Tires are the only part of your car touching the road, and even then the surface area regularly connecting to the pavement could fit on a piece of printer paper. And, yet, many of us just look for the cheapest tire. For certain cars that’s maybe ok, but even our staff is split between people who don’t care that much about their tires and those who spend way too much time tire-shopping.
Matt Hardigree
The tires are the only part of my Subaru that do not let me down. I have Michelin CrossClimate 2s and I think they’re the best all-around tire for people who drive a non-performance vehicle/live in cold climates and might have to drive in snow irregularly.
Thomas Hundal
When I bought my Boxster, I knew it needed new tires, and there aren’t many choices in this particular fitment. Instead of the Porsche N-Spec Pirelli P Zeros, which I haven’t been impressed with, or the ancient and expensive Porsche N-Spec Michelin PS2s, I went with the Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02. It’s a 340-treadwear summer tire competing with the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, except it’s exclusively an aftermarket fitment. While grip and resistance to flat-spotting has been excellent, the big surprise was road manners. These are incredibly quiet tires that are still sticky enough to throw pebbles, they’re hushed over expansion joints, have a great sense of dead-ahead, and I find the steering more linear than on most Michelin tires. So far, I’m extremely happy. After all, a good car requires good tires, right?
Peter Vieira
I am a discerning consumer, which means I wear out the counter guy at my Local Firestone Tire Center with a litany of questions including “What do you have for a 2015 RAV4” and “What is the cheapest tire for a 2015 RAV4,” followed by “can I keep this pen” and exactly no other questions. I’m an unashamed cheap-tire buyer, but I won’t get the cheapest of the cheap – it’s gotta be a legit name brand, it can’t be something like, “Mile King, a Division of Abakumov Rubber & Sausage.” At present, I’m happy with my [goes out to garage to check] Firestone All-Seasons. They’re the perfect combination of “was on sale” and “seems fine” that I require in a tire. And if anyone’s wondering why I get my tires from a Firestone shop, it’s because it’s close enough for me to ride my bicycle back home after I drop off the RAV4. I can’t be hanging out in no tire store all day, I’m busy.
Mercedes Streeter
My only tire loyalty is to Vredestein. Otherwise, cheapest tire from a recognizable brand.
Top image by Pete, via Twitter (sigh … “X.”)
Wildpeak AT3/W on both. Yes to the E rated, meh on the P rated.
Wildpeak AT3/W on both. Yes to the E rated, meh on the P rated.
Michelin Pilot Sport AS/3 (now the AS/4 generation). These tires have an incredible balance of feel, treadwear, dry grip, and all weather performance – perfect for my sport oriented SUV (X3 M40i). I’ve also had Michelin Pilot Sport 2s as the summer rubber on my last sports sedan which was also an amazing tire. You definitely pay a premium for the Michelin Pilot Sport rubber, but they truly are a class leader with very few compromises.
Michelin Pilot Sport AS/3 (now the AS/4 generation). These tires have an incredible balance of feel, treadwear, dry grip, and all weather performance – perfect for my sport oriented SUV (X3 M40i). I’ve also had Michelin Pilot Sport 2s as the summer rubber on my last sports sedan which was also an amazing tire. You definitely pay a premium for the Michelin Pilot Sport rubber, but they truly are a class leader with very few compromises.
I also have Extreme Contact 2s on my 986, and am very pleased with their grip and noise levels. I haven’t had enough time with them to see how their wear, but I would consider using them on my daily, which now sits on PS4s and X-Ices in the winter.
I never go for cheap tires because now that I’ve experienced the good stuff it’s hard to go back. It’s also not usually that much more expensive when you have cars on 17 or 18 inch rims like I do.
I also have Extreme Contact 2s on my 986, and am very pleased with their grip and noise levels. I haven’t had enough time with them to see how their wear, but I would consider using them on my daily, which now sits on PS4s and X-Ices in the winter.
I never go for cheap tires because now that I’ve experienced the good stuff it’s hard to go back. It’s also not usually that much more expensive when you have cars on 17 or 18 inch rims like I do.
Brand new Continental PureContact LS on my 2018 Golf Sportwagen. Great A/S tires for every day. Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3 tires on my 2000 C5 Corvette FRC. Lovely for grip, need some care in the wet however. Love them both.
Brand new Continental PureContact LS on my 2018 Golf Sportwagen. Great A/S tires for every day. Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3 tires on my 2000 C5 Corvette FRC. Lovely for grip, need some care in the wet however. Love them both.
When we moved to the wrong end of a wet curvy road a couple years ago, Dear Spouse’s Outback got a set of Nokian WR G4 all-weather tires. Incredible grip on snow and heavy rain, but they’re already worn out, which might explain why they’re discontinued. We’re looking at a set of Michelin CrossClimate 2s this fall, though I hear there’s even better options now.
The F250 got a set of Blacklion Voracio all-weathers; we don’t use it much so we figured we’d cheap out. The Nissan minitruck came with a set of Toyos which are great for sliding around in the rain with.
When we moved to the wrong end of a wet curvy road a couple years ago, Dear Spouse’s Outback got a set of Nokian WR G4 all-weather tires. Incredible grip on snow and heavy rain, but they’re already worn out, which might explain why they’re discontinued. We’re looking at a set of Michelin CrossClimate 2s this fall, though I hear there’s even better options now.
The F250 got a set of Blacklion Voracio all-weathers; we don’t use it much so we figured we’d cheap out. The Nissan minitruck came with a set of Toyos which are great for sliding around in the rain with.
I read/watch extensive reviews when buying tires, with no particular brand loyalty. My 986 sits on Dunlop Direzza Z3’s right now and wears Vredestein Wintrac Pros in the Winter. Both perform their jobs admirably and offer fantastic performance (The Dunlops aren’t great in the rain, but they’re safe, and that’s enough from a 200TW track tire). Both are loud, but between the soft top and mid-mounted engine, the car is louder, so they don’t bother me.
My wife’s CR-V wears Vredestein Quatrac 5’s, and they’re the full package. Quiet, comfortable, grippy in all weather conditions.
I would never get economy tires for anything or OEM tires for almost anything. Economy tires offer a small bump in economy for a large loss of performance, comfort, road manners, durability and quality, while OEM tires are almost universally lowest-bidder regulatory concessions formulated to squeeze out cents from the bottom line. They’re “designed specifically for the model” in the sense that they’re defeatured to what’s absolutely necessary to make the model function so the manufacturer can buy them cheaper, and then marked up for the customer over the superior aftermarket version. The few exceptions to terrible OEM tires are usually sports cars whose tires are tuned for specific handling behavior.
I read/watch extensive reviews when buying tires, with no particular brand loyalty. My 986 sits on Dunlop Direzza Z3’s right now and wears Vredestein Wintrac Pros in the Winter. Both perform their jobs admirably and offer fantastic performance (The Dunlops aren’t great in the rain, but they’re safe, and that’s enough from a 200TW track tire). Both are loud, but between the soft top and mid-mounted engine, the car is louder, so they don’t bother me.
My wife’s CR-V wears Vredestein Quatrac 5’s, and they’re the full package. Quiet, comfortable, grippy in all weather conditions.
I would never get economy tires for anything or OEM tires for almost anything. Economy tires offer a small bump in economy for a large loss of performance, comfort, road manners, durability and quality, while OEM tires are almost universally lowest-bidder regulatory concessions formulated to squeeze out cents from the bottom line. They’re “designed specifically for the model” in the sense that they’re defeatured to what’s absolutely necessary to make the model function so the manufacturer can buy them cheaper, and then marked up for the customer over the superior aftermarket version. The few exceptions to terrible OEM tires are usually sports cars whose tires are tuned for specific handling behavior.
I’ve driven two different vehicles with CC2 and I have to disagree with the assertion that they are quite tires. I definitely get tread noise. Michelin are generally a great brand, but I’m disappointed in CC2. Maybe if I were set on an all season with a focus on snow/ice, they might still be worth it. Michelin Defender LTX M+S are great tires, but quintessential truck in nature. Great snow/ice (for non snow tire), tough and gravel/dirt road grip. Huge treadwear. Not great highway responsiveness, but most truck tires are not razor sharp anyway. I think they are being replaced with a newer model, which is a loss.
As far as tire that I like, Pirelli AS Plus 3 on SUVs. They are quite with good handling in dry and wet. No experience with snow, but that is a rare event where I live. They aren’t an off road or ‘unimproved’ road tire. Continental CrossContact LX (non-Sport) for a sedan. Again, good dry and wet with only okay ice performance (3 year old tires at the time). Both tires have great highway stability.
I’m glad to find someone else other than a semi-anonymous reviewer who finds the CCs noisy. They make a growl and whine that are nearly infuriating. Same with the Agilis CC.
IME Michelin’s top-spec tires can be very good, but they’re rarely truly worth the price premium over a comparable Bridgestone, Pirelli, Continental, or Goodyear. Some are so stratospherically priced that you could buy a 5th tire or even 6th from the other brands for the same price as 4 of the Michelins. And that’s from me, and tires – and brakes – are car parts I will not skimp on.
That said, I’ve also had more sudden inexplicable slips and spins with Michelin tires than any other brand. With good tread, not old, and even among their top all-seasons. I can’t trust them
I’ve driven two different vehicles with CC2 and I have to disagree with the assertion that they are quite tires. I definitely get tread noise. Michelin are generally a great brand, but I’m disappointed in CC2. Maybe if I were set on an all season with a focus on snow/ice, they might still be worth it. Michelin Defender LTX M+S are great tires, but quintessential truck in nature. Great snow/ice (for non snow tire), tough and gravel/dirt road grip. Huge treadwear. Not great highway responsiveness, but most truck tires are not razor sharp anyway. I think they are being replaced with a newer model, which is a loss.
As far as tire that I like, Pirelli AS Plus 3 on SUVs. They are quite with good handling in dry and wet. No experience with snow, but that is a rare event where I live. They aren’t an off road or ‘unimproved’ road tire. Continental CrossContact LX (non-Sport) for a sedan. Again, good dry and wet with only okay ice performance (3 year old tires at the time). Both tires have great highway stability.
I’m glad to find someone else other than a semi-anonymous reviewer who finds the CCs noisy. They make a growl and whine that are nearly infuriating. Same with the Agilis CC.
IME Michelin’s top-spec tires can be very good, but they’re rarely truly worth the price premium over a comparable Bridgestone, Pirelli, Continental, or Goodyear. Some are so stratospherically priced that you could buy a 5th tire or even 6th from the other brands for the same price as 4 of the Michelins. And that’s from me, and tires – and brakes – are car parts I will not skimp on.
That said, I’ve also had more sudden inexplicable slips and spins with Michelin tires than any other brand. With good tread, not old, and even among their top all-seasons. I can’t trust them
I’ve had a lot of success with Goodyear truck tires, and the Wrangler Duratracs (31×10.5 R15) on my Ranger have been good so far. But on the family truckster, I want a good set of 3PMSF tires, and am leaning toward the Michelin CrossClimates
I have my thrid set of duratracs on my wrangler and put a set of crossclimates on my wife’s minivan.
I’ve had a lot of success with Goodyear truck tires, and the Wrangler Duratracs (31×10.5 R15) on my Ranger have been good so far. But on the family truckster, I want a good set of 3PMSF tires, and am leaning toward the Michelin CrossClimates
I have my thrid set of duratracs on my wrangler and put a set of crossclimates on my wife’s minivan.
All Michelin except the MG, which has cheapies because they’ll just age out in a few years anyway. My dad put Pilot Sport 4Ss on the Chrysler, which I’ll keep until they wear out. The Yukon came with oversize aftermarket wheels and Michelin something or others; when those are done I’ll find some factory-size wheels that take cheaper tires. And when I took the truck to Discount Tire for Generals or something, they only had 3 in stock, so they sold me Michelin LTXs for the same price. They’re perfect for it, much better than the oversize all-terrains that it wore when I bought it.
All Michelin except the MG, which has cheapies because they’ll just age out in a few years anyway. My dad put Pilot Sport 4Ss on the Chrysler, which I’ll keep until they wear out. The Yukon came with oversize aftermarket wheels and Michelin something or others; when those are done I’ll find some factory-size wheels that take cheaper tires. And when I took the truck to Discount Tire for Generals or something, they only had 3 in stock, so they sold me Michelin LTXs for the same price. They’re perfect for it, much better than the oversize all-terrains that it wore when I bought it.
I’ll double down on what Matt said. I endure classic Canadian winters, I mounted a set of Michelin CrossClimate 2s on my Sorento last fall. (my summers were toast and I hadn’t bought winters). I decided to try this “all weather” tire.
My friends, these tires are better in the snow than the dedicated Toyo winters I had on my F150. They still have 100,000km tread warranty and I can run them year round. These tires are a scientific mystery but I 1000% recommend them to anyone and everyone.
My ’86 Mercedes sees a few thousand kms a year in ideal weather, and is powered by 140hp of diesel fury. Thus, it runs on the finest Ovation brand tires I bought for $100/each with a treadwear of 280.
They’re not perfect, but they’re plenty grippy for a fair weather land barge.
I was able to snag for cheap a set of OEM wheels for as a winter set with gently used CrossClimates. I was also unsure about running “all-weather” tires in the winter, but am pleasantly surprised. As good as any other non-studded winter tire I’ve had
I’ll double down on what Matt said. I endure classic Canadian winters, I mounted a set of Michelin CrossClimate 2s on my Sorento last fall. (my summers were toast and I hadn’t bought winters). I decided to try this “all weather” tire.
My friends, these tires are better in the snow than the dedicated Toyo winters I had on my F150. They still have 100,000km tread warranty and I can run them year round. These tires are a scientific mystery but I 1000% recommend them to anyone and everyone.
My ’86 Mercedes sees a few thousand kms a year in ideal weather, and is powered by 140hp of diesel fury. Thus, it runs on the finest Ovation brand tires I bought for $100/each with a treadwear of 280.
They’re not perfect, but they’re plenty grippy for a fair weather land barge.
I was able to snag for cheap a set of OEM wheels for as a winter set with gently used CrossClimates. I was also unsure about running “all-weather” tires in the winter, but am pleasantly surprised. As good as any other non-studded winter tire I’ve had
I ran a tire shop for 10 years, and developed an undying loyalty to Cooper tires, because they were the most ethical and fair of all the tire companies to the independent “mom and pop” stores. Michelin, Goodyear, Bridgestone were all very cutthroat and didn’t care at all if Wal-mart and Costco were eating you alive.
It didn’t hurt that Cooper started building Mickey Thompson tires and really evolved and put care into that brand. I tried a set, they blew me away, and that’s all I’ve run since. Currently running a set of 35″ Baja Legends on my 4xe, and aside from losing a bit of electric range, I’m extremely happy with them.
Does Cooper now being owned by Goodyear change your opinion?
Ive been out of the tire game a while now, but the news really made me sad.
about 10 years ago Cooper almost got sold off to Apollo tire (India) and they terminated the deal when it became apparent that this would lead to Cooper losing most of its American workers. Having toured the factory (2 hours away from my shop) and met the people who worked there, the thought of them shuttering really bothered me.
But now with this, I would just really need to dig into what Goodyear’s plans are. Will they keep the American plants going and keep Cooper mainly intact? or will they just strip them for parts and start making junk tires with a name brand (like MANY others do)
Time will tell I guess.
Goodyear will do to Cooper and Mastercraft what it did to Dunlop and Kelly and it won’t be pretty. They are trying to cut $1billion in spending, so they are divesting from Dunlop. Goodyear is bleeding money right now. They lost $57 million in Q1 of 24 which is an improvement over the $100 million they lost in Q1 of 23.
Cooper still has some good product, but I’d stay away from them for a while until Goodyear can figure out what the plan is.
I’ll never understand why companies do this. Kelly, and Dunlop were good brands that they just ran into the dirt, Like Bridgestone did to Dayton.
I ran a tire shop for 10 years, and developed an undying loyalty to Cooper tires, because they were the most ethical and fair of all the tire companies to the independent “mom and pop” stores. Michelin, Goodyear, Bridgestone were all very cutthroat and didn’t care at all if Wal-mart and Costco were eating you alive.
It didn’t hurt that Cooper started building Mickey Thompson tires and really evolved and put care into that brand. I tried a set, they blew me away, and that’s all I’ve run since. Currently running a set of 35″ Baja Legends on my 4xe, and aside from losing a bit of electric range, I’m extremely happy with them.
Does Cooper now being owned by Goodyear change your opinion?
Ive been out of the tire game a while now, but the news really made me sad.
about 10 years ago Cooper almost got sold off to Apollo tire (India) and they terminated the deal when it became apparent that this would lead to Cooper losing most of its American workers. Having toured the factory (2 hours away from my shop) and met the people who worked there, the thought of them shuttering really bothered me.
But now with this, I would just really need to dig into what Goodyear’s plans are. Will they keep the American plants going and keep Cooper mainly intact? or will they just strip them for parts and start making junk tires with a name brand (like MANY others do)
Time will tell I guess.
Goodyear will do to Cooper and Mastercraft what it did to Dunlop and Kelly and it won’t be pretty. They are trying to cut $1billion in spending, so they are divesting from Dunlop. Goodyear is bleeding money right now. They lost $57 million in Q1 of 24 which is an improvement over the $100 million they lost in Q1 of 23.
Cooper still has some good product, but I’d stay away from them for a while until Goodyear can figure out what the plan is.
I’ll never understand why companies do this. Kelly, and Dunlop were good brands that they just ran into the dirt, Like Bridgestone did to Dayton.
Very happy with my Continental ExtremeContact 02. They stick to the road (I just drive a GTI, so not the most powerful, but I do take curves like they’re meant to be taken)
Conti VikingContact 07 for winter, also very satisfied
Very happy with my Continental ExtremeContact 02. They stick to the road (I just drive a GTI, so not the most powerful, but I do take curves like they’re meant to be taken)
Conti VikingContact 07 for winter, also very satisfied
I have a lot of connections within the Bridgestone organization, so I tend to favor Bridgestone and Firestone products. I will make an exception for context, though. I’m looking to put Nokians on my Saab at the next opportunity to keep it Scandinavian.
I think Bridgestone did amazing things for Firestone. It’s tire quality was iffy at best before they took over, but now, the bang-for-the-buck proposition is really high. I’m super happy with my Firehawk all seasons.
I’ve got some Destination LE3s on my Odyssey and they’re great. Though the OE Bridgestone Turanzas were terrible; they wore out after 35-40k. Typical OE tire I guess.