Toyo Extensa A/S II Tire Review and Rating

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Toyo Extensa A/S II

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Wet
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Snow
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Comfort
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Noise
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Pros

  • Very affordable
  • Premium length warranty
  • Excellent aquaplaning resistance
  • Decent off-road performance

Cons

  • Longer braking distances when compared with premium tires
  • Snow performance isn’t very good

Ask any driver about the type of tire he’d want to have, and most of the answers you’ll get will revolve around refinement and longevity. The main reason for it is that we spend a lot of time in our cars, regardless if we’re going to work or going on a vacation. 

So far, the only tires that have been able to satisfy most people’s needs are touring tires. They combine decent performance with comfort, low noise levels, and a long treadwear warranty. Having all of these means that you’re looking at the perfect tire, right?

Not really. Even though touring tires have plenty of performance, the area they lack is driving dynamics. Since they aim to bring refinement, touring tires aren’t a popular option with enthusiasts. Despite that, touring tires are the most popular choice for most people, which is why in this review, I’ll be taking a look a one.

The tire I have in mind comes from Toyo, a popular Japanese tire manufacturer covering mid-range options. Most of the models this brand sells have plenty of performance at a lower price than the premium competitors.

Toyo has plenty of touring tires in its lineup, and the one I’ll be reviewing today is the Extensa A/S II. This is the company’s all-season touring tire available for anything from passenger cars to light trucks designed for a long lifespan and decent performance.

What are the features of the Toyo Extensa A/S II?

On the subject of features, the Extensa A/S II isn’t lacking any and offers plenty that would enable it to be classified as an all-season touring tire.

Toyo Extensa A/S II Tire Review

To provide drivability throughout the year, Toyo used a special rubber compound enriched with silica. By taking this route, the Extensa A/S II should be a tire that can deliver performance in colder temperatures as well as it should in warmer ones. In addition to that, an improvement in wet performance should be noticeable.

Another feature that should improve wet performance is the grooves. 4 wide circumferential grooves act as channels for the water to pass beneath the tire without disturbing the stability. Considering that all of the water can go through there, the Extensa A/S II also has lateral sipes that move the excess to the sides. Both of these features should result in excellent aquaplaning resistance.

The sipes that are part of the tread design serve another purpose. Their task is to help the tire wear more evenly and provide a longer lifespan, and in addition to that, they are responsible for improving traction in dry and wet conditions.

As part of the tread design, Toyo made some tweaks to the ribs for additional benefits. Thanks to that, the Extensa A/S II should have a more evenly distributed contact patch meaning that you should get shorter braking distances and improved handling.

Treadwear Rating: 4/5

4/5

How does it behave on dry tarmac?

Dry performance with the Extensa A/S II is good, but since it’s a mid-range option, don’t expect anything spectacular.

Toyo’s tweaks to the tread design and shoulder blocks resulted in a tire with okay-ish handling characteristics. The response isn’t as good as a performance tire, but it’s good for this class. There is a hit on the feedback, and at times the tire feels a bit muted.

As for grip and traction, in both cases, the Extensa A/S II is decent and should be fine for most people. Within its class, the tire is a good performer that falls behind its premium competitors. Traction will be an issue for more powerful cars or people with heavy foot. Going into a corner at a higher speed isn’t recommendable with this tire as it won’t be able to hold the car in place.

Braking distances are good enough to offer a safe driving experience.

Dry Rating: 4/5

4/5

How does it behave over wet and slippery roads?

It’s a similar story to the dry performance. The Extensa A/S II is a good tire for a daily driver as long as you don’t ask too much of it.

The sipes and tread pattern are doing their job and enable the tire to bite into the wet tarmac. With that said, the traction is limited, so aggressive acceleration isn’t something that the tire will like. Again, the grip is good and will get you out of a corner if you don’t drive like you’re on a track. When it comes to stopping, the braking distances are good enough and well above average for this class. It’s no Continental PureContact LS, but it gets the job done.

One thing I have to praise is the aquaplaning resistance. Even though it’s not as good as the premium touring tires, the Extensa A/S II manages to stay decently stable when driving through water. 

Wet Rating: 4/5

4/5

How is it over snow?

Like most all-season tires, the Extensa A/S II is not ideal for wintery conditions, especially harsh ones.

In lighter conditions, the tire will handle snow relatively okay. It’s not comparable to a winter tire, and it even can’t be compared with a premium tire. I wouldn’t classify it as a bad tire, but I would say that it’s not my first choice for winter driving.

On clear roads, the lower temperature doesn’t seem to bother the tire too much, and you will get a usable performance out of it.

Snow Rating: 3/5

3/5

Is it comfortable and refined?

Another aspect where the Extensa A/S II is good enough without any flair is the refinement.

Comfort levels are decent, and the tire goes a good enough job of ironing out road imperfections. Vibrations are minimal, and the ride is decently smoothed out, even in cases with a very bad road.

In terms of noise, it’s not a Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack, that’s for sure, but it’s quiet enough. The tread design helps keep the noises down even at higher speeds, and for the price and category, I’d say that it’s pretty good.

Comfort Rating: 4/5

4/5

Is it good for off-roading?

When it comes to off-roading, no touring tire will be good at it, and the same can be said about the Extensa A/S II.

The tire may offer passable performance on a dirt road or maybe some shallow mud patches, and that’s as much as you should ask of it. Anything more, and you risk other problems.

Touring tires aren’t designed to withstand the extreme off-roading scenarios, so there’s a good chance that you may end up damaging it.

Is the Toyo Extensa A/S II ideal for sporty driving?

Another thing that the Extensa A/S II isn’t good at is sporty driving. Technically, the tire is missing all the key components that make a good sporty tire. 

Grip and traction levels aren’t anywhere near as good as an enthusiast would want them to be, so taking it on a track wouldn’t be a good idea. On top of that, the handling isn’t as dynamic as you’d want it to be, meaning that you won’t have the control that most people would want.

Noise Rating: 4/5

4/5

Toyo Extensa A/S II Warranty

The warranty is something that would give the Extensa A/S II an edge over its premium counterparts. Toyo sells the tire with a 75,000-mile treadwear warranty, which lands somewhere in the middle of the premium zone. It means that you’ll get a 5,000-miles longer warranty than the Continental PureContact LS and 5,000-miles less when compared to the Michelin Defender T+H.

Toyo Extensa A/S II Pricing: Is it worth the money?

Absolutely, the Extensa A/S II is an excellent bargain despite not competing with the premium tires. Prices start from $70, which is quite cheap for a tire that’s safe and long-lasting. As a comparison, most of the premium tires I mentioned so far are at least 50% more expensive.

Value Rating: 4.5/5

4.5/5

Should I buy the Toyo Extensa A/S II?

You should buy the Extensa A/S II, as long as you know what you are buying and what to expect from it.

Performance across the board is good enough for a regular commute, but nothing that will wow you. There is enough traction to get most cars going, and the grip is good to get your car through the bends under normal conditions. It’s a similar story with wet performance with the bonus of having a tire with great aquaplaning resistance. Snow seems to be the tire’s weak spot as it will struggle a bit even in lighter conditions.

Comfort and noise levels, on the other hand, are good, and the tire can be categorized as a good touring option. Put the lower price into the mix with a 75,000-mile treadwear warranty, and you have a good tire combination.

With that said, even though Toyo offers the Extensa A/S II in plenty of size options, I wouldn’t recommend it for everyone. Regular driving in a less powerful car won’t be a problem, and the tire will deliver. People that want something to throw into a corner should look elsewhere.

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

4.5/5

What Vehicles Will the Toyo Extensa A/S II Fit?

Here’s a sample list of cars that the Toyo Extensa A/S II will fit:

  • Audi A1
  • BMW 1, 3 Series
  • Buick Century
  • Chevrolet Aveo, Impala, Cruze
  • Ford Fiesta, Focus, Ka, Mondeo, C-Max, S-Max
  • Honda Civic, Accord, Odyssey
  • Mitsubishi Colt
  • Nissan Micra
  • Toyota Corolla, 
  • Volkswagen Golf, Sharan, Passat, Jetta, Touran

Tire Sizes for Toyo Extensa A/S II

14″

  • 175/65R14
  • 185/65R14
  • 185/70R14
  • 195/70R14
  • 195/75R14
  • 205/75R14
  • 215/70R14 

15″

  • 175/65R15
  • 185/65R15
  • 195/60R15
  • 195/65R15
  • 205/65R15
  • 205/70R15
  • 205/75R15
  • 215/70R15
  • 215/60R15
  • 215/65R15
  • 215/75R15
  • 225/70R15
  • 225/75R15
  • 235/75R15 

16″

  • 185/60R16
  • 195/50R16
  • 195/55R16
  • 205/55R16
  • 205/60R16
  • 205/65R16
  • 215/55R16
  • 215/60R16
  • 215/65R16
  • 225/55R16
  • 225/60R16
  • 225/65R16
  • 235/60R16
  • 235/65R16 

17″

  • 215/50R17
  • 215/55R17
  • 215/60R17
  • 215/65R17
  • 225/45R17
  • 225/50R17
  • 225/55R17
  • 225/60R17
  • 225/65R17
  • 235/50R17
  • 235/55R17
  • 235/60R17
  • 235/65R17 

20″

  • 225/45R18
  • 225/50R18
  • 225/60R18
  • 235/45R18
  • 235/50R18
  • 235/55R18

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