Yokohama AVID Ascend GT Review

To meet the increasingly diverse needs of drivers, Yokohama has evolved its Avid Ascend tire into two different options, the AVID Ascend LX, for crossover and SUV buyers, and this tire, the AVID Ascend GT for passenger cars.

PROS

  • Dynamic performance
  • Wet weather grip
  • Well-priced

CONS

  • Could use a longer mileage guarantee

Featuring the brand’s latest innovations in tire technology, this all-season tire is designed to deliver a well-rounded package to suit the vast majority of drivers.

The asymmetric tread design helps deliver a large contact patch on the road, delivering superior grip in the wet and dry. Compared to the Ascend LX, this tire puts more of a focus on driving dynamics both due to its tread design and unique compound (it doesn’t use the same tread compound as the LX). While appreciated, this does result in a much lower mileage guarantee of 65,000 miles. While far from bad, that’s nowhere close to the 85,000 miles guaranteed on the LX. In short, we’d like to see it close the gap.

Much of this is due to the tread compound that delivers a UTQG rating of 740 on this tire and 800 on the LX. It’s also part of what makes this tire grippier in the dry.

The tire’s contact patch, with a large amount of rubber on the road at all times, not only helps in delivering an engaging ride and impressive grip, it also helps to better distribute the car’s load and allow the tire to wear more evenly over time.

Four circumferential grooves in the tire help evacuate water and are designed to prevent hydroplaning. Some modest siping helps further in the wet and to deliver some minimal winter grip. Notches cut into the interior tread blocks are also designed to dig into snow, although we still recommend true winter tires if you live in a colder state.

Using pitch-cancellation technology in the tread design, Yokohama was able to reduce the tire’s noise further making it extremely quiet on the road.

Beyond all this, it’s affordably priced for a tier-one tire and offers a slightly more diverse range of fitments than the LX model.

Yokohama AVID Ascend GT Price

Yokohama AVID Ascend GT stars at roughly $90 per tire for a 15-inch size and goes up tp approximately $220 per tire for a 19-inch size.

 

Yokohama AVID Ascend GT Warranty

Yokohama backs the AVID Ascend GT with a 65,000 mile mileage warranty. Yokohama also backs the tire with a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, so if you’re not completely satisfied with your new Yokohama Avid Ascend GT tires, they will replace them free of charge.

Yokohama AVID Ascend GT Sizes

15-inch sizes
195/65/R15
185/65/R15
195/60/R15
205/60/R15
205/65/R15
175/65/R15
185/55/R15

16-inch sizes
205/60/R16
205/65/R16
215/60/R16
205/55/R16
185/55/R16
205/50/R16
195/55/R16
215/55/R16
195/50/R16
185/60/R16
225/55/R16

17-inch sizes
215/45/R17
225/45/R17
215/55/R17
215/50/R17
225/60/R17
235/55/R17
225/55/R17
235/60/R17
235/45/R17
205/50/R17
245/45/R17
225/50/R17
235/50/R17
245/50/R17

18-inch sizes
215/55/R18
225/40/R18
225/60/R18
225/55/R18
225/45/R18
225/50/R18
235/55/R18
235/45/R18
235/50/R18
245/45/R18
255/45/R18

19-inch sizes
235/40/R19
245/45/R19
245/40/R19
255/45/R19
235/45/R19

Yokohama AVID Ascend vs AVID Ascend GT

The original Avid Ascend tire is designed as a premium all-season touring tire with a focus on a smooth, refined ride and low noise levels, as well as long tread life. It’s available in a range of tread life estimates (depending on the speed rating) ranging from 65,000 miles up to 85,000 miles.

It makes use of an extremely wide center tread rib for excellent highway stability and quick reaction to steering responses.

The Ascend GT, however, is focused more on driving dynamics, adding better handling capabilities while still retaining the luxury nature of the tire. As a result, tread life is diminished and the expected tread is 65,000 miles regardless of the speed rating.