May 20, 2024
This is our first Crossover/SUV Touring All-Season test of the year on our new Alfa Romeo Stelvio test vehicle. Naturally, we wanted to take a look at some fresh tires alongside some of the most popular options to see how everything stacks up. There are a lot of tires to check out - and while they're mostly from the same category, anyone familiar with tires and our testing will tell you that even the top-reviewed upper echelon of tires can have significant variations in road noise, comfort, wet grip, handling, and more. Furthermore, it's a mix of all-weather and non-3PMSF branded tires, and given the greater winter focus of the former, did it result in making meaningful tradeoffs anywhere else?
We'll introduce each, break down our experiences with them on our real-world road ride, then discuss their traction and subjective behavior on both a wet and dry track to understand how these tires act when pushed to their limits, mimicking the kind of high-speed emergency maneuvers you might need to deal with in a sudden crisis.
In addition to the limit-pushing data and experience we gather from running laps, this and future tests of non-performance tires will reference our new "emergency lane change" maneuver. On a dry surface, from a target speed of 45 miles per hour, our drivers will pass through 3 sets of cones. Each point is designed to illustrate how the tires handle the sudden, reactive swerves a person might make in an emergency situation. The 1st set indicates the point at which a person would react to the presence of an obstacle ahead, such as a stopped car, pedestrian, or a moose, leaving the "lane." The 2nd set is the target placement to avoid the obstacle, indicating the lane change has succeeded, the obstacle was avoided, but maybe the vehicle isn't where it's supposed to be now, so it acts as the trigger to suddenly overcorrect and swerve back to the 3rd set of cones, returning to the "lane." Our goal is to look beyond "one size fits all" testing and better represent the kind of real-world concerns drivers have to deal with.
The Alenza AS Ultra was, at the time of its release, intended as the top-of-the-line fitment for the Crossover/SUV Touring All-Season category, boasting Quiet Tracks and good treadwear. When our team took it out on the road, our testers noted one of the most immediate issues was its bouncy lack of composure over impacts. It tended to undulate, translating even small bumps to excess motion. It was, in a word, bouncy. Not to say it was wholly uncomfortable, but it didn't hide the imperfections on the road, either. Noise comfort was managed acceptably, nothing too loud, though there were some noticeable tone variations over different surfaces. The steering on-road was linear, responsive and direct, building weight appropriately.
When testing for more aggressive emergency maneuvers on our track, the steering was equally well-matched with the tire's traction capabilities. It wasn't the most accurate, but it's also not a performance tire. In spite of that, it was controllable through fast corners or rapid back-and-forth movements on a wet surface, critical for drivers dealing with unexpected situations in the rain. The braking could have been better; in both dry and wet, it trended toward the back of the pack in stopping distances. Ironically, it felt a bit more sluggish on the dry surface, with slower speeds and more input needed to react to our emergency lane change maneuver.
A proven performer in the Crossover/SUV Touring All-Season category, the CrossContact LX25 has traditionally reviewed well in prior testing as well as with customers, racking up millions of miles driven. Ultimately, testing on the new platform would determine if this venerable tire still deserved a place among the latest and greatest out today. The first indication of positivity came from its ability to walk the line between stiffness, control, and comfort, dealing with impacts succinctly and minimizing body motion. The noise, too, was even, blending together sounds with little issue, with only some slight resonance over extra coarse sections of road.
The steering was quick to respond but weighty enough to feel right; it remained precise and useful throughout. Even with the lower traction and our testers pushing the tires to their limits on the wet track, it displayed very strong braking - numerically leading the other tires - yet was consistent and even through the deceleration. It felt planted and mostly neutral, keeping drivers in control without leaning too far toward either under or oversteer. It was equally capable when pushed for emergency maneuvers on a dry surface - and although it leaned just a little more into oversteer, it left little doubt of its well-adjusted nature overall.
One of the first all-weather tires we're discussing in this test, the Discoverer EnduraMax boasts of better winter weather traction, but what did it have to give up to achieve that? On the road, it was firmest among those tested, transmitting both large and small impacts noticeably and causing vertical motion on undulations. Noise levels were moderate with some effective mitigation of cross-cut concrete resonance, but some higher volume or multi-tonal noise on other surfaces. Steering during the ride was light and not the most precise.
The shift to driving in the wet was a more drastic shift in experience, combining the already somewhat vague steering characteristics with a drop in traction. The Discoverer EnduraMax wasn't just a little off here, but in straight-line braking from 50mph, it was the worst in the test, taking over 10ft. longer to stop than the closest tire and 15ft or more from most of the other tires. The lack of grip on a wet surface rippled outward, taking longer to recover from mistakes and generally being less forgiving toward natural driving tendencies like combining braking and turning or kicking the tail out under acceleration. Most of these issues evaporated on dry surfaces, and it could manage our emergency lane change maneuver without much drama, even if the steering remained just as imprecise.
The CrossClimate2 is a titan of the Grand Touring All-Season category, with well over 25 million miles reported by customers across thousands of reviews, all the while remaining at, or near, the top of the category. It has tested well, it's popular, and it's an ideal tire to put through the paces on our new platform. Taking it out on the road, the ride was firm, communicating road features and small undulations without tossing the car around. Noise levels were moderate with multi-tonal sounds, and while it lacked the bassy impact noise of some other tires, the noise never really drifted away either. On a more positive note, the handling was good for a touring tire, light but mostly responsive and accurate, although it could benefit from a firmer on-center feel at lower speeds.
Traction and braking were strong on wet surfaces, offering a confident and predictable performance. Steering remained direct and responsive, and while not exceptionally sporty, that's hardly the point of a tire like this. The car remained stable and planted, exactly what you want in an emergency. In dry conditions, braking and steering were adequate when stressed, and it technically led the test to come to a stop from 50 mph. However, it struggled during the emergency lane change, pushing through the maneuver rather than truly handling it.
Another categorical titan, the Scorpion AS Plus 3 has earned its place as one of the "go-to" options in Crossover/SUV Touring All-Season tires, and just like many of the others, we were eager to see how it would stack up in a new test. The good news is that, on the road, at least, it did not disappoint. The tire soaked up imperfections in the road, and with only momentary secondary motion, it was unquestionably comfortable to drive. The sounds of the road were kept to a minimum as well, staying consistently quiet and smoothly blending tones over almost the entire route. The steering, too, was particularly impressive - weighty and progressively building over the arc of a turn, responsive but not too eager or jerky.
Transitioning to testing in wet conditions, we found the steering was just as responsive, conforming nicely to more aggressive driving as easily as it handled on-road. It felt athletic and capable, recovering fluidly from mistakes, and would be a reliable partner in an emergency situation. In the dry, the Scorpion AS Plus 3 was stable and intuitive, gently treating excess at the limits of grip, allowing drivers to wrest control back smoothly. Braking perhaps could have been slightly better in both dry and wet, but it was hardly out of the average, and the overall performance was balanced and confident.
The Scorpion WeatherActive is Pirelli's latest answer to the push for all-weather tires, carrying the 3PMSF symbol on its sidewall in preparation for winter. Is it able to perform comfortably for the rest of the year? At least on the road, the short answer is mostly a "yes." The ride tended slightly firmer, but more controlled, isolating the driver from, or making succinct work of bumps and cracks, but maintaining a satisfying level of ride comfort. Noise is similarly very well managed, though not without some minor tones and tread growl, although hardly intrusive. Steering on the road was on the sportier side: it was quick to respond off-center, appropriate in its build-up, and allowed our drivers to position themselves accurately.
In wet driving situations on a controlled track, it was, in a word, good. Slightly held back from greatness by a thin line that was, somewhat ironically, not helped by the sportier steering. Leaning too hard into the wheel during a corner could lead to early understeer, losing the delicate balance of steering input and grip. Frequently triggering ABS and/or Traction Control by stepping outside of that was easier to do than we would like, and in a panicked, emergency situation, it's not ideal. It's important to draw the distinction between "not ideal" and "bad" - the Scorpion WeatherActive had strong traction, enough that it could be counted on to dodge unexpected hazards, but in a competitive environment, even small distinctions matter.
The Geolandar CV G058 may not be a name that rolls off the tongue, but it has earned its place as a reasonably popular tire with consumers in this segment and a strong performer in past testing. The last time we looked at this tire was back in 2020, so it was high time to revisit it on a new platform to see if it held up. We found a soft, compliant, and controlled ride on the road, handling big bumps well while still maintaining a somewhat sporty feel. Noise levels were very good, with minimal resonance and smooth performance on various surfaces. Though slightly lighter, the steering was direct and responsive, making it suitable for everyday driving in traffic.
Switching over to the wet surfaces, the steering continued to be accurate and quick to react, though again, on the lighter side. The traction was strong, with better-than-average braking, and it felt stable and planted, handling smoothly right up to its limit, where the traction break happened somewhat abruptly. Still, it felt like a reliable partner on low-grip surfaces and could be counted on within its limits. In dry conditions, it cleared our emergency lane change maneuver easily and continued to provide a mostly stable and confident ride with minimal understeer and responsive handling. The steering was linear and intuitive, making it easy to maneuver and correct mistakes.
Yokohama's all-weather contribution to the Crossover/SUV Touring All-Season category was our first opportunity to test the Geolandar CV4S. The first impression on the road was a tire that was well-cushioned, composed, and capable of mitigating most small cracks and imperfections. Although larger impacts were more noticeable, they were also more concise, and the ride was largely controlled and comfortable. The same could not be said for the noise - it never rose to significant volumes, but some persistent resonance, pattern noise, and distinct tones on different surfaces did detract from the experience. The steering was as direct and responsive as its sibling in this test, but just a bit more satisfying heft.
On a wet surface, the steering remained just as reactive and accurate, working admirably with its sure-footed traction and reasonably strong braking. It was reliable on low-grip surfaces within its limits. In dry conditions, the emergency lane change maneuver posed little problem for it. Other than a minor tendency to understeer in corners under hard driving, an issue that would be nonexistent for an average person, it provided a confident, stable ride that would please most drivers.
There are a myriad of considerations when tire shopping, and even the "best" tire for one person may not fit your individual driving style, particular vehicle, or preferences. That's one of the many reasons we test: to explore the nuance and value across a wide spectrum of tires. Naturally, every tire has some strengths and weaknesses, and we've seen that repeatedly over the course of this test.
The Pirelli Scorpion AS Plus 3 is a perfect example of this, having led the test in subjective road ride scores and its performance in the dry but falling ever so slightly behind its competition in the wet. Not drastically so, but enough that it made a noteworthy difference. Contrarily, Yokohama's Geolandar CV G058 might have the distinction of being one of the least compellingly named tires on this list, reading more like a serial number than a top-end product, but it's so well-rounded that there are few situations it wouldn't handle well. Pirelli's Scorpion WeatherActive makes an interesting counterpart to the Scorpion AS Plus 3, aiming for all-weather performance and practically matching its kin in on-road comfort, but not quite on the same level when pushed.
The Continental CrossContact LX25 was another tire that understands the general "touring" mission of not being too specialized by focusing on excellent wet and dry performance to keep drivers safe while maintaining a comfortable and notably quiet on-road presence. Yokohama's Geolandar CV4S shows us a tire that leans more into the performance side of the category, with very strong wet and dry traction, braking, and handling, but not focusing quite as much on the luxury aspects of commuting. It hasn't been neglected, but some noticeable tonal noise, in particular, keeps it from hitting all the marks.
Michelin's CrossClimate2 is undoubtedly a focused tire - its directional design supports a goal of powerful wet and snow traction, and it mostly fulfills that mission well, but it also manages to provide decent on-road manners. Unfortunately, time and competition have caught up with it in many ways, and Michelin will need to continue to innovate and iterate to stay on top. The Bridgestone Alenza AS Ultra is in a similar position; despite having a different, more well-rounded approach, it's a pretty good tire, not particularly loud, uncomfortable, or even especially weak in wet or dry weather when pushed. However, that is ultimately its Achilles' heel; it's a pretty good tire, but it's also just that. It just doesn't stand out in an already crowded field. The Cooper Discoverer EnduraMax does manage to stand out, if not quite for the right reasons. To the tire's credit, it is capable in the dry and was reasonably comfortable during our road ride. In the wet, especially compared to its category peers, it struggled, taking almost 21 ft further than the test leader to come to a stop from 50mph. That kind of gulf is simply too significant to hand wave away.
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