Table of Contents
Yokohama Avid Ascend GT Tire Review
Specifications:
- Dry 90%
- Wet 90%
- Snow 70%
- Comfort 90%
- Noise 90%
- Treadwear 80%
- Exceptional comfort combined with low noise levels
- Exceptional grip and traction in wet and dry conditions
- Quiet and comfortable
- Responds very quickly
- Longer warranties are offered by some competitors
- It is difficult to perform in the winter
There are tons of car options available on the market, so you’d think that all of them would run different types of tires, right?
That’s not true. Most people want tires that offer a comfortable ride and a long lifespan. There are those who want something with better performance, but the majority aren’t.
The concept of touring tires isn’t new, and companies have been making them for a long time. Having tires that excel in one area means they won’t be as good in another.
Extreme performance is not a priority, but comfort and longevity are. You won’t see many people on the track with touring tires because of this.
Tires are mainly divided into three categories: premium, mid-range, and cheap. The best tires belong to the premium segment, and the one I’ll be discussing is made by Yokohama. Avid Ascend GT is the latest addition to the brand’s lineup.
Yokohama advertises this tire as an all-season grand touring tire. Therefore, you should look for high comfort and low noise levels, as well as long life and decent performance.
You should also expect the latest and greatest features from the brand since the tire is among the newest.
Yokohama Avid Ascend GT features?
Yokohama didn’t hold back when it came to the features of the Avid Ascend GT.
As the rubber compound is one of the most crucial aspects of the all-season part, I’ll start there.
Yokohama used its TriBLEND technology, which is a combination of silica and low-Tg polymer. As a result, the compound should provide grip both on dry and wet roads.
Another area of the Avid Ascend GT that aids in grip and traction in various weather conditions is the tread pattern.
As a result of its asymmetric pattern, the tire provides more grip and traction, as well as a more stable surface contact.
As the touring part of the tire, the shoulders feature Yokohama’s Outside Adaptive Shoulder Blocks.
As a result of this technology, the tire should be quiet in this category. Avid Ascend GT features a polyester casing for improved comfort.
Four circumferential grooves and lateral sipes down the open shoulders support wet performance. All of them work together to provide excellent aquaplaning resistance. Additionally, the sipes help the tire perform well in snowy conditions.
What is its behavior on dry tarmac?
When it comes to dry tarmac, the Avid Ascend GT is excellent. Although it’s not the absolute best, it’s among the best in the grand touring category.
If you have a heavy foot or drive a powerful car, you’ll get plenty of traction. The Avid Ascend GT also offers plenty of grip, even if you push the tire harder into a corner.
The Avid Ascend GT is a touring tire, so don’t expect it to handle well. However, the tire is decently responsive, which is on par with other premium tires.
On the straights, I must mention the stability. Even at the top of the speed limit, the Avid Ascend GT will keep the vehicle stable.
What is its behavior on wet or slippery roads?
Despite rainy conditions, the Avid Ascend GT maintains most of its performance.
The tire has plenty of grip and traction, which would easily place it at the top of the grand touring category.
Avid Ascend GT provides excellent levels of lateral grip and won’t slip as frequently as some of its competitors.
The tire also performs well in terms of aquaplaning resistance. Even at higher speeds, it will remain stable and controllable in deeper puddles.
Additionally, the braking distances are among the shortest in this category.
What is its behavior on snow?
The Avid Ascend GT handles snow pretty well, better than I expected.
In my opinion, the tire performs best on unpacked snow, and it’s one of the best all-season tires.
By using Yokohama’s pattern and design, the tire is able to dig in and find traction quickly. In addition, the tire has excellent braking distances, which are among the best in its class.
In terms of ice performance, the Avid Ascend GT isn’t very good. Although all-season tires struggle, there are some that perform better.
Does it feel comfortable and refined?
Avid Ascend GT is a premium grand touring tire that’s all about comfort and low noise levels.
Due to the tire’s ability to smooth out road imperfections perfectly, comfort levels are excellent. The vibrations are almost nonexistent if you hit a larger hole.
Avid Ascend GT is extremely quiet when it comes to noise. Whether you’re driving around town or on the highway, it barely makes any noise. Almost as quiet as the Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack.
What is its behavior off-road?
Avid Ascend GT tires aren’t good at off-roading, as are grand touring tires. Since the tire isn’t designed for those conditions, it probably won’t last very long under those conditions.
Since the rubber compound isn’t as durable as an off-road tire, it won’t take much to damage it.
Therefore, you could drive it on a dirt road and get some performance. It is not designed to perform well off-road, so the performance will be limited.
Yokohama Avid Ascend GT for sporty drivers?
It may not be the best tire for sporty driving, but it has some properties that enthusiasts might appreciate.
As soon as you turn the steering wheel, the Avid Ascend GT dives into a corner. While it’s not quite UHP level, it’s still fun to drive down a twisty road.
When you combine that with high levels of grip, you get a tire that’s fun enough for sporty driving. You should keep your expectations low, as the tire isn’t made for that kind of driving.
Warranty for Yokohama Avid Ascend GT
I’d put the Avid Ascend GT’s warranty in the middle of its strengths and weaknesses. A treadwear warranty of 65,000 miles is offered by Yokohama on this tire.
The Michelin Primacy Tour A/S has a 55,000-mile warranty, while the Continental PureContact LS has 70,000.
What is the price of the Yokohama Avid Ascend GT?
Considering the overall package, the Avid Ascend GT is a decent bargain. It starts around $100, which isn’t the most expensive premium tire on the market.
Continental’s similar sized models cost about the same, while Bridgestone’s and Michelin’s are more expensive.
Is the Yokohama Avid Ascend GT a good buy?
You should consider buying the tire if it is within your budget. In the premium segment, there is a lot of competition, and most of them are excellent choices.
It performs well in both dry and wet conditions. If you’re pushing the tire, you’ll have plenty of traction and grip, so you’ll be safe. Although the handling characteristics aren’t as good as the performance-oriented options, they are good enough for a touring tire.
As long as there isn’t too much snow and it’s not packed, winter performance is okay-ish. Other conditions will limit the tire’s performance.
In addition, the warranty isn’t the best in class. Similarly priced tires with a longer treadwear warranty have a 75,000-mile warranty.
In spite of a few minor complaints, the Yokohama Avid Ascend GT is an excellent tire that won’t let you down.
References and Resources:
