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According to the November Consumer Reports, the best H-rated performance all-season tires are
- Dunlop SP Sport 5000 (worse than the second one in ride)
- Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S (better in hydroplaning resistance and ride, worse in rolling resistance, ice braking)
- Falken Ziex ZE 512 (cheaper, worse in rolling resistance, a good bit worse in tread life).
Performance all-seasons are pretty good all-around tires. They handle better than "touring" tires, but do better in snow and rain than pure performance tires.
I had a hard time finding these guys. Dunlop is owned by Goodyear (Goodrich?), which just ended a long strike, during which no tires were being shipped. So as of a month ago, I couldn’t find Dunlops anywhere. They don’t make the Michelins in my tire size. So I settled on the Falkens. They are quiet and handle great, but they have a noticeably softer rubber compound than my old stock Michelins.
Consumer Reports gives the best reviews of tires I have found. Places like tires.com have user ratings and reviews, but they are all subjective. Consumer Reports actually measures dry and wet braking, handling, hydroplaning, rolling resistance, snow traction, ice breaking, ride, noise and tread life. You can’t beat that.
It would be worth it to buy an online subscription to Consumer Reports just so you can read the ratings for this one purchase. That would be true for most other large purchases (except computers, I think.) Some articles are free, but they tend to be general advice. For specific ratings, you generally have to be a subscriber.
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