Rob writes:
>The treadwear ratings let you compare tires of
>the same manufacturer but not one to another. A 350 Brand X and a 350
Brand
>Y may not be the same at all. There is no regulatory standard that
defines
>what a number means so each company just makes up its own.
That is 100% correct. The numbers are USELESS to compare between brands.
There is one other issue to consider. Tread also does make a difference in
wear life and grip. For instance, I was told that the Michelin treads on
the tires we purchase for the Volvo improved the grip and performance,
allowing Michelin to use a harder rubber that would last longer - but
gaining the same performance as a softer tire. Of course they do not have
the same performance as an all out performance tire. But, I trust Michelin
to have a harder tire with better performance than other lesser brands.
Harder rubber also makes for a quiter, smoother ride. (I guess to a point).
Jay
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Tue Sep 05 2000 - 10:49:12 CDT