Most of us think of Canadian Tire as the retail giant that carries almost anything and everything we could possibly need around the house or in the garage. However, when it comes to tires—you know, the one thing that is literally in their name—we tend to shop elsewhere. Well, Canadian Tire has been working lard lately to change that, having launched several new options under its MotoMaster brand. The latest is the MotoMaster Performance Edge, a new all-season tire that leans into sportiness without breaking the bank.
We put the MotoMaster Performance Edge through its paces last summer and walked away impressed, but we were still curious about its road manners, impacts to fuel economy, and other aspects we could not test out after a full day of pushing these tires to their limits. So, we had a set fitted onto one of our personal vehicles, a 2007 Lexus LS 460, and put them to work over the daily grind.
Canadian Tire developed the Motomaster Performance Edge with the help of Sailun. It features a specially made rubber compound called Performance Control Technology (PCT) that promises better ride comfort, more consistent performance, and good driving feel. Looking at the design, the large shoulder blocks serve to improve traction especially during hard cornering, and we took note of the multiple tread channels and sipes to help direct water away from the tire surface during wet conditions.
During our tests, we observed good road feel and on-par performance, even compared to pricier name-brand options on the market. Harshness and noise were well within our expectations, and the Performance Edge certainly felt more comfortable than most other ultra-high-performance (UHP) tires on the market. When it comes to fuel economy, we did not notice a negative impact versus the all-seasons previously fitted to our LS 460.
All in all, the MotoMaster Performance Edge performed close to what we would expect of an all-season set, but they would fall short if they are benchmarked against dedicated summer performance tires. The softer sidewall construction on these tires enhances ride quality, but it would mean lower handling limits. Even if you occasionally take your car to the track or autocross, we would suggest considering other options in this space.
The MotoMaster Performance Edge tires come in a range of sizes between 16- to 18-inch diameters; it is a bit limited for now, but Canadian Tire says that range will increase if popularity and demand grows. Pricing starts at $149 each in a 205/55/16 size, while the 235/55/18s fitted to our LS 460 will run you $253 each. Either way, pricing is very reasonable, as similar tires from top-shelf brands can easily cost hundreds more. For those seeking for a well-performing set of all-season tires on the sportier side of things for their daily grind, these are a great option that will not break the bank.
