Never forget that premium tyres are a form of insurance. Pay maybe $30 more per corner and you could avoid a traumatic brain injury – surely one of
the better insurance deals around.
With that in mind, it’s almost impossible to go wrong when you shop for tyres. If everyone went into their local tyre retailer and selected only from a ‘premium’ list, without being distracted by the discount specials from Eastern Europe, India or China (and checked the pressures once a fortnight) the roads would be safer. Here’s the list (in alphabetical order): BF Goodrich, Bridgestone, Continental, Dunlop, Falken, Goodyear, Michelin, Sumitomo, Toyo, Pirelli, Yokohama.
It’s that simple.
In a sense, what we’re doing here is splitting hairs. There’s a little less than five percent separating the six 235/45R17 contenders, and just over three percent separating the 195/60R15s. A big deal in racing; less so on the road. It means they’re all good tyres, and infinitely better than any cheapies or retreads.
Me? I’d opt for the new Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric, despite its significant price premium. And, if it wasn’t yet available in my size, I’d be happy to drive off with the Falken FK 452 and pocket the change. This pair were up the sharp end of the field so predictably often, they’re an obvious choice if driving enjoyment really is your thing.
One obvious question: What if your car isn’t running on 235/45R17s or 195/60R15s? Tyre-industry experts say a particular tyre – say the Goodyear Asymmetric that aced this year’s test – is designed to deliver a particular level of performance across the range. After considering the loads likely to be imposed upon it by the car, it’s built to provide that performance in each size. In other words, our winner is also an odds-on favourite in 16-, 18- and 19-inch sizes as well as the 17s we tested.
It’s quite therapeutic to spend two days driving and measuring cars and tyres at the limit of adhesion. We come away with a bunch of numbers that quantify absolute performance limits. If you buy the Goodyear Asymmetric, or the Pirelli P6000 that won the 195/60 category, you’re getting the highest level of performance potential. But you don’t drive like that on the street … usually. What that means is that when you buy the best tyres available, you’ve got the capacity for the highest level of fun factor on your favourite backroad. And for the other 95 percent of driving, you benefit from the biggest safety margin money can buy.