Pros
- Good enough for dry roads
- Not too bad on unpacked snow
- The cheapest tire from Goodyear
- 60,000-mile treadwear warranty
Cons
- Terrible wet performance
- Harsh ride and loud
- Despite the warranty, some user claim that the tires wear down sooner
What are the features of the Goodyear Viva 3?
You may be surprised as I was to find two sets of features on two sites. The Viva 3 tires are designed and made by Goodyear for Walmart, and both companies present them differently.
Since they are Goodyear’s products, I’ll go with what the website says.
The main selling point of the tires is the price, which is surprising when you consider the brand that makes the Viva 3. In short, they are priced similarly to the Chinese tire brands that I rarely recommend.
Considering the price, don’t expect any fancy technologies that Goodyear puts in all the other models. The company claims that the Viva 3 is an all-season tire that offers control and comfort. In other words, this should be an all-season touring tire based on those claims.
Getting down to the molecules, there is no information on the rubber compound, so based on that, I cannot say if there will be any performance in the tire worth praising.
Design-wise, there are 4 grooves down the middle that should provide decent performance on wet surfaces. In addition to that, the sipes through the blocks should help channel water away and help with traction. Since it’s an all-season tire, the zig-zag design of the tread should help the tire find traction in snowy conditions. You may even say that it has a similar design to winter tires, which may turn up to be a positive thing.
In terms of comfort, Goodyear claims that the tread is designed to reduce the noise, something you’d expect from a touring tire.
Considering that the Viva 3 is a budget-oriented tire, the size options are chosen to fit small hatchbacks, sedans, or minivans. The diameter ranges from 14 to 18 inches and should accommodate plenty of models.
How does it behave on dry tarmac?
To be honest, I cannot praise the Viva 3 too much, mainly because the performance is far from what you’d get from any other Goodyear tire.
On the other hand, when you look at the price range, the Viva 3 is better than the Chinese tires. In straight-line speeds, it’s more stable and has a slightly shorter braking distance.
The biggest problem you may face is with the Viva 3 is the levels of grip. If you even push the tire slightly, it will lose traction. Go into a corner a bit more enthusiastically, and a terrible understeer will greet you.
I am aware that these kinds of budget tires are purchase by people that aren’t into too spirited driving. With that said, I’m not a huge fan of cheap tires with lousy performance. The only thing pulling the Viva 3 from the ditch is that it’s a Goodyear tire and is a tad better than the Chinese competitors.
How does it behave over wet and slippery roads?
I like Goodyear as a brand, so I’m trying to say this as gently as possible – the Viva 3 are terrible in wet conditions.
Goodyear put some effort into the tread design, but I think that wasn’t enough as the performance not even slightly better than the cheapest tires. The Viva 3 feels like it doesn’t have enough grip on wet surfaces, to a point where it slides more than you’d want to.
Things get worse the faster you drive, as the stability is questionable. Don’t even think about pushing these tires as the limit is very low. Sudden steering inputs or hard accelerations show how little grip the Viva 3 has.
While the braking distances on dry were okay-ish, on wet, they are among the worst I’ve seen in a while.
How is it over snow?
The Viva 3 is an all-season tire, so it should do well in snow, and considering how bad it was on the wet, the snow performance was actually good enough.
This is thanks to the tread pattern and the sipes that are in a zig-zag layout. They enable the Viva 3 to have some biting force and find grip on snow. The braking distances are also decent enough to get a pass.
Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for packed snow and ice, as the Viva 3 feels almost as bad as on wet pavement.
Is it comfortable and refined?
Goodyear claims that the Viva 3 is an all-season tire designed for comfort and reduced noise levels. I won’t say that Goodyear lies about that, but I will say that the tire is not the most comfortable or refined.
In general, tires with a higher profile should be a bit comfortable as the sidewall can flex slightly, but that’s not the case with the Viva 3. The ride quality is on the firm side, meaning that bumpy roads or uneven surfaces won’t be absorbed by the tire as much as you’d want.
The noise levels are also nothing to write home about. At slower speeds on more smooth surfaces, things are not that bad. On the other hand, on rougher surfaces or higher speeds, the noise is quite noticeable.
Is it good for off-roading?
Well, I wouldn’t exactly call it an off-road tire, mainly because of the poor performance. You may be able to do some light off-roading on some dirt roads, but I wouldn’t advise that.
Goodyear didn’t design the Viva 3 with that kind of abuse in mind, so there is a good chance you can end up damaging the tread.
Is the Goodyear Viva 3 ideal for sporty driving?
I should keep this short and say “no,” but I’ll explain.
Cheap tires are not ideal for sporty driving, and the Viva 3 are no exception, regardless of the brand. The dry performance is just okay for everyday commute to work at slower speeds and granny-like driving. Push them a bit, and they’ll lose traction. Things are worse in the wet, meaning that even everyday driving can be a challenge.
As you can already guess, track days are out of the question. On the other hand, you wouldn’t put these tires on a car that you’d take to a track, so it’s not something you’d think about.
Should I buy the Goodyear Viva 3?
Overall, I would say that you shouldn’t, but let me break it down for you.
The Viva 3 is the cheapest tire from Goodyear aimed at people looking for an affordable option that isn’t Chinese. While it does some things better than the other brands, I wouldn’t put it miles ahead of them.
Maybe if the wet performance was a bit better, I might have suggested it as a better alternative to the cheap Chinese tires.
As things stand now, I cannot recommend these tires, especially when you consider that you can get better-performing models for a little extra.
Goodyear Viva 3 Warranty
It’s Goodyear, and the treadwear warranty surprised me because the Viva 3 comes with a 60,000-mile warranty. Just for this, the tires seem reasonable enough, but many drivers report that the tires don’t reach those numbers, meaning that it’s another nail in the coffin.
Goodyear Viva 3 Pricing: Is it worth the money?
You may be surprised, but I had difficulties with this section. On the one hand, the Viva 3 is a cheap tire from Goodyear that’s slightly better than similarly priced tires. The prices start from around $54 for the 14-inch models and go up to $112 for the most expensive 18-inch models. Looking at this alone, the tires are a good investment.
On the other hand, for about $10-20 more, you can get all-season tires from mid-range brands that will perform better. If you go a bit up, you can even find some of the lower-tiered Goodyear models.
The Viva 3 on paper seems like it’s worth the money, but in reality, I’m not so sure.
Conclusion
Whenever I write a review, I always try to find something positive in a tire to find a target group for it. In the case of the Viva 3, I cannot find anything that makes it stand out.
People will say that it’s a Goodyear tire, a brand that gets praised for its models, but this one seems like it doesn’t deserve the badge. Barely decent dry performance and decently good snow performance with terrible traction on wet surfaces is not my idea of a well-balanced tire. The only thing worth mentioning is the 60,000-mile warranty, but keep in mind that some drivers mentioned that the tires don’t last as long.
If you absolutely need to have the cheapest tires, I’d say get the Viva 3, only if you are on a really tight budget. If you can spare a few extra bucks, get some better mid-range tires.
What Vehicles Will the Goodyear Viva 3 Fit?
- BMW 1 series
- Chevrolet Malibu
- Ford Ka, Fiesta, Focus
- Honda Civic, Accord, CR-V
- Mazda 2, 3
- Nissan Micra, Altima
- Toyota Yaris, Corolla
- Volkswagen Golf
You can fit the Viva 3 on bigger cars as well, as long as the rims are no larger than 18 inches.
Tire Sizes for Goodyear Viva 3
14″
- 175/65R14
- 185/65R14
- 185/70R14
- 195/70R14
15″
- 185/65R15
- 195/60R15
- 195/65R15
- 205/65R15
- 205/70R15
- 205/75R15
- 215/70R15
- 215/75R15
16″
- 205/55R16
- 205/65R16
- 215/55R16
- 215/60R16
- 215/65R16
- 215/70R16
- 225/60R16
- 235/60R16
- 235/65R16
17″
- 215/50R17
- 215/55R17
- 215/60R17
- 215/65R17
- 225/55R17
- 225/60R17
- 225/65R17
- 235/60R17
- 235/65R17
18″
- 235/55R18
- 235/60R18
- 235/65R18
- 245/60R18
List of Goodyear Tire Reviews
One Comment
When it comes to noise levels, Viva 3 ensures a peaceful ride. However, it’s worth noting that on highways, the presence of tread noise is more noticeable.