Goodyear, Dunlop and Michelin top Consumer Reports’ ratings

Friday, September 17, 2010

Yonkers, NY - Ultra-high-performance summer tires from Goodyear, Dunlop and Michelin topped Consumer Reports’ ratings of 21 different models from 19 companies in tests conducted at CR’s Auto Test Center in Connecticut. The Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric, Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT and Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 all achieved “Excellent” overall scores in Consumer Reports’ evaluations of braking, handling, hydroplaning, tread life, rolling resistance and noise. The Continental Extreme Contact DW and the Hankook Ventus V12 evo K110 scored just below those three. Both were priced lower, but the Hankook was considerably less than the top-three rated tires. With short, low-profile sidewalls and a wide tread, ultra-high-performance (UHP) tires are designed to provide tenacious grip and superior handling. But they usually wear more quickly and cost more than standard all-season passenger tires. UHP tires used to be found as factory rubber on high-end sports cars and sports sedans, but they’re now showing up as original equipment on many lower-priced cars, such as the MazdaSpeed3 and Mini Cooper S. In addition to testing summer UHP tires, Consumer Reports also rated 17 models of all-season ultra-high-performance tires and 15 models of performance winter tires. All-season UHP tires provide some performance in wintry conditions, but give up a little dry-wet grip compared with their summer-only cousins. Performance winter tires are designed to provide better grip on snow and ice, and come in sizes and speed ratings that make them a good winter alternative to UHP tires.

(Source: Rubber World)