Redesigned tires section - tire ratings and sizes now easier to find

The Tires section at ConsumerReports.org has been redesigned, and we couldn't be more excited about the changes. Now, online subscribers can review the sizes each tested tire model is available in, making it easy to find the best tires for your vehicle. (These new charts eliminate the need to search manufacturer Web sites for available sizes.)

To get started from the Tires & Car Care page, or the Tires-specific landing page, you simply choose the type of tires you need.

We streamlined the tire categories as follows:

• Car Tires: regular all-season, performance all-season, and ultra-performance tires. 
• Truck Tires: all-season and all-terrain models. 
• Winter Tires: Q-speed rated tires (sometimes called "regular winter tires") and performance winter tires in higher speed ratings.

Pick a category and start your quest for the right tire to suit your needs. Unsure of what you need? We have helpful advice under How To Choose and Tire Size and Type accessible from any of the three tire categories, appearing as prominent links on the left side of the page. There's also direct links to CR Quick Picks, Ratings, and Ratings By Tire Size.  And you can get a more in-depth report by selecting Learn More About. 

As a reminder: CR Quick Picks are our top recommendations within a tire type. Ratings provides overall score and specific ratings of major performance categories like dry, wet, winter grip, comfort, rolling resistance, and tread-life (where applicable). Ratings by tire size gives the overall score for each model and the sizes in which each model is available, organized by wheel diameter. This feature also shows higher speed rated models  when available, which can be useful for those who might want to upgrade from, say, a S- or T-regular all-season tire to a performance or ultra-performance model with a higher speed rating.

The Tires home page still has useful links on general Buying Advice, Care & Safety, and CR blogs on tires.

We hope you enjoy the new redesign! Post your feedback below, and then join the Tires team in the Tire Talk forum.

—Gene Petersen, Jen Stockburger, Ryan Pszczolkowski

Comments

[Roy Smithson]

Some steel-belted radial manufacturers seem to have trouble with tread separation and belts blowing off their tires; others seem to have no problems with this at all.

Firestone has had two big fiascos (14 million tires recalled twice) where tread was blowing off their tires, one years ago (in 70s), and one recently. Their delayed recall resulted in many needless deaths and serious injuries, especially with Ford Explorers.

I personally had tread blow off two sets of General tires (I'll never own another General... nor a Firestone), one where a foot-long piece of full-width tread came loose at 75 mph passing a semi. Fortunately the tire didn't blow, and I was able to slow and stop safely. However the tread piece hammered and destroyed the fender skirt (76 Caprice) and damaged the fender exterior. I have also witnessed chunks of tread come off Cooper tires (was in the car of a friend when this happened).

I have owned probably a dozen sets of Michelin radials and have never seen a tread separation, nor for that matter have I ever had ANY warrantee claim with Michelins.

I think CR should include in at least one survey a question dealing with the types of tire problems consumers are experiencing. There are other types of problems beside this potentially lethal tread separation, such as excessive air leaks, early bulges, bead breakage, case breaks or punctures from too-minor impacts, sharp rocks.