PPMC Tire Test in 2023

At PPMC, we understand the confusion many drivers face when buying tires for their vehicles, given the myriad options and brands available on the market.

With that in mind, we have tested dozens of tire models from different brands to assess their summer, all-season, and winter performance.

Check out the details of our evaluations below. Hopefully, they’ll help you pick the right option for your driving style and budget.

PPMC Tire Test Information

  • Event: PPMC tire test in 2023
  • Took place within: Two weeks, from Sep 4 to Sep 18, 2023
  • Location:
    • 6850 Indian Mound Rd, Waterloo, SC 29384
    • Gulches Off Road Vehicle Park- 6850 Indian Mound Rd, Waterloo, SC 29384
  • Testers: PPMC team (Steven Schiller & Henry Speciale)

Both of us evaluated each tire and averaged the results for every category of performance. We aimed to make the scores as reflective of real-life conditions as possible.

Tire Quality Evaluation Process

1. Tested tire models

We selected tires from well-known brands at different price ranges: premium and affordable. Notable names include industry giants like Michelin, Continental, and Bridgestone to less popular brands like Nitto and Yokohama.

You can see for yourself how each company performs, depending on the tire model.

2. Tested tire sizes

Due to time and budget constraints, only common sizes were used for our evaluations. There are limitations for each tire type and car, but we aimed to have a variety of widths and diameters here:

Passenger tiresLight Truck tiresCrossover tires4×4 and SUV tires
205/55R16LT225/75R16215/70R16215/60R17
215/55R17LT235/80R17225/65R17215/55R18
225/65R17LT245/75R16235/65R17215/60R16
235/45R16LT245/75R17235/55R18235/65R17
235/60R18LT265/70R17235/55R19235/50R18
245/60R18LT275/65R18245/60R18 

3. Tested vehicles

Similar to tire sizes, we’ve picked popular car models to perform our tests on. The vehicles are all in good condition and come with modern technologies, all to provide a realistic expectation of how the tires will perform when you drive on them.

BrandModel and Release Year
HondaCivic (2022)
Accord (2022)
FordEscape (2022)
F-150 (2022)
ChevySilverado 1500 (2022)
Colorado (2022)
ToyotaRAV4 (2022)
Highlander (2022)
Tacoma (2022)
Camry (2022)
HyundaiTucson (2022)
NissanAltima (2022)
TeslaModel Y

Tire Quality Evaluation Process

Here are the criteria used in our evaluations. It’s important to note that winter performance won’t be an essential part of summer tire scoring, similar to how off-road criteria are largely reserved for all-terrain and mud tires.

We’ll use a 10-point scale, in which 6 is above-average, 7 means good, and 8 and higher mean excellent performance.

Dry performance

Traction and braking – how well the tire grips the road and how quickly it stops

Handling – how easy the tire is to steer and control, including during corners and at high speeds

Wet performance

Traction and braking – how well the tire stops and retains stability

Hydroplaning – the tire’s ability to evacuate water and resist drifting or loss of control

Winter performance

Snow performance – Snow has more grip than ice, which is why snow performance is separate from ice performance.
Wider tires with siping tend to do better in winter conditions than those without these features, and thick snow traction is also considered here in addition to light snow.

Ice performance – This category is important for winter tires, as it shows their ability to perform in the most extreme conditions. Ice is slippier than snow and much more hazardous at high speeds.

Comfort

Noise – How quiet the ride is and how well the tires keep noise from entering the cabin

Smoothness – This is most obvious when driving on bumpy roads. Comfortable tires will eliminate vibrations and make rides more enjoyable, so you don’t feel like you’re being jerked out of your seat at all times.

Off-road performance

This category involves different terrains like dirt, sand, mud, and rock. A versatile tire will work well on all surfaces and remain durable.

Treadwear

Since tire durability is only discernible after we put more miles on it, tread wear is evaluated based on customer feedback in addition to our test results.

2023 PPMC Tire Test Results

1. Summer tires

ModelOverallDryWetRoad FeedbackHandlingWearComfortBuy againSnow gripIce grip
Michelin Pilot Sport 482.1491878284727980
Michelin Pilot Sport 4s86.4392878787838782
Michelin Pilot Sport 586.4394938280868585
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 278.1496588293607682
Michelin Pilot Super Sport86.4395839086838286
Continental Extremecontact Sport86.7191828481878894
Continental Extremecontact DW78.1493896858698486
Continental Extremecontact DWS 0681.11918784886568779080
Firestone Firehawk Indy 50078.5785708185737680
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 285.5791888685798882
Michelin Pilot Sport PS286.8693878787818687
Nitto NT555 G284.7194799185898174
Pirelli Cinturato P772.8684727475707461
Bridgestone Potenza Sport82.7192879292637578

2. All-season tires

ModelOverallDryWetRoad FeedbackHandlingWearHandlingBuy againSnow gripIce grip
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 481.56919277877979887368
Michelin Premier A/S68.11898784814983435641
Bridgestone Turanza Quiettrack58.67787363733675424642
Continental Purecontact LS66.11878181856953454747
Continental Surecontact RX
Continental Truecontact Tour89.89879771819994989884
Cooper CS5 Grand Touring65.4371645656995656
Cooper Discoverer SRX
Cooper Discoverer Rugged Trek88.209171819999
Dextero DHT2
Firestone Destination LE3
General Altimax 365AW77.258181717676767681
General Altimax RT4372.00807982727871626658
Goodyear Eagle Sport All Season72.67938976807667605459
Goodyear Assurance Comfortdrive66.7164535476817168
Goodyear Assurance Maxlife71.7170615161916999
Firestone Weathergrip65.257676818139494179
Goodyear Assurance Comfortdrive66.7164535278817168
Goodyear Eagle Exhilarate73.00898179827877605853
Goodyear Wrangler Fortitude HT75.89918183817190658140
Hankook Roadhandler
Kumho Crugen HP7167.4361707170815960
Kumho Crugen HT51
Michelin – X LT A/X
Michelin Agilis Crossclimate91.44959481948490999591
Michelin Crossclimate 285.56888376729295948981
Michelin Crossclimate Plus83.44888883758686878375
Michelin Crossclimate SUV78.67858576757679758374
Michelin Defender LTX73.67818179796189517171
Michelin Defender T+H82.8689748488808679
Michelin Latitude Tour Hp65.78806565697479605743
Michelin LTX M/S2
Michelin Primacy MXM466.56797179687566495854
Michelin Primacy MXV4
Michelin Primacy Tour A/S
Vredestein Quatrac Pro82.78909088808090877169
Michelin X Tour
Nitto NT0569.7185648485604466
Nitto Ridge Grappler88.4396868484749699
Pirelli P4 Four Seasons Plus46.2945274652525646
Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3164.008089895688964388586
Pirelli P Zero68.4385707672596453
Toyo Celsius79.00807872638482798984
Uniroyal Tiger Paw
Yokohama Geolandar CV G05885.50908190729090

3. Winter tires

ModelOverallDryWetRoad FeedbackHandlingWearHandlingBuy againSnow gripIce grip
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 292.11908990909795979190
Bridgestone Blizzak WS9081.56718171707671999996
Michelin X-Ice Snow84.44798079708586969590
Firestone Winterforce 273.56718171618171618976

4. All-terrain tires

ModelOverallDryWetRoad FeedbackHandlingWearHandlingBuy againSnow gripIce grip
Goodyear Wrangler AT Adventure with Kevlar77.33857875777777678179
BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO276.11876874768574728267
BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KM284.2989696789938499
Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac80.56837280789572858575
Bridgestone Dueler71.4384787873597652
Falken Wildpeak AT3W77.00848368778185826865
General Grabber ATx73.44718151669976716581
Goodyear MTR Kevlar68.336654515784566610081
Goodyear Territory MT#DIV/0!
Goodyear Trailrunner AT53.4361713040215299
Goodyear Wrangler Ultraterrain#DIV/0!
Goodyear Wrangler Authority#DIV/0!
Goodyear Wrangler Workhorse AT#DIV/0!
Michelin LTX AT287.22918891928889868476
Nitto Terra Grappler G2#DIV/0!
Toyo Open Country AT3#DIV/0!
Cooper Discoverer AT378.44868176737378618989

Conclusion

The right tire ultimately comes down to your driving preference and location. For warm locations with no snow, winter tires are not at all necessary; drivers in these places will be better off with a summer or all-season tire instead.

Meanwhile, opt for snow tires if you frequently drive on ice, and all-terrain models if there’s a lot of rock, mud, or sand where you live.

Check out the top-rated models listed above, and see which one piques your interest the most.