Yokohama AVID Ascend LX Tire Review and Ratings
Dry Conditions – 90%
Wet Conditions – 80%
Snow – 70%
Comfort – 90%
Noise Reduction – 80%
Durability – 90%
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Getting a new set of tires starts with choosing what type you want, and for most people, that’s a set of touring tires. There is a winning combination here, which combines performance, longevity, and refinement. For daily driving scenarios, I doubt people would need more than this.
Tire manufacturers often need to make compromises to ensure all aspects are covered. In the case of touring tires, the performance is not on the same level as a UHP tire, but on a positive note, you’re getting a tire that will last a lot longer.
There’s almost no manufacturer that doesn’t have a touring tire, which also includes the one I’ll be talking about today. Yokohama has been on the market for over a century, so we know it makes great tires.
The model I’ve chosen for this review is the AVID Ascend LX, an all-season touring tire for passenger cars and some CUVs. Now it’s time to answer whether this is a great tire or if you should look at other models.
Pros
- Dry performance is pretty good
- Comfortable
- The treadwear warranty is among the longest in its class
- Competitively priced
Cons
- There are specific noticeable noises at higher speeds
- Needs a boost in wet performance to compete with the best in class
The Features of the Yokohama AVID Ascend LX
The important part of any touring tire is to balance performance, refinement, and longevity. On paper, this is a tire that seems to achieve that.
Yokohama is no stranger to all-season tires, and for this one, it utilized its L-2 rubber compound, featuring a unique polymer blend. The result should be a tire that won’t wear too quickly, backed by the optimized contact area, which should help it wear more evenly.
Apart from the compound, the wet performance is also backed by the tread pattern. Most notably, the AVID Ascent LX features circumferential and lateral grooves designed to help it with water evacuation. As a result, we should see excellent aquaplaning resistance and stability in harsh rain.
Like most all-season tires, you’d expect to deliver performance in winter, and this tire should offer that. The design features 3D sipes and notches that act as claws and help with traction on snow-covered roads. This should be especially helpful on packed snow.
We are talking about a touring tire, so there has to be a refinement-related feature. The one for this is the multi-pitch design, and Yokohama used a staggered approach. The idea is to cancel certain tones, which should help keep the noise levels down.
Yokohama AVID Ascend LX in Dry Conditions
Like most touring tires, the AVID Ascend LX is a tire that handles dry roads easily. It’s not a UHP tire, but as a touring one, it does a very good job.
The grip and traction levels are solid for this category, offering a safe experience where you won’t be driving on the limit constantly. There is some room to push it, but don’t expect it to excel on a track. The tire also delivers relatively short braking distances – not the shortest in this category, but still better than many rivals.
Regarding handling, it’s not a particularly impressive tire, even for a touring one. The responsiveness isn’t the best, and I’d place it somewhere in the average group. It does react to your inputs, but with a slight delay that some people may notice. You also won’t have a lot of feedback, making this a dull tire. To be fair, most people will be fine with this and will definitely like the linear nature of the tire.
Yokohama AVID Ascend LX on Wet or Slippery Roads
You’ll see some tires struggling in wet conditions, and even though this isn’t one of those, it’s not a model that will impress with its performance.
The AVID Ascend LX delivers solid performance on damp roads, which is enough for most drivers. There is enough grip and traction to offer a safe experience, and with the acceptably short braking distances, it’s a tire that gets the job done. The most important thing to note is that the overall performance isn’t on the same level as models from the Michelin or Continental lineup.
On a positive note, the tire handles harsh rain quite well. The tread pattern evacuates water efficiently, offering excellent aquaplaning resistance. Considering the overall performance in wet conditions, you probably won’t push it hard when it’s raining.
Yokohama AVID Ascend LX in Snow
Driving in winter with the AVID Ascend LX isn’t the worst thing in the world, but there are a few things you should consider.
The tire’s tread pattern and rubber compound are designed to help it offer performance on snow. I have to say that the combination does a good enough job, but not the best. The traction in lighter conditions is decent enough as long as you don’t expect too much of it. I would categorize the performance as passable on packed and unpacked snow, but I will say there are better performers out there.
Going for harsher conditions isn’t something I’d recommend because we are talking about an all-season tire. The performance in deep snow or ice isn’t the best, so you may want to consider winter tires for these conditions.
Yokohama AVID Ascend LX Off-Roading
Tires designed for road use are poor off-roaders, and there are multiple reasons for that. The first issue is that tires in this category, like the AVID Ascend LX, aren’t made from a rubber compound capable of surviving these conditions. In addition to that, the performance is almost non-existent unless we’re talking about short trips on dirt roads.
Yokohama AVID Ascend LX for Sporty Driving
Even though there are some touring options that I’d call fun-ish, the AVID Ascend LX isn’t one of them. The handling is far from the most dynamic one, and when you combine it with performance that’s not class-leading, you can understand why I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone looking for some fun on a twisty road.
Does the Yokohama AVID Ascend LX Ride Comfortably?
As far as the refinement is concerned, it’s not a perfect tire. It has some slightly negative sides, but I wouldn’t say it’s terrible.
The comfort levels of the AVID Ascend LX are pretty good, and despite having stiffer sidewalls, it does a very good job of providing a plush ride. It absorbs bumps and minimizes vibrations, and the best part is that it doesn’t feel bouncy.
On the other hand, I feel like Yokohama could’ve done better with the noise levels. The tire features the multi-pitch design, but there are some noises that could’ve been a bit more muted, especially at higher speeds.
Yokohama AVID Ascend LX Warranty
I mentioned that the AVID Ascend LX has some downsides, but the warranty isn’t one of them. The tire comes with an 85,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is more than many premium rivals like the TrueContact Tour or the Defender T+H. That means it’s on the same level as Goodyear’s long-lasting tire, the Assurance MaxLife.
Yokohama AVID Ascend LX Pricing: Is It Worth the Price?
Price is another crucial aspect, and I feel like Yokohama did well. A common 17-inch size comes cheaper than its premium rivals from Continental or Goodyear. With that said, it’s a bit more expensive than the CS5 Grand Touring from Cooper.
Should I Buy the Yokohama AVID Ascend LX?
The AVID Ascend LX is a tire that may not win any prizes for being the best in certain areas, but it’s a tire that will offer enough performance for the price.
When you compare it with the best models in the premium segment, you’ll realize that the Yokohama model isn’t the best. Sure, the overall performance in dry, wet, and winter is pretty good and enough for most people, but it’s not the best. You may think that this is a bad thing, but it’s not.
The thing that has this tire going in its favor is the long treadwear warranty and the lower price. It’s not dirt cheap, but it’s still more affordable than most premium models in this category. This can be the deciding factor, especially if you’re the type of driver that’s not too aggressive.
Overall, the AVID Ascend LX is a solid choice. The performance is decent and safe, which, combined with the price and longevity, makes for a pretty good combination. As long as you’re not expecting it to be a fun option, it’s a tire that you should consider.
What Vehicles Will the Yokohama AVID Ascend LX Fit?
Here’s a sample list of cars that the Yokohama AVID Ascend LX will fit:
- Audi A3
- BMW 3 Series
- Chevrolet Malibu
- Ford Focus
- Honda Civic, Accord
- Mitsubishi Lancer
- Mazda 3
- Nissan Altima
- Subaru Legacy
- Toyota Corolla, Camry
- Volvo S60
Tire Sizes of the Yokohama AVID Ascend LX
15″
- 185/60R15 84H
- 185/65R15 88H
- 195/60R15 88H
- 195/65R15 91H
- 205/65R15 94H
- 205/70R15 96T
- 215/70R15 98T
16″
- 195/60R16 89H
- 205/55R16 91H
- 205/60R16 92H
- 205/65R16 95H
- 205/70R16 97T
- 215/55R16 97H XL
- 215/60R16 95H
- 215/65R16 98H
- 225/60R16 98H
- 225/65R16 100H
- 235/60R16 100H
- 235/65R16 103T
17″
- 205/50R17 93V XL
- 215/45R17 87V
- 215/50R17 95H XL
- 215/55R17 94V
- 215/60R17 96H
- 215/65R17 99H
- 225/50R17 94V
- 225/55R17 97H
- 225/60R17 99H
- 225/65R17 102H
- 235/50R17 96H
- 235/60R17 102T
- 235/65R17 104H
18″
- 215/50R18 92V
- 225/45R18 95V XL
- 225/55R18 98H
- 225/60R18 100H
- 235/45R18 94V
- 235/55R18 100V
- 235/60R18 103H