10 best new tire releases of 2020

2020 has surely been a year like no other, as massive wildfires, deadly hurricanes, and the COVID-19 pandemic challenged humanity in ways that we weren’t expecting. Fortunately, 2020 is thankfully, mercifully coming to an end, and while it was a tough year, there were some positives. Each year, the world’s tire manufacturers continue to release new tires that integrate the latest technology and engineering processes to improve the driving experience, and 2020 was no different. Reviewing all of the new tires that launched in 2020 would probably take a year to do, so instead, let’s focus on the 10 best new tire releases to roll out of 2020, why we chose it, and what some of our customers say.

Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Plus II

Pirelli is known for their world class tires that are frequently used on race and supercars, so it's only fitting that they would end up on this list. The Cinturato P7 All Season Plus II improves on the wildly successful Cinturato P7 All Season Plus line by improving grip and traction in wet conditions and boosting fuel efficiency in dry conditions. Backed by a 70,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, the Cinturato P7 All Season Plus II also offers drivers better performance in winter weather conditions than its predecessor.

Why we chose it

The Cinturato P7 All Season Plus II truly gives drivers of CUVs, SUVs, and light trucks excellent traction year round. The tire’s optimized profile and rubber compound reduce CO2 emissions and rolling resistance so that drivers spend less time at the pumps, and a 70,000 mile limited warranty proves that the Cinturato P7 All Season Plus II is built to give drivers strong, long-lasting performance.

What our customers say...

... about Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Plus II Tires.

I have these Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Plus on my 2010 Lexus LS 460L and I knew that when it was time for new tires on my 2006 Lexus SC 430 that these were the tires, I was replacing the Pirelli P Zero run flat's with. These are great tires. The ride on the SC 430 improved a 1000 percent. You cannot go wrong with the P7's. Dennis

Toyo Open Country A/T III

Many Jeep, light truck, and SUV drivers want a tire that’s built to perform on any terrain, and that’s exactly what Toyo’s Open Country A/T III does. Featuring an aggressive tread pattern for better traction and performance off road, the Open Country A/T III’s special rubber compound boosts traction in wet weather and enhances cut and chip resistance to promote a longer tread life. The Open Country A/T III is also backed by an up to 65,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty and features a Three Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol thanks to its ability to perform in severe winter weather conditions.

Why we chose it

Toyo isn’t kidding when they said the Open Country A/T III is built to perform on any terrain, as its aggressive tread pattern allows for excellent traction and performance on and off road. The Open Country A/T III’s cut and chip resistant rubber compound works with stone ejector grooves to protect the tire from damage for a longer tread life, while lateral grooves and 3D multi-wave sipes improve on road traction in dry, wet, and winter weather conditions. The Open Country A/T III is backed by a 65,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty for P and Euro metrics sizes and a 50,000 mile warranty for LT metric and flotation sizes and comes in Outlined White Letter or Black sidewall that’s sure to compliment the looks of your Jeep, light truck, or SUV.

What our customers say...

... about Toyo Open Country A/T III Tires.

*Best tires I’ve owned by far, will continue to purchase in the years to come. * Dalton

Toyo Proxes Sport A/S

Looking for ultra high performance year-round? Toyo has a tire for you! The Proxes Sport A/S is one of the latest and greatest in the UHP/AS market thanks to its dynamic taper design that allows for sporty traction and handling in dry, wet, and winter weather. The Proxes Sport A/S is built with an innovative silica compound that improves grip, traction, and braking performance in wet weather conditions, making it a common choice for drivers of sporty coupes and sedans such as the Audi A5, BMW 3 Series, Dodge Challenger, Ford Mustang GT, Lexus RC350, and Tesla Model 3.

Why we chose it

Oftentimes, drivers of sporty cars and sedans need two sets of tires: one for colder winter weather and one for the Spring, Summer, and Fall. Toyo understood that not every driver has the budget or space to buy and store two sets of tires, so the Proxes Sport A/S was built to truly give these drivers the consistent, sporty traction and performance that they crave year-round. An improved rib design further enhances braking, handling, and turning capabilities, and the Proxes Sport A/S is backed by a 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty for V and W rated sizes, 40,000 mile limited warranty for Y and (Y) rated sizes, and 50% of those warranties for the rear tires in staggered fitments.

What our customers say...

... about Toyo Proxes Sport A/S Tires.

Great year around tire, you get a little bit of everything. Osbaldo

Yokohama Geolandar CV G058

CUVs, SUVs, and minivans are some of the most common vehicles on the road today, so it only makes sense that many manufacturers are now designing tires specifically for these vehicles that often haul family members. Enter the Yokohama Geolandar CV G058. Built with hundreds of 2D and 3D sipes that create additional biting edges for better traction in dry, wet, and winter weather conditions, the Geolandar CV G058’s rubber compound is infused with silica to further strengthen traction and grip on wet and wintry roads.

Why we chose it

Simply put, the Geolandar CV G058 gives drives of CUVs, SUVs, and minivans the all season traction that they want and need to confidently haul them and their family members to and from school, practices, the grocery store, and everywhere in between. Hundreds of sipes and a special rubber compound allow for strong traction in dry, wet, and winter weather conditions, and the Geolandar CV G058’s multi-pitch tread design reduces road noises to create a quiet, comfortable ride for drivers and passengers. The Geolandar CV G058’s chamfered ribs reduce uneven wear for a longer tread life, and the tire is backed by a 65,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty for non-staggered fitments and a 32,5000 mile limited warranty for rear tires in staggered fitments.

Firestone Destination LE3

The Firestone name is well known through the US, and the Destination LE line has long provided strong traction and performance. The Destination LE3 line does that and more for drivers of CUVs, SUVs, and light trucks, as its wide grooves remove water from the tire’s contact patch to reduce the risk of hydroplaning. Full depth 3D siping creates additional biting edges for better grip in wet and dry conditions, and the Destination LE3’s optimized design reduces road noises to create a quiet, comfortable ride for drivers and passengers.

Why we chose it

CUV, SUV, and light truck drivers often want a tire that performs year round, and the Destination LE3 does that thanks to a smart tread design and extra siping for excellent dry, wet, and winter grip. The Destination LE3 is backed by a 70,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, and is available in Outlined White Letter or Black sidewall to compliment the looks of your CUV, SUV, or light truck.

What our customers say...

... about Firestone Destination LE3 Tires.

The new Firestone tires are wonderful. My Rav4 handles much better and the road noise is practically nonexistent. Virginia

Toyo Celsius Cargo

Commercial vans are incredibly common nowadays, as more and more people are ordering goods on Amazon and other eCommerce platforms. Drivers of commercial vans must traverse dry, wet, and winter weather conditions to complete their deliveries, so Toyo built with Celsius Cargo to give these drivers that traction and performance. An all weather tire, the Celsius Cargo’s circumferential rib and low void ratio enhance traction in wet and dry conditions while zigzag tread blocks and plentiful siping strengthen traction in ice, slush, and snow. The Celsius Cargo’s multi wave sipes strengthen braking performance and reduce irregular wear, and a durable sidewall protects the tire from curbing damage.

Why we chose it

Commercial vans such as the Ford Transit, Chevrolet Express, RAM ProMaster, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, and Nissan NV are becoming more and more common, and these drivers need to make sure that their tires don’t hinder their deliveries. Fortunately, all weather tires allow for true year round traction, and that’s exactly what the Celsius Cargo is. A flexible rubber compound works with zigzag tread blocks for better traction in lower temperatures, ice, slush, and snow, while a circumferential rib and low void ratio boosts traction in wet and dry weather. The Celsius Cargo features a sturdy casing improves handling and stability, and the tire’s Three Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol means this tire is certified to perform in severe winter weather conditions.

Falken Winterpeak F-Ice 1

Winter weather often brings lower temperatures, ice, slush, and snow with it, so finding a tire that consistently performs in these conditions becomes a must for some drivers. Knowing this, Falken built the Winterpeak F-Ice 1 to give drivers of coupes, sedans, CUVs, SUVs, and minivans the winter performance that they need. Extra siping within the tread creates biting edges for better traction and shorter braking distances on icy roads, and the Winterpeak F-Ice 1’s curved grooves and open shoulders force water out of the tire and compact snow for better traction, making it a common choice for drivers of the Honda Accord, Mazda CX-9, Subaru Forester, Toyota RAV4, and Volkswagen Golf.

Why we chose it

Driving in winter weather conditions can be tricky and stressful, so it’s important to find a tire that offers excellent performance in lower temperatures, ice, slush, and snow. The Falken Winterpeak F-Ice 1 can be pinned with TSMI #12 or #13 studs to further boost traction and performance in icy and snowy conditions, and a Three Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol means this tire is certified to perform in severe snow conditions. The Winterpeak F-Ice 1’s 4D Nano Design technology and tread compound boost grip in the coldest weather conditions, and 3D Canyon Sipe Technology creates additional biting edges for better traction in snow and slush.

Sumitomo HTR A/S P03

The Sumitomo HTR A/S P03 gives drivers of sports cars, coupes, sedans, and CUVs ultra high performance coupled with all season traction at a great price point. Built with an optimized design that improves handling and stability, the Sumitomo HTR A/S P03’s fin design in the tread moves water out of the tire to reduce the risk of hydroplaning on wet roads. The HTR A/S P03 also features multi sipe technology for better handling and winter traction and is backed by an up to 65,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty.

Why we chose it

The Sumitomo HTR A/S P03 is the third ultra high performance, all season tire on our list. Like the Toyo Proxes Sport A/S, the HTR A/S P03 truly gives drivers of sports cars, coupes, sedans, and CUVs sporty traction and performance in dry, wet, and winter weather conditions. The difference here is that the HTR A/S P03 does that for around $70 per tire. The HTR A/S P03 is also backed by a 65,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty for H and V rated sizes, and a 45,000 mile limited warranty for W rated sizes so drivers receive high end performance and a long tread life at a great price.

Hankook Kinergy 4S2 (H750)

One of the quickest growing trends in the tire industry is all weather tires, which combine the wet and dry traction of an all season tire with the cold weather performance of a winter tire. The Kinergy 4S2 (H750) from Hankook is an all weather tire that’s built for use on coupes, sedans, CUVs, and minivans and features wide lateral grooves that remove water from the tire for better traction and performance in wet weather. A high grip rubber compound allows for consistent grip, even in lower temperatures, and the Kinergy 4S2 (H750)’s stiff tread block boosts handling performance.

Why we chose it

Most drivers use all season tires because they face little ice and snow throughout the year. Unfortunately, some drivers live in places where all season tires aren’t enough for winter weather but winter tires are maybe a bit unrealistic due to constant swings in temperature. With all weather tires, drivers are able to keep one set of tires on their car year round and won’t have to worry about traction and performance in dry, wet, and winter weather conditions, and the Hankook Kinergy 4S2 (H750)’s ability truly provide strong traction and performance year round made it an obvious selection for this list. The Kinergy 4S2 (H750) is also backed by a 60,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, and features specifically angled grooves that force water and slush out of the tire to reduce the risk of hydroplaning.

Even though 2020 left most of our tanks on E, we’re rolling right into 2021

While 2020 has been a year like no other, one piece of normalcy did remain with a great batch of new tires released. Whether you drive a high end sports car, minivan, or even a commercial van, brands like Pirelli, Toyo, Yokohama, Falken, Firestone, Sumitomo, Hankook, and many other released great tires that are sure to meet your driving needs.

SimpleTip 2020 meant that most vehicles didn’t travel as many miles as expected, and in many cases, vehicles and their tires stayed in the same spot for extended periods of time. Even in a garage away from weather changes, tire soft spots can develop when a vehicle sits for too long decreasing the efficiency and life of your tires. To ensure your engine and tires stay in good shape be sure to regularly inspect your tires, looking at the tread and sidewalls, taking your vehicle for a drive around the block at least once a week.

---

Learn more about tires