Best Car Tires of 2026: Top Picks by Consumer Reports

**Consumer Reports (CR)** is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering consumers through rigorous product testing, investigative journalism, and advocacy for marketplace fairness and transparency.[1][2] Founded in 1936 as **Consumers Union** by employees fired from Consumers' Research during a unionization strike, CR emerged from the 1920s consumer movement sparked by F.J. Schlink and Stuart Chase's book *Your Money's Worth*. Headquartered in Yonkers, New York, it quickly grew, surpassing its rival's subscribers by 1940 despite backlash from manufacturers who labeled its work "unpatriotic."[2][3][4] Today, under President and CEO **Marta Tellado**, CR boasts over 6 million members, around 500-600 employees, and operates as a trusted source for unbiased reviews via its magazine (launched 1936), website, and buying guides.[2][6] CR's core activities include lab-based testing of products—from appliances to cars—annual surveys of millions of consumers, and digital tools exposing issues like unsafe innovations.[1][5] Its influence shines in **key achievements**: pioneering cigarette danger revelations (1953), advocating for seatbelt laws, water contamination exposés (earning a 1975 National Magazine Award), and shaping regulations on safety, digital rights, financial fairness, and sustainability. Notably, CR has faced 13 lawsuits from brands but never lost, underscoring its credibility.[2][3][6] Currently, CR remains financially robust (e.g., $241.7 million revenue in 2017) and adaptive to tech-driven markets, pushing for consumer protections amid rapid change.[1][3] Its vast archives, acquired by Duke University in 2019 (2,800 linear feet), preserve a 90-year legacy of transforming industries through science and evidence.[5][7] For business and tech enthusiasts, CR's model—member-funded independence—offers a blueprint for accountability in an a