Pros
- Decent traction on dry and wet roads
- Usable in light snow conditions
- Comfortable
- 80,000-mile treadwear warranty
Cons
- Handling characteristics are average
- The tire can get a bit noisy
For the past century, the automotive industry has evolved quite a lot. Unlike the early days where cars looked mostly like chariots, today we have a much wider variety. Even though they can range from small hatchbacks to large SUVs, all of them have one thing in common.
Tires are an essential part of a car, mainly because they are responsible for accelerating, braking, and steering it. The set of tires a car will have will mainly depend on the conditions you usually use it in. Considering most people’s needs, the most common types of tires you’ll find on the market are touring.
Based on their properties, touring tires are the most well-rounded of the bunch. They are designed to provide decent performance, long treadwear as well as a comfortable ride. Since there are a lot of grounds to cover, not all tires will be excellent in all aspects. With that said, some may be better than others in certain areas.
Considering their popularity, every manufacturer has at least one model, with some having more. Take Goodyear, for example. The American brand has put plenty of excellent touring models in the past, and the one I’ve chosen for today is part of the Assurance family.
If you’ve browsed the tire market, you’ve probably already seen the several options that Goodyear has under the Assurance badge. Apart from the standard options the brand has, there is also the Assurance Outlast.
Goodyear designed this model specifically for the hypermarket chain Walmart. This tire aims to provide premium-like performance at a slightly lower price. To be fair, producing a cheaper tire means that it won’t be as good as the real deal. The company claims that it isn’t the case, so in this review, I’ll e taking a look at the tire and see if it can live up to the Assurance name.
What are the features of the Goodyear Assurance Outlast?
Even though the Assurance family is Goodyear’s entry-level touring tire, the company still implemented a decent set of features.
As an all-season tire, the Assurance Outlast is designed with a rubber compound capable of functioning in multiple weather conditions. By utilizing this compound, Goodyear ensures that the tire will provide very usable performance even in colder temperatures.
The rubber compounds also work in combination with the tread design to offer improved traction and grip in less than ideal situations. By combining these two features, the Assurance Outlast should have very good traction on wet roads. As a bonus, the performance in light snow conditions should be usable.
Damp roads are one thing, but rain can be a problem for certain tires. The good news is that the Assurance Outlast should be pretty good in those conditions. The circumferential and lateral grooves are tuned to enable to tire to move water away from the tread blocks. With this, the aquaplaning resistance should be excellent.
Treadwear Rating: 4.5/5
How does it behave on dry tarmac?
The Assurance Outlast is capable of delivering pretty good performance, considering that it’s a touring tire. With that said, it’s not a tire that will wow you in any way.
You can rely on the grip and traction the tire offers, which is quite a lot. There is plenty of traction to prevent the tire from slipping even when you accelerate aggressively. The lateral grip is also very good, and the tire won’t be too prone to understeer. The performance is plenty for regular driving, but a tire like the Primacy A/S may offer a bit more.
Safety isn’t something that the Assurance Outlast lacks. The tire will remain controllable even when pushed harder. Braking distances are not particularly short but are well above average.
In terms of handling, the Assurance Outlast is not the most dynamically inclined tire. Responsiveness is okay-ish for a touring tire, and the feedback is mediocre.
Dry Rating: 4/5
How does it behave over wet and slippery roads?
In rainy conditions, the Assurance Outlast manages to position itself as a decent performer in the wet. It’s a similar story as before; it won’t be the absolute best but should offer plenty.
Goodyear’s tread and block design combined with the compound enables the Assurance Outlast to have pretty good traction in wet conditions. Don’t expect it to be as good as the best in class like the Continental PureContact LS. The levels of grip are also good, and you can be sure that the tire will hold the line even when you go into a corner at higher speeds.
The braking distances are good, there’s no denying that, but I feel like they aren’t as close to the best as I’d hoped.
The wide grooves and sipes are part of the tread design designed to channel water away from the tire. With that, the Assurance Outlast is capable of resisting aquaplaning excellently.
Wet Rating: 4/5
How is it over snow?
Considering that it’s an all-season tire, the Assurance Outlast isn’t excellent in snowy conditions but delivers usable performance.
In lighter conditions, the performance over unpacked snow is acceptable, but nothing to write home about. You can drive the Assurance Outlast in these conditions, as long as you consider that it shouldn’t be pushed too much. With that, you will be getting decent braking distances.
Performance over packed snow is not so good, and the tire will struggle to find traction. The worst side of the Assurance Outlast is ice performance, which shouldn’t be a surprise. There is very limited traction, and the tire almost feels uncontrollable.
Snow Rating: 3/5
Is it comfortable and refined?
Touring tires are made to be comfortable and quiet, something that the Assurance Outlast does acceptably well.
The better part of the refinement is the comfort levels, which are among the best in this price range. The Assurance Outlast can glide over bumps with ease, making the ride feel very plush. It can isolate vibrations pretty well and deliver a very relaxed experience.
On the other hand, the noise levels are something that leaves more to be desired. Even though the Assurance Outlast is relatively quiet, plenty of other tires can offer a quieter experience.
Comfort Rating: 4/5
Is it good for off-roading?
Off-roading with the Assurance Outlast isn’t something that I’d recommend, but it’s not impossible.
The Assurance Outlast isn’t designed to be driven on non-paved roads, meaning that you can damage it quite easily. If you are careful, the tire may deliver some acceptable performance over a dirt road.
Is the Goodyear Assurance Outlast ideal for sporty driving?
Even though the Assurance Outlast is pretty good on the road for most drivers, it’s not a tire that can be classified as good for sporty driving.
On the handling side of things, the Assurance Outlast isn’t the most dynamic tire, which is basically killing the joy. The lack of feedback through the steering wheel and the average responsiveness means that any enthusiast won’t be too happy.
As for grip and traction, it’s a similar story. The Assurance Outlast delivers enough for everyday driving, but not if you want to push it too much.
Noise Rating: 3/5
Goodyear Assurance Outlast Warranty
When it comes to warranty, the Assurance Outlast is the absolute best in this category. The tire comes with an 80,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is more than even some mid-range options like the Firestone All-Season.
Goodyear Assurance Outlast Pricing: Is it worth the money?
Goodyear placed the Assurance Outlast on the market as a budget-friendly option to a premium tire. The tire’s price at Walmart starts from around $75, making it pretty affordable.
Even when compared to grand touring tires from the mid-range class like the Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring, the Assurance Outlast is a more affordable option.
Value Rating: 4.5/5
Should I buy the Goodyear Assurance Outlast?
There are almost no reasons why you should avoid the Assurance Outlast.
The performance on the dry and wet side of things, the Assurance Outlast, can deliver decent levels of traction and grip. It will behave decently well and offer a safe and controllable driving experience.
As an all-season tire, the performance on snow-covered roads is acceptable. Even though it’s not a replacement for a proper winter tire, you can get decent-ish performance out of it in light conditions and unpacked snow. If you need more than that, then a proper winter tire is recommended.
Probably the weakest aspect of the Assurance Outlast is the handling characteristics. The tire isn’t the worst in this regard, but the lack of feedback combined with the not-so-responsive nature means that you won’t be getting the most dynamic experience.
Touring tires are considered to be well refined, and the Assurance Outlast is no exception, up to a point. The comfort levels of the tire are very good, and they can provide a plush driving experience. As for the noise levels, they are relatively low but far from the lowest in this category.
There are two areas that the Assurance Outlast does very well – price and warranty. Goodyear offers the tire with a treadwear warranty that is longer than some of the grand touring options I’ve spoken about in the past. As a bonus, the tire’s price is quite affordable, resulting in an excellent ratio.
The Assurance Outlast is a tire for people that own a passenger car looking for an affordable and long-lasting touring tire with decent performance.
What Vehicles Will the Goodyear Assurance Outlast Fit?
Here’s a sample list of cars that the Goodyear Assurance Outlast will fit:
- Acura ILX, TLX
- Audi A3, A4
- BMW 1, 3 Series
- Chevrolet Malibu, Cruze
- Fiat 500
- Ford Fiesta, Focus
- Honda Accord, Civic
- Hyundai Accent, Elantra
- Kia Ceed
- Mazda 2, 3
- Nissan Altima, Maxima
- Toyota Corolla, Camry
- Volvo S90, C30
Tire Sizes for Goodyear Assurance Outlast
List of Goodyear Tire Reviews
One Comment
Good year outlast tire has well over 60k,still performing well, only one road hazard and was replaced ,seems to handle well . . .does great in the heavy Florida rain