Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max Tire Review and Rating

Goodyear advertises the Assurance Fuel Max as an all-season tire and has worked on the tread design to provide exemplary performance in multiple conditions. The tire’s approach was to divide the tire into two zones, the dry and wet one.

The Dry Tread zone is the outside one, where the shoulder ribs are located. Goodyear made them stronger to ensure that the tire is stable and responsive and offers excellent amounts of grip.

Down the middle is the Wet Tread zone which is designed for rainy situations. The Dual Aquachannel grooves and countless lateral sipes are built into the tread to help move water away from the contact patch. As a result, the Assurance Fuel Max should have excellent aquaplaning resistance. This section of the tire is also responsible for the traction and works with the shoulder blocks to keep it stable at higher speeds.

How does it behave on dry tarmac?

The Assurance Fuel Max is excellent for everyday driving, but there are a few aspects that won’t sit well with some drivers.

In terms of grip and traction, the tire is excellent. With that said, it’s not the absolute best in the category. The tire delivered above average performance in almost all conditions, which you should expect from a premium tire manufacturer. The braking distances are excellent, and the tire is very safe to be driven.

The downside is in how the tire drives, something that enthusiasts will dislike. Responsiveness isn’t very good, and when you combine it with the lack of feedback, you get something that resembles a winter tire.

How does it behave over wet and slippery roads?

The Assurance Fuel Max disappoints a bit when it gets driven on wet and slippery roads. The tire isn’t unsafe to drive, but the overall performance isn’t what you should get from a premium manufacturer.

One positive side in wet driving is the aquaplaning resistance. It’s not class-leading, but still very good, and it’s worth mentioning it.

In every other aspect, the tire isn’t as good as it should be. Traction is the biggest problem as the tire doesn’t seem to stick to the road very well. If you accelerate a bit more aggressively, the tire will slip, proving that traction can be an issue. The levels of grip are decent enough for most people.

As for braking distances, they are not very short and are average at best in this category.

How is it over snow?

Snow performance is also not very good with the Assurance Fuel Max. in light snow conditions and at lower speeds, you should be fine. There will be a decent amount of traction and grip, and the braking distances are good enough.

Even though all-season tires are not really good in winter conditions, I think that the Assurance Fuel Max underperforms quite severely.

Is it comfortable and refined?

There is a positive side to the Assurance Fuel Max, and that is the comfort. The comfort levels are excellent even when you compare the tire with its modern competitors. Most of the smaller holes and bumps are smoothed out excellently, and there is no disturbance in the car when you hit a pothole.

Noise levels are not so good, and it even makes you feel like you’re not driving a touring tire. At lower speeds, the noise isn’t too bad, but it can get a bit intrusive on the highway.

Is it good for off-roading?

The Assurance Fuel Max is not suitable for off-roading; for that matter, it’s not even decent. I’ve mentioned that dirt roads may be passable for some tires, and they might be for this one as well. The problem is that sharper rocks may damage the tread, so I’d advise against driving it in such conditions.

Is the Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max ideal for sporty driving?

I already mentioned this in the dry performance section – the Assurance Fuel Max is not a good tire for sporty driving.

The first problem is that it doesn’t have enough grip to push it really hard. The second problem is the lack of responsiveness and feedback.

Both are aspects that enthusiasts like to see in a tire, and the Assurance Fuel Max doesn’t have them.

Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max Warranty

On the warranty side of things, the Assurance Fuel Max is good and is better than average. With a 65,000-mile treadwear warranty, it is certainly good to see the tire be good in some areas.

Even though it may not be as long as the Continental TrueContact, it is still not bad.

Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max Pricing: Is it worth the money?

I have to say that the Assurance Fuel Max isn’t really worth the money. Goodyear’s price starts from $157, which is quite a lot for a tire that doesn’t excel, particularly in any area. It is just an average premium tire, which a lot of competitors can outperform.

Should I buy the Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max?