Consumer Reports tests best all-season tires

No matter what type of car you drive, having a good set of tires is essential for your safety.

All-season tires are the most popular ones on the market and come standard on most cars.

But when it comes time to replace them, which should you choose?

Consumer Reports has tested over 80 all-season tires and Gene Petersen says they're a good choice for most drivers.

"They're designed to handle various weather conditions, including snow and ice. Plus they give a nice, smooth ride and they have a long tread life," he said.

But with so many all-season tires to choose from, it's tough to know which to buy.

Consumer Reports puts tires through 14 different testing criteria, including stopping distances on a variety of surfaces.

And to determine treadwear, tires are driven 16,000 miles on public roads in West Texas and routinely measured to determine how long they should last.

"Many all-season tires have high mileage warranties. Those would be warranties above 70,000 miles. But our comparative tests show that some tires just don't last as long as others," said Petersen.

In the end, Consumer Reports top pick all-season sedan tire is the Michelin Defender. It costs about $120 dollars and has a notably long tread life.

The top pick performance all-season tire is the Continental PureContact for around $112 dollars.

For SUV and truck owners, the Michelin LTX MS2 costing about $190 dollars has the highest ratings and excellent tread life.

When shopping, Consumer Reports says to always factor in the TOTAL cost.

Some retailers charge $10 to $15 dollars for installation and you may have to pay a fee for disposing of your old tires.