 2012

For the price, this is a very solid tire. The wet weather handling and braking delivered as advertised. But, after the 20,000 mile mark, I've had notable increases in noise and diminished handling. My last set of tires were the Bridgestone 960 A/S and they handled better on dry surfaces but not wet. Even though the treadwear on the Contis still show some life, they handle more poorly at this stage than my old Bridgestone's did when I replaced them at 32,000 miles. Noise levels and overall ride became more harsh on both sets after 20,000 miles. For my tastes, I missed the handling characteristics on the Bridgestones and it was a good wet weather tire too, just not as good as the DWS.

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the BFGoodrich Long Trail T/A Tour

Thursday, March 8, 2012 by Tire Rack Consumer Reviews

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.


BFGoodrich Long Trail T/A TourReviewer's Overall Rating: 8

2003 Chevrolet S10 Reg-Cab 2wd LS
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Miles driven on tires: 21,000
Location: Gaylord, MI
Driving Condition: Average

Initial Review, 21,000 Miles on Tires
March 03, 2012

Bought a set of 4 mainly for budget reasons. Was pleasantly surprised to find these tires were good all-around performers. Dry traction and braking are superb, not far behind on wet roads, either. I noticed an immediate improvement in handling and directional stability on dry highways. No hydroplaning issues to date.

The real bonus came with the first north Michigan winter. I use to run snow tires during winter, but the Long Trails did so well in light-to-moderate snow that I've left them on the past two seasons. No, they don't perform like dedicated winter tires, but on paved roads with less than 12 inches, they get the job done. On ice, not so much - but that's true with most tires.

Treadwear is negligible after 20K miles. I rarely carry heavy loads, and do not pull a trailer. Rotated the set twice, and found no unusual wear on the front two. I'd have to say these tires are a sleeper in this category. A lot of bang for the buck here. I'm planning to put a set on my '02 4WD Blazer shortly, replacing a well-worn set of Michelin LTX-AT tires. Only got 40K out of the Michelins, I expect closer to 60-70K from the BFG's. Great value, for a tire that's better than just decent.

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the BFGoodrich Radial T/A Spec

Wednesday, March 7, 2012 by Tire Rack Consumer Reviews

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.


BFGoodrich Radial T/A SpecReviewer's Overall Rating: 8.5

2004 Saturn VUE Redline
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Miles driven on tires: 500
Location: Huntersville, NC
Driving Condition: Average

Initial Review, 500 Miles on Tires
March 06, 2012

Bought these tires as a replacement set for our 16-year-old's first car, a 2004 Saturn Vue Redline. The Redline comes with Bridgestone 245/50/18's that were replaced by the previous owner at a cost of over $1000 (several years ago). They still had a few miles left on them, but when your daughter is a new driver, you want a good set of tires as insurance. The BFG Spec T/A is slightly taller (.9") as it is a 55 series, but the GPS confirmed there is only a 2mph difference in actual speed (72) with an indicated 70mph on the speedometer. Other than that slight negative, the tires are an exceptional value. I bought from Tire Rack and a set of four were delivered to my home for $374 total. After having them M&B, I was still below $450. Less than have what the OEM Bridgestones would have cost.
From a performance standpoint, the tires have been a good choice. The extra sidewall gives the tires more "give" that smoothed out the ride a bit. The 245/50/18's were a little harsher over road imperfections. Road noise is diminished a noticeable amount. I would say they are 20% less noisy than the Bridgestone Serenity set was. Steering feels very neutral, not snappy or sloppy. Grip into turns feels good with good feedback in the steering wheel. Dry traction is very good and the tires track well, even though the 250hp 3.5 Honda engine and 5-speed tranny creates a bit of torque steer in the Vue FWD (2004 V6 models have the same 3.5 Honda engine used several Honda/Acura models). Wet traction is good, and the weight distribution of the Redline seems to help with braking in wet conditions that matches well with the Spec T/A. I didn't notice any hydroplaning at normal speeds (and I shouldn't with about any new tire). No snow driving has occurred so I can't comment on that.
With the few miles on these tires, I can't comment on longevity, but I feel they are an absolute bargain at the current price, compared to other brands. I don't think they are cutting edge but good, safe tires.