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CR Quick Recommendations Ultra-high-performance [uHP] tires

The all-season ultra-high-performance tires did reasonably well in wet and dry braking and handling, and some were quite respectable in snow and on ice. Higher-scoring tires provided the best balance. Most summer ultra-high-performancetires did well in three-season performance. The top-rated Michelin and Pirelli summer tires set high standards for traction and grip.

The Ratings rank summer UHP and all-season UHP tires by overall score. The Quick Picks below suggest models that offer specific strengths that might be suited to your needs.

Quick Picks

Best all-season UHP tires overall:

Falken Ziex ZE-912, $123 Nitto Neo Gen ZR, $92

These were essentially tied, and both offered impressive wet and dry braking. While only fair in snow, they're far better than any summer tire. The Nitto is a relative bargain.

For more winter traction:

Continental ContiExtremeContact, $106 Sumitomo HTR +, $86

These trade ultimate dry and wet grip for better traction in snow. The Continental and Sumitomo did as well in the snow as a dedicated winter tire used as a control in our test.

Best summer UHP tires overall:

Michelin Pilot Sport PS2, $209 Pirelli P-Zero, $234

Nearly tied overall, both provide stellar dry and wet grip and handling. The Michelin excels in hydroplane resistance; the Pirelli had an edge in handling.

Other good choices for summer tires:

Bridgestone Potenza RE 050, $167 Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2, $158 Continental ContiSportContact 3,$182 Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3, $164

All were very good to excellent at braking and handling. The Bridgestone was excellent in hydroplane resistance. The Michelin scored very well in tread life. Excessive noise for the BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDW2 and average dry braking for the Dunlop SPSport Maxx eliminated those tires as Quick Picks.

Was this from Consumer Reports ?? I think it was...

A) Ziex 912's aren't made 255-40-18's, so you have to ask yourself what size it was that was tested, and what car.

B) The ContiExtreme's are from looking at CR and TireRack's own reviews, and survey, the best for the $$$ for UHP A/S tires. They slightly beat out the Mich Pilot Sport A/S, by a few hundred bucks per set ( also factoring in if you were to take them to the dealer for mounting/balancing ).

C) The next higher than the Conti's would be Goodyear F1 A/S ( relatively new on the market ), but even going by TireRack's reviews and survey, they rate just a smidge higher than the Conti's/Pilot Sports, but come in price-wise right in the middle of the two.

I...would go with the F1's or the Conti's, if you want to save a little $$.

A set of Bridgestone RE960AS Pole-Position tires for the IS350 will run you upwards of $700. Even though they've got a 40k mile treadlife warranty, if you put 15k/yr on your car, you'll change all 4 tires at least once every 3 years. So a 5 year tire replacement warranty sounds reasonable as long as it's not more than $1500 or so and covers road hazards.

Where will 960's cost you $700 ??? Not at TireRack, or any other place I've looked. And for that matter how did you find 255-40-18's when they don't even make them that size ?