Consumer Reports: these are the best tires of 2016

Noted consumer organization Consumer Reports has released its highly anticipated report on the best tires of 2016.

Consumer Reports’ tire experts did intensive research on more than 150 tire models, putting them through their paces on braking, handling, hydroplaning resistance, winter traction, rolling resistance, and tread life. They also evaluated tire wear by driving each set around the clock for up to 16,000 miles in “desolate western Texas” — no mean feat.

The magazine then chose the top performers in six categories: all-season, performance all-season, ultra-high-performance summer, ultra-high-performance all-season, all-season truck and all-terrain truck. Michelin scored the highest, achieving a top-rated tire in each category and two tires — the Michelin Latitude Tour and Michelin LTX M/S2 in the all-season terrain truck category.

Goodyear, Pirelli and Continental were all well-represented with multiple tires being named best in their category, while Hankook and Cooper each had one in all-terrain truck. But it wasn’t all about the big names; tires by Falcon, General, Kumho and BFGoodrich were named runners-up or “other good choices”, as well as tires by Yokohama, Nokian and Vredestein.

Consumer Reports’ major finding was that while tires with the longest tread life, best all-weather grip and handling might cost a little more, they were worth it in the long run. It also recommended that consumers don’t buy purely on the basis of brand reputation, saying: “just as Nike sells running shoes of varying quality and durability at various prices, the same holds true for tire brands — even from big names like Michelin and Pirelli.”

How can my dealership use these awards to boost sales?

Consumers love reviews and ones carried out by a trusted organization like Consumer Reports carry special weight. Many of them will be seeking out tires recommended by Consumer Reports’ 2016 survey, so you want to make sure they know that you stock and sell them and they will come to you to make their purchase. If they’re less clued in, seeing independently top-rated tires available can move them to buy.

If your dealership uses social media channels, tweet or post that Consumer Reports has named its top tires and tell your audience that you carry them. You could promote them in your regular print advertising by adding a banner or graphic or take it back to basics and promote this year’s “best tires” in-store with a display and professional banners. Providing customers with trusted information on your stock will always be a winning strategy.

Consumer Reports best tires 2016

Here are some of the top tires from Consumer Reports’ testing:

All-Season Truck

Michelin Latitude Tour
Michelin LTX M/S2
Goodyear Assurance CS TripleTred All-Season

All-terrain truck

Hankook Dynapro AT-M
Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure with Kevlar
Michelin LTX A/T2
Cooper Discoverer A/TW

For the full report visit the Consumer Reports website

Consumer Reports: these are the best tires of 2016

How can my dealership use these awards to boost sales?

Consumer Reports best tires 2016

All-Season

Performance all-season

Ultra-high-performance summer

Ultra-high-performance all-season

All-Season Truck

All-terrain truck

Tagged: Best tires

Consumer Reports: these are the best tires of 2016