TZVECL

Consumer Reports recently did a story about tires sizes and vibration - Acura is using this to back their claims of vibration being a "normal characteristic" of higher performance tires.

Does anyone have online access and can paste it on this thread?

Thanks!

Teh Jatt

any body?

Peters

I'm not a subscriber, so I can't post the article but they did an article on high performance tires in November of this year.

Bitium

Is proven than the the bigger the rims and the lower profile the tires are the more precise and acurate the balancing needs to be.

It is a "normal characteristic"

0210322

Here's the CR report; I don't see anything to excuse TL problems.




High-performance tires: Better by design



Tougher government standards, more capable vehicles, and a competitive market are making high-performance tires the norm on cars you’re likelier to see at the mall than on a racetrack.

Mainstream cars like the Buick Park Avenue Ultra, Ford Focus, and Toyota Camry are among the 15 percent of new vehicles sold with tires that can sustain speeds far higher than the legal limit, compared with 10 percent in 1997. But more precise handling and better heat resistance at normal highway speeds are the important reasons that high-performance tires, especially H-speed-rated, performance all-season versions, are quickly redefining the tire market.

Tires that run too hot can be especially risky on the road. Federal investigators cited heat buildup as a contributing factor in the 270 deaths and 800 injuries tied to tire failures on Firestone tires from the huge recall three years ago. As a result, greater heat resistance is a major part of newly revised federal safety tests that tires must pass. Tire makers have until June 2007 to phase in the new tests. But some are already producing more H-rated (130 mph) and other high-performance tires at the expense of lesser S (112 mph) and T (118 mph) models.

Lower prices from small players like Hankook and Kumho are also making higher-performance tires more appealing as replacements. At as little as $45, some H-rated tires now cost the same as S- and T-rated models in our November 2001 test.

Those are the trends behind this year’s Ratings of H-speed-rated, performance all-season tires. We also tested pricier, Z-rated ultra-high-performance summer tires--a small but fast-growing segment that trades the winter capability of all-season tires for the ultimate in wet and dry handling and grip.

High-performance tires--particularly the "ultra" versions--aren’t for everyone, however. Our tests also show that different high-performance tires can perform very differently, even within types. Here are the specifics:

Tire marketing can be misleading. Performance all-season tires include two subcategories aimed at different drivers. "Sport" models are touted for handling and grip, while "touring" models promise better ride comfort. But our tests show that some of both belie their descriptions.

An example is the top-rated sport Falken Ziex ZE 512, which gripped well on wet and dry surfaces while providing a smoother ride than the high-scoring touring Bridgestone Turanza LS-H.

Some tires save you fuel. Our tests predict a nearly 2-mpg difference between the most- and least-efficient performance all-season tires, based on our rolling-resistance scores in the Ratings.

"Ultra" tires can involve a trade-off. Our top-scoring, ultra-high-performance Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3 delivered superb wet and dry grip. But many others compromised wet or dry performance. The low sidewalls that help give ultra-high-performance tires their responsive handling make most ride more harshly than other types. What’s more, their grippier tread tends to wear more quickly.


HOW TO CHOOSE

See Choices to determine the right tire type and size for your vehicle and needs. Then check our CR Quick Recommendations for standouts among the high-performance tires tested for this report, along with high-scoring all- season, winter, and SUV tires still available from previous tests.

Whichever tires you’re considering, here’s what to focus on:

Put safety first. Snow and ice may not be a factor where you live. But any tire should perform competently on dry and wet roads. Tires we score highly can handle a variety of conditions.

Upgrade with caution. Switching to performance all-season tires involves little risk, though it may require buying a slightly wider size to retain the proper diameter and load capacity for your car. But upgrading to ultra-high-performance tires often requires larger wheels ($1,000 or more) to accommodate their larger sizes. You also pay a price in ride comfort, tread life, and noise. We’ll have a full report on retrofitting these tires in January.

Shop around. Mail-order retailers tend to offer the lowest prices. But our latest price survey also revealed good deals at new-car dealers and other tire sources.

0210322

Some ratings overall and approx price:

Performance all-season tires

•1 Falken Ziex ZE 512
$60
•2 Bridgestone Turanza LS-H
100
•3 Bridgestone Potenza RE950
85
4 Michelin Pilot XGT H4
85

Ultra-high-performance tires

•19 Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3
$135
•20 Toyo Proxes T1-S
190
•21 Continental ContiSportContact 2
170
22 Michelin Pilot Sport
180
23 Dunlop SP Sport 9000
140
24 Pirelli PZero Nero
140
25 Bridgestone Potenza S-03 Pole Position
180
26 Hankook Ventus Sport K104
115
27 Yokohama AVS ES100
120

The scoring is based on wet and dry performance: braking, handling, cornering, hydroplaning and noise for the Ultra-high performance tires. The first 3 an Pirelli get very good noise mark.
The Allseason tire rating add ride quality, and snow and ice traction. Hope this helps....