Electric Cars

Unlock the Prelude's Full Potential: The Tire Upgrade Advantage

Evaluating the Impact of Tire Choices on the Prelude's Performance Metrics

Our comprehensive analysis of the 2026 Honda Prelude involved rigorous testing of its dynamic performance with two distinct tire configurations. The initial assessment, conducted as part of Car and Driver's dedicated Testing Hub, aimed to provide objective data to complement our subjective driving impressions. We explored how the choice of rubber affected key aspects of the coupe's behavior.

Initial Impressions and the Quest for Enhanced Dynamics

While the 2026 Honda Prelude's hybrid powertrain, delivering 200 horsepower from its Atkinson-cycle 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, met expectations in terms of straight-line traction, many automotive enthusiasts, including our team, initially expressed a desire for greater overall performance. To fully understand the coupe's capabilities, we conducted tests with both its factory-equipped all-season tires and the available high-performance summer tires. This dual testing approach provided a complete picture of the Prelude's dynamic range.

Acceleration: A Constant Across Tire Types

Interestingly, the selection of tires had no discernible effect on the Prelude's acceleration. Both the all-season and summer tire-equipped models consistently achieved 60 mph in 6.5 seconds. This finding suggests that the car's hybrid propulsion system provides ample initial traction, negating any potential gains from stickier tires in a straight line. Our focus then shifted to how these tires influenced other crucial performance metrics.

Cornering Grip: A Significant Improvement with Summer Rubber

Where the summer tires truly distinguished themselves was in enhancing the Prelude's cornering prowess. The 19-inch Goodyear Eagle Touring all-season tires, while capable, demonstrated a lateral grip of 0.90 g on the skidpad, accompanied by moderate understeer. In stark contrast, the Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02 summer tires, identical in size at 235/40R-19, boosted lateral grip to an impressive 0.97 g, with a noticeable reduction in understeer. This substantial increase in grip translates directly to improved handling and a more engaging driving experience on winding roads.

Braking Performance: Shorter Stops, Enhanced Safety

The benefits of the higher-performance summer tires extended to braking as well. During our tests, the Prelude fitted with summer tires came to a complete stop from 70 mph in just 152 feet. The same test with all-season tires required 169 feet, highlighting a significant 17-foot difference. This enhanced braking capability not only contributes to sportier driving but also offers a tangible improvement in safety.

Cabin Acoustics: A Quieter Ride with Performance Tires

For a vehicle positioned as a potential touring coupe, cabin noise levels are an important consideration. In this regard, the summer tires again outperformed their all-season counterparts. At a steady speed of 70 mph, the Continental summer tires contributed to a cabin noise level of 71 decibels and 27 sones. The Goodyear all-season tires, however, registered higher at 74 decibels and 34 sones at the same speed. This indicates that the summer tires offer a quieter and more refined driving environment.

Optimizing the Prelude: The Worthwhile Performance Upgrade

Ultimately, the decision to invest in a set of high-performance summer tires for the 2026 Honda Prelude rests with individual buyers. However, our testing conclusively demonstrates that for those seeking to maximize the small coupe's dynamic capabilities, the optional sticky tires provide a noticeable and valuable improvement in cornering grip, braking efficiency, and even interior comfort. This upgrade effectively unlocks a more exhilarating and confident driving experienc

Volvo's recently launched electric SUV, the EX60, is encountering considerable production setbacks at its manufacturing facility in Torslanda, Sweden. This has led to a severe limitation in the vehicle's availability for customers in the United States, with significant inventory not anticipated until late 2027. The current weekly output is reportedly a mere 200 units, a stark contrast to the company's initial production aspirations.

The sluggish manufacturing pace has left American dealerships with minimal EX60 stock, despite a growing demand for the electric SUV. Volvo has reportedly communicated to its US retail network that a substantial supply of these vehicles will not materialize until well into 2027, marking a considerable deviation from earlier expectations of thousands of units this year. This extended timeline poses a challenge to Volvo's strategic objective of achieving 200,000 annual retail sales in the US by 2030, a target that becomes increasingly difficult to meet with each passing month the EX60 remains scarce.

Sources within the industry indicate that the primary cause of these production bottlenecks stems from difficulties in seamlessly integrating the high-voltage battery packs with the vehicle's body, alongside complications in the electric motor production processes at the Torslanda factory. While Volvo has not publicly detailed the specific technical issues, these challenges are reported to be central to the slowdown. The EX60 is also the first Volvo model to incorporate a novel megacasting architecture, which involves utilizing a single large casting for the floor structure, produced in-house. It is common for new manufacturing processes of this scale to face initial hurdles, and this appears to be the case for the EX60.

Crucially, current reports suggest that the delays are not linked to any inherent safety or quality concerns regarding the EX60 itself. Instead, the core problem lies in ramping up the production of battery packs and electric motors to meet the originally projected volumes. As a result, Volvo dealerships are advised to brace for a continued slow supply throughout the first half of 2027, with substantial inventory only becoming available in the latter part of that year. This situation places an increased burden on the EX60 to fulfill Volvo's electric vehicle ambitions in the US, particularly as the EX40, another electric model, is scheduled to exit the market after its current generation, despite remaining on sale as a 2026 model.

The persistent production issues highlight the complexities involved in introducing new automotive technologies and manufacturing processes. The EX60's role in Volvo's broader electrification strategy for the US market is pivotal, and overcoming these challenges will be essential for the brand to maintain its momentum and achieve its long-term sales objectives.