[Sorry for the long post]

One thing to keep in mind folks when comparing tires, is that it is really difficult to compare apples to apples. I say this primarily because of how this information is gathered.

For example, the Uniform Tire Quality Grade Standards (UTQG), which is information on treadwear, traction and temperature capabilities, is self certifying for the most part by the manufacturer. So, you really have to look at all of the numbers, and not just how "soft" or "hard" the tire may be.

The tire's UTQG rating indicates three things:

Tread Wear: This number comes from testing the tire in controlled conditions on a government test track. The higher the number, the longer you can expect the tread to last. Since no one will drive his or her car on exactly the same surfaces and at the same speeds as the government test track, the number is not an accurate indicator of how long your tread will actually last. It's a good relative measure, however: You can expect a tire with a larger number to last longer than one with a smaller number.

Traction: Tire traction is rated AA, A, B or C, with AA at the top of the scale. This rating is based on the tire's ability to stop a car on wet concrete and asphalt. It does not indicate the tire's cornering ability.

Temperature: The tire temperature ratings are A, B or C. The rating is a measure of how well the tire dissipates heat and how well it handles the buildup of heat. The temperature grade applies to a properly inflated tire that is not overloaded. Underinflation, overloading or excessive speed can lead to more heat buildup. Excessive heat buildup can cause tires to wear out faster, or could even lead to tire failure.

If you were to compare tires like the Bridgestone RE050A Pole Position, Michelin PS2s, and Ventus V12s, you will find the following:

Bridgestone RE050A Pole Position - Treadwear 140; Traction AA; Temperature A
Michelin PS2s - Treadwear 220; Traction AA; Temperature A
Ventus V12 evo K110 - Treadwear 280; Traction AA; Temperature A

All three offer great traction, and temperature ratings. Yet, differ in their treadwear. One would then think, why not go for the V12s, as they have a higher tredwear rating. Not so fast!

According to TireRack.com, "The problem with UTQG Treadwear Grades is that they are open to some interpretation on the part of the tire manufacturer because they are assigned after the tire has only experienced a little treadwear as it runs the 7,200 miles. This means that the tire manufacturers need to extrapolate their raw wear data when they are assigning Treadwear Grades, and that their grades can to some extent reflect how conservative or optimistic their marketing department is. Typically, comparing the Treadwear Grades of tire lines within a single brand is somewhat helpful, while attempting to compare the grades between different brands is not as helpful."

I honestly do not think you can go wrong with any of the Ultra High Performance Summer tires out there. They all offer great ratings in the categories above. Honestly, for most people, unless you are really looking for a R-spec tire, it will come down to brand loyalty, reviewes, and ultimately, budget.

Just my thoughts. I have experience with running the RE050A Pole Positions, and Toyo T1Rs. Love both of them. Have no complaints with either! I just purchased a set of the Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta's (Dutch tire manufacturer: http://www.vredestein.com/index.asp?...50971&TaalID=1). So, we will see how these do. Either way you look at it, the tires are the only things touching the road. Do your research, and afford the best tire for your budget.

Reference - TireRack: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=48