There’s a new tire at the top of the Consumer Reports list of ultra-high performance all-season tires.
Consumer Reports tested 21 UHP all-season tires, as well as 23 UHP summer tires. (They also purchased performance tires in the winter and snow categories.) But it’s in the UHP all-season category where competition is especially tight.
And in the latest Consumer Reports test, the new Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate took the top spot, scoring two points higher than the next four tires which tied for second place. Here’s what Consumer Reports says about the Eagle Exhilarate: “(It) was a late addition to our ratings. It delivered impressive performance in most tests, although its tread life is estimated to be just 45,000 miles — a bit short of its rivals, which look to provide 55,000 to 65,000 miles of service.”
Consumer Reports looked at each UHP tire and analyzed results in nine tests, and also noted the tire’s tested tread life.
The Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate earned its best marks — “excellent” in handling and hydroplaning. The tire was rated “very good” in dry braking, wet braking, ice braking and noise. It earned a “good” mark for snow traction, and “fair” ratings for ride comfort and rolling resistance.
Here are the four tires that came in tied for second place in the Consumer Reports test:
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+
General G-Max AS-05
BFGoodrich g-Force Comp-2 A/S
Vredestein Quatrac Pro
And here’s how Consumer Reports scored each of those tires in the nine categories:
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+: “Excellent” in dry braking and hydroplaning; “very good” in wet braking and handling; “good” in snow traction and noise; and “fair” in ice braking, ride comfort and rolling resistance. The tire has a 55,000 mile tread life.
General G-Max AS-05: “Excellent” in dry braking; “very good” in handling, hydroplaning and noise; “good” in wet braking, snow traction and ice braking; and “fair” in ride comfort and rolling resistance. The tire has a 65,000 mile tread life.
BFGoodrich g-Force Comp-2 A/S: “Very good” in dry braking, handling, hydroplaning, snow traction and ice breaking; “good” in wet braking; “fair” in ride comfort and rolling resistance; and “poor” in noise. The tire has a 65,000 mile tread life.
Vredestein Quatrac Pro: “Very good” in dry braking, handling, hydroplaning, snow traction, ice braking and noise; “good” in wet braking and ride comfort; and “fair” in rolling resistance. The tire has a 60,000 mile tread life.
And these are the tires that rounded out the top 10:
Pirelli P Zero All Season Plus
Continental ExtremeContact DWS06
Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS
Kumho Ecsta PA51
Cooper Zeon RS3-G1
Four of the five top tires are "recomended" by Consumer Reports: the Goodyear, Michelin, General and Vredestein products.
