Your car has many important parts and maybe the most important part is the tire. This fact may be debatable, but that fact that tires need to be replaced more then once during the lifetime of your car is not. When shopping for tires you may be fooled into thinking that all the tire brands are similar. The truth is that depending on the brand each tire performs dramatically different. Tires are made differently and each brand has tires that perform at a variety of levels. There are about 16 different brands and understanding the positive and negative aspects of each can give you an advantage when you do need to replace your tires.
Bridgestone
Bridgestone is one of the top tire brands in the world. They are not only responsible for Bridgestone tires but Fuzion, Firestone, and Dayton tires as well. This company is a Tokyo based company and has an American headquarters in Nashville. Bridgestone tires have been favored by many consumers because of how quiet and comfortable they are. They price about average compared to other brands and maybe the only negative about Bridgestone tires is that there tread is only average looking. This is one of the tire brands that always score well on performance ratings.
Goodyear
Goodyear is probably the most well known tire around the world and certainly in the U.S since it is the number one selling tire. Goodyear tires have scored very high when it comes to wet traction and handling. This makes them extremely popular in wet or snowy climates. The technology that this tire uses is called Corner grip technology and is what gives the tire its enhanced tracking. This brand of tires also does a great job with noise reduction and highway speed stability. Goodyear also owns the Dunlap and Kelly-Springfield brands.
Michelin
This French based company is considered by many to be the most innovating and best tire company in the world. Many also consider Michelin to be a leader in tire technology and design. The tread life of a Michelin brand tire can be one of the longest of all the tire brands. The tire can keep the long life of its tread without sacrificing any of its grip. It is also known for its precision steering especially during high speed. It also scores some of the highest grades when it comes to all-weather capabilities. BFGoodrich and Uniroyal brands are also part of the Michelin company.
Continental
Although Continental tires are a distant fourth in terms of popularity and sales compared to the previously mentioned tire brands, it doesn’t mean that it lacks in quality and can actually be superior in some areas. This German based tire company is also a brake system supplier. Maybe its number one quality is the ability to make some of the top light truck tires. These tires usually have a higher then average tread life and are really outstanding in handling snowy conditions. Continental tires do have the rare ability to make you car feel new through out the entire life of the tires.
Pirelli
The last brand to mention may be the least known of all major tire brands. This is because Pirelli tires are specifically designed for high end and high performance cars. The price of these tires can be extremely high but the quality is so amazing that the high cost is justified. Pirelli tires can fit on almost any car produced in North America but will primarily be found on sports cars and luxury cars. These are maybe the most coveted brand of tire because of how technologically advanced and is looked upon so highly because of the amazing designs and the prestigious build these tires have.