Tirerack has good reviews. I check that when I need tires. I'm partial to Goodyear because they pay my pension and I get some decent discounts. For the most part, they're good tires too. On my last truck, I was considering 2 brands of replacements. One had a 90+% favorable, and the other had a 90% unfavorable on my tuck model.
Having worked in a tire plant, I know there is a difference in the components for different tire types. It depends on what you want the tires to do. Performance tires usually have a softer tread for better grip on dry roads, but sometimes don't grip on wet roads. And because they are softer, they don't wear as long.
It also varies with the type of vehicle. I had friends with small trucks (S-10, Ranger), say that a certain tire was terrible, and another with a full size Chevy truck say the same tire was good.
I won't say this tire is better than that tire for your vehicle. It depends on how/where you drive, how you maintain tires, and what you expect from the tire. I want decent tread life, all weather traction, good ride, and low road noise.
Keep in mind that tire companies make custom brands as well as their own, and some times, and off-brand tire is the same as the name-brand tire. Fact is, I was buying tires made by Goodyear long before I worked there, they just weren't branded as Goodyear.