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Consumer Reports: Choosing The Right Tire

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Oct 23, 2009 6:00 pm US/Eastern

Consumer Reports: Choosing The Right Tire

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― Consumer Reports tested 69 models of tires in 14 all-weather scenarios to compile a report of the best tires on the market.

Considering that it could cost upwards of $500 or more to put new tires on your car, you want to make sure you're getting the best tire for the money.

Testers drove a car on a skating rink to see how well tires do on ice. Results showed 21 tires were recommended in including: performance, all-season and winter models.

"I think the biggest surprise is we had our first sweep. All of our top tires turned out to be from Michelin. So, Michelin is a good bet in terms of performance. They tend to be a little pricier, but they do wear well so there is some value there," Jennifer Stockburger Senior Engineer at Consumer Reports Auto-Test Center said.

The Michelin Hydro-Edge earned top honors in the all-season category for vehicles that require an "s" or "t" speed rated tire.

They sell for an average of $116. For all other cars, the testers recommend the Hankook Optimo H727 all-season that sells for $96 and Goodyear's Assurance Triple Tred that sell for $121.

For cars that require an ultra-high performance tire, Consumer Reports recommends the Falken Ziex ZE912 that sells for $123. \

They also recommended the Nitto Neo Gen ZR that sells for $92, and the Continental Conti-Extreme-Contact that sells for $108 and gives better traction in snow.

The top pick for all-season truck tires is the General Grabber HTS that sells for $105 and for all-terrain truck tires, Consumer Reports recommended the Pirelli Scorpion ATR that sells for $163.

Tire experts said that you may not need to buy four new tires and that you can save money by buying two.

"Even if you have a front wheel drive and those wore first, move the older ones up put the new tires in the rear. It helps you avoid a spin out," Stockburger said.

For the complete list of results, visit the Consumer Reports Website.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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