Radar Dimax AS-8 Tire Review and Rating

The tread pattern is designed to offer several advantages, depending on the use case. On the one hand, the asymmetric design is made so that the Dimax AS-8 can deliver constant performance and even wear throughout the tire’s life. On the other hand, it’s designed to increase traction, thanks to the micro sipes down the blocks.

Radar designed the Dimax AS-8 with a tread pattern capable of helping it provide traction in snowy conditions. The block design, along with the sipes, should help it have enough biting force to get moving in snowy conditions.

As part of the design, the Dimax AS-8 is designed to help it evacuate water away from the blocks. To achieve this, the tire is designed with 4 circumferential and lateral grooves, which should result with excellent aquaplaning resistance.

How does it behave on dry tarmac?

The performance on dry roads with the Dimax AS-8 is pretty good. It may not be comparable with the best of the premium competitors but still performs well.

Under normal driving conditions, the traction and grip levels are more than enough for daily driving. The Dimax AS-8 can handle aggressive acceleration and can hook up to the road and eliminate slip. You can push it for a bit of sporty driving, and it will be fine. With that said, it’s not that inclined toward being a tire for spirited drivers.

You can see this from the handling. While the Dimax AS-8 is responsive and handles well, it feels more like a touring tire than a performance one. I have to praise the feedback, as the tire delivers a good amount of information, letting you know what’s happening with the front tires.

How does it behave over wet and slippery roads?

The Dimax AS-8 continues to impress in wet conditions and delivers excellent performance. Again, not comparable with the premium options, but still a solid performer.

If the roads are damp, the Dimax AS-8 will deliver pretty good traction levels and accelerate without any slip. Getting a bit aggressive will result with some wheel spin, but it’s not terrible. In the corners, things are the same as in dry. If you’re sensible, it will have no problems, but it will result in understeer if you push it too far. With that said, something like the Continental PureContact LS will be better in these conditions.

The tread design seems to be good at evacuating water, and the Dimax AS-8 has excellent aquaplaning resistance.

How is it over snow?

All-season tires are generally poor in snowy conditions, but that isn’t the case with the Dimax AS-8. Even though the tire isn’t a replacement for a winter tire, it manages to deliver some very good results.

The Dimax AS-8 manages to handle light snow conditions with ease. It can bite into the snow and provide traction without too much spin or, in some cases, without at all. The handling in these conditions is also pretty good, enabling you to be in control as long as you’re not pushing it to the limit. It’s more or less a similar story over packed snow, while in deeper patches, the tire will struggle a bit, which is to be expected.

Surprisingly, the Dimax AS-8 is a tire that has some traction on ice, which is a bit rare for all-season tires. I wouldn’t recommend using it often on icy roads, but it can get you out if you’re careful.

Is it comfortable and refined?

Even though the Dimax AS-8 is a sporty touring tire, it’s positioned more toward the touring side of things.

The comfort levels are pretty good, and the Dimax AS-8 can deliver a decently comfortable driving experience. It will absorb a good amount of the bumps and road imperfections, and while it won’t be the smoothest ride in the world, it’s far from the worst.

In terms of the noise levels, things aren’t as positive. At slower speeds, the Dimax AS-8 is as quiet as most of its competitors. Only when you get on the highway will you start to notice more roar from the tire.

Is it good for off-roading?

The Dimax AS-8 is technically an M+S rated tire, but that doesn’t make it a good off-roader.

It will handle a drive or two on a gravel road or some shallow mud patches and won’t be too problematic. With that said, the Dimax AS-8 isn’t designed to be driven in extreme situations, so I’d advise you against that.

Is the Radar Dimax AS-8 ideal for sporty driving?

Radar advertises it as a sporty touring, but as I said, it’s more of a touring than a sporty tire.

To be fair, the Dimax AS-8 isn’t the worst tire for sporty driving. With decent responsiveness, you can push it and control it without too many issues. The sidewall will flex a bit more, but that’s something that most people won’t even notice too much. I have to say, I was surprised by the feedback, which is quite good for a tire of this caliber.

Radar Dimax AS-8 Warranty

In terms of warranty, it may not seem like much at first glance, but considering that it’s a mid-range option, it’s not too bad. The Dimax AS-8 comes with a 50,000-mile treadwear warranty which is more or less similar to its direct rivals.

Radar Dimax AS-8 Pricing: Is it worth the money?

The Dimax AS-8 is advertised as a premium tire at an affordable price tag. I may not categorize it as a premium tire, but with a starting price of around $80, it’s definitely affordable even when compared with something from the Hankook lineup.

Should I buy the Radar Dimax AS-8?