Michelin, Goodyear and Dunlop brand ultra-high performance tires topped Consumer Reports' recent ratings of 21 different tires from 19 companies. Tests were conducted at Consumer Reports' auto test center in Connecticut.
The Michelin Pilot Sport PS2, Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric and Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT achieved "excellent" overall scores in braking, handling, tread life, rolling resistance, noise and hydroplaning.
The Continental Extreme Contact DW and the Hankook Ventus V12 evo K110 scored "just below" the three aforementioned tires, say Consumer Reports officials.
In addition to testing summer UHP tires, Consumer Reports also rated 17 models of all-season UHP tires and 15 models of performance winter tires. All of the 38 summer and all-season UHP models received a "very good" score, and five models received a score of "excellent." All new UHP and performance winter tire ratings have been posted at www.consumerreports.org.
For UHP tires, Consumer Reports' scores are a weighted average. Scores for winter tires are more heavily weighted toward snow traction and ice-braking performance. (They are not tested for tread life or wet handling.) Consumer Reports used a Chevrolet Cobalt SS for its tests.
Among the 21 models of summer UHP tires that were tested, only the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric received "excellent" ratings in four of the five braking, handling and hydroplaning tests. "It posted a 'very good' score in the wet braking test."
The three top-scorers in the all-season UHP category were the Pirelli P Zero Nero All-Season; the Sumitomo HTR A/S P01; and the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus. "The Pilot Sport A/S Plus tied with the fourth place finisher, the Continental Extreme Contact DWS," say Consumer Reports officials.
Consumer Reports' top three tires in the performance winter category were the Nokian WR G2; the Hankook Winter i+Cept Evo; and the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3.
Consumer Reports also tested a new all-season tire, the Continental ProContact Ecoplus +, which received an "excellent" rolling resistance rating. "It also delivered good, all-around performance in CR's braking, handling, hydroplaning resistance and winter driving tests."
The tire, overall, earned an "excellent" rating, "and now ranks second among the 26 models in the competitive all-season tire category." It tied the Michelin EnergySaver A/S, which Consumer Reports tested in its July 2010 edition.
