Larry

Yes, it's the weight, ride height, etc. Some will fall into a gray area and may even come with passenger car tires, but in most cases manufacturers use tires meant for more heavy duty use.

We don't keep the test vehicle info on-line, but it is generally included in the print CR magazine Tire articles. Our test people consider the specific test vehicles not to be that important (though they are selected to be appropriate for each test group). What matters to them is how the tires in the test group perform in relation to each other.

Here is some recent vehicle and tested tire size information:

The UHP tire program including summer, all season, and performance winter tires were tested in a (P)225/40R18 size and tested on a Chevrolet Cobalt SS.   

The truck tires (all season, all terrain, and winter) were tested in the (P)265/70R17 size and tested on a Chevrolet Tahoe.

Family car all season, performance all season, and winter tires were tested in the (P)215/60R16 size and tested on a Chevrolet Cruze.  

The upcoming year's UHP program (due out in November 2013) will use a (P)225/40R18 tire sized tested on a Scion FRS sports car. 

"The upcoming year's UHP program (due out in November 2013) will use a (P)225/40R18 tire sized tested on a Scion FRS sports car. "

I was initially surprise CR went with 225/40R18 rather than the OEM size of 215/45R17 for next year's test group.  Upon checking Tire Rack, I realized that 225/40R18 much more tire choices (112 versus 74).  Good pick.


Has next year's choice for testing been finalized?  If so, how about asking Gene for a blog or a listing of the ones being tested?  Thanks.      

David

We are still working on some special orders. In general there are a lot of new tires and some refinements to older tires. When things get finalized Gene may do an update.

I mention on another thread that I am purchasing new 'performance' winter tires for my 2010 Prius, with dedicated wheels to mount them permanently and including the TPM sensors the cost runs almost 2 grand for the four tires.  As you may imagine I put a lot of thought into the tire choice.  I find the Prius, probably because it weighs so little, is not good with the stock all season tires, when driven on snow. 

.  The winter tire in my size best rated by CR is the Michelin X-Ice Xi2, which I can't use because it has the worst ratings for dry and wet braking.  I live on Long Island and travel to places that encounter more snow than the NYC area, so most of the winter I drive on dry and wet winter roads.  However when taking I-81 in Virginia to I-77 South into NC the mountains often force me to drive in snow, and ice, hence the need for serious winter ability.

The CR Winter Performance ratings placed three in the recommended list, only two came in my size, and the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA 3 has evidently been discontinued.  The Michelin USA rep said the tire closest to that is the Primacy Alpin PA-3, which CR has not tested, so I am trusting the Michelin claim it is the close match, and buying those tires.

I did wonder how CR would rate the Winter Performance tires against the simply, 'Winter' tire category, especially since my normal winter is similar to many others who drive in snow enough to want the winter tires, but not if most of the time my tires are going to have terrible wet & dry braking consequences.  What is your opinion on this ?  Thanks !

Incidentally the total cost to buy relatively inexpensive after market wheels, have the TPMS sensors mounted and activated, plus the Michelin Primacy PA 3 tires spin balanced, mounted on the 2010 Prius is $ 2054.00 including the NYS sales tax.  So about 500 dollars a wheel once completed