Hi, I'm Steve from The Tire Rack and welcome to my blog. The purpose of this blog is to provide you with opinions and insight on tires and other automotive related products like aftermarket wheels, brake pads, rotors, suspension parts and other automotive related products that we offer here at the Tire Rack.
From time to time I will be offering input from my own experience as well as customer feedback regarding tires and wheels. Should you ever have any questions regarding any of the products we offer, please feel free to contact me at steve@tirerack.com. Or visit us at www.tirerack.com
Thanks for visiting and enjoy the ride!
The Dodge Dart is back! In the 60s and 70s, this vehicle was Dodge's pocket rocket. It was also very fun and sporty. How do I know? I used to own one! Dodge has been missing a car like this in its lineup for several years and the new version has been well received and is very popular, too.
Just in time for winter, Tire Rack has completed fitment testing for Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Packages for the Dart. This lightweight car will need a little help getting through winter's harshest conditions, so protect your investment and drive with confidence.
Live in an area that doesn't require you to purchase winter tires and wheels? Or just looking to dress up your new ride? Check out the wide variety of wheel options we carry that'll set your Dart apart from the rest. We can also include new Tire Pressure Monitoring Sensors to keep your system functioning properly.
 Bridgestone Potenza RE970AS Pole Position |
 Kumho Ecsta LX Platinum |
If you're ready to upgrade the tires on your Dart, take a look at the Bridgestone Potenza RE970AS Pole Position. This Ultra High Performance All-Season tire will help your vehicle hug the road and improve overall traction. The tire also provides predictable handling, traction and control on dry and wet roads, as well as in light snow. Notched shoulders, stable tread blocks and a continuous center rib improve tread stiffness to deliver responsive steering and at-the-limit braking on dry roads. A series of lateral and circumferential grooves help pump water and slush through the Pole Position's footprint to enhance hydroplaning resistance, wet road and light snow traction.
Kumho's Ecsta LX Platinum can improve your Dart's overall ride quality. This Grand Touring All-Season tire is a nice improvement over the Original Equipment. The tire is designed to blend responsive handling, long wear and a quiet ride with year-round traction including light snow.
Shop by vehicle to find all tire options available for new Dodge Dart.
America's best-selling pickup truck, the Ford F-150, deserves Tire Rack's best-selling tires. Many F-150 owners are passionate about their truck and hold on to them for a long period of time. Most owners even go through multiple sets of tires, due to the truck's long-lasting dependability. With that in mind, Ford truck owners want nothing but the best for their pickup.
I believe the best Highway All-Season tire for this vehicle is the Michelin LTX M/S2. This tires does it all and is exactly what you would expect from Michelin. It has superior all-season traction, a smooth and quiet ride and is offered with a 70,000-mile treadlife warranty.
If you're looking to get a little dirty and go off-road with the truck, one of the best On-/Off-Road All Terrain tires is the Firestone Destination A/T. This tire has been around for many years, but it never gets old. It takes on all newcomers and is still a best-selling tire in its class. Featuring Firestone's UNI-T technology, the tire blends off-road traction with enhanced on-road capabilities. UNI-T is a combination of technologies that merge a comprehensive design method with innovative manufacturing features for improved tire comfort, performance and wear.
Finally, if you're looking for F-150 tires to handle winter's worst condition, then go with the Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1. This tire simply gets it done on ice and in the snow. With a focus on ice traction and braking, as well as wet road handling and hydroplaning resistance, this tire provides wintertime driving competence. Blizzak DM-V1 radials meet the industry's severe snow service requirements and are branded with the mountain/snowflake symbol.
 Michelin LTX M/S 2 |
 Firestone Destination A/T |
 Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1 |
All three tires have provided our customers with the driving experience they've been looking for and their comments prove this:
"I've had these tires on my truck for two weeks and they are just outstanding. They grip the road like glue in the rain. On the dry pavement they handle superb. They don't roll or pitch in the corners. You won't be sorry if you buy them." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2005 Ford F-150 XLT Sup Cab 4wd (Michelin LTX M/S2)
"Absolutely, hands down, the best all-terrain tire on the market. 90% on-road driving, 10% off-road. I wouldn't hesitate to drive my truck through anything with these. I've had more aggressive tires which gave up handling. These are a no compromise tire. Buy them ASAP if you're in the market before Firestone realizes they are worth double the price!" -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2011 Ford F-150 XLT 4wd Super Crew (Firestone Destination A/T)
"After reading the reviews for this tire and other winter traction tires, I decided on the Blizzaks. Best snow tire ever! I live in the Pacific Northwest and drive in varied conditions: compact snow and ice, deep snow, slush, water, uphill, etc. Great traction in all conditions. I hardly ever need to use four-wheel drive. I would highly recommend these tires to anyone, and I will never buy anything else." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2010 Ford F-150 Platinum 4x4 Super Crew (Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1)
Are you looking for steel wheels? Something economical to get the job done this winter? Tire Rack has you covered as we offer steel wheels for a variety of different applications. Currently, we provide options in 14", 15" and 16" sizes. Steel wheels aren't available for all vehicles, so be sure to create a Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package to see if we have them in stock for your car.
If you own a Subaru, Volkswagen, Toyota or Honda, odds are we may have a steel wheel to fit your vehicle. Steel wheels offer many benefits drivers like, such as:
- Meet the basic needs of drivers who want the convenience of a winter tire package without the additional cost of an alloy wheel
- Typically available in black or silver finish depending on the application
- Basic styling can often be updated with wheel covers
- Cost less than alloy wheels due to ease of manufacturing and lower material costs
Begin creating your Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package and see if steel wheels are available for your vehicle.
General Motors' best-selling full-size SUVs are all based from the same platform. These vehicles include the Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon and the Cadillac Escalade. There are many basic similarities between these three vehicles, including tires. The current generation of these three SUVs either came with a 17", 18" or 20" tire. Given the popularity of these vehicles, many owners are looking for the best tire selection for their vehicle. Take a look at the following options when considering tire replacements for your Tahoe, Yukon or Escalade:
Bridgestone's Dueler H/L Alenza is the Original Equipment tire on most of these SUVs. This Crossover/SUV Touring All-Season tire is a very good option and I would continue to recommend it as a replacement option. It rides very nicely, offers good all-season traction and provides good treadlife. Designed to provide elegance with an edge, the tire has been ride and noise tuned to enhance comfort.
Another good option for these trucks is the new Michelin LTX M/S2. If you consider yourself a "Michelin Man", than this is your tire. This latest Highway All-Season radial from the French tire maker offers a very smooth ride and has the best all-season traction according to our most recent survey results. The LTX M/S2 molds a long wearing, silica-enhanced, all-season compound into a tread profile featuring Michelin's MaxTouch Construction to produce a contact patch that promotes reliable traction and long wear by evenly distributing acceleration, braking and cornering forces. Compared to the original LTX M/S, the LTX M/S2 is an evolution in looks and a leap forward in performance.
 Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza |
Michelin LTX M/S2 |
 Continental CrossContact LX20 with EcoPlus Technology |
If you're looking for a tire with good value, then consider the Continental CrossContact LX20 with EcoPlus Technology. The tire is a favorite among our customers as it is currently ranked number one in our Tire Survey Results for Crossover/SUV Touring All-Season tires. It's also engineered to help you improve your fuel efficiency and maintain grip when braking on wet surfaces while providing long wear and all-season traction, even in light snow. For more information about EcoPlus Technology, read "Continental Tire EcoPlus+ Technology, EcoPlus or 'E' Symbol."
When your Tahoe, Yukon or Escalade is in need of new tires, consider these options or shop by vehicle to find the tire that's best for your driving style.
The muscle car lives and the new Camaro is proof. Since 2010, these pony cars have been prowling the streets of America and can be seen almost anywhere. By now, the time to start looking at replacing the tires for many has come. If your Camaro came equipped with 20s, they came stock with the Pirelli P Zero. While this is a fantastic Max Performance Summer tire, it's not designed as a long-lasting option that can provide cold weather traction. Granted, most Camaro owners aren't going to be using the vehicle in the snow, but there might be some drivers looking for traction when the temperature drops below 40 degrees. And more than a few owners looking to get a tire that will last longer than the Original Equipment.
Compared to when the car was introduced, today there are a few all-season options for the new Camaro. Included in these options are the Continental ExtremeContact DWS, Firestone Firehawk Wide Oval AS (W-Speed Rated) and General G-MAX AS-03. According to our Tire Survey Results, the ExtremeContact DWS is the best performer in light snow conditions. It also has the highest treadwear rating.
If you're looking for an excellent value option, take a look at the Firestone tire. It molds an all-season rubber compound into a symmetric tread design that blends dry road handling with wet, wintertime traction. Its internal structure includes twin steel belts reinforced by spirally wrapped nylon, along with a carcass reinforced by a hard sidewall filler between polyester cord plies to help resist distortion at high speeds and while cornering.
The General G-MAX AS-03 is currently ranked third in our survey as customers like its treadwear, wet traction and hydroplaning resistance. Three-dimensional sipes increase the number of snow-biting edges to aid wintertime traction, as well as lock together to enhance dry and wet handling. I also think the tire looks pretty cool, too!
 Continental ExtremeContact DWS |
 Firestone Firehawk Wide Oval AS |
 General G-MAX AS-03 |
If your Camaro tires are in need of replacement, shop by vehicle to find the set that best fits your driving style.
Last winter, Goodyear unveiled a new Studless Ice & Snow tire, the Ultra Grip Ice WRT. Developed for passenger-carrying coupes, sedans, minivans and crossover vehicles, the tire meets the industry's severe snow service requirements and is branded with the mountain/snowflake symbol.
Goodyear's Winter Reactive Technology combines innovative features working together to help drivers react to changing winter driving conditions when starting, stopping and turning in snow and on ice. This highly directional and multi-siped tread design will channel water and slush away from under the tire's footprint to enhance traction and handling in cold, wet and wintry conditions.
Available in over 30 sizes ranging between 15 and 19 inches, the Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice WRT fits a variety of vehicles. Take a look at what a few of our customers are saying about their experience with this Studless Ice & Snow tire from Goodyear:
"These tires are great in winter conditions or when the roads are wet." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2008 Honda Civic Sedan EX-L
"I live in Northwest Colorado, and these tires are fantastic on my FWD sedan. I am a fairly spirited driver and they haven't let me down. I only wish every vehicle out there had these, instead of sliding all over the road in their all-season tires. Highly recommend for drivers in regions with heavy snowfall and icy winters." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2008 Saturn Aura XR
"If these are not the best snow/ice tires out there, I don't know what is. I installed these on my Chrysler 300 four weeks ago and have been extremely impressed. We had freezing rain this week in Maine and the roads were a sheet of ice. The Goodyears literally felt like they were glued to the road! My 300 was helpless in the snow before these tires. No problem now!" -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2005 Chrysler 300 Base Rear Wheel Drive
The MINI Cooper has been an extremely popular car since it was reintroduced about ten years ago. Now with the price of fuel sky high, smaller and more fuel efficient cars like the MINI are a great vehicle to own.
Many Coopers come originally equipped with a run-flat tire. I talk to many customers who would prefer to replace the run-flat tires with a conventional non-run-flat option. Fortunately, for those who want to maintain run-flat capabilities, Bridgestone has come out with the Potenza RE960AS Pole Position RFT. This is Bridgestone's third-generation run-flat and it has been well received. Having driven on the tire myself, it's difficult to tell the difference in ride comfort from a conventional tire. Potenza RE960AS Pole Position RFT tires also provide temporary extended mobility for a distance of 50 miles at up to 50 mph even after a puncture has allowed complete air pressure loss.
If you are a driver who wants a non-run-flat tire, there are a couple of nice options you should look at. For those who may want to step up to a dedicated performance tire, one of my favorites for the MINI is the Michelin Pilot Super Sport. This is a summer-only tire that offers exceptional wet and dry grip and will turn your MINI into a hot rod! Pilot Super Sport tires are comparatively light, with weight savings of up to 10% compared to other tires of similar dimensions. This reduces unsprung weight for improved handling.
Another non-run-flat tire I like for the MINI is Kumho's Ecsta 4X. This is a very nice high performance all-season tire with great year-round traction, a 40,000-mile treadlife warranty and a nice price tag.
 Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS Pole Position RFT |
 Michelin Pilot Super Sport |
 Kumho Ecsta 4X |
There are several other great tires out there for the MINI. These are just a few suggestions. To see all options available for your MINI Cooper, shop by vehicle.
The new Scion FR-S and its twin the Subaru BRZ have made a big splash in the rear-wheel drive coupe market. These vehicles offer fun at an affordable price to go along with modern styling. Both of these vehicles come equipped with the Grand Touring Summer Michelin Primacy HP. While this tire does great during the warm summer months, it's not designed to handle near-freezing temperatures, icy conditions and snow-covered roads. Coupled with the fact that it's on a rear-wheel drive car, these vehicles aren't going anywhere in winter conditions without a little help.
Fortunately, they come with a very common and popular tire size, the sporty 215/45R17. My favorite Ultra High Performance All-Season tire in this size is the Bridgestone Potenza RE970AS Pole Position. This tire offers great handling, a comfortable ride, all-season traction and a 40,000-mile treadlife warranty. Another tire I like in this performance category is Kumho's Ecsta 4X. This tire provides good handling, traction and a 40,000-mile treadlife warranty all at a valued price.
Since these vehicles come equipped with a dedicated summer tire, it's worth considering a dedicated winter tire to get the best of both worlds. If you experience bad weather during the winter months, take a look at the Bridgestone Blizzak WS70. In fact, this is the same tire I use on my own RWD sedan. The tire provides traction on winter's slushy, snow-covered and icy roads, all while delivering wintertime traction and control that inspires driver confidence.
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Bridgestone Potenza RE970AS Pole Position |
Kumho Ecsta 4X |
 Bridgestone Blizzak WS70 |
Combining the Blizzak WS70 with one of our affordable wheel options, including steel wheels, creates a Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package that'll let you conquer winter's harshest conditions. It'll also allow you to conveniently change the tires yourself, eliminating having to go to a local shop every spring and fall to have them changed out. To ensure your new tires and wheels are installed properly, read "How to Install Your Tire & Wheel Package."
Michelin has done it again! All new for the 2012-13 winter season, Michelin has introduced their latest winter / snow tire, the X-Ice Xi3. This is the third-generation of the X-Ice tire and it has a slightly more aggressive tread design over its predecessor, the X-Ice Xi2.
According to Michelin, the tire stops 10% shorter on ice and lasts up to two times longer than leading competitors. On top of these great features, the X-Ice Xi3 is offered with a 40,000-mile treadlife warranty. In most sizes, the tire meets Michelin's Green X standard for low rolling resistance. This confirms the X-Ice Xi3's contribution to reducing vehicle fuel consumption and emissions of CO2 gases.
Versus the Michelin X-Ice Xi2, the Xi3 features Michelin's MaxTouch Construction™, a unique contact patch shape that evenly distributes the forces of acceleration, braking and cornering, which all lead to the tire maximizing wear life. Most sizes are offered in higher speed ratings when compared to the Xi2.
The unique bottom shape of the tire's vertical sipes are called "teardrops." They control the shear stress that reinforce the tread block's robustness. This technology allows the tire to perform under high speed driving.
If you're looking for a winter / snow tire with cutting-edge technology from a premium manufacturer, look no further than the Michelin X-Ice XI3.
If you're th
e proud owner of a C4 Corvette, particularly between the years of 1984 and 1988, you are well aware of the scarcity of 255/50R16 tires for your car. This is the only vehicle that uses this size and therefore, there aren't many manufacturers who make a tire in this size.
Today, the only street tire Tire Rack carries in this size is the new BFGoodrich g-Force Sport COMP-2. There are other options available in the 255/50R16 size, but they're only meant for competition use. BFGoodrich has a long history of outfitting American muscle cars, including the Corvette. We went for almost two years without any tire for this vehicle. Fortunately, BFGoodrich stepped up to the plate and put their best foot forward with this Ultra High Performance Summer tire.
The g-Force Sport COMP-2 features BFGoodrich’s Performance Racing Core (PRC) internal structure that includes twin, high tensile steel belts reinforced by an enhanced ETEC System (Equal TEnsion Containment) of spirally wound nylon that stabilizes the tread area to optimize the contact patch for traction at speed and in hard cornering. Also, g-Control sidewall inserts featuring up to a 40% higher sidewall stiffening structure help improve lateral stability and cornering precision. A new silica-infused COMP-2 compound that's derived from racing technology delivers a sharp steering response and grip in wet and dry conditions without sacrificing treadwear.
Watch "Testing Ultra High Performance Summer Tires" to see how the BFGoodrich g-Force Sport COMP-2 could improve your classic Corvette.
Winter is just around the corner and that means shorter days and longer nights. Many of us will be driving back and forth to work in the dark. The only thing between you and the unknown in front of your vehicle are your headlamps. So don't be the person who neglects them and drives down the road with only one working bulb. If your bulbs need replaced, replace them. Better yet, upgrade your lights so you can enjoy improved visibility during your night drives. High-performance bulbs will help you see clearer, improve your vision distance and get the attention of oncoming traffic.
With safety at the forefront, your headlamps, sidemarkers, fog lamps, turn signals and tail lamps are all critical in nighttime navigation. Tire Rack proudly offers PIAA and Hella bulbs to improve night and inclement weather driving.
PIAA
Whether it's endurance racing, rally, off-road or for the street, PIAA products are designed for drivers to use with pride and confidence. They combine desirable products with the latest technology to make nights and inclement driving as safe as possible. No matter who you are or what you drive, upgrading to PIAA bulbs can be nothing short of enlightening. Not only will your car get noticed, you'll have improved visibility, too. PIAA's bulbs are SAE and DOT approved, so you can upgrade your vehicle's bulbs and be street legal in all 50 states and Canada.
Hella
Hella has been setting standards in the light technology used to increase active safety and driving comfort. They have lead the way with innovative lighting products for both vehicle manufacturers and driving enthusiasts whose need to see doesn't end when the sun goes down. Hella lights are used to light the way to victory at many of the world's most notable endurance races and rallies. The winning teams have used their lights at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 24 Hours of Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans races, as well as, in International, Club and Pro Rally competition.
Improve your vision and enhance your overall vehicle safety by shopping by vehicle to find the right lights for your application.
Given today's record-setting gas prices, the Toyota Prius has become the standard in hybrid vehicles. They're dependable, sporty and most drivers hold on to them for many years. Choosing the right tire will help keep your Prius rolling for miles to come. What's the best tire for you? Well that all depends on what you're looking for. The following options are a few top recommendations that'll suit most drivers.
If you're looking for the best all-season tires, two that will last long and provide a smooth and comfortable ride are the Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring and Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Plus. These options are two of the best in class and will provide fantastic all-season traction.
 Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring |
 Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Plus |
 Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 |
If you're looking for a low rolling resistance tire that will continue to promote great fuel economy, I would recommend the Bridgestone Ecopia EP422. On top of designing a tire that offers good fuel economy, Bridgestone has done an excellent job developing a tire that maintains good overall all-season traction. To see how Bridgestone created a tire that matched Prius' drivers' needs and driving style while addressing a broad range of today's environmental topics, read "Bridgestone Ecopia.'
It's that time of year again. The kids are back in school, football season has started and winter weather will be here before we know it. With that in mind, it is really never too early to get your vehicle ready for the inevitable snow and ice that's on the way. Fortunately, there's never been a better time to consider winter / snow tires. The technology and performance in the winter elements is truly remarkable. If you've never driven on a set of winter / snow tires, it's hard to understand how good they can be. Talk to anyone who has and he or she will tell you they will never, ever, go back to driving in the winter without them.
Every season I get asked, "What's the best snow tire?" Well, that may depend on what kind of vehicle you have, what kind of conditions you'll encounter and what you want the tire to do. Below are my top choices in the popular winter performance categories.
Studless Ice & Snow
Tires in this category will satisfy most drivers as they are developed to maximize snow and ice traction without the inconvenience of using winter tire studs. These tires are designed for the worst conditions. My top choices are the Michelin X-Ice Xi2 and Bridgestone Blizzak WS70. The Michelin X-Ice Xi2 will be replaced in most sizes by the Michelin X-Ice Xi3 and I expect it to be just as good, if not better, than the Xi2.
 Michelin X-Ice Xi2 |
Bridgestone Blizzak WS70 |
Performance Winter / Snow
Performance Winter / Snow tires are designed for drivers of high performance sports cars, luxury coupes and sedans. They offer good winter traction, but on dry pavement they'll act and behave more like your summer performance tires and aren't as soft as a Studless Ice and Snow tire. My top choices in this category are the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3 and Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D.
 Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3 |
 Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D |
Light Truck/SUV Studless Ice & Snow
These tires feature the newest in tread design and compound technology to provide winter traction for cars and light trucks without using metal tire studs. They trade a little handling and high speed capability for great ice and snow traction. My top two choices in the category are the Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1 and the Michelin Latitude X-Ice Xi2.
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Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1 |
 Michelin Latitude X-Ice Xi2 |
Winter / snow tires will give you the confidence and peace of mind that you need to handle the worst winter conditions. After all, the tire is the only thing keeping you in contact with the road and in control of your vehicle.
One of Kumho's Grand Touring All-Season tires has gone platinum, well in name at least. The Kumho Ecsta LX Platinum has proven to be one of Tire Rack's best sellers and performers over the past few years. On our test, "Is Platinum the New Gold Standard in Grand Touring All-Season Tires?" the tire it held its own against the options from Michelin and Bridgestone, which have long been considered the top choices. This all-season tire has very nice ride qualities and and is very quiet, too.
Providing both good wet and dry traction, the tire also offers decent traction in light snow conditions. It features an asymmetric tread design that leads to great stability in cornering and handling. Kumho Ecsta LX Platinum tires are offered in over 30 sizes between 15" and 19". The tire comes in V- and W-rated options which also leads to great responsiveness for drivers. Simply put, the tire gives you great performance at an affordable price.
Take a look at what some of our customers are saying about their experience with the Kumho Ecsta LX Platinum:
"Great rain and dry weather tire. Very quiet, handles very well, smooth ride and wear seems acceptable. Good tire for the money." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2007 Mazda MAZDA6 i Sedan
"This is a great tire for the money. It has minimal road noise. It cornered well. I just order another set of this car and will order four more for the 2011 Jetta I recently acquired." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2004 Volkswagen Jetta GL Tdi
Fuzion tires are part of a division of Bridgestone/Firestone, so you know they're from a name you can trust.
Recently, they introduced their new line-up and so far they have received very positive reviews and feedback. The Fuzion Touring is a very nice Grand Touring All-Season tire that's offered with either a 55,000- or 40,000-mile treadlife warranty, depending on speed rating. There is bound to be one for your vehicle with 25 popular sizes available.
Fuzion's SUV is designed for light truck and SUV applications looking for traction in all seasons. It's offered with a 50,000-mile treadlife warranty. Featuring a fairly aggressive tread design, the tire not only has a good look but offers great traction as well.
 Fuzion Touring |
 Fuzion SUV |
If you're looking for a good tire that won't break the bank, look no further than the options available from Fuzion.
Since 2007, all new vehicles sold in the United States are required to come equipped with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System. A majority of the vehicles come with a battery powered sensor attached to the wheel on the opposite side of the valve stem. Now that the law has been in effect for five years, we're starting to see some of the systems in need of replacement. Most customers believe they must go back to the dealership for new ones. However, Tire Rack offers Original Equipment sensors at competitive prices when you search by vehicle.
When you purchase a new Tire & Wheel Package from Tire Rack, we can offer to install the sensors for you before we ship. Or you can purchase them separately by contacting one of our sales specialists. Once you have installed the new wheels onto your vehicle, all you need to do is reset the new sensors and you're ready to go. In some instances you may need to take it to a dealership to have them initialized to your vehicle.
So whether you are looking for replacement sensors or sensors to add to your new Tire & Wheel Package, Tire Rack has you covered.
Many MINI owners are not happy with the run-flat tires that came as Original Equipment on their vehicle. Fortunately, there's been some advances in run-flat technology and we offer some much improved models.
The new Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS Pole Position RFT has proven to be one of our best sellers and a great performer since it was introduced last year. I was reminded of how nice of a ride this tire is during a recent test drive. Besides the improved ride quality, it has excellent wet traction and precise handling.
There's also another tire for MINI Cooper owners to consider: the Yokohama AVID ENVigor ZPS. Yokohama took its well received Ultra High Performance All-Season tire and gave it run-flat capabilities. This is great news since there hasn't been many all-season options to choose from. The tire combines performance, comfort, sporty handling and treadlife to go along with traction in all seasons.
These two tires are both excellent options for MINI owners. Each choice will provide traction during the winter months, while the stock summer tires can not. These options will also last longer and are more affordable than the O.E. tires. Simply put, they are great tires at a great price!
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Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS Pole Position RFT |
 Yokohama AVID ENVigor ZPS |
A little more than a year ago, Kumho introduced their new Max Performance Summer tire, the Ecsta LE Sport. When we tested this tire it performed fairly well. To review our test results, read "Testing Value-Priced Max Performance Summer Tires." Now that some time has passed our customers have really taking a liking to it. In our Tire Survey Results, the Ecsta LE Sport is actually rated higher than the tires we compared it to last summer.
We liked this tire for its excellent dry traction and good road manners. In most sizes, the Kumho Ecsta LE Sport is a fraction of what the higher rated tires cost, but it's not very far behind in performace. The tire comes in over 30 different sizes, ranging from 16" to 20". Therefore, the odds are that the tire is available in the size you need. It has a 280 treadwear rating and is even offered with a road hazard warranty from Kumho at no additional cost.
So if your you looking for more "bang for your buck," take a look at the Kumho Ecsta LE Sport.
A few weeks ago, I wrote about the features and benefits of the BFGoodrich g-Force Sport COMP-2. After getting the opportunity to test the tire, I wanted to express my thoughts on the tire. Please note that this is my personal opinion and our test results will be published soon.
When driving on our test track it was covered in several inches of water. Since this tire has an aggressive, directional tread design, as well as a silica-infused tread compound, I found it to have the best wet grip versus the other tires in the test. The new g-Control sidewall inserts were easily detectable by the impressive steering response and lateral stability.
Prior to driving on the track, we drove on our 6.6-mile loop of expressway, state highway and county roads so we could encounter a great variety of road conditions. This tire seemed to have the quietest ride when it came to impact over the expansion joints. It also had the least amount of tread noise while rolling down the highway. Cornering and steering input were also the best in the group in my opinion.
Overall, I would have to say this is an impressive Ultra High Performance Summer tire. Most drivers will find this tire to be a great value while boosting their confidence in driving.
By now you've probably heard all the hype about the Michelin Pilot Super Sport. Well, you can believe it. After about a year on the market, it didn't take long for the tire to simply dominate the Max Performance Summer category. I have to give credit where credit is due and say that this may be the best tire Michelin has ever produced. Recently, during a test drive here at Tire Rack, I was reminded of how great this tire is. We were comparing this tire against some newer tires and nothing could beat it. It simply has the best wet and dry grip, cornering stability and steering response over the other tires we tested.
Take a look at what some of our customers are saying about their experience with the Michelin Pilot Super Sport:
"Wow! These tires dramatically improved every aspect of my driving experience. The steering response is amazing and the cornering is the best I've ever experienced." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2008 Infiniti G37
"Simply the best set of tires I've had on my M3. Bar none. Cornering is phenomenal, wet performance is excellent." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2004 BMW M3 Coupe
"I love these tires, they have amazing grip, improved steering feedback and they look great. I would and will buy again!" -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2006 BMW M3 Coupe Competition Package
"Everything they say about this tire is true. Just an amazing combination of excellent handling/braking and smooth/quiet ride. I feel that the true capabilities of my car have been revealed by the Michelin Pilot Super Sport. They make the car even more of an ultimate driving machine." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2011 BMW 335i Sedan Sport Package
The tire is a pleasure to drive on and provides a very smooth and relatively quiet ride. Additionally, the Michelin Pilot Super Sport is offered with a 30,000-mile treadlife warranty, which is simply unheard of in the Max Performance Summer category.
