Westlake is a part of Tireco Inc. and was founded in 1972. The tire manufacturer focuses on making value-offering tires that offer good performance and high quality. It is among the largest tire manufacturers across the globe and offers tires for passenger cars, light trucks, CUVs, SUVs, trailers, OTRs, industrial equipment, and commercial vehicles.

The Westlake CR960A All Position; No Decoupling Groove is a medium-duty, all-position semi-truck tire that features a special design for improved fuel efficiency, longer service life, improved strength, increased traction, and confident handling. If you are into running a fleet business or transportation and looking for a dependable choice in the commercial tire segment for your semi-truck, then the details in this Westlake CR960A All Position; No Decoupling Groove review will help you make the right purchase decision. Based on our advanced tire rating system, SimpleScore, we have evaluated the commercial tire in different areas and have also concluded with our verdict in this review. So, read on!

Features and Benefits

Commercial tires are designed for use on commercial truckers, trailers, vans, and other hauling vehicles, and they are meant for use on specific or multiple axle positions. The CR960A All Position; No Decoupling Groove is an all-position tire, which means it can not only be used on steer axle positions but can also be considered for drive and trailer axles. This makes it a very versatile choice in the commercial tire segment. There are many great features and benefits this tire offers, let’s take a look at them individually.

Enhanced durability – The CR960A All Position; No Decoupling Groove is optimized for enhanced durability. The strong steel casing with steel belt provides solid strength to the tire and likewise, the high ply rating makes the tire sturdy. The special tread compound of the tire prevents cuts, chips, and tears, ensuring optimum damage resistance. Similarly, the sidewall of the tire is reinforced to combat impacts and scuffing.

Long-lasting tread life – The tire features close shoulders that ensure even wear and promote longevity. The strong steel casing with a steel belt also adds to the longevity factor by providing adequate strength to the tire to serve longer. Likewise, the straight simple rib pattern of the CR960A All Position; No Decoupling Groove helps in even wearing.

Improved wet traction and handling – Westlake has optimized the tire for improved wet traction and handling, and its four deep and wide grooves on the tread facilitate seamless water evacuation and handling. Additionally, the cross rib sipes placed on the tread slice through water for enhanced control on wet surfaces.

Reduced rolling resistance – The sturdy construction, optimized compound, and advanced tread ensure reduced rolling resistance, allowing the tire to run without the loss of rolling energy and offering fuel-efficient rides.

Good load-carrying capacity – The high ply-rated construction of this Westlake truck tire improves the load-carrying capacity to haul and tow materials more easily.

The Westlake CR960A is offered in four different sizes, which include:

• ST235/80R16-14 TL
• ST235/85R16-14 TL
• 215/75R17.5-18 TL
• 235/75R17.5-18 TL

Pros and Cons

The features of the Westlake CR960A All Position; No Decoupling Groove tire are undoubtedly amazing, however, to give you a transparent analysis, we have shared its pros and cons.

PROS:

• All-position tire designed for use on medium-duty semi-trucks.
• More durable than some of its competitors.
• Flat contact patch and optimized compound maintain consistent stability.
• Better wet traction and grip than some of its rivals.
• Sturdy construction and casing improve load-carrying capacity.
• Designed for even wear and long-lasting service.

CONS:

• No limited manufacturer tread life warranty is offered.
• Not best when it comes to use on light snow traction.
• Not made for use in severe winter weather on thick ice or snow.
• Not as affordable as some of the other medium-duty semi-truck tires.

SimpleTire’s view on Westlake CR960A All Position; No Decoupling Groove tires

If you’re looking for a high-quality tire for your medium-duty application and want that the tire should be compatible with all the axles, then the Westlake CR960A All Position; No Decoupling Groove should be a great choice. It isn’t the most affordable choice in the category but isn’t too expensive as well like the Continentals and some other premium tire brands in the race. It scores a great 8.2 SimpleScore rating in durability, which you can completely rely on its strength to haul or tow higher loads. The traction performance impresses with an 8.0 SimpleScore rating, however in light snow conditions, the traction isn’t as great as its rivals. The rides are stable, thanks to its flat contact patch, and the design and construction are engineered for long-lasting service, awarding the tire with an 8.0 SimpleScore rating in longevity. However, it is to be noted that the tire doesn’t come with any limited manufacturer tread life warranty, and also it isn’t the best choice for use in severe winter weather conditions when the roads are covered with thick snow or ice.

The Westlake CR960A competes against the following tires:

• Sailun S637
• Americus AP2000
• Gladiator QR40-ST
• Double Coin RT500
• Falken RI151
• Continental HTR2
• Travelstar Ecopath AP
• Advance GR-A1
• Firestone FS561

Vehicles the Westlake CR960A All Position; No Decoupling Groove is a good replacement tire for

The Westlake CR960A All Position; No Decoupling Groove could be a good replacement choice for medium-duty semi-trucks like:

• International MV
• Freightliner M2
• Peterbilt 330
• Kenworth T270
• Volvo VHD
• Western Star 4700
• Hino Series 500