The end of High Performance tires

[Q45tech]

http://www.nhtsa.gov/staticfil...R.pdf

A new requirement will categorize tires by MPG and effective carbon emissions to roll them! Rolling Resistance Test Measurement.

"Specifically, the PRIA develops estimates assuming that between 2% and 10% of targeted tires are improved and that the average reduction in rolling resistance among improved tires is between 5% and 10%. Under these hypothetical assumptions, the proposal is estimated to save 7.9 – 78 million gallons of fuel and prevent the emission of 76,000 – 757,000 metric tons of CO2 annually. The values of the fuel savings are between $22 and $220 million at a 3 percent discount rate and between $20 and $203 million at a 7 percent discount rate".

Some neat charts and tecnical info in this 148 page document

So maybe we will see a federal carbon tax on performance tires that waste gasoline.

The rub is wet and dry braking distances will definitely increase!!!!!

[Q451990]

The rub is wet and dry braking distances will definitely increase!!!!!

At least (in theory) we'll be able to smell greener grass and hear the pitter patter of happier, healthier animals as we take our final breath bleeding on the shoulder of a wet road...

[Q45tech]

I am hopeful that more education will allow a few people to understand tires and allow them to save their pennies to buy better units.

[I'm selling some airline miles to buy 4 Michelins instead of taking a First Class vacation]. I can suffer for 12 hours to lessen the chance I will suffer for years. Incrementially the difference between $129 and $69 x4 is $240.

I see and hear it all the time that Michelins are so expensive, yet when you read US GOVERNMENT documents whom do they ask for data and who do they use as the REFERENCE against which all the others are ranked.

A French company has proven that Goodyear isn't always right, and spending less on inferior quality materials may not always be the best idea.

There is a tremendous difference in the best they know how to make and what's good enough for average citizens.

[maxnix]

There is a tremendous difference in the best they know how to make and what's good enough for average citizens.

As an aside, I am running Goodyear F1 GS D3 (aus Deutschland!) on one of my cars and I am immensely pleased with them considering the price vs. PS2 (review in Infiniti General Tire Sticky). But I will note that the PS2 weighs abouit 4 lbs. less, or a savings of almost 14% of the unsprung rotating mass (not allowing for suspension attachment).

Surely cars that require these standards will be grandfathered in. The first two generations of Prius are nasty handling little trashbins due in large part to their billiard ball hard undersized tires.

[Q45tech]

Yes extremely strong high quality material are light but cost more.

Study the financials of Goodyear and Michelin in depth and decide which you would rather your loved ones rode on.