10. Other tire manufacturers
There are plenty of other good all-season tires on the market. Some brands are better-known among retailers and motorists than others, and in recent years lesser-known names have started to establish themselves on the market, to the point where they are even fitted as original equipment on some new cars coming out of the factory.
Products worth looking at include Falken, Kumho, Hankook, Nexen and Cooper, among others. With any luck, you just find what you're looking for at a reasonable price.
As for the much-talked-about Chinese brands, their reputation has not yet reached a high enough level for us to include them in our recommendations. That said, there is progress in this area as brands such as Maxxis, Sailun, Goodride and Wanli have earned good reviews, and certainly whetted our appetite to become better acquainted with their products. We hope to test these more thoroughly in the near-future.
These tires are pitched as being of equal quality to the more-established tire brands we know. However, this has yet to be proven, especially in terms of vibration and wet grip.
If you have an opinion about the tires discussed here, let us know...
Many thanks to Stéphane Parenteau of Pneus Premier Choix in Quebec for his technical contribution.
Table: Understanding speed ratings
. | Code | speed (mph) | speed (km/h) | comment |
L | 75 mph | 120 km/h | special off-road tires | |
M | 81 mph | 130 km/h | temporary spare tires | |
N | 87 mph | 140 km/h | ||
O | 93 mph | 150 km/h | ||
P | 99 mph | 160 km/h | some winter tires with or without studs | |
Q | 106 mph | 170 km/h | stronger small truck tires | |
R | 112 mph | 180 km/h | passenger car tires | |
S | 118 mph | 190 km/h | passenger car tires | |
T | 124 mph | 200 km/h | performance tires | |
U | 130 mph | 210 km/h | performance tires | |
V | 149 mph | 220 km/h | performance tires | |
W | 168 mph | 230 km/h | ultra-high performance tires | |
Y | 186 mph | 240 km/h | ultra-high performance tires | |
Z | over 149 mph | over 240 km/h | often accompanied by the letters W and Y | |