Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring Tire Review and Ratings
Dry Conditions – 90%
Wet Conditions – 90%
Snow – 70%
Comfort – 90%
Noise Reduction – 80%
Durability – 90%
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The automotive industry constantly evolves, offering newer models, some of which pave the way for new categories. Touring tires are among the first types, and since their introduction, we’ve seen several subtypes that depend on their characteristics.
You may think all touring tires are equal, but there are some differences. Take grand touring tires, for example. They’re primarily aimed at comfort, but they also offer pretty decent handling characteristics and performance. On the other hand, these aren’t the types of tires that will offer the longest life out of all touring types. To be fair, each model in this category is unique, offering specific advantages in certain areas.
The competition in the grand touring segment is quite fierce, especially with models that have been released in recent years. This raises the question about the older models and how they fair against the newer players. Some manufacturers still keep these models alive, and one of the popular options comes from Goodyear, the Assurance ComforTred Touring.
This tire has been around for over a decade, so is it still relevant, or should you go for something newer?
Pros
- Very comfortable
- Dry and wet performance is on a premium level
- Deals with snow pretty good
- The aquaplaning resistance is excellent
Cons
- There’s almost no traction on ice
- The handling isn’t as dynamic as some of its rivals
The Features of the Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring
As you can probably guess from the name, this is tire where comfort plays a crucial role. I have to mention that it’s not the only feature, as Goodyear didn’t forget about the other aspects.
The Assurance ComforTred Touring is designed with a Comfort Layer between the belts and tread area, aiming to absorb bumps and shocks. There’s also the ComfortEdge sidewall designed to improve comfort levels without compromising the handling.
Moving on to the other features, we have those that help with winter performance. The tire uses Goodyear’s all-season rubber compound, which should help keep it pliable in colder temperatures. It should also help with wet performance in certain conditions.
The tread pattern features several design features to improve performance in certain conditions. One of those is the sipes and notches on the blocks, designed to help with traction on snow, both packed and unpacked.
Performance in harsh rain is backed by another feature related to the pattern. The tire is designed with 4 circumferential grooves, which help with its water evacuation properties. As a result, the tire’s aquaplaning resistance should be excellent.
Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring in Dry Conditions
Grand touring tires generally offer pretty good performance, which is more than enough for what most people need, and it’s the same with this one.
The Assurance ComforTred Touring is a tire that delivers excellent grip and traction, with higher levels than you’d need on the road. You won’t take it to a track or have fun on a canyon road, but for daily driving scenarios, it will satisfy your needs perfectly. Unless you get really aggressive, there won’t be any slip or understeer. The best part is that the braking distances are very short, making this a safe option.
Even though there are some decently handling grand touring tires, this isn’t one of them. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a poor one, but it’s far from what I’d call dynamic. The responsiveness is decent, at best, which most people will be fine with. In addition to that, the feedback isn’t too pronounced, so it’s not a communicative tire. At the end of the day, this isn’t a massive dealbreaker, especially if you’re looking at this tire for most daily driving scenarios.
Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring on Wet or Slippery Roads
Rainy conditions can be a bit tricky for some tires, which isn’t the case with Goodyear’s model.
The Assurance ComforTred Touring deals with damp conditions quite well, offering that safe experience that you’ll probably be after. It offers plenty of traction to prevent slip while minimizing understeer in the corners thanks to the high levels of grip. The same goes for the braking distances, which are very short for this class. I would say that some newer models seem to do a slightly better job, but only if you compare them back-to-back. In the real world, not many people would be able to notice massive differences.
It’s a similar story when driving in pouring rain. You’ll need to go over standing water, something this tire will easily handle. The tread pattern does a very good job of evacuating water, resulting in excellent stability.
Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring in Snow
Winter performance from the Assurance ComforTred Touring is on the table, as long as you’re aware that it’s an all-season tire.
In lighter conditions, the tire does a pretty good job of offering enough performance to be called safe. The traction is enough for most people, and the most important thing is that it seems to handle packed snow quite well. It also offers relatively short braking distances, at least for an all-season tire.
Performance in lighter conditions is as much as you can expect from this tire. Driving in deeper snow can be problematic as it will struggle more. Ice is especially problematic because the traction is pretty low, which means the braking distances will be longer.
Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring Off-Roading
Off-road performance is something you shouldn’t expect from a road tire. If you don’t push it hard, the Assurance ComforTred Touring will offer some acceptable performance on a dirt road. Getting too aggressive may damage the tread. Also, driving in other off-road conditions is something that this tire won’t handle.
Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring for Sporty Driving
I’ve driven some grand touring tires that were sport-ish, but the Assurance ComforTred Touring isn’t one of those. The performance is pretty good, but not enough to push the tire hard on twisty roads. Then there’s the handling. It’s fine for most people to take the kids to school or drive to work, but it won’t inspire a lot of confidence to push the tire to its limits.
Does the Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring Ride Comfortably?
The tire is called Assurance ComforTred Touring, so you’d expect it to be well refined and it delivers.
Despite being older than many of its rivals, it still manages to compete with most of them in terms of comfort. It will easily handle smaller bumps and imperfections, iron them out, and provide a plush ride. The tire also doesn’t struggle with potholes, where it dampens them and absorbs the vibrations.
The noise levels are another aspect of this tire, showing its premium model. Around town, it’s very quiet, with a hum that’s almost unnoticeable. It’s the same thing at higher speeds. Yes, the hum is louder when compared with city driving, but it’s still one of the quieter options in this category.
Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring Warranty
Even though the Assurance ComforTred Touring is aimed at refinement, Goodyear didn’t forget about the warranty. The tire comes with an 80,000-mile treadwear warranty, putting it on the same level as the Turanza QuietTrack.
Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring Pricing: Is It Worth the Price?
The price is one thing the Assurance ComforTred Touring has going in its favor. Across the board, the tire is cheaper than many of its rivals in this same class. The price differences vary depending on the size, but there is a noticeable difference in most cases.
Should I Buy the Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring?
Let’s be honest: older tires tend to become obsolete because newer models are generally better. Luckily, this isn’t the case with the Assurance ComforTred Touring.
The tire’s overall performance is excellent. Regardless of whether you’re driving in dry or wet, the tire’s grip and traction levels are more than enough for daily driving, offering a safe and planted experience. Snow also isn’t an issue, and as long as you’re not driving in harsh conditions, it won’t struggle. When you throw in the refinement and price in the mix, you’re getting an excellent all-round tire.
Overall, the Assurance ComforTred Touring is a tire I can recommend to people looking for premium performance and refinement. It may not be the sportiest of the bunch, but that shouldn’t make a difference for people who don’t drive their cars in that manner. If you can find one with the popular retailers, it’s a tire that can still keep up with the newer players in this category.
What Vehicles Will the Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring Fit?
Here’s a sample list of cars that the Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring will fit:
- Audi A3, A4
- BMW 3 Series
- Chevrolet Malibu
- Ford Focus, Taurus
- Honda Civic, Accord
- Hyundai Elantra
- Kia Rio
- Mazda 3
- Nissan Altima, Maxima
- Toyota Corolla, Camry,
- Volvo S60
Tire Sizes of the Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring
15″
- 185/65R15 86T
- 195/60R15 88H
- 195/65R15 91H
- 205/60R15 90H
- 205/65R15 94H
- 215/70R15 98T
16″
- 205/55R16 91H
- 205/60R16 91V
- 205/65R16 95H
- 215/55R16 93H
- 215/60R16 94V
- 215/65R16 98T
- 225/55R16 95H
- 225/60R16 98H
- 225/70R16 103T
- 235/60R16 100H
- 235/65R16 103T
17″
- 205/50R17 89V
- 215/50R17 93V XL
- 215/55R17 94V
- 215/60R17 96H
- 215/65R17 98T
- 225/45R17 91V
- 225/50R17 94V
- 225/55R17 97V
- 225/60R17 98H
- 225/65R17 102H
- 235/45R17 94H
- 235/55R17 99H
- 235/60R17 102H
- 235/65R17 104H
18″
- 215/55R18 95H
- 225/50R18 94H
- 225/55R18 97H
- 225/60R18 100H
- 235/45R18 94V
- 235/55R18 100V
- 235/60R18 102V
- 235/65R18 106H
- 245/45R18 96V
- 245/60R18 105H
- 265/60R18 110H
19″
- 235/55R19 101V
20″
- 245/50R20 102V
- 255/55R20 107H