Consumer Reports New Cars – November 2019

Owners of all-wheel-

drive vehicles may

need to replace all

four tires even if only

one is damaged so

that tire diameters

match, which ensures

even traction and

prevents damage to

the AWD system. This

can be costly when

just one tire goes

flat or is damaged.

Now there’s a less

expensive option:

shaved tires. Owners

can buy one tire

from Tire Rack

(888-541-1777) and

the company will

shave it to match the

tread of your other

three tires. The service

costs about $25 to

$35, which is a lot

cheaper than buying

four new tires. Still,

shaving a tire is

likely to nullify its

treadwear warranty.

Additionally, shaving

a replacement

tire makes the most

financial sense if

the remaining

tread on your tires

is no more than

about half-worn, at

approximately 6⁄32”.

Other retailers may

offer a similar service,

but the equipment

required to properly

shave a tire’s tread

isn’t common.

IT’S HARD TO overstate how impor-

tant tires are to safe driving. After all,

they’re the only part of the car that

touches the road. That’s why so many

consumers in colder climates spend the

time and expense to swap winter/snow

tires twice a year to ensure that their

vehicles have the best grip possible.

With that inconvenience of swapping

in mind, manufacturers have recently

introduced an all-weather tire designed

not only to perform well in the snow

but also year-round. Some cost more

than the average price of performance

all-season tires, but buyers will come

out ahead by avoiding the cost and

inconvenience of seasonal tire changes.

“The best all-weather tires have

proved to provide year-round traction

that truly combines all-season and

winter/snow performance,” says Gene

Petersen, Consumer Reports’ tire-

program manager. “Some can cost

more than performance all-seasons, but

they represent a good value.”

These do-it-all tires offer unique

tread designs and enhanced rubber

compounds that increase traction

across a broad range of temperatures.

They’re different from typical all-

season tires mainly because they

provide better traction in the snow.

For this reason, they have the same

mountain/snowflake symbol on

the sidewall as winter/snow tires.

In our latest testing, CR evaluated

five all-weather models: the Goodyear

Assurance WeatherReady, Michelin

CrossClimate +, Nokian WRG4,

Toyo Celsius, and Vredestein Quatrac

5. From this category, the Michelin
   CrossClimate + shined as the top-rated
   all-weather tire thanks to its uncom-
   promising grip. This tire is impressive
   on the road, but it has a few practical
   drawbacks. Not only is it pricey, but
   it’s also only sold in limited sizes—so it
   may not fit your vehicle.

CR’s Unique Testing

As the tire market evolves, so do CR’s

testing methods. We replaced our basic

cornering test with a more dynamic

evaluation of acceleration, braking, and

handling on a 2-plus-acre course over wet

asphalt. This new all-in-one test better

reflects real-world challenges drivers face.

Overall, we purchased more

than 630 tires this year for our full

test program, covering 63 models for

all-season, performance all-season

(which includes all-weather tires), and

winter/snow categories.

We tested them at our track in

Connecticut for wet and dry braking

and handling, ride comfort and quiet-

ness, snow traction, and resistance

to hydroplaning.

Our testers evaluated each tire’s

grip on ice at a nearby skating rink.

We also commissioned outside labs to

measure each tire’s rolling resistance,

which affects fuel economy. Finally,

we conducted extensive treadwear tests

on public roads in western Texas.

Warranty Worries

Most tires met or exceeded their

warranty projections in comparison to

our tread life test results. Even those

with a shortfall were usually off by a

small amount. Of course, tread life will

vary based on where and how you drive.

However, the T-speed-rated

Sumitomo HTR Enhance L/X missed its

warranty projection by 25,000 miles. It

has a 90,000-mile warranty but would

last only 65,000 miles based on our test

projections. According to a Sumitomo

representative, customer satisfaction

levels are “nearly 100 percent” with the

product and mileage warranty. “It is

our goal to provide top quality products

at affordable prices,” the company said

in a written statement to CR.

We deduct points from the Overall

Score for all-season and performance-

all season tires that under-perform

their warranty. (Winter/snow tires

don’t carry a mileage warranty and are

intended for limited, seasonal use, so

we don’t assess their tread life.)

Do I Have to Replace

All 4 Tires?

CR.ORG/CARS NEW CARS 35

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