SimpleTire’s Black Friday Sale

#1. Bridgestone Blizzak WS90

I’m starting off this list with the winter tires, and the first one is from the premium segment. The Blizzak WS90 is an excellent performer, and it comes in a variety of size options, so you may find the right one for your vehicle.

A winter tire isn’t always about driving on snow, and the Blizzak WS90 won’t disappoint in this regard. The tire can deliver plenty of grip and traction on a dry road, meaning you won’t notice it struggling. Even in slightly more aggressive scenarios, the tire will remain planted as long as you don’t drive like you’re on a track. The tire’s dynamic is pretty decent for a winter model. There is enough responsiveness to feel sharp and snappy, but you won’t have tons of feedback to rely on.

The Blizzak WS90 continues to deliver plenty of performance in wet conditions. On a damp road, the traction won’t disappoint, and the cornering grip will be more than enough to eliminate understeer. Combining both means that most people will be happy with the performance. Even though the limits are higher than some of its rivals, you can push it too hard at a certain point. The safety aspect of the tire is also excellent, thanks to the short braking distances and excellent aquaplaning resistance.

As a winter tire, the Blizzak WS90 offers exceptional performance in snowy conditions. There’s a small difference in the performance on packed and unpacked snow, and in both conditions, the traction is plentiful. The tire will even offer a lot when you’re driving on deep snow. With this, you also get short braking distances, which is crucial in these conditions. Surprisingly, the tire offers usable performance on ice, putting it above some of its premium rivals.

The weakest point of the Blizzak WS90 is the refinement. You’ll have decent comfort levels, and the tire will smooth out some of the imperfections and bumps quite well. The problem is with the vibrations, especially when you hit a pothole. As for the noise levels, they are decent but not the lowest in this class. Around town on smooth roads, the hum isn’t very noticeable. With that said, driving on rougher patches can get a bit noisy.

#2. Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3

My next pick from SimpleTire is a model from the mid-range segment. The Hakkapeliitta R3 is a more affordable model than the previous one, meaning that the performance won’t be the same, which is to be expected at this price point.

The performance in dry conditions is pretty good, meaning you’ll have enough for daily driving scenarios. You won’t experience too much slip when accelerating, but getting a bit aggressive will show that it’s a mid-range tire. It’s the same in the corners. You can go in at a slightly higher speed but don’t expect wonders. The drawback here is the braking distances. Yes, they are short and safe but average for the mid-range class. As for the handling, it’s not too bad. There is some responsiveness, and the feedback isn’t as muted as with some other winter tires.

In wet conditions, the Hakkapeliitta R3 surprises. The grip and traction levels on damp roads are excellent, and the tire is much closer to its premium rivals. Pushing it too much will result in slip or understeer, but that’s not what many people do in daily driving scenarios. The braking distances are also very short and can even compete with some of the more expensive models in this category. In harsh rain, the tread pattern evacuates water effectively, providing excellent aquaplaning resistance.

Snow performance is excellent, but it comes with a slight disadvantage. On the positive side of things, you’ll have plenty of performance on unpacked snow, regardless of whether it’s shallow or deep. Packed snow also isn’t a problem, and even though it can struggle when you push it hard, it still remains an excellent performer. The braking distances are pretty good for the mid-range segment but are behind the premium ones. Similar to the previous tire, you’re looking at solid performance on ice, combining decent traction levels and relatively short braking distances.

Despite being a winter tire, the Hakkapeliitta R3 is very well-refined. The comfort levels are very good, and the tire will deliver a plush ride. Thanks to its softer nature, the tire will absorb and soften bumps and potholes while reducing vibrations. The noise levels are impressively low, considering it’s a winter tire. You’ll barely hear a hum when driving around town while on the highway, it won’t be overly intrusive, especially when compared to some of its rivals.

#3. Michelin X-Ice Snow

Going back to the premium models, I have one from Michelin. The X-Ice Snow is an excellent performer as long as you’re willing to pay the premium price for it.

The X-Ice Snow is a very capable performer when it comes to dry conditions. It offers high levels of grip and traction, meaning that you’ll have more than you’ll ever need for daily driving scenarios. There is room to play with it on a twisty road, but since it’s not the performance-oriented model, you shouldn’t expect much from it. You’ll also notice this from the handling. It’s responsive enough for a winter tire, but you won’t have a lot of feedback, at least when compared to some of its rivals.

Driving in wet conditions is something that the X-Ice Snow tackles with ease. Damp roads won’t cause any problems. The traction levels are more than enough to minimize slip when accelerating, and the cornering grip will keep your car planted. Like before, it’s not one of those tires you can have fun with, so don’t expect too much from it once you start pushing it. In harsh rain, the tire offers excellent aquaplaning resistance, meaning the stability at highway speeds isn’t compromised.

Winter condition is what the X-Ice Snow does best. The tire delivers very high levels of traction on packed and unpacked snow without noticing too many issues. You can even drive in deep snow patches, and you won’t notice too many issues as long as you don’t start to ask too much of it. Even though it’s not a studdable tire, you will get some acceptable ice performance. Not a lot, but it should be fine in a pinch.

Regarding refinement, I don’t have much to complain about with the X-Ice Snow. The tire delivers high comfort levels, smoothing out road imperfections and smaller bumps. It does well with larger potholes, softening the initial impact and minimizing vibrations from reaching the cabin. The noise levels are on the lower end of the spectrum for a winter tire as long as you’re driving around town. On rougher surfaces or at higher speeds, the tire’s noise becomes noticeable.

The X-Ice Snow is one of the rare models that have a warranty. Michelin offers the tire with a 40,000-mile treadwear warranty, putting it ahead of the previous two models.

#4. Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015

The second category that falls under the Black Friday sale from SimpleTire is the all-terrain one, and the first model I’ll talk about is the Geolandar A/T G015.

In dry conditions, the Geolandar A/T G015 offers more than what people need in terms of performance. The traction levels are very good, and you’ll rarely notice the tire slipping on acceleration. Going around a corner at normal to slightly higher speeds also won’t be an issue for this tire. In terms of safety, the braking distances are among the shorter ones in the all-terrain segment. The handling isn’t the strongest point. It’s not the most responsive tire in this category, and the feedback isn’t overly pronounced.

The excellent performance continues in wet conditions as well. On damp roads, the traction levels of the Geolandar A/T G015 are excellent, among the highest in the all-terrain segment. You can get it to slip a bit, but you’ll need to be aggressive. Going around a corner at normal speeds also isn’t an issue, and the tire will hold the line with no problems. Yokohama designed the tire to evacuate water efficiently, resulting in excellent aquaplaning resistance.

Even though the Geolandar A/T G015 has the 3PMSF rating, it’s still an all-season tire, so it won’t compare with the winter options. The traction levels are good enough for driving in lighter conditions, like shallow snow. You may be fine in some deeper patches, but the tire will start to lose traction. Surprisingly, the tire does a pretty good job on packed snow, which many all-season tires struggle with. With the short braking distances, this tire will be fine in milder winters.

The Geolandar A/T G015 isn’t an aggressive all-terrain tire, so the off-road performance will be limited. For the most part, you’ll be getting excellent performance on hard-packed surfaces like dirt or gravel roads. Mud can be problematic, so you may want to stick to the shallower patches to avoid getting stuck. You can probably guess that rock-crawling is something you should avoid.

As far as refinement is concerned, the Geolandar A/T G015 does a very good job. The comfort levels are excellent, and the tire isn’t soft to the point where it may feel bouncy. There is some firmness, but despite that, the tire still softens up the road and minimizes vibrations. My only complaint is a bit of harshness when you hit a pothole, but it’s not terrible. The noise levels are decent for an all-terrain tire. You’ll hear it mainly on the highway, but it won’t be overly intrusive.

For the warranty, the Geolandar A/T G015 is near the top. The tire comes with a 60,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is among the best in this class.

#5. Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail

This next tire is quite similar to the previous one in many ways. Falken made the Wildpeak A/T Trail as a mild all-terrain tire, so we should see some solid road and decent off-road performance.

As an all-terrain tire, the Wildpeak A/T Trail does a pretty good job in dry conditions. The grip and traction levels are pretty good, and even though you don’t have tons of room to push them, most owners will be happy with the performance. You’re getting short braking distances for this category from a tire that’s decently okay in terms of handling. Even though it lacks a bit of responsiveness and feedback, it should be fine for most drivers.

Wet is where the tire seems to put itself a bit above some of its rivals. The traction is quite good, and the tire sticks to a damp road very well. Naturally, getting too aggressive will cause it to slip, but not a lot of people will do that. The cornering grip is also very good. It will go into a corner without promoting too much understeer, even if you get a bit carried away. The braking distances are very impressive. This tire manages to outperform even some of its premium rivals. Finally, despite not having the most aggressive pattern of the bunch, it manages to offer very good aquaplaning resistance.

Unfortunately, the Wildpeak A/T Trail isn’t perfect, and we see that in winter. The tire is a solid performer on unpacked snow, and the traction levels you’ll get will be fine. It falls a bit behind some of its rivals, but it’s not the worst. Packed snow can be a bit problematic as the tire may struggle for traction. As long as you’re planning on using it in lighter conditions, the performance will be adequate.

As for off-roading, the performance is very similar to the previous tire. If you plan on driving on dirt or gravel roads, the Wildpeak A/T Trail will offer excellent performance. There’s enough traction to push it a bit if you’re that type of off-road driver. In terms of mud, the tire is fine as long as you don’t try to drive in deep patches, at which point you’re risking getting stuck. I shouldn’t mention that rock-crawling is something you shouldn’t consider.

The Wildpeak A/T Trail is decently refined, but there are some things that I should mention. The comfort levels are pretty good, and the tire deals with small imperfections and bumps very well. Hitting a larger pothole isn’t an issue because the tire will soften it and reduce the vibrations. The problem with potholes is the noise. There is a thump, which can be a dealbreaker for some people. Apart from that, the noise levels are decent for an all-season tire. There is a noticeable roar at highway speeds, but it’s still not the loudest in this class.

In terms of warranty, Wildpeak A/T Trail outperforms the previous tire by a bit. Falken offers the tire with a 65,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is excellent for an all-terrain model.

#6. Toyo Open Country A/T III

For my last all-terrain model, I’ll talk about one that’s a bit better in terms of off-roading, at least compared with the previous one. The Open Country A/T III falls in the same category as the other two, but the performance isn’t the same.

In dry conditions, the Open Country A/T III delivers pretty good results. The traction levels are pretty high for a tire from this class and will eliminate slip as long as you’re driving normally. You can get a bit aggressive, but not too much, as the tire will start to slip or promote understeer in the corners. The braking distances are quite good and very short for this class of tire. As for the handling, there’s nothing special to talk about. The responsiveness is average, and the feedback isn’t too pronounced.

The Open Country A/T III continues to deliver solid performance even in wet conditions. Damp roads aren’t a massive problem, and if you’re not too aggressive, the tire won’t slip when accelerating. The cornering grip is plentiful and will be fine under normal driving conditions. This means you shouldn’t push it hard unless you’re a massive fan of understeer. The tire combines two crucial aspects for safety: short braking distances and very good aquaplaning resistance.

When it comes to winter performance, the fact that the Open Country A/T III is 3PMSF-rated means it’s a pretty solid performer. It has no issues on unpacked snow, and you can even use it in slightly harsher conditions. The packed snow performance is pretty decent and a bit better than some rivals that are M+S rated. As part of the package, the tire offers short braking distances, so as long as you don’t have harsh winters, it should be fine.

Regarding off-roading, the Open Country A/T III offers a bit more than the previous two. The traction on hard-packed surfaces is very good, meaning that even in aggressive scenarios, the tire will be fine. This means that you can have some fun on a dirt road. Mud performance is very good, meaning that you can dive in more than just shallow patches. Sure, you will reach a point where it will be too deep for any all-terrain tire, but that’s only if you’re after some more extreme driving. The tire will be acceptable for rock crawling over smaller rocks, but for anything more than that, you’ll need a mud-terrain tire.

Things aren’t perfect with the Open Country A/T III, and the refinement is the weakest side. The comfort levels are acceptable enough as long as you’re prepared for a bit of firmness. Smaller bumps and imperfections aren’t a massive problem, and the tire will absorb them partially. The problem is bigger bumps or potholes where it will feel a bit stiffer than some of its rivals. Noise levels are also pretty average. I wouldn’t classify it as loud around town, but you’ll start to hear it when you get on the highway or drive over rougher surfaces.

In terms of warranty, it’s on the same level as the previous model. The Open Country A/T III comes with a 65,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is pretty good for an all-terrain model.

#7. Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza Plus

I’m starting with the last group of tires you’ll find on SimpleTire’s Black Friday sale, and the first one is from Bridgestone. The Dueler H/L Alenza Plus is an all-season touring model designed for CUVs and SUVs, meaning that we’re looking at refinement, longevity, and solid performance.

The performance of the Dueler H/L Alenza Plus in dry conditions is pretty good. It offers high levels of traction, meaning it won’t slip whenever you accelerate. The cornering grip is also very good, and as long as you don’t go into a corner too fast, the tire will remain stable and plated. In terms of braking distances, you’re looking at an excellent tire, among the best in its category. The handling isn’t something that will get enthusiasts thrilled. There is enough responsiveness for daily driving, and it delivers decent feedback, but not enough to have fun on a twisty road.

Wet performance is something that the Dueler H/L Alenza Plus does well without any issues. The grip and traction levels on damp roads are excellent, meaning the tire won’t slip in daily driving scenarios. You can get some understeer on corner entry, but only when you push the tire past its limits. The braking distances are also very short, putting the tire near the top. Stability in harsh rain also remains uncompromised, thanks to the tire’s ability to evacuate water.

As an all-season tire, you can expect the Dueler H/L Alenza Plus to deliver solid performance in lighter snow conditions. Driving in shallow snow isn’t an issue, and the tire will be more than just usable; you can drive it daily with no issues. There may be a bit more slip on packed snow, but most people won’t notice a massive difference. This is as much as you should expect from this tire, and if you need more traction on deep snow or ice, you should be looking for a winter tire.

In terms of refinement, the Dueler H/L Alenza Plus is a very good performer. The noise levels are pretty low, and the tire is very quiet around town. There is some hum when you’re driving on the highway, but it’s faint and will often go unnoticed. Even on rougher roads, the tire still manages to remain quiet. In a worst-case scenario, you’ll most likely hear a thump when you hit a pothole. The tire delivers very high comfort levels as well. Smaller imperfections are not a problem, and the tire irons them out quite well. With larger ones like potholes, the tire absorbs them while minimizing the vibrations.

Warranty is something that the Dueler H/L Alenza Plus does very well. The tire comes with an 80,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is among the best in its class.

#8. Kumho Crugen HP71

From the mid-range segment, I have another all-season touring tire from Kumho. It’s the Crugen HP71, which is an excellent tire, considering that it’s a more affordable option than some of its premium counterparts.

The Crugen HP71 delivers solid performance in dry conditions, considering it’s a touring tire. The grip and traction levels may not be the highest in this category, but they are enough for most people. You won’t experience too much slip as long as you’re aware of the tire’s capabilities. You can push it hard, but you’ll notice a bit more understeer in the corners. The handling is the weakest point. It’s responsive, but I would still classify it as average, and you won’t have a lot of feedback through the steering wheel. Still, it will be fine for most average drivers.

When it comes to wet conditions, the Crugen HP71 delivers slightly more impressive results. On damp roads, the grip levels are pretty high, meaning you won’t notice too much understeer in the corners. The traction is also very good, so the tire won’t slip even when you get a bit more aggressive. I must mention that even though the tire is stable, the responsiveness takes a bit of a hit. Again, most people won’t have an issue with this. Finally, the tread pattern’s ability to evacuate water delivers excellent aquaplaning resistance.

The weakest part of the Crugen HP71 is the winter performance. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not terrible, but it’s far from the best. The tire delivers usable traction in lighter conditions, as long as we’re talking about unpacked snow. There is some traction on packed one, but the tire will struggle a bit more than what most people would be comfortable with. Overall, the performance is average, and the tire will be usable as long as you live in areas with very mild winters.

On the positive side, we have the refinement levels. The Crugen HP71 offers a comfortable ride, dealing with smaller imperfections almost as good as some of tis premium rivals. With larger potholes, the initial hit is noticeable, but it’s well-dampened without too many vibrations. The noise levels are very low, which is a surprise for a mid-range tire. Around town, it’s as quiet as some more expensive tires, and the same goes even when you drive on the highway.

As for the warranty, it’s a mid-range tire, so I wasn’t expecting the longest. The Crugen HP71 comes with a 65,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is good, but some mid-range models offer more.

#9. Michelin CrossClimate SUV

My last pick for this list is another tire from the premium segment. Of course, I’m talking about the CrossClimate SUV. It’s not the most affordable, but it’s among the best in its class in terms of performance.

On dry roads, the CrossClimate SUV offers superb performance, much more than what most people would need in daily driving scenarios. The grip and traction levels are very high, meaning you won’t experience slip even if you get a bit aggressive. Keep in mind that it’s not a performance tire, so taking it on a track will reveal that. It will be fine if you want to have some fun on a twisty road. Lucky for you, the short braking distances are there to keep you safe. The only thing that may disappoint you a bit is the handling. It’s decently responsive, but enthusiasts will want more.

Rain is something that the CrossClimate SUV has no issues with. The traction is phenomenal, and the tire eliminates slip even when accelerating aggressively. Going into a corner won’t result in an understeer as long as you don’t push it too much. Similar to before, you’re looking at very short braking distances, so the safety isn’t compromised. The tread pattern is designed to evacuate water and does that very well, offering excellent aquaplaning resistance.

The CrossClimate SUV comes with a 3PMSF rating, meaning the snow performance should be excellent, right? Yes, with a small drawback. Unpacked snow is not an issue, as the tire delivers plenty of traction. Even in deeper snow, the tire will remain drivable, which is why it’s technically an all-weather tire. The high praises continue on packed snow, with the tire doing what it does best in these conditions. My only complaint is the braking distances. They are short and safe but are longer than some of its rivals.

My second complaint about the CrossClimate SUV is in terms of the refinement, the noise levels, to be specific. The tire isn’t the quietest in its category, and it’s noticeable. Most people will be fine around town, as the hum isn’t too pronounced. Unfortunately, at higher speeds, you will hear it more. The comfort levels, on the other hand, are pretty good. It deals with imperfections and bumps well, offering a comfortable ride. Even when you go over a pothole, the hit will be softened, and you won’t feel a lot of vibrations.

Michelin isn’t known for offering the longest warranty, and this tire is no exception. The CrossClimate SUV comes with a 50,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is less even than some mid-range models.