Consumer Reports ranks the top tire makers based on test performance
Consumer Reports’ extensive tire testing reveals that there are significant differences in tread life and grip among tire brands and models.
To see how the brands stack up, we developed a rating based on individual tire tests. Brand scores are presented below for 20 of the 34 brands tested, focusing on where we had four or more models per brand.
Those brands are ranked below, with a spotlight on the top three tire brands and a list of the CR-recommended tire models.
“The best tires shine for all-weather grip, braking distances, rolling resistance, and tread life,” says Gene Petersen, CR’s tire program manager. “By choosing a top-rated tire, drivers can often enhance the performance and safety of their car.”
The tires we test come from categories that include all-season and performance all-season car tires, ultra-high-performance (UHP) all-season and UHP summer tires, all-season SUV tires, all-season and all-terrain truck tires, winter/snow car and truck tires, and performance winter/snow tires.
Below, we spotlight three standout brands and list recommended tires from each, across all the categories we test. Plus, we list the recommended models among all brands in each rated category.
How We Test Tires
In addition to those evaluations, we test braking on ice at a local skating rink, and an outside lab assesses the rolling resistance of tires, which affects fuel economy. We evaluate tread life by driving thousands of miles on a road course in western Texas and use that information, along with the price we paid for the tire, to estimate a cost per 100 miles for each tire model.
Our tests measure performance in braking, comfort, handling, hydroplaning (when water gets between your tire and the pavement), noise, snow traction, and other important areas. This information can help you find the best tires from 34 brands that include BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Continental, Cooper, Falken, Firestone, General, Goodyear, GT Radial, Hankook, Kumho, Laufenn, Michelin, Nexen, Nitto, Nokian, Pirelli, Toyo, Uniroyal, and Yokohama.
A tire must excel at performance and safety in our tests to earn a Consumer Reports recommendation. If you’re a T8Auto member, you can access our dynamic tire ratings, where you can target the tire type you’re interested in and look at specific test results.