Car and Driver Tire Test
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 152
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From: Bloomingdale IL
Car and Driver Tire Test
Which tires are "best" is often discussed. In the 8-09 issue, Car & Driver and Tire Rack tested popular tires costing under $140 for a 225/45R-17 size. The dollar limit excluded Michelin, Goodyear and Toyo. They compared 9 summer tires against Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 on autocross, braking and skidpad in dry and wet conditions. They also did street driving for noise, steering feel, etc.
The overall rank had Dunlop Star Spec and Hankook Ventus V12 EVO as tops followed by Kuhmo ECSTA XS, Bridgestone Potenza RE760, BFG G-Force KDW, Yokohama S.Drive, Falken Azenis RT-615, Nitto Invo and Ling Long L688. However, if you want tires for a specific type of driving, even a lower ranked tire might be better for you.
I was shocked that Nitto was so low since so many think highly of it.
It was interesting that, although they did not rank Michelin in the overall, 6 tires were better in dry autocross, 5 better in dry braking and 3 better in dry skidpad. In the wet, Michelin was best in autocross, 5th in braking and 1st in skidpad. Michelin was 6th in noise. Tires costing 30% less than Michelin were better except in the wet. 
Very interesting article. Worth reading if you are getting new tires soon.
The overall rank had Dunlop Star Spec and Hankook Ventus V12 EVO as tops followed by Kuhmo ECSTA XS, Bridgestone Potenza RE760, BFG G-Force KDW, Yokohama S.Drive, Falken Azenis RT-615, Nitto Invo and Ling Long L688. However, if you want tires for a specific type of driving, even a lower ranked tire might be better for you.
I was shocked that Nitto was so low since so many think highly of it.
It was interesting that, although they did not rank Michelin in the overall, 6 tires were better in dry autocross, 5 better in dry braking and 3 better in dry skidpad. In the wet, Michelin was best in autocross, 5th in braking and 1st in skidpad. Michelin was 6th in noise. Tires costing 30% less than Michelin were better except in the wet. Very interesting article. Worth reading if you are getting new tires soon.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,408
Likes: 145
From: Northcentral, Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '09-'11
In the 8-09 issue, Car & Driver and Tire Rack tested popular tires costing under $140 for a 225/45R-17 size.
The overall rank had Dunlop Star Spec and Hankook Ventus V12 EVO as tops followed by Kuhmo ECSTA XS, Bridgestone Potenza RE760, BFG G-Force KDW, Yokohama S.Drive, Falken Azenis RT-615, Nitto Invo and Ling Long L688.
The overall rank had Dunlop Star Spec and Hankook Ventus V12 EVO as tops followed by Kuhmo ECSTA XS, Bridgestone Potenza RE760, BFG G-Force KDW, Yokohama S.Drive, Falken Azenis RT-615, Nitto Invo and Ling Long L688.
CF Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,313
Likes: 25
From: Tucson Arizona
The most relevant 'finding' to be taken from all this is "...even a lower ranked tire might be better for you."
Former Vendor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,713
Likes: 9
From: Morgan Utah
I have owned and driven other cars with almost all the top rated tires for many years, solo, a bit of drag racing, cold weather, super hot weather, track events, etc....and I find such tests pretty good actually in most situations. FWD, AWD, RWD, etc.....as well.
The main difference is contact patch(which needs to be optimized no matter what you drive or how wide the tire is) versus weight when it comes to fat tires on low weight cars like the Vette.
I consider the test results to be of pretty high value to us as a general guide, not an all out decision maker. I just wish more options were available in our sizes(especially since doing a Z06 conversion on our Vert!)
As for the Nitto tires, lower cost, look pretty cool, one of the few really fat tires made, they intrigue me for those reasons but I need some input to real performance and this guide certainly does not make me all warm and fuzzy about them!
Rick
The main difference is contact patch(which needs to be optimized no matter what you drive or how wide the tire is) versus weight when it comes to fat tires on low weight cars like the Vette.
I consider the test results to be of pretty high value to us as a general guide, not an all out decision maker. I just wish more options were available in our sizes(especially since doing a Z06 conversion on our Vert!)
As for the Nitto tires, lower cost, look pretty cool, one of the few really fat tires made, they intrigue me for those reasons but I need some input to real performance and this guide certainly does not make me all warm and fuzzy about them!
Rick
