Tire Rack Consumer Review of the Continental ExtremeContact DW

Wednesday, May 15, 2013 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 DW Reviewer's Overall Rating: 9.25
 
 

2009 Audi TTS 2.0T Quattro Coupe
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Buy/More Info
Miles driven on tires: 4,000
Location: Naperville, IL
Driving Condition: Spirited

Initial Review, 4,000 Miles on Tires
April 22, 2013

These things STICK. I drive fast & corner hard always. Rain makes driving more fun because the car will finally move around a bit, in the dry I can't get any movement in a corner. Noise is less than the all-seasons the car came with. Wear looks good; I haven't depth-gaged them, but after 4k they look fine. They perform so well I don't care about wear. I'll be doing some track days with my car this summer, and I'll put in an update after.

 

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the General Altimax HP

Wednesday, May 15, 2013 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 HP Reviewer's Overall Rating: 8.09
 
 

2007 Ford Crown Victoria
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Buy/More Info
Miles driven on tires: 5,000
Location: Bryson City, NC
Driving Condition: Spirited

Initial Review, 5,000 Miles on Tires
April 07, 2013

I have always prefered a Michelin tire, and have had great service from them over the years. The prices are high, and I have wondered if part of that is paying for the name? A few years ago, we purchased a new truck with General tires on it, and the tires performed flawlessly. In fact those 11 year-old Generals were are currently on a farm trailer, and show no signs of dry rot, or other problems. After much thought, I decided to give these Generals a try. These tires are very quiet and smooth. They have great resistance to hydroplaning, which is a feature that I like a lot. The tires are not great in the snow, but than a V-8 powered RWD car is not so great in the snow either. I have a designated AWD winter vehicle, so winter traction does not matter to me. We live in the mountains with lots of winding roads, and tires get punished around here. I have the car set up with a stiff aftermarket suspension, so it rides harsh and corners like a sports car. The car no longer handles like a traditional Crown Victoria. Infact this car has seen an AutoCross track more then once... The OE tires where very soft and the car had a tendency to oversteer with them on it. These tires take the curves very well. So far they have passed the test. I plan to purchase three more sets, one for my wife's Crown Vic, and two sets for our two vintage Pontiac Trans AM show cars. For the price, nothing else compares. General seems to have hit the mark!

 

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the Yokohama AVID TOURING-S

Wednesday, May 15, 2013 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.

Yokohama AVID TOURING-S Reviewer's Overall Rating: 7.64
 
 

2008 Pontiac Vibe 2wd
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Miles driven on tires: 20,000
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Driving Condition: Easy Going

Initial Review, 20,000 Miles on Tires
March 24, 2013

I bought these tires for their price and decent reviews. It is a great tire in the winter and after 20,000 miles the tread has been great for this past snowy winter in Mpls. I think my mpg has reduced a little compared to the OE Goodyear RS-As, but the winter traction has been impressive as well as the amount of tread still left after 20k miles. For a similar vehicle (hatchback, small SUV, etc.) I would purchase again.

 

Best Tires for Honda Odyssey

Wednesday, May 15, 2013 by Steve Huffman

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.

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the Michelin Cross Terrain SUV

Monday, May 13, 2013 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 SUV Reviewer's Overall Rating: 6.33
 
 

2004 Toyota 4Runner 4wd SR5
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Miles driven on tires: 99,000
Location: Marlton, NJ
Driving Condition: Easy Going

Initial Review, 99,000 Miles on Tires
April 29, 2013

I have not rotated the original Michelin Cross Terrain tires on my Toyota 4Runner SR since purchased in July 2004. Still tread left on front tires, but back ones have very little but with over 100,000 miles I couldn't expect much more. The Spare is brand new (never on the ground). But with age-related weather cracks, not good to put it on the ground now. Not sure whether the Road Noise is because of the tires or the age of the 4Runner. I thought about driving it until the first flat, then buy 4 Michelins. But driving on turnpikes/freeways a lot, I've decided that wouldn't be very smart. So I will order Michelins from Tirerack.com. Tried putting actual miles of 100,465 but the form won't let me.

 

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the Sumitomo Touring LS T

Monday, May 13, 2013 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.

Sumitomo Touring LS T Reviewer's Overall Rating: 9.2
 
 

2002 Dodge Neon SE
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Miles driven on tires: 400
Location:  
Driving Condition: Easy Going

Initial Review, 400 Miles on Tires
March 18, 2013

Since I've only had them for a few hundred miles, my evaluation is limited in scope. So far I like them. No problem in snow so far, however, they are new.

 

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Plus

Monday, May 13, 2013 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.

Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Plus Reviewer's Overall Rating: 9.88
 
 

2009 Suzuki SX4 Crossover
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Miles driven on tires: 4,800
Location: Grand Junction, CO
Driving Condition: Spirited

Initial Review, 4,800 Miles on Tires
April 20, 2013

Just purchased 4 centrato P7 Plus tires for my Suzuki SX4. The next day started out on a 4800 mile round trip to Florida and back. About 4500 miles was freeway miles, but 300 was nice twisty two lane in Colorado with little or no traffic and no screaming passenger. I was able to drive agressively with no tire squeal and no loss of control. I have bought Pirelli tires for the last 50 years and have never been disappointed

 

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the Bridgestone Blizzak WS70

Monday, May 13, 2013 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 Blizzak WS70Reviewer's Overall Rating: 8.82

2010 Nissan Altima Coupe
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Miles driven on tires: 7,000
Location: DULUTH, MN
Driving Condition: Average

Initial Review, 7,000 Miles on Tires
April 30, 2013

Great tires in ice,snow and slush. I got a speeding ticket for going too fast in an ice storm.My car felt rock solid with these tires. The trooper didnt care about my tires.

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the Michelin LTX M/S2

Monday, May 13, 2013 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 LTX M/S2 Reviewer's Overall Rating: 9.46
 
 

1998 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer
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Miles driven on tires: 3,500
Location: Yardley, PA
Driving Condition: Spirited

Initial Review, 3,500 Miles on Tires
April 28, 2013

Simply put, best tires I have every had on an SUV (Over 1.25 Million miles of driving). Some Highlights:
Extraordinarily quiet
Exceptional wet weather traction
In 5-6 in of snow, nearly as good as any snow tire I have driven with...ie wont be buying any snow tires.

In summary, the only tire I will have on an SUV going forward!

 

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the BFGoodrich g-Force Sport COMP-2

Monday, May 13, 2013 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 Sport COMP-2 Reviewer's Overall Rating: 8.12
 
 

1991 Toyota Supra
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Miles driven on tires: 5,000
Location: Houston, TX
Driving Condition: Spirited

Initial Review, 5,000 Miles on Tires
April 22, 2013

Hooks in 1st gear with 310rwhp in warm weather. Wet traction is sketchy, but I expected that with no traction control. They are pretty stiff and loud, but it doesn't bother me. Would recommend to anybody.

 

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the General Altimax Arctic

Monday, May 13, 2013 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 Arctic Reviewer's Overall Rating: 7.27
 
 

2006 Mercury Montego Premier AWD
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Miles driven on tires: 10,000
Location:  
Driving Condition: Average

Initial Review, 10,000 Miles on Tires
April 06, 2013

These converted our AWD Montego to a winter half track. Studded these tires on their own wheels and they actually out performed the Blizzaks on our other car, for a lot less cost. They have the usual studded winter tire squirm and noise, but not as bad as others were before. But after getting a 3 foot blizzard and many other snow storms, these have proven themselves. And on ice? You can't beat studded tires in my opinion. Took Tire Rack's advice and went down an inch in wheel and tire size, but the taller sidewall gives us the same effective ground clearance, which is valuable in deeper snow. And that taller sidewall is more forgiving on Maine's frost heaved, potholed roads.

Our new Michelin hydro all seasons were downright dangerous in snow the previous winter, so glad we got them off for winter!

 

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the Continental ExtremeContact DWS

Monday, May 13, 2013 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 DWS Reviewer's Overall Rating: 7.55
 
 

2005 Mazda MAZDA3 s 5-Door
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Miles driven on tires: 25,000
Location: Ada, OH
Driving Condition: Average

Initial Review, 25,000 Miles on Tires
April 26, 2013

Overall, a pretty solid tire. I put about 25,000 miles on this set, regularly rotated, and they did me proud. I live in Ohio, so snow is an inevitability, but it's not frequent enough to need dedicated winter tires in my opinion. So a good set of winter-capable all-seasons is a must, and I think these meet that requirement. Rain traction is also excellent, even if you hit a huge patch of water, these tires would shed it near instantly. Cornering is a bit mushy, the sidewalls aren't very stiff, but I never noticed terribly due to how nimble my Mazda 3 was.

Overall I would recommend this tire to anybody who has an average driving style, but if you're aggressive, you will hate the mushiness through the corners.

 

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the Michelin Pilot Super Sport

Monday, May 13, 2013 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: 9.25
 
 

2009 Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG
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Miles driven on tires: 10,000
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Driving Condition: Spirited

Initial Review, 10,000 Miles on Tires
April 29, 2013

Replaced factory Pirelli PZeros which came OE for this vehicle. The Michelin PSS has outperformed the PZeros in all respects; traction is noticeably improved in straight line acceleration. Rears need replacing now at 10k which is typical for this car. Fronts have about another 1/2 life so I expect I will need all 4 tires in another 10k miles.

 

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the Yokohama Geolandar M/T Plus

Monday, May 13, 2013 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.

Yokohama Geolandar M/T Plus Reviewer's Overall Rating: 9.13
 
 

2000 Ford F150 Super Cab 4wd
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Miles driven on tires: 35,000
Location: Electric City, WA
Driving Condition: Spirited

Initial Review, 35,000 Miles on Tires
March 24, 2013

have a 2000 F150 7700(same as light duty F250) It's lifted 11" with cut out fenders and sees it's fair share of off-roading. We have hot dry desert climate in summer w/ cold icey n snowy winters here. I travel 264 miles each way every other week to go home from work. Over there its a mountain pass usually snow covered 4-5 months and heavy rains at home. I truely get the best/worst of all driving. These tires aren't pretty but siped they are great! 35,000 miles and still holding strong for probably a third year and totaling 60-75K miles. Now if they would just make larger tires!! hint hint ;)

 

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the Sumitomo HTR Z II

Monday, May 13, 2013 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.

Sumitomo HTR Z II Reviewer's Overall Rating: 6.88
 
 

2007 Mini Cooper S
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Miles driven on tires: 2,000
Location: League City, TX
Driving Condition: Spirited

Initial Review, 2,000 Miles on Tires
March 15, 2013

I bought these as a budget-level replacement for a set of Yokohama S-drives. They look aggressive, but have much less dry traction than the s-drives. If you just want a tire for looks and want to save some money they are ok, but I would not consider them a high performance tire. They do seem to work well in the rain.

 

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season

Monday, May 13, 2013 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.

Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season Reviewer's Overall Rating: 10
 
 

2006 BMW X5 4.4i
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Miles driven on tires: 700
Location: Silver Spring, MD
Driving Condition: Spirited

Initial Review, 700 Miles on Tires
April 29, 2013

I am so happy with my Pirelli Scorpion Verde's that I can't wait to buy another pair. I had Michelin Energy's on my X5 and yes they are a good all around touring tire, however the price is just outragious. Plus, Pirelli's Scorpion Verde's to me are a far more superior tire from the ride, the handling and the way the tire is built. For example, as soon as they arrived at my home, which was delivered by UPS within a day, I could see the quality of the tire and design that stood out from the Michelin tire. Nevertheless, I recently went on a business trip to Delaware and Philly and let me tell you the noise level was low and the comfort and ride was excellent. I've never seen such deep tread grooves on a tire. This tire can handle Rain, Snow and anything in my opinion. I saved over $150 dollars a tire, Verde $201 and Michelin $350. In closing, I have always wanted to have Pirelli's on my car and now I do and I absolutely love them and recommend them to all. You don't have to spend the big bucks on Michelin, really. Let me reiterate that the Pirelli Scorpion Verde is an ideal tire for a SUV that travels via city and highway and ultimatley gives you that confidence of driving in style and luxury. I will be placing my next order for the other pair by the end of the week. Travel Safe!

 

What is Wheel Offset?

Thursday, May 9, 2013 by Zig Ziegler

One of the most common questions when purchasing wheels is: "What is wheel offset and how do I know which is right for my vehicle?" Tire Rack takes the guess work out of shopping for wheels. One simple trip to our Upgrade Garage will allow you to enter the year, make and model of your vehicle, and view wheels that properly fit your vehicle.

The offset of a wheel is the distance from its hub mounting surface to the centerline of the wheel. It can be one of three types (measured in millimeters): positive, negative or zero.

  • Zero offset - The hub mounting surface is even with the centerline of the wheel.
  • Positive - The hub mounting surface is toward the front or wheel side of the wheel. Positive offset wheels are generally found on front-wheel drive cars and newer rear-wheel drive models.
  • Negative - The hub mounting surface is toward the back or brake side of the wheels centerline. "Deep dish" wheels are typically a negative offset.

If the offset of the wheel is not correct for the vehicle, the handling can be adversely affected. When the width of the wheel changes, the offset also changes numerically. Tire Rack has test fitted thousands of vehicles and our extensive database allows us to offer the proper fit for your vehicle.

To view the full list of wheels specifically offered for your car, shop by vehicle and upgrade the look of your vehicle with confidence.

Best Tire Brands for Long Treadwear

Thursday, May 9, 2013 by Gary Stanley

Not too long ago, finding a tire with a 60,000-mile treadwear warranty was not easy. Modern construction methods, advanced tread compounds and other technology has lead to tires that can wear for even longer. With treadwear warranties on some replacement tires approaching 100,000 miles, they may even outlast your car! 

Achieving long treadlife requires more work than simply installing the tires and driving. Proper maintenance of the tires' inflation pressures, tire rotation and keeping your vehicle aligned all play a role. In fact, manufacturers require that the tires are worn down evenly in order to qualify for treadwear warranty coverage. Find more information about this by reading "The Good, the Bad and the Impossible Regarding Treadlife Warranties."

Here are some of my top picks for tires that feature a long treadwear warranty, while still maintaining acceptable levels of grip and ride quality:


90,000-Mile Treadlife Warranty or Longer

 
Michelin Defender
Michelin Defender
Hankook Optimo H727
Hankook Optimo H727

80,000-85,000-Mile Treadlife Warranty

 
Goodyear Assurance Comfortred Touring
Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring
Pirelli P4 Four Seasons
Pirelli P4 Four Seasons

70,000-75,000-Mile Treadlife Warranty

 
General AltiMAX RT
General AltiMAX RT
Dunlop Signature
Dunlop Signature


To see if these tires are available for your car, SUV or crossover, shop by vehicle.

WORX Wheels Now Available at Tire Rack

Friday, May 3, 2013 by Zig Ziegler

WORX wheels are the newest addition to the Ultra line. Ultra also manufacturers Ultra Muscle, Ultra Motorsports Xtreme and Ultra Motorsports wheels. The WORX line of wheels are designed and manufactured as "Serious Truck Wheels" because all WORX wheels are covered by a lifetime structural warranty.

Located in Fullerton, California, WORX takes pride in its workmanship and offers unique styling with a healthy dose of attitude and attention to detail. Available to fit a broad range of light trucks and SUVs, the wheels are developed to accommodate most tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS). WORX wheels are offered in different styles and finishes, such as chrome plated, black painted, black painted with spot milling and bright PVD.

 WORX 801 Triad
WORX 801 Triad
 WORX 802 Havoc
WORX 802 Havoc

 

 WORX 803 Beast
WORX 803 Beast
 WORX 805 Tyrant
WORX 805 Tyrant 8-Lug


The WORX 801 Triad has an aggressive look and unique three-spoke design. It's offered in 8-lug configurations for both single rear wheel and dually trucks. WORX 802 Havoc and 805 Tyrant wheels have a rugged off-road appearance with a simulated bead-lock look. The WORX 803 Beast has a more classic and clean looking design with six-split spokes.

To see which WORX wheels are available for your vehicle, shop by vehicle and upgrade the look of your truck or SUV today!

How to Find the Best Tires for Your MAZDA3

Friday, May 3, 2013 by Hunter Leffel

The MAZDA3 came to the market in 2004 as a replacement for the Protege. It was later redesigned in 2010. With a number of configurations and trim levels offered, there are various tire size options in play. The first step will be using our shop by vehicle feature and verifying the size of tire that's on your vehicle. The following tires are some of the more popular and higher rated options in three of the most common sizes for this vehicle. Keep in mind, not all of these options may be available for your specific variation of the vehicle.

Bridgestone Turanza Serentiy Plus
Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Plus
Continental ExtremeContact DWS
Continental ExtremeContact DWS
BF Goodrich g-Force Sport Comp2
BFGoodrich g-Force Sport COMP-2


In 195/65R15, I would take a serious look at Bridgestone's Turanza Serenity Plus. This is the latest Grand Touring All-Season entry from this premium manufacturer. We tested this tire last season against three of the top competitors and it came in first. Designed to provide Bridgestone's ultimate in luxury, elegance and comfort, Turanza Serenity Plus tires blend long wear with dry, wet and wintertime traction, even in light snow.

205/55R16 is another common size for the MAZDA3 line of vehicles. This is one of the more popular sizes in the market, so there will be many choices. If you're looking for a performance oriented option, check out the Continental ExtremeContact DWS. This has been the top-rated Ultra High Performance All-Season tire by our customers for five years. It's particularly strong in the winter elements, while also receiving high marks in hydroplaning resistance, wet traction, dry traction and ride comfort.

The sports minded version of the MAZDA3 wears a 205/50R17. If this is the case for you, I would suggest the BFGoodrich g-Force Sport COMP-2. This Ultra High Performance Summer solution was released last year with great success. It's currently ranked number one in its category. If you're looking to accelerate faster, corner harder and brake shorter in dry and wet conditions, then take a look at the g-Force Sport COMP-2.

For more information on selecting the right tire, read "Shopping for Tires on Our Website."