Are you on the market for a good tire for the upcoming winter season and you want to learn which are the top tire brands? If that is the case, you came to the right place because we are going to cover everything you need to know when it comes to getting your new set of tires and more.
Getting a proper new tire on your car is crucial if you want to drive your car as it’s meant to be. Tires are responsible for your safety on the road. And you have to get the best and safest tires out there that will guarantee that you will not end up in an accident.
That’s why you need to learn the brands and also read a lot of reviews online to learn more about their quality and their characteristics. Reading reviews is crucial in order to find the best tires for your budget. If you don’t read reviews. You will get some tires that will not fit the bill and you will end up frustrated with your tire choice. But you shouldn’t worry because of that because we are going to help you out with that.
In this article, we are going to learn what are the types of tires and how to read tires. Reading tires is crucial in finding the right ones for your car. Then we will discuss what are the tiers of manufacturers that are out there and learn more about the prices. Then we will give you our top picks of the top tire brands and the best tire for winter, summer, and all-season from these manufacturers. So, let’s dive into it.
Types Of Tires – Top Tire Brands
Based on the season, there are different types of tires. There are winter tires for the winter, summer tires that are driven through the summer, and all-season tires that are driven during the whole year.
But why getting summer or winter tires when I can get all season? This is true, you can get all seasons for your car. But that doesn’t mean that they will be much better than the winter or the summer tires.
All-season tires usually lack performance in the winter as well as in the summer. Compared to their respective counterparts, all-season tires are usually 30% or worse than winter or summer tires. This means that they will not tackle the ice in the winter as the winter tires can. Also, they will not like the heat in the summer as summer tires do. This means that the thread will wear off prematurely and they do not usually last more than winter or summer tires.
On the other hand, getting a proper winter tire for the season is going to make your car handle like it’s on rails on the snow. So, you will be able to tackle any terrain during a snowstorm or black ice. But still, you shouldn’t be too happy on the throttle because even winter tires are good. They are not perfect and you might experience an accident.
Summer tires on the other hand are specifically designed for the summer. They are able to handle all of the heat and deliver proper performance. If you try to drive a car with summer tires on the snow or icy surfaces, you are going to have a hard time. That’s why getting the right tire for your application is key.
How To Read Tires? – Top Tire Brands
Reading tires is essential when you are on the market for a new set of tires. That’s why you need to learn how to read them and get the right set of tires for you.
On the sidewall, there is a lot of letters and numbers. You have to know what do they mean in order to get the right tires for you. This is key to know before you look for the top tire brands out there. But what do these numbers and letters mean? Let’s find out.
Tire Type
There are letters that are on the tire which indicate for which application they are intended. So, if you see a letter “P” on the tire. It means that is intended for passenger vehicles.
If it has an LT, it means that the tire is intended for light trucks. If it says LTX it means that the tire is intended to be used on SUVs.
Size And Width
On each tire there are numbers. For example, 205/55/R16. What do these numbers mean? These numbers are indicating the tire dimensions.
The 205 is the width of the tire which is 205 millimeters, the second number 55 is the aspect ratio of the tire. This means that the height is equal to 55% of the tire’s width. The bigger the aspect is the bigger the sidewall of the tire.
The last is the wheel diameter. The letter R stands for radial which means all of the layers in the tire are running radially and the last number is the wheel diameter which is 16. This means that the rim that this tire runs on is 16 inches in size.
Speed Rating
Other numbers can include the speed rating which is usually after the dimensions and this might look like 95H. This means that the tires with the H mark have a top speed of 130 mph and anything above that is dangerous for you and your passengers.
Still, the allowed speed is much lower than this and you shouldn’t go above the recommended speed.
But which are the top tire brands? We are going to cover that later. Let’s first take a look at the tiers of tire manufacturers.
Tiers of Manufacturers – Top Tire Brands
In order to understand tires better and learn which are the top tire brands. You need to learn the hierarchy in the tire industry. The hierarchy in the tire industry is tiered. This means that there are a few tiers of manufacturers that target separate markets based on the customer’s budget. Not all tires are the same even if they look pretty much similar. There is a lot that’s going on in a car tire besides the looks. But which are these tiers? Let’s find out.
Tier 1 Brands
The tier-one brands are usually the most expensive brands out there that produce premium tires and their goal are the wealthier clients out there. These clients do not have a limited budget and can spend a lot when it comes to new tires.
These brands also deliver more performance when it comes to road performance as well. That’s why they are called premium tiers. Most of the premium tires deliver outstanding performance but that doesn’t mean that they will fit the bill of every driver. So, which are these premium brands?
The premium brands consist of many respectable manufacturers like Michelin, Continental, Pirelli, Bridgestone, and Goodyear.
Tier 2 Brands
Then there are the mid-market players. Most of these companies are subsidiaries of the big three tire producers that we mentioned earlier and some are independent.
These manufacturers offer great tires as well but for a more affordable price. The reason behind this is that these manufacturers do not spend quite a lot on marketing like the big three. But they still manage to sell a lot of quality tires.
Tier two manufacturers include names like Dunlop, BFGoodrich, Firestone, Yokohama, Hankook, Toyo, and Firestone. All these manufacturers make really quality tires that are almost on par or even better in some cases compared to the premium tires.
Tier 3 Brands
The tier three brands are the brands that offer good value for your money. These are the brands for the people who don’t want to spend too much on tires and are looking for the best value for their hard-earned money.
There are still quality tires in tier 3 and you can find a good set of tires for a fraction of the price compared to premium or tier two tire brands. These tire brands include Primewell, Uniroyal, Riken, GT Radial, Runway, and more.
There is plenty of tier 3 manufacturers out there to fit in our list. But be aware of Chinese tires, some of them are good. While some of them are pure plastic and don’t run well in extreme weather conditions and they are quickly starting to fail. But which are the top tire brands? Well, that’s what we are going to cover next.
Top Tire Brands – Our Top 5 Tire Brands
In this chapter, we are going to cover our picks when it comes to tires and the top tire brands. We are going to review some of the manufacturers of each tier and see what is their best offering at the moment for winter, summer, and all-season tires. So, let’s begin with the reviews.
1. Michelin
Michelin is probably one of the first tire manufacturers that will come to your mind and for a reason. They are the largest tire manufacturer in the world and they have conquered most of the market share. This compares to rivals such as Bridgestone and Goodyear.
They have a long lineage that is more than 130 years long and they know quite a lot when it comes to tire manufacturing. They are a French manufacturer but have tire plants globally. Although they invest hugely in marketing. They actually make good-quality tires. On most of their reviews, the Michelin tires exceed almost any competition that is out there.
Since they are a premium brand, you cannot expect their tires to be priced like budget brands or some of the tier 2 brands. You go for Michelin if you only want the best. That’s why we are writing this article on the top tire brands to help you out choose a tire from some of the best out there.
They also participate in motorsports and their tires are always one of the best in the game. But what are their top tires? Let’s see.
Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 Winter Tire
The Alpin is probably one of the best takes by Michelin to create the perfect winter tire. These tires deliver quite a lot for what you pay for and more.
They are designed to tackle any terrain in winter and keep you always on the road, they just work. They are going to be the best purchase for this winter if you want to get the best out of your car in these freezing cold and slippery conditions.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4S Summer Tire
The Pilot Sport 4S is one of the perfect tires that are intended to run in the summer. They are sticky and grip on the road fairly well. Thus, delivering quite a lot of performance for what you pay.
By many, they are regarded as one of the best summer sport tires. They will be perfect if you have a performance application and you want to get the most out of it on the race track. But not only on the track, as they are also excellent on the road.
Michelin CrossClimate2 All-Season Tire
The CrossClimate2 is one of the best all-rounder tires that you can get out there. Not all people want to swap tires when winter hits. And is there anything better than a good all-season tire that you can mount once and drive it until it wears off?
This tire is going to save you hundreds of dollars on tire changes and tire balancing. They might be a bit on the higher side when it comes to cost. But they are definitely worth it in my opinion.
2. Continental Tires – Top Tire Brands
Continental is another brand that has a long lineage of more than 150 years of making tires. They are a German company that was founded back in 1871 and is still one of the top tire manufacturers by this day and can be considered to be one of the top tire brands.
They are manufacturing tires for almost any application and any terrain. Continental is also more budget-friendly when it comes to purchasing a tire than other brands like Bridgestone and Michelin. So, you might actually afford their tires if your budget is limited.
Even if their tires are more budget-friendly, they still deliver top performance for your hard-earned money. So, what are the top three tires that they offer?
Continental VikingContact 7 Winter Tire
The VikingContact 7 tire is a tire that is praised by many for its excellent performance in extreme winter conditions.
The VikingContact 7 was designed with tackling the ice and snow that you will come upon with ease. This tire will keep you on the road at any cost. But also, a tire that will not frustrate you with road noise. This tire is rated at 72 decibels which is fairly reasonable and will not going to distract you while driving. Overall, excellent tire for the upcoming winter.
Continental ExtremeContact Sport Summer Tire
These tires like the Michelin Sport 4s are some of the best summer tires that you can get for your money. They grip and handle corners like nothing else on the road.
Perfect in dry and wet conditions. By many car reviewers, they are easily in the top 10 summer tires that are on the market right now. The upside is that they deliver quite a lot of comfort for what you pay.
Continental Extreme Contact DWS 06 All-Season Tire
The last tire that we cover by Continental is the ExtremeContact DWS 06. This is an all-season tire designed for the ones that do not want to swap tires when seasons change.
This tire gives you the ability to run the same tire during the summer and the winter by losing little to no performance on the road. If you are looking for a tire like this. Then the ExtremeContact DWS 06 is perfect for you.
3. Firestone Tires – Top Tire Brands
Now let’s take a look at some more budget-friendly top tire brands and learn more about Firestone. Firestone is a brand that is more than 100 years old and is founded in 1900. It is one of the most famous US brands when it comes to tire making and manufacturing. Now it’s owned by Bridgestone. But it still delivers a good quality rubber for a good price. But what are their best products? Let’s find out.
Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 Summer Tire
Named after the Iconic race Indy 500 and Firestone’s racing lineage. These tires are the perfect option if you are on the market for good and affordable summer tires for your car.
They deliver excellent performance for a good price.
Firestone WeatherGrip All-Season Tire
The Firestone all-season tire is the perfect all-rounder. With this tire, you will enjoy the smooth ride in the summer as well as the good grip quality in muddy situations where most tires would start to struggle.
This tire is perfect for the ones that do not want to seasonally change the tires on their cars.
Firestone Winterforce 2 Winter Tire
The Firestone Winterforce 2 is a good winter tire that you can snatch for a good deal at most tire replacement places or Firestone shops around the country.
This tire is a good value for the money and you will get quite a lot for what you pay. It grips in winter very well and delivers an excellent performance.
4. Hankook Tires – Top Tire Brands
Hankook is another good budget brand that makes excellent tires. They are a Korean brand that was not that noticeable. But since recently when they introduced good quality rubber and with good marketing, they are moving steadily up the ladder. We chose to add them because their tires are good quality and also very affordable. So, let’s start.
Ventus V12 EVO2 Summer Tire
The Ventus V12 EVO2 is a good summer tire that delivers quite a lot of performance. It is good even for use on the race track. This is because of the high-quality rubber that Hankook is using. Although priced much lower than premium brands, the EVO 2 behaves like a premium tire.
Kinergy 4S2 All-Season Tire
The Kinergy is another quality tire that Hankook is making. This tire is good in hot summer conditions as well as in extreme cold winter conditions. A good buy if you are on the market for an affordable all-rounder that you can run during the whole year.
5. BF Goodrich Tires – Top Tire Brands
BFGoodrich is one of the oldest tire manufacturing companies that are in the US. It was founded back in 1870 and was one of the first companies to supply Ford with tires. And what is better than finishing this article with some of their tires.
Their tires are one of the best out there. But also, one of the most affordable that you can get right now. But what are their top products?
BFGoodrich G-Force Sport COMP-2 Summer Tire
This tire is one of the best summer tires on the market right now and for a reason. Because BFGoodrich always delivers one of the best tire products on the market.
This tire is not only good for road use. But it can also be used on the track car and this is a tire that can deliver a lot of grip.
Radial T/A All-Season Tire
The Radial T/A tire that BFGoodrich is also a legendary product of BFG. Driving its lineage from back in the day when this tire was the top option when it came to high-performance street machines.
But today is considered as an all-season tire that delivers good performance for both summer and winter seasons. It is perfect for people that do not want to swap their tires regularly for each season. Thus, saving a lot of money in the process.
Conclusion – Top Tire Brands
In this article, we have covered a low when it comes to the top tire brands. We have learned the type of tires that you can buy and also how to read the numbers that are on the tire sidewall.
Reading the numbers is crucial in knowing which set of tires you need to buy when it comes to your car specification. Buying the wrong tires will result in a massive headache. That’s why you need to learn this in order to get things the right way.
Then we have covered our top 5 top tire brands and we wrote small reviews on their products. These reviews will help you out in getting the right tire for your car.
