Originally posted by DanB:
All tires have trade-offs, i.e., better grip usually means higher wear/less life.
...all else being equal which it is not. However, R&D has figured out ways increase grip and make tires last longer. Take the OEM G-Force on SVT's. Most people have said it has some very high performance limits, yet people are getting 25-35k miles out of them. An older design tire with similar performance would last 10-15k miles under the same conditions, like the yok AVS intermediate, another tire I really liked when I ahd them. The compounds and tread designs have improved over time and will continue to. Companies that stay stagnant will not last and should not be subsidized to do so. Whether the two competitors are based in the US or not, the better company prevails.
It is all relative. If you are used to average touring tires that get 40k miles, check out some new tires that equal or better performance and last twice as long. Or, you may continue to buy the same tire for the next 10 years. But what if you tried some tires to one that had more grip, better steering response, and lasted longer all for the same price? Would you really want the old set back?
