Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive Review

Replacing the Assuance ComforTred Touring, the new Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive makes some big strides in performance, but gives up quite a bit in one other critical area.

PROS

  • Extremely comfortable ride characteristics
  • Impressively it still handles very well
  • Excellent dry and wet handling / braking

CONS

  • Reduced tread life
  • Premium price

   

Delivering a cushy ride is the true focus of this tire and it definitely delivers. To achieve this it uses what Goodyear calls its “ComfortFlex” technology, that includes unique components in the tire’s sidewalls to better absorb bumps and impacts. And by all accounts it does an impressive job at this.

At the same time, this more absorbent sidewall doesn’t negatively impact handling performance, which is impressive. In fact, Goodyear actually put more focus on handling capability of this tire and it offers a big improvement in overall grip, as well as driving feel. This is true both in the dry and the wet.

To achieve such a high level of wet and dry traction, and to continue to offer it over time, the Assurance ComfortDrive makes use of what it calls “Evolving Traction Grooves” and the brand’s TreadLock Technology. If you look closely at the inner tread blocks you’ll notice that they include jagged ridges on the side. These actually allow some water evacuation while locking together under hard cornering or braking to deliver a more stable and predictable tread, which really just means one that offers better grip and superior braking performance.

These same “teeth” wear down as the tread does, opening up more water evacuation channels, to maintain a high level of wet weather grip.

As for the tread material itself, Goodyear chose a compound that’s made with soybean oil, which is designed to help maximize wet weather grip, while still delivering good tread wear.

On that note, however, we have to point out the biggest drawback of this tire. The 60,000 mile tread life warranty isn’t great. While the better handling tires in this segment do offer similar levels, this is on the low side. What makes it a tough pill to swallow is that the tire it replaces, the Assuance ComforTred Touring, had an 80,000 mile tread life warranty. We will point out that that tire didn’t come close to offering this level of driving dynamics and grip.

Overall winter performance is about average, with some siping built into the tread blocks for added grip in the snow. Ultimately, as an all-season tire, the Assurance ComfortDrive does harden up in winter conditions and grip drops off quickly.

As a final aspect of this tire worth mentioning, it does deliver on the promise of an extremely quiet ride as well. The tread has been designed to achieve low noise levels and it certainly hits its mark.

Despite the lower tread life rating, we’d recommend this tire for anyone looking for a more comfortable ride, while maximizing performance. The Assurance ComfortDrive is an ideal fit for not just luxury and performance sedans, but for a huge swath of modern utility vehicles that use large wheels and lower profile tires. This Goodyear option will help maximize performance while amplifying the ride quality.

Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive Price

Pricing for the Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive starts at just under $150 per tire for a 16-inch size and goes up to around $225 per tire for a 20-inch size.

   

Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive Warranty

Goodyear backs the Assurance ComfortDrive with a 60,000 mile tread life warranty.

Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive Sizes

16-inch sizes
205/55R16
205/60R16
205/65R16
215/55R16
215/60R16
215/65R16

17-inch sizes
215/45R17
215/50R17
215/55R17
215/60R17
225/45R17
225/50R17
225/55R17
225/60R17
225/65R17
235/55R17
235/60R17
235/65R17
245/45R17

18-inch sizes
215/55R18
225/45R18
225/50R18
225/55R18
225/60R18
235/45R18
235/50R18
235/55R18
235/60R18
235/65R18
245/45R18
245/60R18

19-inch sizes
225/55R19
235/40R19
235/45R19
235/50R19
235/55R19
245/55R19
255/40R19
255/50R19

20-inch sizes
235/55R20
245/50R20
255/45R20
255/50R20
255/55R20