Grand touring vs. standard touring tires

[DaveSwan]

Our car, 2018 Ford Escape Titanium w 19" wheels, came with tires that Tire Rack rates as grand touring (Continental Pro Contact). I've been satisfied with them and they've lasted about 60k miles per set.
It's that time again and I've noticed the Goodyear Maxlife 2 however they are only listed as standard touring. Any thoughts?

 

[The_Jeff]

Marketing

 

[skyactiv]

The Goodyears appear to be an XL tire and might not ride quite as nice, who knows.

 

[BHopkins]

Grand Touring tires are made to feel more like a performance tire, so it will have a little nicer handling, and generally also have a higher speed rating than Touring tires. They also usually have a longer tread life.

The ProContact is a very good tire, so it makes sense that the Maxlife 2 would not be in the same class. I have had a couple sets of ProContact tires on my cars, and I also have been pleased with them. I don't think I'd be looking at a tire like the Maxlife 2 as an equivalent. You have to ask yourself if your driving style is such that you have appreciated these characteristics of the ProContact, of if it was just another tire to you.

 

[DaveSwan]

I also found some Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Seasons at a great price

 

[FZ1]

Our car, 2018 Ford Escape Titanium w 19" wheels, came with tires that Tire Rack rates as grand touring (Continental Pro Contact). I've been satisfied with them and they've lasted about 60k miles per set.
It's that time again and I've noticed the Goodyear Maxlife 2 however they are only listed as standard touring. Any thoughts?

If it ain't broke; Don't fix it. 60k is good, I'd stick with those.

 

[barkingspider]

Grand touring tires are suppose to be better (performance / handling) than standard touring and last longer as well.

 

[camrydriver111]

I am surprised BITOG doesn't understand the difference.

Grand Touring - More Performance/Shorter Lifespan
Standard Touring - Less Performance/Longer Lifespan

for example

ContiProContact - 500 Treadwear AA Traction A Temp
TrueContact Tour54 - 840 Treadwear A Traction A Temp

There is 700 treadwear grand touring tires, but once you go over 800 treadwear, tires like Defender 2, TrueContact Tour, MaxLife, Kinergy PT, are all considered standard touring because some performance is sacraficed for the long life.

Personally I am not a fan of buying OE tires. Typically these tires will have lower starting tread depth and can be even more expensive than non-OE tires from the same brand. Lower tread depth decreases rolling resistance and allows manufacturers to meet fuel economy targets.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

I don't really think the distinction matters that much. It's more on the individual tires themselves than the category as a whole.

TR classifies all the all-weather tires as grand touring, though they probably don't have quite as good handling as the non-3-peak grand touring tires.

If you really want a better ride, downsize to smaller wheels. TR says you can go down to 17" wheels. In that case, the tire size would be 235/55-17

 

[leeharvey418]

The tire size would be 235/55-17…

*225/65R17

There are other sizes that work fine, but that’s the exact revs per mile match for a 225/55R19. A 235/65R17 would be a much closer fit.

 

[leeharvey418]

*225/65R17

There are other sizes that work fine, but that’s the exact revs per mile match for a 225/55R19. A 235/65R17 would be a much closer fit.

Never mind. I forgot which forum I was on. 235/55R17 is the ideal -2 fitment on the Escape.

 

[Rand]

I am surprised BITOG doesn't understand the difference.

I'm surprised at this blanket statement.