Go figure. I want to put rubber back on my stock rims. I can understand comfort, because the HR has softer sidewalls, but the Bridgestone RE950 all season outperforms the Kumho?!! I guess these are subjective, but still, this surprises me. If it's that close, maybe I should go for the high mileage tire and comfort.

Bridgestone
Potenza S-03 Pole Position
Size:215/55WR16

HANDLING RATING 9.20
PRICE $142
DRY TRACTION 9.4
WET TRACTION 9.3
RIDE COMFORT 8.4
NOISE COMFORT 8.4
WEAR 7.3

Kumho
ECSTA Supra 712
Size:215/55WR16

HANDLING RATING 8.20
PRICE $75
DRY TRACTION 8.5
WET TRACTION 8.2
RIDE COMFORT 7.7
NOISE COMFORT 7.9
WEAR 7.8


Bridgestone
Potenza RE950
Size:215/55HR16

HANDLING RATING 8.70
PRICE $98
DRY TRACTION 9
WET TRACTION 8.8
SNOW TRACTION 6.8
RIDE COMFORT 8.6
NOISE COMFORT 8.2
WEAR 8.4


TREADWEAR RATING 220 280 400
TRACTION RATING AA AA A
TEMPERATURE RATING A A A

 

I have the 950s for a winter tire and i'm about to have the kumbos installed on my 17s for the summer

 

In case you hadn't noticed we're back from the Sixers' game, 109-100. We were in the nosebleeds tonite!! Almost on the court Wed.

Anyway, the problem with RE950 is that they do not achieve the AA rating for traction. Granted you could say A is good enough, but it's your dime. Why pay for something that doesn't get the top rating UTQG? Dunlops do it for $25 less. If you ever seen the RE950 in person it's no big deal.

If you listen to CheesEmax treadwear, speed, and load ratings are not anything to use in comparisons. But that **** is like something out of a Jim Carrey flick!

 

Did you get those values from Tirerack? Remember those ratings are only within a particular category, since those are CUSTOMER ratings, not actual test ratings. So, you can really only compare hipo tires with other hipo tires, and all season vs. all season, etc.

 

Also remember what kind of person is rating these tires.. any grandpa that owns a bimmer or anything sportier than a Grand Marquis would probably buy the bridgestone over the Kumho. younger generation will buy the kuhmo simply because it's cheaper (and they look so cool!)

So when you look at the ratings, you don't even have the same people comparing the tires. grandpa will give it a 10, while Phast & Phurriest kid who expects his 88 civic DX to handle like a slot car will give it a 6.

 

I wouldn't compare numbers for tires from different classes. Sort the results for driving style and look at the comments by the "fast and aggressive" drivers. The best reviews are the ones where the drivers had experience with 2 or 3 different tires and commented on the traction and handling.