Goodyear, Michelin Top Magazine All-Season and Winter Tests

Akron/Tire Review) Consumer Reports magazine has rated Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.’s Assurance TripleTred as best overall in tests of 18 different all-season tyres. The testing was done for the magazine’s annual tyre roundup in its November issue.

In separate tests of winter tyres, Consumer Reports rated the Michelin X-Ice tops among 12 winter tyre models currently on the market. Continental’s Viking Snow Tech placed second, and the Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice came in third.

The Michelin X Radial and Hankook Mileage Plus II H725 placed second and third, respectively, in the magazine’s all-season tyre rankings.

Consumer Reports said it saw “substantive improvement in the performance of all-season tyres” since it last rated that type of tyre four years ago. “For example, the Kelly Navigator Platinum TE was the magazine’s second-overall choice in 2001,” the magazine said. “In this year’s testing against other models with newer designs, the Navigator Platinum TE dropped to ninth place overall. Consumer Reports said it had rated the now discontinued Michelin X-One as best overall in 2001.

The testing, said Consumer Reports, emphasized safety issues such as braking, handling, and resistance to hydroplaning.

For the tests, Consumer Reports said it chose 18 models of all-season tyres from “upper-mid-level and premium lines” with S or T speed ratings. Tread-wear warranties for those tires run from 65,000 to 100,000 miles, and store pricing ranged from $48 to $114 for the common P205/65R15 size. Consumer Reports said that it purchased all of the test tires on the open retail market.