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All New Bridgestone Dueler AT Revo 3 All Terrain Truck Tire introduces Traction Claw Technology

By Gary Stanley

It has been over ten years since the introduction of the highly rated Bridgestone Dueler A/T REVO 2.  For much of that time, it was among the very best On-/Off-Road All-Terrain tires for light trucks and SUV's.  It was praised for its combination of all weather capability, ride quality, and light off-road traction.  However, a decade is a long time in the tire industry.  New developments and technology have raised the bar on what modern tires are capable of.  Newer competing designs like the BFGoodrich All-Terrain TA KO2 and Michelin LTX A/T 2 have pushed ahead of the Dueler A/T REVO 2 in our tire ratings and reviews of On-/Off-Road All-Terrain Tires.  I wrote more about the BFGoodrich in a recent blog that you can check out as well. 

I've always been a fan of Bridgestone tires, so I was excited when they presented us with their long-awaited replacement for the A/T REVO 2, called the Bridgestone Dueler A/T REVO 3.

 

Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo 3

As a result of newer tread compounds, advanced computer design and other technological advances in tire technology, Bridgestone was able to improve on their flagship On-/Off-Road All-Terrain Tire significantly.   To compete with newer designs, the new Dueler A/T REVO 3 features a more aggressive sidewall design and all new tread pattern.   A deep starting tread depth, wide circumferential grooves and open shoulder slots help channel water away from the contact patch to resist hydroplaning, Staggered shoulder lugs, groove stepping, and Bridgestone's Traction Claw Technology work to improve snow traction and off-road traction.  The wear warranty has been also increased by 20%, now standing at an impressive 60,000 miles.  

Will these improvements be enough for Bridgestone to reclaim its top-tier status in the On-/Off-Road All-Terrain Tire category?  Stay tuned to our customer reviews and ratings page as drivers begin reporting their feedback to see for yourself! 

Is the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S the New King of the Hill for Max Performance Summer Tires?

By Gary Stanley

Since 2011, Michelin's Pilot Super Sport all but dominated the competition in the Max performance summer tire category.  It has been the benchmark in the category, a favorite of consumers, and has won many Tirerack.com comparison tests.  I've even expressed my own personal praise for the Pilot Super Sport tires after installing them on my own car in my blog titled "Michelin Pilot Super Sport Tires Installed On My Car".  Improving over a benchmark-setting tire such as this and creating an even better tire would seem to be quite the challenge.  Enter Michelin's newest flagship performance tire : the Pilot Sport 4S.  

 

The new Pilot Sport 4S was developed in cooperation with Audi, BMW, Mercedes Benz, and other car manufacturers in order to create a Max Performance Summer tire that would prove to be a worthy successor to the outstanding Pilot Super Sport.  The  Pilot Sport 4S uses technologies that Michelin engineers developed from their experience on the track in the 24 of Le Mans.  The new side by side rubber compound that utilizes a new dry-focused hybrid tread rubber compound to improve dry handling and braking compared to the Pilot Super Sport, while still featuring a silica-infused wet compound to give drivers extra confidence in wet conditions.  You can read more about the technologies that Michelin has incorporated into the tire at the Pilot Sport 4S product information page at Tirerack.com.      I

In a recent full test, the tire was praised for it's steering feel and light handling feel on the street.  The tester in the video even went so far as to call it "ideal...good weight...natural and linear...millimeter-precise without being overly sensitive."   Check out the test video : 

 

On the track, the Pilot Sport 4S stood out among its competition with regards to handling, steering response and overall grip in a tire that was easy to control at the limits.  To again quote the Tirerack.com test driver, "everything about the Pilot Sport 4S just feels right on track."  Dry lap times were the fastest versus the other two tires in the test.  Remarkably, it also posted the fastest wet lap times on the track as well, edging out both the Continental ExtremeContact Sport, and Pirelli Pzero (PZ4).  

To summarize, the new Michelin Pilot Sport 4S does indeed set a new high water mark in the Max performance Summer category, performing all tasks as well or better than its competition. It would hard for me not to conclude that the Pilot Sport 4S is indeed the new Max Performance Summer tire king of hill.  Check out pricing and availability as well as customer ratings and reviews at Tirerack.com.  

 

***Lifting your truck is easy with ReadyLIFT's no-cutting, bolt on leveling kits and lift kits.

By Gary Stanley

ReadyLIFT was created in 2006 to design and produce premium leveling kits for trucks and SUVs.  

3 levels of product, we carry 2 of them. 

1. ReadyLIFT leveling kit Premium, high end leveling kits. Explain leveling kit is. 1.5"- 3" front lift "to level" and allow for larger tire sizes.  About larger size fitments, typical results.   Not a "one size fits all" kit, ReadyLIFT engineers carefully evaluate each model year for changes in suspension rather than trying to sell one kit for multiple years.  As a result, ...

What our site says / reword " 

ReadyLIFT Suspensions' billet aluminum construction Leveling Kits optimize suspension articulation while retaining the factory ride and travel specifications. Ready to bolt right on, the kits meet O.E. suspension geometry standards. Leveling components, some with adjustable features, range from ReadyLIFT's forged leveling torsion keys complete with shock extensions to strong steel strut spacers or machined billet aluminum strut spacers depending on the application.

2. ReadyLIFT SST lift kit  SST kits started in 2008.  Stands for "Smart Suspension Technology"  Explain lift kit, what it does over leveling kit.  Explain even larger sizes possible. 3.5-4" lift front and rear.  All but one part # of SST kits (the 2014 GMC 1500 4WD Z71) involve No cutting of OEM parts. Kits are made for late model truck and include shock extensions when needed. Factory ride is preserved.  Preload spacers limit downward travel to prevent premature wear of CV joints.  Factory turn radius is maintained.  Everything that is needed is IN THE BOX.  If the user prefers to use extended length aftermarket shocks, ReadyLIFT has done the research and will list which Bilstein shock part # will be compatible with the kit. 

Finish with warranties.  ReadyGuard Powertrain warranty of 5yr 60k miles. Most parts in the kit have a lifetime warranty (bushings and moving parts like shocks are excluded). 

ReadyLIFT makes a variety of other suspension products related to lifted truck and SUV applications that are available by special order.  These include Coil Spring lift kits, Coil Spacer kits, and ReadyLIFTs most aggressive line of lift kits called the Terrain Flex Kits.  Of particular interest to the Jeep community is the 2007-2018 Jeep JK Front High-Steer Kit.  Use Turks notes and the product description in the booklet to talk about the kit. For more information about these parts, contact one of our sales specialists by phone or email from our contact information page.  

After leveling or lifting your truck, you'll be able to use larger tires.  For more information about Tirerack.com's selection off Off-Road tires, see my blog titled "Truck Tires: Off-Road Tires and Mud Tires, Mudding tires versus All-Terrain tires."

 

 

http://blog.TireRack.com/blog/make-driving-fun-2/truck-tires:-off-road-tires-and-mud-tires-mudding-tires-versus-all-terrain-tires

 

Turk wants me to highlight the Jeep kit.

Of particular interest to the Jeep community would be the high-steer kit (pg 19) that requires no modifications. To my knowledge, they are only the second company to be able to make a top-mount drag link for the Jeep JK that does not involve drilling out the tapered mounting hole on the knuckle. This was a big deal when Steer Smarts first came to market with their Yeti steering system a couple years ago, and I hadn’t heard that there was another similar system on the market until that training class yesterday. They use a reverse-tapered insert to make the mounting hole not-tapered so the drag link end can mount on the top of the knuckle rather than from underneath like from the factory. Normally, to mount the drag link this way (also called a “drag link flip”) requires drilling out or reaming out the knuckle mounting hole to ¾” diameter, through tough, cast, probably inch-thick steel. It is not a fun thing to have to do, so the “no-drill drag link flip” is a super easy sell to someone with a lifted Jeep who wants some better road manners. As they say in the brochure, this helps with body roll, bump steer, and roll steer. I have the Steer Smarts Yeti drag link on my Jeep that does essentially the same thing, and the install was a fraction of the difficulty and time involved with a normal drag link flip/highsteer install.

Looking for trailer wheels? Check out these new styles by Ultra Trailer Wheels.

By Gary Stanley

If you've ever shopped for truck wheels, there is a good chance you've come across Ultra wheels.  They've been in the wheel business for over 30 years and bring those decades of experience to the table to produce high quality wheels.  With a large selection of affordable styles of wheels in different a variety of attractive finishes, Ultra has something to offer nearly everyone.  In addition to the standard Ultra Motorsports line of wheels, they also offer Ultra Muscle wheels, Ultra Motorsport Extreme wheels, and now, Ultra Trailer Wheels.  

 

 

 Ultra Trailer Hangout
Ultra Trailer Hangout  Ultra Trailer Machine Black
Ultra Trailer Machine Black  Ultra Trailer Nomad
Ultra Trailer Nomad

 

The standard Ultra Motorsports line of wheels are primarily for Trucks and SUVs, while the Ultra Muscle wheels cater to high performance and muscle car applications.  Ultra Motorsport Extreme wheels are often the choice for the true off-road enthusiast.   Now with Ultra Trailer Wheels line, you no longer have to settle for boring-looking trailer wheels.  Some might ask why people would bother with aftermarket trailer wheels.  There are a number of reasons to add  some style to your trailer!  You can make your toy hauler really stand out from the crowd at the track or add some style to your company's work trailer with these new wheel styles.  You can even go so far as to buy a style like the Ultra Machine for both your truck and your trailer so that all of your wheels match! 

Ordering trailer wheels at Tirerack.com is easy.  First, choose your style from the trailer wheels page, then choose your bolt pattern.  Tirerack.com carries wheels that fit the most common trailer hub bolt patterns of 5-4.5, 6-5. and 8-6.5.    Need trailer tires as well?  Check out my blog titled, "All-New Goodyear Endurance Trailer Tires are Made in the USA" for more information.  

Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 SUV Crossover Winter Snow Tires - Third Season Update.

By Gary Stanley

Since we live in a snowy area that sees quite a bit of lake effect snowfall, I have driven on many different winter snow tires over the years.  I've also had the opportunity to test dozens of different winter snow tires as a test driver in TireRack.com's tire testing program.  I've been impressed with a few models of tires over the years, but I keep coming back to Bridgestone's Blizzak family of winter snow tires when it comes time to buy winter tires for my own personal use. 

It is now the middle of the 2017-2018 winter season here in South Bend, Indiana and I am well into my third year of driving on the Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 winter snow tires on our family's, 2009 Mazda CX-7.  The first set of winter snow I used on this vehicle was the previous generation of Bridgestones SUV winter tire, the Blizzak DMV-1.   This tire was one of the first in a category that Tirerack.com calls "Light Truck/SUV Studless Ice and Snow tires.".  The DMV-1 had outstanding winter traction helped get me and my family through five full winter seasons. 

As I mentioned in a previous blog discussing my excitement about trying out the DM-V2, I had high expectations for the updated tire.  

 

Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2

 

Like it's predecessor, the new Blizzak DM-V2 uses an aggressive, heavily siped tread pattern to help it bite into snow, along with a rubber compound designed to remain pliable at lower temperatures.  However, the new DM-V2 features what Bridgestone calls their "adaptive NanoPro Tech Multicell" compound and microscopic bite particles that contribute to high levels of grip on hard packed snow and ice. This updated compound along with a resigned tread pattern which has more block edges to help with snow and slush traction raise the DM-V2 to give drivers a new level of safety and confidence when driving in wintry conditions.     

The results of those improvements proved themselves to me in real-world driving.  Season after season, it has yet to disappoint me.  After nearly 20,000 miles of winter driving on these tires, they still have 9/32nds tread depth left so there is a good chance I will get four to five useful winter seasons out of them, which is quite impressive for a studless ice and snow tire

Don't just take my word for it.  I'm one of many drivers to report similarly great experience with the Blizzak DM-V2 tires. Read the full test report at Tirerack.com, and see our consumer reviews submitted from everyday drivers just like you.  

 

Best snow tires for winter driving : Bridgestone versus Michelin.

By Gary Stanley

The Winter of 2017/2018 has been one for the record books.  Much of the country has had to deal with severe cold temperatures and record breaking snowfalls.   Some of the sub-zero cold temperatures that much of the country experienced were the coldest recorded in over a decade.  Not long before I wrote this blog, I awoke to a morning of negative 14 degrees here in South Bend, Indiana near TireRack.com headquarters.. This combination of snowfall and extreme low temperatures makes for a treacherous commute on hard packed snow and ice. 

Experienced winter drivers know that hard-driving on packed snow covered roads is nearly as treacherous as driving on  ice-covered roads.  There is simply very little traction to be found on these slick surfaces.  To make matters worse, sub zero temperatures have a very noticeable effect on a vehicles tires,  They become stiff and their rubber compound begins to resemble something like a hockey puck instead of a pliable tread compound needed to find grip on slick roads.Standard all-season tires that are used on most vehicles simply aren't capable of providing adequate traction in temperatures this cold.    While traditional snow tires with aggressive tread patterns do better, even these tires can suffer from the same issues in frigidly cold conditions.  .   

It is in these extreme winter conditions that winter tires with special low-temperature compounds, called studless ice and snow tires, really prove their worth.  There are a handful of tire manufacturers that produce high quality studless ice and snow tires, but two specific tires stand out of the rest of the group, both in our own testing and in our consumer ratings for studless ice and snow tires.  The Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 and Michein X-Ice Xi3 are currently the state-of-the-art for maximum snow and ice traction without the inconvenience and noise of studded tires. 

 

 Bridgestone Blizzak WS80
Bridgestone Blizzak WS80  Michelin X-Ice Xi3
Michelin X-Ice Xi3

 

In the 1990's Bridgestone revolutionized the snow tire market with the introduction of the original Blizzak WS-15 studless winter snow tire.  Its combination of an aggressive heavily siped tread pattern, unique tread compound and increased tread depth set the bar for snow and ice traction. Each generation of Blizzak since has continued to be the dominant tire in the category until Michelin's introduction of the  Michelin Xice Xi2 (now the Xi3)  studless winter tire.  In our in-house test, the Michelin impressed me so much that I bought a set for my own car and ran them through a couple winter seasons. I found its combination of road manners and ride quality impressive for a winter snow tire.  In addition, it still had great snow and ice traction. I was quite happy with its balanced approach as it performed well all winter on both dry and snow covered roads. 

I wanted to try the latest generation of Blizzak for my next winter tire purchase, so this past season I installed a set of the new Bridgestone Blizzak WS-80 tires.  The daily commute in my 2009 Infiniti G37x involves some less-traveled (and less frequently cleared) county roads which can be a challenge in wintry conditions.   I noticed almost immediately that loose snow traction and traction in slushy conditions were easier to traverse with the Blizzak WS-80.  The difference tires was quite noticeable to me.  When driving on on hard-packed snow or icy roads, I found there to be very little difference between the Bridgestone and the Michelin.  The Michelin is ranked number two in our customer survey data just behind the newer Blizzak WS-80 and after driving on both I would agree with our customers feedback on the two.    You can read more about the WS-80 in my blog "Brdgestone Blizzak WS70 vs Blizzak WS80".  

Which did I like better overall?  They were both impressive, but I felt more confident driving in loose snow and on slushy roads with the Bridgestone Blizzak WS-80 tires.  Both felt about equal on hard-packed snow and ice.  The Michelin seemed to have a bit more dry road grip, and little faster steering response.  I didn't feel much difference in quality between the two with both having reasonable road manners.  Both tires saved me a lot of stress and reduced my commuting time by allowing me to drive at a reasonable speed with confidence.

Whether you are an experienced winter driver or a new driver needing more confidence driving in the snow, having a great set of snow tires in the single best winter driving tip I could recommend.  Save yourself some time and frustration and consider purchasing a set of dedicated winter tires for your car at TireRack.com.

 

Get Your Tires Right. The Tire Decision Guide Can Help.

By Tire Rack Team

Choosing tires can be overwhelming for some. So many brands. So many options. So many questions. How do you narrow it down to make an educated choice on what will be on your vehicle for the next few years?

Just like you, we’ve got questions. However, the answers to our questions will get you our top tire recommendations from our Tire Decision Guide. The Tire Decision Guide allows you to easily compare results and personalize options for your vehicle. The guide can be used to select summer, all-season and winter tires.

We took decades of tire experience, first-hand testing of hundreds of tires in all weather conditions and a deep understanding of what makes tires do what they do. We combine this data and feedback from customers to provide one top tire recommendations personalized just for you with up to two additional options for consideration.

And this time of year, the Tire Decision Guide can play a huge role in assisting you to decide if winter tires are needed where you drive, and if so, which one will best help you navigate winter’s toughest conditions. When selecting your winter tire, options may come from three categories:

  1. Studless Ice & Snow
  2. Studdable Winter / Snow
  3. Performance Winter / Snow

To learn the difference between each category, take a look at “Understanding the Tire Performance Categories for Winter / Snow Tires.”

Be prepared this winter, and any season, by letting our Tire Decision Guide dress your vehicle with the proper tires

Don't Let Snow Stop Your 2017 Honda Civic Type R

By Cy Chowattukunnel

Before my BRZ and MR2 Spyder days, I was a Honda guy. To this day, I still hope Honda will come out with a new Prelude. If not, the Civic Type R sure looks like a vehicle to tempt my interests. 

Are you a driver that just picked up a Civic Type R yourself? I'm sure you're loving it, but if you reside in the snowbelt region, you're going to need winter / snow tires.

Winter / Snow Tire Category

As discussed in our snow tire overview, you need the optimal snow tire and size for your specific winter climate. Here in South Bend, Indiana, our winter is a mix of deep snow, blizzards, persistently icy secondary roads, slush and cold, dry pavement. Is your winter weather similar? Milder? Fine tune your choice to match your typical conditions and driving temperament. 

Performance Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package

Given the Civic Type R's combination of steering response, power, overall handling balance and surprising lack of torque steer, most Type R drivers are best served by performance winter tires. One critical factor to consider is tire size. There is always going to be a balancing act between having a tire narrow enough to cut through deeper snow, but wide enough for ice, packed snow and dry roads. If you're going with a Performance Winter / Snow tire to prioritize dry-road handling, staying with the Original Equipment 245 width complements that  dry road emphasis. Specifically, choosing the 245/35R19 Michelin Pilot PA4 for its key strengths of good snow grip, wet traction and dry-road handling. For wheels, consider the 19x8 ET 45 gloss black painted MSW Type 71 (Original Equipment wheels are 8.5" wide with a 60 mm offset).

245/35-19 PERFORMANCE WINTER/SNOW MICHELIN PILOT ALPIN PA4 $324.86*
245/35R19 Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4  19x8.5 ET 45 Gloss Black Painted MSW Type 71 $171
MSW Type 71 


Studless Ice & Snow Tire & Wheel Package

Is your Civic Type R  your sole winter vehicle? Are you living in an area that gets a large amount of snow and ice? Then you'll want to get Studless Ice & Snow tires for their ice and packed-snow grip advantage. The complementary tire size would be 235/45R18. 235/45R18 tires are about 1/2" narrower and 1/2" larger in diameter than your Original Equipment 245/30R20. This narrower footprint cuts through deeper snow, yet is wide enough for ice and packed snow. The Continental WinterContact SI offers a great balance between ice grip and dry-road handling. For wheels, consider the 18x7.5 ET 47 black painted MSW Type 27.

235/45-18 STUDLESS ICE & SNOW CONTINENTAL WINTERCONTACT SI $163.40*
Continental WinterContact SI 18X7.5 ET 47 BLACK PAINTED MSW TYPE 27 $148*
MSW Type 27

 
Note: Your Civic Type R uses the Indirect ABS-based TPMS system so no direct sensors are needed. Just hit the TPMS reset button after installing your wheels and tires. 

You Can Run But You Can't Hide From Mother Nature

By Cy Chowattukunnel

Do you need to run winter / snow tires? If you're in a region that normally averages over a foot of snow or your vehicle comes equipped with summer tires from the factory, you should strongly consider installing winter tires. Dedicated snow tires will enhance an all-wheel drive vehicle's winter capability, make an intrinsically "bad-in-snow" car better and improve safety in that family sedan, SUV or minivan.


All-wheel drive, ABS (Anti-Lock Brakes) and traction control help, but no car maker can manufacture traction. All-wheel drive will help get you going, however you'll need proper snow grip to stop and turn. Since innate snow prowess and overall performance will vary by vehicle, select a tire from the performance category that works best for your vehicle, your driving temperament and local weather. The three major performance categories are: Studless Ice & Snow, Studdable Winter / Snow and Performance Winter / Snow.

Studless Ice & Snow tires give you optimum ice and packed snow grip, but are less responsive on dry roads. These tires trade a little clear-road handling precision for their high level of snow and ice traction.

Studless Ice & Snow tires tend to be available in higher profile sizes and include the following:

table.tableizer-table { font-size: 12px; border: 1px solid #CCC; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; } .tableizer-table td { padding: 4px; margin: 3px; border: 1px solid #CCC; } .tableizer-table th { background-color: #104E8B; color: #FFF; font-weight: bold; } Passenger Light Truck/SUV BFGoodrich Winter Slalom KSI Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1 Bridgestone Blizzak WS70 Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 Bridgestone Blizzak W965 Continental WinterContact SI Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice WRT SUV Dunlop Winter Maxx Michelin LTX Winter Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice WRT Michelin Latitude X-Ice Xi2 Michelin X-Ice Xi3 Yokahma Geolandar I/T G072 Pirelli Ice Zero FR Yokohama iceGUARD iG51v Yokohama iceGUARD iG20   Yokohama iceGUARD iG52c  

If you go with a Studless Ice & Snow tire, you should consider going with a narrower tire as it cuts through deeper snow better. This is especially true for a lighter car like the MINI Cooper, but there are exceptions to the rule as discussed in detail here.

Studdable Winter / Snow tires can run studded or unstudded. When studded, they provide good ice and packed snow grip but are less responsive on dry roads. When unstudded, these tires perform well in moderate and deep snow, yet do not match the ice traction of tires in the Studless Ice & Snow category. It's important to note that the use of studded tires may be prohibited or restricted in your area, so be sure to check with local authorities to confirm legality.

Looking for the traditional security of winter tire studs for enhanced traction on ice? Consider the following Studdable Winter / Snow options:

table.tableizer-table { font-size: 12px; border: 1px solid #CCC; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; } .tableizer-table td { padding: 4px; margin: 3px; border: 1px solid #CCC; } .tableizer-table th { background-color: #104E8B; color: #FFF; font-weight: bold; } Passenger Light Truck/SUV General AltiMAX Arctic Firestone Winterforce LT Goodyear Utra Grip Winter Firestone Winterforce UV Firestone Winterforce General Grabber Arctic   General Grabber Arctic LT

Performance Winter / Snow tires exhibit dry-road deficiencies to a much lesser degree. If your vehicle came with summer performance tires, the Performance Winter / Snow tires will be more comparable in steering response, acceleration, grip, braking and cornering grip. They give up some ice and packed snow grip to achieve it. Tires in this category wear slightly better compared to Studless Ice & Snow tires, especially during the early and late winter days when temperatures are a little warmer.

Available in lower profile sizes, the following Performance Winter / Snow tires are worth a look:

table.tableizer-table { font-size: 12px; border: 1px solid #CCC; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; } .tableizer-table td { padding: 4px; margin: 3px; border: 1px solid #CCC; } .tableizer-table th { background-color: #104E8B; color: #FFF; font-weight: bold; } Passenger Light Truck/SUV Bridgestone Blizzak LM-25 RFT Pirelli Scorpion Ice & Snow Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32 Pirelli Scorpion Ice & Snow Run Flat Bridgestone Blizzak LM-60 RFT Pirelli Scorpion Winter Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 Pirelli Scorpion Winter Run Flat Dunlop Winter Sport 3D   Dunlop Winter Sport 4D   Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4   Pirelli Winter Snowcontrol Serie 3 (W190)   Pirelli Winter Sottozero (W210/240)   Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3   Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 Run Flat   Pirelli Winter Sottozero Serie II (W210/240/270)   Pirelli Winter Sottozero Serie II Run Flat (W210/240/270)  
Create a Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package now and you'll be ready for whatever Mother Nature throws your way.

Newer is Better: Introducing the Ultra High Performance All-Season General G-MAX AS-05

By Cy Chowattukunnel

Ultra High Performance All-Season General G-MAX AS-05

Founded in 1915, General Tire has been making tires for over 100 years. That knowledge base improved even more in 1987 when General was purchased by a leading German-tire manufacturer. This infusion of capital and technology has helped General continue to make great tires at a very reasonable prices.  

One such General tire that has tested well and impressed thousands of drivers has been the Ultra High Performance All-Season General G-MAX AS-03. The General G-MAX AS-03 provides a great combination of handling, overall performance and value in a wide range of sizes. Yet General's tire engineers knew that they couldn't rest on their laurels. Our testing program incentivizes tire manufacturers to constantly improve for the next Tire Rack comparison test. As the ultimate tire geeks, we feel that there's always room for improvement.

We definitely like the improvements that General has made in the new G-MAX AS-05, General's replacement for the trusted G-MAX AS-03. Compared to the General G-MAX AS-03, the AS-05 has maintained good steering response, made noticeable improvements in ride and tread noise, along with incremental improvements in dry and wet traction. 

I suspect that we’ll find the biggest difference will be tread noise over the long term. The AS-05's non-directional asymmetric tread pattern allows for side-to-side rotation changing the direction of travel. So in theory, the AS-05 should  be less apt to develop noisy heel and toe wear.

Although we don't have hard data (pending our 2018 winter testing), General's internal testing has shown a modest improvement in winter performance compared to the G-MAX AS-03, which demonstrated good winter performance for its category.

In short, if you liked the General G-MAX AS-03, you'll like the General G-MAX AS-05 even more!

Where's the Toyo R888? It's Being Replaced by the Toyo R888R in Most Sizes.

By Cy Chowattukunnel

Ready for warm weather and track days, but wondering why you can't find the Racetrack & Autocross Only Toyo R888 in your size? Well, you might not be able to get the R888 in your size but you can probably get the newer improved R888R.

Racetrack & Autocross Only Toyo R888
Racetrack & Autocross Only Toyo R888 Racetrack & Autocross Only Toyo R888R
Racetrack & Autocross Only Toyo R888R  

The R888R uses the same R-compound as the R888 but the R888R has an asymmetric tread pattern that creates a 14% increase in contact patch while cornering and 10% increase in a straight line. Internal construction has been revised to optimize the contact patch for improved overall dry traction. Toyo’s internal testing shows a noticeable improvement in dry lap times compared to its predecessor with a small decrease in wet performance.

At this point, Toyo is planning on phasing out the R888 in most sizes and replacing it with the R888R. However, it will be a gradual process with the R888 staying around in a few select sizes. View sizes to see which tire is available for your vehicle.

General setup guidelines are unchanged for the R888R compared to the R888 and are listed below. Even though the R888R is DOT-approved, it is not intended to be driven on public highways - it is for competition use only.

  • Operating Temperature: 160°F to 220°F
  • Hot Inflation Pressures: 32 to 38 (psi)
  • Camber: -1° to -3°
  • Caster: As much positive as possible

Good things happen to those who haul!

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Where's the Toyo R888? It's Being Replaced by the Toyo R888R in Most Sizes.

By Cy Chowattukunnel

Ready for warm weather and track days, but wondering why you can't find the Racetrack & Autocross Only Toyo R888 in your size? Well, you might not be able to get the R888 in your size but you can probably get the newer improved R888R.

Racetrack & Autocross Only Toyo R888
Racetrack & Autocross Only Toyo R888 Racetrack & Autocross Only Toyo R888R
Racetrack & Autocross Only Toyo R888R  

The R888R uses the same R-compound as the R888 but the R888R has an asymmetric tread pattern that creates a 14% increase in contact patch while cornering and 10% increase in a straight line. Internal construction has been revised to optimize the contact patch for improved overall dry traction. Toyo’s internal testing shows a noticeable improvement in dry lap times compared to its predecessor with a small decrease in wet performance.

At this point, Toyo is planning on phasing out the R888 in most sizes and replacing it with the R888R. However, it will be a gradual process with the R888 staying around in a few select sizes. View sizes to see which tire is available for your vehicle.

General setup guidelines are unchanged for the R888R compared to the R888 and are listed below. Even though the R888R is DOT-approved, it is not intended to be driven on public highways - it is for competition use only.

  • Operating Temperature: 160°F to 220°F
  • Hot Inflation Pressures: 32 to 38 (psi)
  • Camber: -1° to -3°
  • Caster: As much positive as possible

Good things happen to those who haul!

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All-New Goodyear Endurance Trailer Tires are Made in the USA

By Gary Stanley

Another winter season is behind us and temperatures are rising enough that many enthusiasts are getting their warm-weather toys out for summertime fun. Whether you own a boat, jet skis, ATVs, race cars or dirt bikes, you probably own a trailer that you use to transport these vehicles.  

While checking the condition of your trailer, be sure to take some time to inspect the tires. The condition of your trailer tires is important to safety and is often neglected. Take the time to look beyond a visual check of the tires' tread depth. Trailer tires commonly "age out" before they wear out since many drivers don't put enough miles on them to cause significant tread wear. Therefore, be sure to check them for weather cracking, severe discoloration and other signs of aging before you use your trailer this year. Regardless of the condition of your trailer tires, most tire manufacturer associations recommend replacing tires that are over ten years old. For help determining the age of your tires, check out our tech article here.  

Should you find that a trailer tire purchase is in your future, we've got you covered!  Here at Tire Rack, we offer value-oriented trailer tires tire in the Power King brand. We previously discussed the Power King trailer tires in, "Goodyear Marathon Radial vs. Power King Towmax STR Trailer Tires." We also offer Goodyear trailer tires, including their new Endurance tire.

 Goodyear Endurance
Goodyear Endurance  Goodyear Marathon Radial
Goodyear Marathon Radial


Until recently shoppers looking for a familiar and well-respected tire brand for their trailer tires would turn to the Goodyear Marathon Radial. Since its introduction over ten years ago, the Marathon Radial has provided drivers with long wear and reliable service. In order to offer an even better trailer tire to its customers, Goodyear has replaced most sizes of the old Marathon Radial with the Endurance trailer tire and moved production of the new tire model to the USA.  

The Goodyear Endurance trailer tires feature a new tread pattern with more tightly spaced ribs to provide constant rubber-to-road contact for improved straight line tracking, highway stability and longer wear. All sizes now include two-ply nylon reinforcement to stabilize the tread which increases durability and traction. Some of the most popular sizes have increased load capacity compared to the old Marathon Radial.  

These improvements make the Goodyear Endurance a great choice for replacement trailer tires. Don't let a trailer tire failure ruin your fun this summer.

New Wheels for 2017 Subaru BRZ with Performance Pack Brembo Brakes

By Cy Chowattukunnel

I was hoping to convince Tire Rack management to cover the cost swapping my 2015 Subaru BRZ for a 2017 Subaru BRZ with the Performance Pack.

This would give us quick access for a car to test fit and I get the newest BRZ. Of course they didn't go for that, but we have updated our website with compatible wheels for the 2017 Subaru BRZ with Performance Pack Brembo Brakes. You can view all wheels available for the vehicle here.

If you're autocrossing your 2017 Subaru BRZ PP in the C Stock class, here's the relevant 2017 SCCA National Solo rules excerpt on stock class wheels:

13.4 Wheels: Any type wheel may be used provided it complies with the following: A. It is the same width as standard and as installed it does not have an offset more than ±7.00 mm (±0.275”) from a standard wheel for the car. 

The Performance Pack BRZ is equipped with 17x7.5 48 mm offset (ET) wheels as Original Equipment. Use the filters on our wheel search page to limit your search to 17" diameter, offsets ranging from 42 to 48  and a width of 7.5 inches. For a combination of moderate weight, value and style consider the Sparco Trofeo 5.

 17x7.5 ET48 Black Sparco Trofeo 5 $149
17x7.5 ET48 Sparco Trofeo 5 17x7.5 ET48 Bronze Sparco Trofeo 5 $149
17x7.5 ET48 Sparco Trofeo 5 17x7.5 ET48 Light Grey Sparco Trofeo 5 $121
17x7.5 ET48 Sparco Trofeo 5

I haven't driven a 2017 with its slightly shorter gearing yet, however I suspect the O.E. 215/45R17 size will work best. For this size, add a set of 215/45R17 Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R tires to complete your Tire & Wheel Package at a cost of $1,353.76 (price subject to change) for either the black or bronze wheel option. The light grey package is available for $1,229.80.

There’s no better way to make an instant and dramatic upgrade to the look and performance of your vehicle than with a Tire & Wheel Package. Search for your ideal package and have your BRZ looking that much better!

Best Tires for 2012 Toyota Sienna XLE

By Tire Rack Team

The 2012 Toyota Sienna XLE is a perfect vehicle for a larger family. Well built to provide a comfortable ride with a smooth and powerful engine, the Sienna XLE AWD version comes with second-row lounge seats that feature pop-up footrests. With such a comfortable interior, you don’t want to ruin it by riding on the wrong tires.

Equipped with 235/55R18 Bridgestone Turanza EL 400-02 RFT tires as Original Equipment, the tire was Bridgestone’s first run-flat tire to arrive in the United States that featured their third-generation run-flat technology. It’s designed to offer almost the same riding comfort as conventional tires while continuing to provide temporary mobility in the event a puncture allows complete air loss.

When the time comes to replace your vehicle’s Original Equipment tires, take a look at our best sellers for the Sienna:

If you enjoy the convenience of a run-flat tire, and prefer to keep them installed on your minivan, consider the Bridgestone DriveGuard. The tire is developed for safety-minded drivers who are looking for a better riding option than their vehicle’s Original Equipment run-flat tires. Featuring Bridgestone’s latest run-flat technology, the DriveGuard offers almost the same riding comfort as conventional tires, while offering year-round driving flexibility with predictable handling, traction and control on dry and wet roads, as well as in light snow.

The idea of moving to a conventional tire appeals to many customers, and if you fall under this category, we recommend the Michelin Defender LTX M/S. As an owner of a Sienna minivan, you know this vehicle is very hard on tires. So to get long tread life out of your next set of tires, the Michelin Defender LTX M/S will not only accomplish this, but also provide a smooth and quiet ride thanks to Michelin’s MaxTouch Construction. It produces a contact patch that promotes reliable traction and long wear by evenly distributing acceleration, braking and cornering forces.

Not sure what to do? Try our Tire Decision Guide to help you narrow down your choices. You’ll answer just a few questions and we’ll trade you your answers for our top tire recommendations.

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