South Bend, Indiana – Michelin Premier LTX has outperformed its two other rivals in an independent test of crossover/SUV all-season tires in the US.
According to tire tester Tire Rack, it evaluated three of the newest tires in the category: the Kumho Crugen Premium, the Michelin Premier LTX and the Yokohama Geolandar G055.
The tires were mounted, at full tread depth, on the 18x8.0 wheels of a 2016 Porsche V6 Cayenne and evaluated on Tire Rack's own test track and along a six-mile road loop.
In dry conditions, the three tire models performed “remarkably” similar. The distances that each needed to complete a panic stop from 50 miles per hour were separated by only one foot. The difference in time needed to complete a lap around the test track spanned just one quarter of a second.
Fuel consumption differences were also negligible. The Michelin model generated an observed 22.7 miles per gallon in fuel economy, with the Kumho and Yokohama tires close behind at 22.5 miles per gallon each.
However, wet conditions delivered a clear leader. The Michelin Premier LTX tires stood out from the pack, demonstrating superior traction that raises the bar for tires in this category.
According to Tire Rack, the Kumho tire performed well in terms of handling, traction and stopping distance, however they couldn't quite measure up to the Michelin model.
The Yokohama tire lagged behind with a wet-course lap time almost five seconds slower than the best model.
Tire Rack added that Michelin tires provided good handling and a smooth ride with minimal noise.
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