Consumer Reports rates all-season, all-terrain, winter tires
Tire Business staff report©
YONKERS, N.Y. (Oct. 7, 2008) — There were large differences in all-weather performance, tread life and fuel economy in Consumer Reports (CR) magazine’s latest tire test, involving 34 all season and all-terrain sport-utility vehicle (SUV) and pickup truck tires.
In its latest ratings, the magazine—published by Consumers Union, a nonprofit research organization—rated the General Grabber HTS the best all season tires and the Pirelli Scorpion ATR the highest among all-terrain tires tested, based primarily on grip in dry and wet conditions.
The Michelin Latitude X-Ice won the top rating among the four winter tires CR tested for delivering better snow traction and grip on ice while keeping tire noise low.
All tire models were tested in size P265/70R17 on a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado pickup and a 2007 Chevrolet Suburban. The magazine said it expected most of the results would be comparable for other sizes of these models.
Most of the all season tires tested performed very well in braking, handling and hydroplaning resistance, according to CR. However the tires showed a wide range of tread life and rolling resistance ratings. The magazine staff concluded that the fact that a number of all season models with very good treadlife ratings ranked near the bottom in overall performance indicated the need to look at the overall features when choosing tires.
“The best choice of tires for your SUV or pickup truck depends on its design and how you use the vehicle,” said Rik Paul, CR automotive editor. “First, look for tires that provide overall good performance,…and then use tread life and rolling resistance as tiebreakers, if necessary.”
Other results from the study include:
* To show how rolling resistance affects gas mileage, CR used the Chevrolet Silverado test truck to measure the highway fuel economy of the tires with the best and worst rolling resistance. The Silverado got 2.4 mpg better highway mileage with the Goodyear Wrangler SR-A all season tire with the lowest rolling resistance compared with the General Grabber AT 2 all-terrain tire with the highest rolling resistance. CR claimed that provided a difference of about $300 per year, assuming gas costs $4 a gallon and the car is driven 12,000 miles per year.
* The magazine also reported that many all-terrain tires scored lower in handling and rolling resistance than the all season models, but they do provide “impressive” hydroplaning resistance.
* For the first time, CR included treadlife ratings for all season and all-terrain truck tires, as evaluated on a 16,000-mile test conducted at an outside lab. The fastest wearing models were predicted to wear out at about 40,000 miles while those with the best wear potential could last for almost 90,000 miles.
In some cases the real world results didn’t match the manufacturer warranties or treadwear ratings on the tire. Several tires with relatively long tread wear warranties and high government ratings wore quickly in CR’s tests, the study said. Yet, for example, the BF Goodrich Rugged Trail T/A had the longest tread life in the all-season group but had the lowest government treadwear rating and no treadwear warranty, the magazine said. It also ranked near the bottom in terms of overall performance.
The full tire ratings are featured in the November issue of Consumer Reports.
Tire Business staff report©
YONKERS, N.Y. (Oct. 7, 2008) — There were large differences in all-weather performance, tread life and fuel economy in Consumer Reports (CR) magazine’s latest tire test, involving 34 all season and all-terrain sport-utility vehicle (SUV) and pickup truck tires.
In its latest ratings, the magazine—published by Consumers Union, a nonprofit research organization—rated the General Grabber HTS the best all season tires and the Pirelli Scorpion ATR the highest among all-terrain tires tested, based primarily on grip in dry and wet conditions.
The Michelin Latitude X-Ice won the top rating among the four winter tires CR tested for delivering better snow traction and grip on ice while keeping tire noise low.
All tire models were tested in size P265/70R17 on a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado pickup and a 2007 Chevrolet Suburban. The magazine said it expected most of the results would be comparable for other sizes of these models.
Most of the all season tires tested performed very well in braking, handling and hydroplaning resistance, according to CR. However the tires showed a wide range of tread life and rolling resistance ratings. The magazine staff concluded that the fact that a number of all season models with very good treadlife ratings ranked near the bottom in overall performance indicated the need to look at the overall features when choosing tires.
“The best choice of tires for your SUV or pickup truck depends on its design and how you use the vehicle,” said Rik Paul, CR automotive editor. “First, look for tires that provide overall good performance,…and then use tread life and rolling resistance as tiebreakers, if necessary.”
Other results from the study include:
* To show how rolling resistance affects gas mileage, CR used the Chevrolet Silverado test truck to measure the highway fuel economy of the tires with the best and worst rolling resistance. The Silverado got 2.4 mpg better highway mileage with the Goodyear Wrangler SR-A all season tire with the lowest rolling resistance compared with the General Grabber AT 2 all-terrain tire with the highest rolling resistance. CR claimed that provided a difference of about $300 per year, assuming gas costs $4 a gallon and the car is driven 12,000 miles per year.
* The magazine also reported that many all-terrain tires scored lower in handling and rolling resistance than the all season models, but they do provide “impressive” hydroplaning resistance.
* For the first time, CR included treadlife ratings for all season and all-terrain truck tires, as evaluated on a 16,000-mile test conducted at an outside lab. The fastest wearing models were predicted to wear out at about 40,000 miles while those with the best wear potential could last for almost 90,000 miles.
In some cases the real world results didn’t match the manufacturer warranties or treadwear ratings on the tire. Several tires with relatively long tread wear warranties and high government ratings wore quickly in CR’s tests, the study said. Yet, for example, the BF Goodrich Rugged Trail T/A had the longest tread life in the all-season group but had the lowest government treadwear rating and no treadwear warranty, the magazine said. It also ranked near the bottom in terms of overall performance.
The full tire ratings are featured in the November issue of Consumer Reports.
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