Yahoo Finance Treadwear Testing Shows the Limits of UHP Tires
Most ultra-high-performance summer tires don’t have treadwear warranties. And no wonder: Our exclusive treadwear test reveals that some could wear out after just 25,000 miles, mostly under ideal conditions.
This is the first time Consumer Reports has published treadwear mileages for UHP tires based on our 16,000-mile test performed on public roads in western Texas. Last year we published treadwear mileages for all-season and performance all-season tires. Those findings are available at ConsumerReports.org, along with complete ratings of 21 models of UHP all-season tires and 18 models of UHP summer tires.
Among UHP tires, all-season tires last the longest, up to 70,000 miles for the Goodyear Eagle Sport All-Season projected by our test. Treadwear warranties are common among UHP all-season tires, and most compare well to our treadwear projections.
An interesting finding: Price isn't an indicator of long tread life among ultra-high-performance tires. Priority goes to braking and handling, and treadwear is a lower priority in those categories.
Some of the lower-priced tires may compromise braking and handling performance, but they can have relatively good treadwear among peer tires costing much more. Examples include the Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 UHP summer tire for $86, with a projected tread life of 40,000 miles, and the Fuzion UHP Sport A/S all-season tire for $79, with a projected tread life of 55,000 miles.
You will find these ratings and ratings for family car, SUV, and pickup truck tires at ConsumerReports.org/tires.
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