In the land of the blind, the man with one eye may be king, but his sight certainly lacks perspective.
For years now The Tire Rack has advertised in automotordom's best magazines, and back in the late 90s it published a website dedicated to tyres, wheels, and the like. No where else, it would seem, can one find the kind of comparative and in depth analysis and indeed consumer feedback on tyres than that which The Tire Rack offers.
However, The Tire Rack does have bald spots.
First, their website is unnecessarily complex. In what is designed to give the consumer the luxury of choice in decision making, the Tire Rack offers a maze of links and to anyone but the seasoned web surfer (and tyre fan) it is all to easy to get lost, confused, dazed, and worst of all bored. I have spent far too long looking at tyres online than would be deemed healthful.
Second, their tests are sketchy at best in helping a tyre buyer. How is it that a "Grand Touring All Season" tyre like the expensive Bridgestone Turanza LS-H can be outperformed in dry and wet slalom tests by a series of "Standard Touring All Season tyres" like the inexpensive Yokohama Avid TRZ or the Firestone Affinity LH30 when tested on the same BMW in the same test conditions but different test series? Why then the separate designations of "Grand" and "Standard"?
Third, their customer surveys are not any more helpful. For example, in the class of High Performance all season tyres, one tyre may get the same rating in snow driving as a passenger all season tyre, but a Tire Rack professional will be quick to point out that the two ratings do not equate, and that the passenger tyre is more likely to fair better in the snow. Tricky.
Alors, qu'est-ce qu'on fait?
The Tire Rack is still the place to turn to in order to learn about tyres and to purchase tyres more cheaply (on average) than going through a tyre shop as there is nothing else in the marketplace (that I am aware of) that can offer as much information on tyres. The best method is to purchase by phone and after consulting with one of their tyre experts. They provide a much better service than the website offers. Still, like tyres, it is nice to have more than one brand to pick from.
For years now The Tire Rack has advertised in automotordom's best magazines, and back in the late 90s it published a website dedicated to tyres, wheels, and the like. No where else, it would seem, can one find the kind of comparative and in depth analysis and indeed consumer feedback on tyres than that which The Tire Rack offers.
However, The Tire Rack does have bald spots.
First, their website is unnecessarily complex. In what is designed to give the consumer the luxury of choice in decision making, the Tire Rack offers a maze of links and to anyone but the seasoned web surfer (and tyre fan) it is all to easy to get lost, confused, dazed, and worst of all bored. I have spent far too long looking at tyres online than would be deemed healthful.
Second, their tests are sketchy at best in helping a tyre buyer. How is it that a "Grand Touring All Season" tyre like the expensive Bridgestone Turanza LS-H can be outperformed in dry and wet slalom tests by a series of "Standard Touring All Season tyres" like the inexpensive Yokohama Avid TRZ or the Firestone Affinity LH30 when tested on the same BMW in the same test conditions but different test series? Why then the separate designations of "Grand" and "Standard"?
Third, their customer surveys are not any more helpful. For example, in the class of High Performance all season tyres, one tyre may get the same rating in snow driving as a passenger all season tyre, but a Tire Rack professional will be quick to point out that the two ratings do not equate, and that the passenger tyre is more likely to fair better in the snow. Tricky.
Alors, qu'est-ce qu'on fait?
The Tire Rack is still the place to turn to in order to learn about tyres and to purchase tyres more cheaply (on average) than going through a tyre shop as there is nothing else in the marketplace (that I am aware of) that can offer as much information on tyres. The best method is to purchase by phone and after consulting with one of their tyre experts. They provide a much better service than the website offers. Still, like tyres, it is nice to have more than one brand to pick from.
No comments:
Post a Comment