BFGoodrich Advantage T/A Sport Tire Review and Rating

Written By Slavcho Andov
Last Updated June 25, 2022

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Dry

Wet

Snow

Comfort

Noise

Treadwear

Pros

Performance in dry conditions is excellent
Premium-like refinement
Does pretty well in light snow conditions
More affordable than its premium competitors

Cons

Not a sporty tire
Traction in wet conditions isn’t the best in class

Like everything in today’s world, the tire industry is constantly evolving. Manufacturers are making changes to their tires, enabling them to remain relevant and on top. This is partially due to the competition but also due to the fact that as cars change, the need for better tires is always there.

In many cases, manufacturers will release a new model as a successor to a previous one, boasting about how much better it is. In most cases, that is true and newer tires are often better than the previous ones. There are some cases where manufacturers don’t go for a completely new tire but make some changes to the existing ones.

These are minor changes to produce better performance. Some people think of them as facelifts to a car, and I can see how that analogy would work. If these minor tweaks result in a better tire, then I’m a happy camper because I get to test them.

Many manufacturers take this route, and BFGoodrich is no exception. The Advantage T/A, which I reviewed recently, is an older model, and a few years ago, it got a slight upgrade and a new-ish name – Advantage T/A Sport. So, is the Advantage T/A Sport all show and no go?

What are the features of the BFGoodrich Advantage T/A Sport?

While there are some changes between the Advantage T/A Sport and its predecessor, fundamentally, the tire isn’t too much different.

The Advantage T/A Sport remains an all-season tire, so things are the same in terms of the compound. To ensure that it can deliver performance in colder temperatures like rain and snow, the tire is designed with BFGoodrich’s rubber infused with silica.

With the compound aside, the design is another aspect that should help the tire deliver good performance in these conditions. BFGoodrich designed the Advantage T/A Sport with its locking #d active sipe technology. This gives the tire more biting edges, so it shouldn’t have too many problems with traction on wet and snow.

Damp roads are problematic, but things can be even worse in situations with hard rain. To remedy that problem, BFGoodrich designed the Advantage T/A Sport with the Aqua-Flume technology. It consists of curved grooves across the tire, which should help it evacuate water better.

Even though it’s a touring tire, the Advantage T/A Sport is designed to be agile. To achieve that, the US manufacturer utilized its Equal Tension Containment System or ETEC and the g-Wedge sidewall stabilizer. Combining these with the continuous center rib means the tire should handle sporty without sacrificing the ride quality.

How does it behave on dry tarmac?

Even though there is “sport” in the name, the Advantage T/A Sport isn’t that kind of tire. As a grand touring one, it delivers pretty good results in dry conditions, especially considering that it’s not the latest generation.

The levels of grip and traction the Advantage T/A Sport can deliver are pretty good for a touring tire, but nothing spectacular. Keep in mind that it’s an older model, so you shouldn’t expect it to be on the same level as the newer options.

For daily driving, you’ll be perfectly fine. The Advantage T/A Sport offers plenty of traction, enabling you to accelerate without too much problem. You also have the same levels of grip in the corners, and with the short braking distances, you are looking at a very safe tire.

As good as the Advantage T/A Sport may be for regular driving, it’s not a tire that should be pushed hard. The performance levels are good as a touring tire, but as a performance one, it’s a pretty terrible performer. It doesn’t take much to provoke a slip or understeer when you go fast into a corner.

Dry Rating: 4/5

 4/5

How does it behave over wet and slippery roads?

Wet roads aren’t ideal conditions, so you shouldn’t expect a tire to perform excellently. With that said, the Advantage T/A Sport seems to struggle a bit more than its premium competitors.

The normal conditions are fine, meaning that you can have a pretty decent amount of grip and traction. Decent is the key word here, as the tire isn’t as good as its direct rivals. You will notice the tire slip a bit more than what you may be comfortable with. Surprisingly, the grip levels are good, and the Advantage T/A Sport won’t have too many problems with the corners. On a slightly negative side, the braking distances aren’t the shortest in this class.

For the aquaplaning resistance, while it is good and the Advantage T/A Sport will feel planted, it won’t be the best. You can expect better results when compared to the mid-range options, but also not as good as the premium ones.

Wet Rating: 4/5

 4/5

How is it over snow?

Surprisingly, the Advantage T/A Sport does pretty good in the winter. BFGoodrich’s sipe technology paid off, and the tire is quite usable.

As usual, clean roads are fine, and the tire performs adequately for normal driving. It may struggle a bit in wet conditions, but things aren’t too terrible.

In snowy conditions, the Advantage T/A Sport starts to impress. I wouldn’t put it as a tire that can compete with the proper winter tires, but I will say it’s near the top of its class. The tire manages to deliver pretty good performance in terms of traction and doesn’t struggle when it comes to handling. Even if the snow is packed, the sipes do a good job of keeping things in check and enabling the tire to be very usable.

Like most all-season tires, deeper snow may be a problem. Sure, the Advantage T/A Sport can be used, but it will struggle a bit more when compared to shallow snow. In both situations, you are looking at pretty good braking distances.

Tires like the Advantage T/A Sport may seem like they can do a lot, but one thing they cannot do is ice performance. The tire cannot deliver even usable traction, so you should avoid driving in these conditions.

Snow Rating: 3.5/5

 3.5/5

Is it comfortable and refined?

Don’t let the name fool you, the Advantage T/A Sport is a grand touring tire, and as such, the refinement levels are pretty high.

Driving down the road, you’ll notice that the noise levels are on the lower end of the spectrum. On smoother surfaces, the Advantage T/A Sport is very quiet, putting it pretty close to the Turanza QuietTrack. It may begin to roar a bit over rougher surfaces, but many of its rivals perform similarly. On the highway, it’s on the quieter side, and it won’t be overly intrusive.

Comfort is another area where the Advantage T/A Sport can deliver premium-like performance. The small road imperfections are ironed out, and the tire delivers a very plush ride, easily comparable with the newer models on the market. It manages to eliminate most of the vibrations in the cabin, providing you with a very comfortable ride.

Comfort Rating: 4/5

 4/5

Is the BFGoodrich Advantage T/A Sport ideal for sporty driving?

My biggest gripe with the Advantage T/A Sport is that it has “sport” in the name, and it’s not sporty.

On the performance side of things, the Advantage T/A Sport can offer a good amount of performance, but for a touring tire. As a performance-oriented option, the tire isn’t a good choice. It cannot be pushed too much, so you won’t be having fun even on a back road.

The performance is similar in the handling department as well. There is acceptable responsiveness when you compare the Advantage T/A Sport with other touring tires, and the same goes for the feedback. With that said, it’s not nearly as sharp as something like the Eagle F1 Asymmetric All-Season. Even in this category, you have tires like the CrossClimate 2, which are more agile.

Noise Rating: 4/5

 4/5

BFGoodrich Advantage T/A Sport Warranty

The Advantage T/A Sport isn’t at the top in the warranty department, but it still competes with some of its premium rivals. It comes with a 60,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is on the same level as Michelin’s flagship. Both of them fall behind Continental’s 70,000-mile warranty that comes with the PureContact LS.

BFGoodrich Advantage T/A Sport Pricing: Is it worth the money?

In terms of pricing, the Advantage T/A Sport is a tire with a pretty good balance. Sure, as a premium tire, you should expect to pay a bit more, but it’s still cheaper than its rivals. Even though the performance isn’t on the same level, BFGoodrich offers the tire at a lower price than the Michelin and Continental models I mentioned. At the moment, it’s priced similarly to the Vredestein Hitrack All-Season.

Value Rating: 4.25/5

 4.25/5

Should I buy the BFGoodrich Advantage T/A Sport?

You can argue that the Advantage T/A Sport isn’t the best tire on the market, and I would agree with that. Despite that, it’s still a tire that shouldn’t be ignored.

It manages to balance the performance it offers with excellent refinement, all of which comes at a more affordable price. Yes, it is more expensive than the mid-range options, but the Advantage T/A Sport is a bit better option, especially in snowy conditions.

Wet performance seems to be the weakest point with the Advantage T/A Sport. It’s safe, and the performance is good for daily driving, but I would have liked to see some better results.

Even though I had some critiques about the Advantage T/A Sport, I still wouldn’t say that you shouldn’t buy it. I believe it’s a decent option, especially if you’re looking for a premium option at a more affordable price.

Overall Rating: 4/5

 4/5