Firestone WeatherGrip - 235/55R18 100V Tire

I changed the original from Continental brand all season tires to these, on a company van. The originals were good overall. In fact, I've tried many brands and found Continental to be the most dependable and predictable tire in any weather; even with my "extreme" driving style. There are other brands out there which offer more grip on dry roads but wear out faster. There are other brands still that feel sportier when changing lanes or on twisty roads but they are less predictable in extreme braking or on ice/ snow/ rain etc. Believe me when I say this; Continental high performance all seasons are the BEST in my book because regardless of driving conditions... Not just because they grip hard in curves and lose traction at the itmost limits in a gradual and communicate manner.. but because I know what to expect from Contis if I need to react to emergency situations in city/ interstate traffic or sudden obstacles on the backroads in the woods. Rain or shine (and even in mild snow) Continentals get you home safe; and they even happen to last long and be fairly quiet too. I know what you're thinking...(isn't this a review for the Bridgestone?) Well yes. But I need to establish what MY criteria are when reviewing tires and make it clear I'm not ordinarily inclined to buy anything other than Continental. But that being said, this Bridgestone was all I could get to replace the worn out tires on my van and I need to admit, I was very impressed. The first thing I noticed is that the Bridgestone had a wider track than the Continentals they replaced. The traction was equally good in rain and snow and the grip was surprisingly good in dry weather too. Strangely enough, the Bridgestone was actually dramatically smoother and quieter going down the highway and when hitting potholes and expansion strips on the highway it no longer felt like a bone jarring slam that shuddered through the whole frame of the van. But here's my point; I love Continental. Generally they're awesome. But I'm thinking that ANY type tires, as they are, will tend to get louder and be rougher on the road than new ones. So YOU have to temper your opion when reading reviews and take everything with a grain of salt. Another thing; different cars get along differently with a given type of tire compared to another. So when reading reviews its good to look for people who are driving the same car or at least have the same preferences/priorities in tire requirements when discussing their reviews. NEVER judge a tire just on the numerical score... But back to the review. I consider myself a car-person and like to drive "swiftly" and still prefer the Continentals in any weather on any car. BUT... This Bridgestone Weatherbeater is one seriously good tire. (That being said, I've only driven about 5000 miles on them so you'll need to ask somebody else if they STAY good for 40k miles or however long they're sup to last. Hope this review helps you find the tire that fits your needs best.