Can You Trust Tire Tests?
Car owners often face that question when buying new tires. How far test results connect with reality? And if it is possible to evaluate the characteristics of the tire without any special expensive equipment and this test site? We will try to answer these questions.
To begin with, we admit, that the tests are being carried out mainly by big car magazines, wishing to attract as many readers as it is possible. But the main purpose of those publications is to earn money through sales of products (magazines, newspapers) and advertisement.
Naturally a magazine can benefit from killing two birds with one shot immediately - to sell their printed products and to receive extra money from a certain company for the promotion of some kind of a product that later gets the top place in an ‘independent‘ rating. In this case tire rating will hardly be objective. Well, it is business and everyone wants to survive in this difficult competition.
And in general, are sellers capable of conducting a quality tire test?
To identify the advantages and disadvantages of a tire (any type or make: Michelin tires, Bridgestone tires, Goodyear tires…), you need not a day or two, but numerous tests and tests in different conditions, but if we compare a few models? And if it is possible to take into account changing weather conditions, the asphalt temperature, humidity, which vary even within a single day with one-, two-day test by testing five different models of tires?
Add to that the tests are being conducted with the participation of journalists, some racers with their personal preferences to the choice of rubber because of their individual driving style. But this is a very important factor, since many of the leading racers prefer different manufacturers and different models of tires for the same route. Perhaps that is why the same tires at the same times show completely opposite characteristics in braking, accelerating, cornering etc.
There is another important factor that is not included in the testing of tires in that way – tire wear. Moreover, the behavior of the tire, ie, its characteristics are usually highly dependent on its degree of wear. You can make a very soft rubber and tires will show a fairly good performance, but their durability will be very low.
Generally, all the characteristics of tires, laid down by the manufacturer reveal only after its using for about 200 km, depending on the pavement.
Of course for that, the publishers don’t have neither the time nor extra money.
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