I Went to Tire Testing School With Discount Tire’s Treadwell Team and Was Shocked At What I learned

Two BMW 3-Series equipped with two different types of tires lining up to be tested on a wet surface
Two different BMW 3-Series get ready to tackle the Wet VDA to test different tires typesCredit: Annika Carter

I’m a good driver. I race my own cars, I practice on the track and I work on my car myself. I also buy and change my own tires. So I was pretty shocked to find out that what I thought I knew about tires was shaken by spending the day at Discount Tire’s test track with Treadwell Tire Guide team.

You might know the Treadwell Tire Guide which allows you to simply input your vehicle year, make, and model (or license plate number to keep it easy), location, and driving style, and the system recommends the best tires for you. But how do they know? To show us, they invited us to their test facility in Texas to go through what they do in testing the tires they recommend.

This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks. No AI was used.

Treadwell’s Test Facility Recreates All the Road Hazards

A BMW is poised on the track to put sport tires to the test
Credit: Annika Carter

Does Water on the Pavement Make a Difference?

A BMW 3-Series on a wet track to test the effectiveness of different tire types on a wet surface
Credit: Annika Carter

The Difference In Tire Performance Was Shocking

new tires Continental tire reiview
Credit: Scotty Reiss

How Do Similar Tires Compare? That Was Our Next Test

A Treadwell Experience helmet sits on a box with a Treadwell Experience banner in the background
Credit: Annika Carter

Sudden Stops on Wet Pavement at High Speed: Harrowing, I Know

If you intend on driving in winter, having the proper tire is essential. Photo by Infiniti
Credit: Infiniti

I Pushed the Cars to their Limits – And Then Had to Stop

A BMW 3-Series crosses the finish line as part of testing the effectiveness of different tire types on varying surfaces
Credit: Annika Carter

All Season Tires Are Amazing — For the Right Reasons

An automotive technician removes a tire from a car that's wearing unevenly due to a poor alignment
Credit: champpixs on iStock

Even as an Experienced Driver, I learned Something New

A Jeep Wrangler is used to test tire effectiveness on sand and dirt
Credit: Annika Carter

Leaving Treadwell With That One Key Thing: Confidence

Annika sitting on a Lotus Emira holding a helmet before testing tires at the Treadwell Experience
Credit: Annika Carter
Annika Carter has over four years of performance driving experience, both with and without professional instruction. She has driven ... More about Annika Carter
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