Great tires...an upgrade for most, but not all
Written: Nov 10 '06 (Updated Nov 11 '06)
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Pros: Handling, low noise, wet weather grip, warranty/tread life.
Cons: Expensive initial cost, might not be well matched to those who prefer soft riding tires
The Bottom Line: For most buyers, these are the ones to get. Only exceptions are those planning trade-ins soon and those looking for a soft riding tire.
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| wjob's Full Review: Goodyear Assurance TripleTred Tire |
I've had two sets of these tires...one on a 2001 Honda Accord and another on a 2005 Mazda MPV. (Which leads me to some interesting comparisons...read on.) In both cases, the TripleTreds have been a significant upgrade over the OE tires. I can comment on most attributes except longevity as I haven't had a chance to get anywhere near the 80,000 mile treadwear warranty (although they seem to wear well so far!). Let's discuss the positives and a few negatives in turn.
Dry handling: The TripleTreds (TTs) have an outside reinforced edge/corner for dry handling. It works well...both the Honda, and to a lesser extend the MPV (which has Sport rated Dunlops as OE), have improved cornering abilities. This is most noticeable in sharp turns. Traction is also very good...I'm not one to chirp the tires, but I haven't had one issue in poor takeoff from a dry traction environment. Similarly, if the roads are a bit oily, the TTs grip well. Which leads me to:
Wet handling: Performance in wet weather is perhaps THE reason to buy the TTs. Their ability to move water out the aquachutes is prodigious. I think I've only hydroplaned once with the TTs, and then with deep water at speed. Of course, trying to push the tires to their limit isn't exactly smart. What the TTs do give is outstanding traction whether the roads are damp or there is standing or moving water on the road. You can drive at regular speed with these tires and feel just as confident as if you are driving on dry roads. Stopping and braking are similarly excellent. Back when I was driving an Audi in the Northeast, I always felt that the advantage of all wheel drive came through in the rain (sure, it was there in the snow, but snow is not something to drive at speed in). Driving the TTs is reminiscent of driving all wheel drive vehicles -- outstanding grip in wet and dry conditions.
My comments above pertain equally to the TTs on both the Mazda and Honda. There are some differences between my experience on the two, largely due to the differences in the OE tires. In my comments below, I'll specify the observed differences.
Noise -- Road noise levels are lower with the TTs in both cars. However, there is more variation in road noise in with the Mazda than with the Honda (different surfaces vary from near silent to a bit of a roar). I suspect this is due to the more aggressive H rating on the Mazda tires. While I believe the overall noise levels are lower than the OE tires, the variation in noise in some ways makes the road noise more noticeable. I suspect that for the luxury oriented buyer, this might be a disqualification. Another important note--the TTs on the Mazda appear to be very sensitive to correct tire pressure. When pressure is low, they make considerably more noise (I just put some air in the tires and the difference in noise over the same roads is amazing.)
Ride comfort -- the TTs did make the Honda ride a bit firmer -- again, they were more rigid than the OE tires. Each TT was about 5 pounds heavier than the OE Michelin on the Honda. (Another note here -- I did read a review where one driver with new TTs planned to return them because noise going over bumps was more noticeable -- well, my take on this is that with lower noise levels, of course incidents with tar strips and bumps are more noticeable.) With respect to the Mazda, I see no difference in comfort with the OE Sport Dunlops and the TTs.
Fuel economy -- with the Honda, I did notice a small drop in mileage. But there, the tires were about 5 pounds more per tire (24 vs 19) -- a significant percentage increase with more energy needed to get the tires spinning. Rolling resistance may also be increased relative to the OE tires. With the Mazda, I observe no penalty in fuel economy. The TTs and OE Dunlops are about the same weight, and both are sporting, so they give about the same performance.
Overall, I am a big fan of these tires. With great grip in dry and wet weather, they increase active safety. Road noise is decreased. They are expensive, but when you factor in the 80000 mile treadlife, the lifecycle cost is very reasonable. The only people I wouldn't recommend these tires to are those who seek a soft luxury ride (Goodyear has the ComfortTred for those) and those who are planning to trade in their vehicle in under 20000 miles.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 800
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Epinions.com ID:
wjob
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Location: Texas
Reviews written: 6
Trusted by: 0 members
About Me:
I'm a pragmatist who likes good driving cars with equal measures of sport and luxury.
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