Acura TL 2004-2014: High Performance Tire Reviews

This article applies to the Acura TL (2004-2014).

When you're driving, the single most important part of your car is where it touches the ground via the tires. Good tires keep you safe, save you fuel economy, and make driving more fun. Bad tires make your life a hassle, and when they're worn out they can put you in danger. Choosing good tires can be a challenge, though, given that there are hundreds of options readily available – all of which claim to be the "best tire money can buy." When you're looking for tires, a lot of brand names get brought up like Continental, Nitto, and Michelin. In this article we'll review four of the most popular tires for the third and fourth generation Acura TL, and find out once and for all which is the best option for putting rubber to road.

High Performance Tires

Continental DWS

Price – $110

Performance – High Performance All-Season Tire

Tread Life – 540 UTQG

Warranty – 50,000-mile Limited Warranty

The Continental ExtremeContact DWS is one of the most popular tires on the market, and for good reason. These tires boast exceptional traction in just about any conditions, and they keep that traction over an impressive lifespan. With a 50,000-mile limited warranty, these tires are known as some of the most reliable available, and of the brands compared here they are second only to the Nitto Motivo, outmatching Kumho and Michelin handily. Recommended for anyone searching for a balanced tire with decent tread life and warranty.

Nitto Motivo

Price – $115

Performance – High Performance All-Season Tire

Tread Life – 560 UTQG

Warranty – 60,000-mile Treadwear Warranty

Using a silica-infused compound, Nitto has created one of the best quality tires in this review. The warranty for a set of Nitto Motivo tires is an impressive 60,000 miles, which speaks to the level of confidence Nitto has in them. As a high performance all-season tire, the Nitto Motivo performs excellently in dry conditions and holds good traction in wet conditions as well, with many positive comments from happy owners. These tires outperform the popular Continental DWS for just a $5 mark up, and for an extra 10,000 miles of warranty that is a small price to pay. Recommended for anyone looking for long treadlife.

Michelin Pilot SuperSport

Price – $180

Performance – High Performance Summer Tire

Tread Life – 300 UTQG

Warranty – 30,000-mile Limited Treadwear Warranty

Now for the second half of our best quality. The Michelin Pilot SuperSport will not win any awards for its tread life, nor will it ever be a wet or winter tire. What the Michelin Pilot SuperSport will do is outgrip any of the other tires in this review in dry conditions and look almost like a set of racing slicks doing it. These tires are meant for one thing: mind-bending traction for very sporty driving. While the ability to handle corners at speeds far higher than the average drive will ever reach is all well and good, these tires also carry the highest price tag and lowest treadwear warranty, and it should be noted that no person with any desire to avoid a ditch should ever try and drive with them in any kind of snowy conditions. Recommended for drivers who frequent the racetrack.

Kumho Ecsta 4x

Price – $90

Performance – High Performance All-Season Tire

Tread Life –420 UTQG

Warranty – 40,000-mile Treadwear Warranty

These tires are the best value in this review and the tire of choice for a budget-minded shopper. Despite having a lower warranty and lower treadwear rating than the Continental and Nitto options, the Kumho Ecsta is a fantastic tire that can be found for quite a bit less than its more popular competitors. These tires will get you down the road, and as long as you don't have a mind to take some F1 style turns, you will reach your destination safely. These tires aren't meant to compete with hardcore semi-track tires like the Michelin Pilot SuperSport, or enduring high-end tires like the Nitto Motivo; these tires are meant to be the accessible, every-man tire option, and at that task they excel. A 40,000-mile treadwear warranty and 420 UTQG rating mark these tires as not great, but not bad either. Recommended for anyone looking to spend a little less on tires and still have a decent warranty.

Related Discussions

• Nitto Motivo review - Acurazine.com
• Kumho Ecsta 4x Review - Acurazine.com
• Pilot SuperSport Review - Acurazine.com