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10 best new tire releases of 2021
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2021 was an interesting year.
Vaccines became available as the COVID pandemic continued. The 2020 Summer Olympics finally took place in Japan. The United States welcomed a new president, and world leaders made climate pledges while billionaires began going to space. And as the year came to a close, we dealt with inflation, shipping issues, and supply chain shortages.
While 2021 was anything but normal, the tire industry continued to push forward and many companies saw record breaking sales throughout the year. In a sign of normalcy, tire manufacturers from all corners of the globe launched new products that are sure to help drivers get where they’re going and back.
Of course, we can’t possibly highlight all of the great tires that came out this year, we here at SimpleTire did want to highlight 10 that really caught our attention, in no particular order*.
Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 PLUS
Based in Germany, Continental is one of the “Big Five” tire manufacturers in the world, and the brand sells best-in-class tires for everything from a coupe to sports cars and even industrial equipment. Their latest tire, the ExtremeContact DWS06 PLUS, is an improvement on their wildly successful ExtremeContact DWS06 line, proving that even one of the best can get better.
Why we chose it
An ultra-high-performance all-season tire, the ExtremeContact DWS06 PLUS is all about control, evident by its use of Continental’s SPORTSPLUS+ Technology, allowing precise handling and excellent grip on wet, icy, and slushy roads. Not to mention, its stylish, optimized tread pattern strengthens traction and braking performance year-round while providing a great look.
The ExtremeContact DWS06 PLUS uses Continental’s Alignment Verification System to visually tell drivers when an alignment is needed. Just like it’s predecessor, the ExtremeContact DWS06 PLUS also features DWS lettering that will wear away when the tire is no longer optimized for use in snow, wet, and dry weather.
The ExtremeContact DWS06 PLUS performs at a high level and does an excellent job of telling drivers when it’s time to replace their tires.
Who it's for
Primarily drivers of sports cars and luxury CUVs, but more than capable of being used on daily drivers.
Cool features
Backed with Continental’s Total Confidence Plan, which includes Road Hazard, Limited Warranty, Customer Satisfaction Trial, and Flat Tire Roadside Assistance. Alignment Verification System and DWS lettering are also included, boasting a 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty for non-staggered fitments and a 25,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty for rear staggered fitments.
What our customers say...
... about the Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 PLUS.
Absolutely love these tires. First ever Continentals and can't complain. Feel great, grip well, and lasting pretty well so far. I took a road trip and made it back with no issues. Handles amazing in rain, no traction issues at all. I live in Florida so that helps and can't say anything about snow but I assume just as good. 2006 Acura TL A/T Driver
Pirelli Scorpion All Season Plus 3
Known for excellence in tire manufacturing, Pirelli products are on the world’s most powerful and exotic vehicles. But Pirelli is far more than a brand for prestige cars. This is on full display with Pirelli’s most recent release of the Scorpion All Season Plus 3.
Why we chose it
CUVs, SUVs, and light trucks are some of the most popular vehicles on the road today, and Pirelli made the Scorpion All Season Plus 3 specifically for these drivers. A sporty rubber compound and tread pattern enhance traction without sacrificing mileage, and the Scorpion All Season Plus 3’s full-depth siping bites into the road for excellent grip and handling in dry, wet, and light winter weather conditions.
Whether you’re driving to work, taking the kids to school, or simply going to the store, Pirelli’s Scorpion All Season Plus 3 is the tire that’s able to confidently get you there and back.
Who it's for
Drivers of CUVs, SUVs, and light trucks such as the Ford F-150, Honda CR-V, RAM 1500, and Toyota RAV4.
Cool features
Backed by Pirelli’s Confidence Plus Plan, which includes a 30 Day Trial Offer and a 70,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty.
What our customers say...
... about the Scorpion All Season Plus 3.
I haven't put a lot of miles on the tires, but I can honestly say that they are smooth and extremely quiet. The tires track the road and handled the uneven pavement with minimal changes to the vehicle. The tires give me the confidence of control in tight turns, I would definitely recommend this to SUV drivers. 2013 Mercedes-Benz ML350 4Matic Driver
Bridgestone Alenza A/S Ultra
One of the “Big Five” tire manufacturers, Bridgestone tires are world-renowned for their quality and innovation. Their Alenza line is known for great traction and ride quality, plus a long tread life. The Bridgestone Alenza A/S Ultra does all that and more for drivers of CUVs, SUVs, and light trucks.
Why we chose it
Similar to the Scorpion All Season Plus 3, CUVs, SUVs, and light trucks are some of the most common vehicles on the road today, so finding a tire that performs at a high-level and can carry heavier weight with a higher center of gravity becomes a must.
The Alenza A/S Ultra checks all of these boxes, starting with a high-silica rubber compound that increases grip in dry, wet, and light winter weather conditions for year-round traction. This rubber compound does such a good job of sticking to the road that the Alenza A/S Ultra is able to stop 14 feet shorter on dry roads and 10% shorter on snowy roads than the Dueler H/L Alenza Plus.
Speaking of snow, the Alenza A/S Ultra offers a better grip there than a typical all-season tire thanks to its use of snow vices that bite into the road.
Who it's for
Drivers of CUVs, SUVs, minivans, and light trucks.
Cool features
80,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty. Bridgestone’s QuietTrack Technology that reduces road noises and vibrations for an insanely quiet and comfortable ride.
Why we chose it
Believe it or not, drivers of CUVs like the Subaru Outback are starting to get in on the off-roading fun that was once exclusive to Jeep and light truck drivers by putting a lift kit and set of all-terrain tires on their ride.
Finding a great set of all-terrain tires for a CUV that actually fit can be tricky, though, but the Trail-Terrain T/A is equipped to get drivers there and back thanks to its serrated shoulder design that enhances traction on soft surfaces (mud, sand, light snow) and other off-road terrains without sacrificing on-road comfort.
A tough rubber compound resists cuts, tears, and chipping for extra durability, and the Trail-Terrain T/A’s optimized design fights off uneven wear to help ensure that drivers get their money’s worth out of their purchase. The Trail-Terrain T/A is also Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified, meaning that it’s more than capable of performing in moderate to severe ice, slush, and snow.
Who it's for
Drivers of CUVs, SUVs, and light trucks who drive on- and off-road.
Cool features
Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified. 60,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty. Outlined White Letter sidewall on select sizes.
What our customers say...
These are really amazing tires. First time it rained I could not believe the traction or how quiet they were. 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT Driver
General Altimax 365AW
A member of the Continental family, General was founded in Akron, OH in 1915 and has long been one of the best tire manufacturers in the world. Over 100 years of experience has led General to create many excellent tires, and that history and knowledge were put together to create the Altimax 365AW.
Let’s back up for a second and give you a sense of how the Altimax 365AW came to be. A few years ago, General introduced the Altimax RT43 as an all-season tire that gave daily drivers strong traction and handling performance plus a long tread life.
For winter weather, General released the Altimax Arctic 12 as a way to give daily drivers the extra traction and grip they needed in ice, slush, and snow. The Altimax 365AW falls between the two (think of it as their child), and gives drivers the winter traction and grip of the Altimax Arctic 12 with the year-round performance and long tread life of the Altimax RT43.
Why we chose it
A newer tire type, all-weather tires are quickly growing in popularity thanks to their ability to give drivers strong traction in dry, wet, and moderate to severe winter weather conditions.
The Altimax 365AW utilizes a hybrid rubber compound tire to keep the tire flexible year-round for stronger traction in whatever weather Mother Nature throws at drivers. They also feature open shoulders and angled tread blocks that remove water, slush, and melting from the tread to reduce the risk of hydroplaning on wet roads.
Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified for use in moderate to severe winter weather conditions, the Altimax 365AW’s Visual Alignment Indicators allow drivers to easily see if their vehicle needs an alignment to help reduce uneven wear and get more miles out of their purchase.
Who it's for
Drivers of coupes, sedans, CUVs, SUVs, and minivans.
Cool features
Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified. 60,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty. Visual Alignment Indicators.
Nitto Recon Grappler A/T
A member of the Toyo Tire Corporation, Nitto Tire was founded in 1949 and provides enthusiasts with tires and sizes that many others wouldn’t make. Currently, Nitto offers all-season, all-terrain, mud terrain, racing, and ultra-high-performance tires, with many being made at their state-of-the-art facility in White, GA. Introduced in the spring of 2021, the Recon Grappler A/T combines Nitto’s love of adventure with great technology for a tire that can truly conquer any terrain.
Why we chose it
Hitting the trails and other off-road terrains is a hobby of many, and the Recon Grappler A/T utilizes staggered shoulder lugs and an aggressive tread pattern for excellent traction on tough off-road terrains such as mud, dirt, and rocks.
Large shoulders work with optimized siping to improve handling performance in wet and dry conditions. The Recon Grappler A/T’s zigzag center and shoulder grooves bite into the road and remove water, slush, mud, dirt, rocks, and other debris from the tread for consistent traction and to protect the casing from damage.
The Recon Grappler A/T is more than just an off-road tire, though. Rigid tread blocks improve grip on paved roads, and the Recon Grappler A/T’s optimized design reduces road noises and vibrations to create a quiet, comfortable ride for drivers and passengers.
If you’re looking for a tire that gets you through the toughest terrains and performs on paved roads, the Recon Grappler A/T is it.
Who it's for
Drivers of Jeeps, light trucks, and larger SUVs.
Cool features
55,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty for LT and Flotation metric sizes. Dual sidewall design allows drivers to select the look that’s best for their ride.
Falken Eurowinter HS01 and HS01 SUV
A member of Sumitomo Rubber North America, Inc., Falken has been creating race-winning tires that have competed in Formula Drift, King of the Hammers, 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series for over 35 years. Falken is far more than just a company that makes racing and competition tires, with everyday products now being used as OE (original equipment) on many of the most popular vehicles in the United States, and their winter tires are viewed as some of the best in the industry.
New for 2021 is the Eurowinter HS01 and HS01 SUV, which improved upon the wildly successful Eurowinter HS449 line to give drivers of coupes, sedans, CUVs, SUVs, and minivans high-performance in ice, slush, and snow.
Why we chose it
Driving in winter weather can be difficult and stressful, as ice, slush, snow, and frozen roadways all provide different challenges for your car and tires. Knowing this, Falken added their 3D Canyon Sipe technology that’s commonly used on all-terrain and mud terrain tires to the Eurowinter HS01 to give drivers aggressive traction and handling in the worst winter weather conditions.
Think of it this way, the same technology that’s used to get drivers through deep mud, over rocks, and across deserts was added to a winter tire to conquer ice, slush, and snow. Needless to say, the Eurowinter HS01 packs serious grip in the winter months.
But the Eurowinter HS01 isn’t just about ice, slush, and snow, as Falken utilized their 4D Nano Design technology to keep the tire flexible for excellent performance in dry conditions too. A directional tread pattern with Central Transverse Grooves forces water from the tread to reduce the risk of hydroplaning, and the Eurowinter HS01’s optimized design eliminates road noises and vibrations for a quiet, comfortable ride. Put it all together and you’ve got a tire with off-road grip strength, ultra-high-performance-esque dry road handling, and touring tire comfort.
Who it's for
Drivers of coupes, sedans, CUVs, SUVs, and minivans who need a dedicated winter tire.
Cool features
Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified. Backed by Falken’s Road Hazard Protection.
Nokian One
The world’s northernmost tire manufacturer, Nokian and their Finnish roots mean that they know how to navigate ice and snow better than most. That being said, Nokian is far more than just a winter tire champion, as their all-season, all-weather, and all-terrain tires feature incredible innovations and are sustainability-made. New for 2021 is the Nokian One, which gives daily drivers the all-in-one tire that they need.
Why we picked it
All-season tires are some of the most commonly used tires on the market thanks to their ability to perform well in dry, wet, and light winter weather conditions, and the Nokian One utilizes polished grooves and dense siping for excellent grip year-round. A low rolling resistance design increases fuel efficiency and reduces CO2 emissions, and the One’s Silent Groove Design and Silent Sidewall Technology eliminate road noises and vibrations to create a quiet, comfortable ride for drivers and passengers.
Year-round traction is a huge focus, but Nokian added one more key feature to the One: Aramid Sidewalls. Commonly used in Nokian’s all-terrain tires, Aramid Sidewalls feature the same material that’s used in bulletproof vests, and this technology was specifically added to the One to help protect the tire against damage from potholes.
Nokian has so much faith in the One’s ability to resist damage from potholes that they even offer a protection warranty should the tire be damaged beyond repair by a pothole or road hazard.
Who it's for
Drivers of coupes, sedans, CUVs, SUVs, and minivans.
Cool features
Backed by Nokian’s Pothole Protection Warranty. 80,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty.
Kumho Ecsta V730
Based in South Korea, Kumho Tire has been producing tires since 1960 and offers everything from all-season to all-terrain and ultra-high-performance tires. Their latest tire, the Ecsta V730, is an ultra-high-performance tire that’s meant to help drivers push the envelope on and off the track.
Why we chose it
Sport, super, and performance car drivers need a tire that gives them quick steering response and cornering, and the Ecsta V730’s wide outer blocks increase grip to do just that.
An asymmetrical tread pattern further enhances handling performance. The Ecsta V730 also features a rib-type center block design for impressive straight-line performance and wave-shaped micro-grooves to provide heat dispersion to reduce uneven wear. It’s high-strength carcass increases durability for a longer tread life while also boosting handling performance.
The Kumho Ecsta V730 truly gives drivers sporty traction and handling in warmer weather conditions, and even provides a longer tread life than most performance-oriented drivers would expect.
Who it's for
Drivers of sports, super, and performance-oriented coupes and sedans.
Cool features
Backed by Kumho’s Manufacturer Warranty, which covers the tire from workmanship and craftsmanship defects for a maximum of 72 months from the purchase date.
What our customers say...
This tire is absolutely amazing, I have these on my 97 Miata and the grip is unbelievable. Even it being a 200tw tire they are still lasting quite a while even with 4000 miles of hard driving on them. 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata Sport Driver
Hankook Dynapro XT RC10
Founded in 1941, Hankook is based in South Korea and is one of the largest tire manufacturers in the world. Offering passenger, light truck, CUV, SUV, commercial tires, and more, Hankook consistently strives for innovation, and their latest tire, the Dynapro XT RC10, gives drivers excellent traction and performance off-road plus an incredibly comfortable ride on paved roads.
Why we chose it
Extreme terrain (XT) and rough terrain (RT) tires are newer types that blend the best of all-terrain and mud terrain tires for great off-road traction and better on-road performance. Hankook built the Dynapro XT RC10 with this concept in mind.
First, they focused on off-road traction by adding polygonal blocks, zigzag grooves, V-shaped lateral grooves, and a sawtooth sidewall that all work to increase traction and grip in mud, dirt, rocks, sand, and other difficult off-road terrains.
For ride comfort, Hankook added chamfered edges between the Dynapro XT RC10’s tread blocks and utilized tread pitch variation technology and shoulder block cushions that reduce road noises and vibrations to create a quiet, comfortable ride on paved roads.
Basically, the Dynapro XT RC10 gives drivers amazing traction on the toughest terrains plus a quiet, comfortable ride on paved roads that rivals a touring tire.
Who it's for
Drivers of Jeeps, light trucks, and SUVs.
Cool features
Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified. Backed by Hankook’s 30 Day Free Trial.
2021 brought challenges and great new tires
2021 has been an interesting year that saw many changes and challenges but the year also showed some signs of things going back to normal. For the tire industry, this has been a year of great growth and further innovation, and that’s obvious in many of the excellent tires that were released in 2021.
Regardless of brand, new tires are coming out every week that are built using the learnings from previous tires to continue giving drivers the great traction, handling, performance, ride comfort, and longevity that they crave. We look forward to seeing what the industry has in store for 2022 and beyond!