Goodyear Assurance Maxlife is a standard all-season touring tire. As the name suggests, the key feature of this tire is tread life. Moreover, it’s also an elegant option for conserving fuel. You can use this tire on your sedans, minivans, crossovers, and coupes. Let’s dig into it and detailly analyze its performance!
| Goodyear Assurance MaxLife | |
|---|---|
| Best for | 3-season traction (light snow included), longevity, responsiveness and comfort |
| Test Report | vs Defender2 & PureContact Tour (July 18, 2022) |
| Category | Touring All-Season |
| Vehicle | Crossover, sedans, coupes |
| Weight | 20 – 36 lbs |
| Made In | USA |
| Warranty | 85,000 Miles |
| Available Sizes (Rim) | 15”, 16”, 17”, 18”, 19”, 20” |
| Labels | M+S |
As a former Bridgestone engineer, from my standpoint, Goodyear Assurance Maxlife is a long-lasting and fuel-efficient tire. While offering these two key features, it also provides solid wet and dry traction. Besides that, Goodyear Assurance MaxLife offers an exceedingly cozy riding experience. However, its winter performance is only limited to light snow. Even so, Goodyear Assurance Maxlife is a slightly more vocal tire than its competitors. The difference is fractional and covered by its long-lasting rubber.
I highly recommend checking the below pages out before making any purchase:
- TireRack Deals:
https://www.tirerack.com/specialoffers - SimpleTire Deals:
https://simpletire.com/tire-deals - Amazon Deals
- https://www.amazon.com/Tires-Discounts-Automotive-Wheels
All-Season Tires Cheat Sheet
My team & I have analyzed 100 different tires and generated this ‘Quick Answer Sheet‘ for those who don’t wanna spend too much time during tire selection.
Before we start, here are the incredibly helpful articles I highly recommend to take a look at;
- How to keep tire noise down:
https://www.tirerack.com/upgrade-garage/why-do-tire-tread-patterns-make-noise - Fuel-Efficiency:
https://www.tirerack.com/landing/fuel_efficiency - Traction/Stability control for AWD/4WD (All-Season tires specific)
https://www.tirerack.com/upgrade-garage/traction-stability-4ws-awd
Depending on your needs, the below article might help;
- https://tireterrain.com/best-all-weather-tires-for-snow/
- https://tireterrain.com/bridgestone-vs-michelin/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-michelin-tires-for-suv/
I highly recommend checking the below pages out before making any purchase:
- TireRack Deals:
https://www.tirerack.com/specialoffers - SimpleTire Deals:
https://simpletire.com/tire-deals - Amazon Deals
- https://www.amazon.com/Tires-Discounts-Automotive-Wheels
Table of Contents
Dry Performance
Dry performance can be defined under two different dimensions. Dry traction and handling. Since traction is the main property of all-season tires, it’s not an issue for most of them. However, manufacturers sometimes prefer to use relatively lightweight internal structures due to increasing fuel efficiency. These kinds of designs sometimes cause a lack of handling. These metrics will be my evaluation points for this section.
Dry Traction
Since Goodyear focuses on tread life on this tire, they should use a relatively stiff compound to decrease wearing. Yet, stiff compounds sometimes induce gripping issues. No worries, Goodyear put this truth into consideration.
Goodyear Assurance Maxlife has a highly notched pattern that enables gripping and traction.
Dry traction isn’t an issue for Assurance Maxlife. It has alpha plus dry traction.
Handling
Goodyear Assurance Maxlife has a symmetrical pattern which helps to improve its handling. Moreover, this tire has a continuous and solid center rib. Unlike the outer ribs, this rib has fewer notches. That’s the key to its massive handling.
A one-ply, polyamide reinforcement that covers all the tire work as a shell. So, this tire can preserve its shape even while cornering at high-speed. Though worth reminding, this isn’t a performance tire. If you won’t pay attention to speed rating, you’ll have handling problems with your sports car.
Goodyear Assurance Maxlife will provide decent handling as long as you pick the right size and index for your car.
Wet Performance
Wet performance is another must for all-season tires. They generally don’t have any issue with wet. However, you should evaluate wet performance under two different dimensions. High speed and low speed.
High-speed wet performance is strongly related to hydroplaning resistance. On the other hand, low-speed wet performance is related to traction. This traction capability affect starting, stopping and accelerating.
Wet Traction
Wet traction is affected by compound stiffness and siping density.
As I’ve mentioned before, Goodyear Assurance Maxlife has a relatively firm compound. However, that doesn’t mean it has a lack of stickiness. This tire has an A-rated wet index which is proof of its stickiness. Moreover, its exceedingly notched rubber has tons of biting edges. These edges help it to grip wet surfaces from different locations.
Goodyear Assurance Maxlife(product page) has an alpha plus wet traction.
Hydroplaning Resistance
Hydroplaning resistance is basically the water evacuation capability of tires. In that case, a couple of characteristics are a must.
First and most importantly, circumferential grooves. These grooves are built to throw the water out of the tire patches. In that case, Goodyear Assurance Maxlife has a very satisfying design. It has 4 circumferential grooves that help it to evacuate water with ease.
Secondly, open shoulders. In that case, it’s not perfect. Assurance Maxlife has semi-open shoulders which is enough for daily driving. However, if you’re a very aggressive driver, these semi-open shoulders might not be enough for you.
Goodyear Assurance Maxlife has a decent hydroplaning resistance for daily driving.
Note: Hydroplaning is vital for a safe ride under the pouring rain. However, it might occur even with the best tire. Maybe you can’t prevent it but if you know what it is and how to deal with it, you can easily stay on the safe side.
Here is an extremely efficient guide about ‘How to Deal with Hydroplaning?‘ –> https://www.discounttire.com/learn/hydroplaning
Winter Performance
Winter capability of all-season tires is tricky. Even though manufacturers say these tires can perform in winter conditions, in fact, all-season tires’ rubbers can’t perform properly under 7 Celsius degrees. The compound tends to get firmer and that decreases compounds’ gripping capability.
Regarding Goodyear Assurance Maxlife, its winter performance is limited to light snow. This part is important because that means under 0 Celcius degrees when the surface gets icy, you better don’t use these tires.
Goodyear Assurance Maxlife has a decent light snow performance. However, deep snow and ice aren’t its expertise.
Tread Life
Be ready, it starts shinning! Tread life is the center of Goodyear’s marketing strategy for this product.
Goodyear uses a relatively firm compound to reach long-lasting rubber. This tires’ UTQG is 840. That means this tire lasts 8.4 times better than the comparison tire. Though worth reminding, comparison tires are generally rubbish. However, Michelin Defender T+H also has 840 UTQG, and believe me, Michelin has unique tread life.
Another good point is Goodyear Assurance Maxlife has a visual indicator that shows the remaining tread depth. You can easily monitor your remaining tread depth via this indicator.
Getting maximum wear life from a tire is related to you as well as your tire, If you’d like to learn how to get maximum tread life:
Goodyear Assurance Maxlife has massive tread life. It’s one of the best in its category.
You can also check TireRack’s test report via this link –> https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=236
Comfort and Road Noise
Comfort and road noise have so much in common. However, while comfort is equally related to compound and internal structure, road noise is mostly related to compound and pattern design.
Regarding road-noise, Goodyear Assurance Maxlife is a decent tire. In that case, semi-open shoulders and air-flow breakers into the grooves make most of the work. However, it has a bit firm compound. That feature fends it off from perfection. I can say it’s 8.5 out of 10.
On the other hand, Goodyear Assurance Maxlife is an exceedingly smooth tire. Its continuous center rib creates a huge advantage. Moreover, its single-ply polyester casing increases its flexibility, and that feature absorbs most of the force while going through the bumps.
A side note here: Even though some tires tend to make noise because of their tread patterns, it’s still possible to keep your tire noise down.
I’m leaving a perfect explanation below from DiscountTire for those who need it;
How to Keep Tire Noise Down? –>
https://www.discounttire.com/learn/tire-noise
Warranty
Goodyear offers 85,000 miles treadwear warranty for this product.
If you’d like to check the warranty document –> https://www.tirerack.com/images/pdf/warranty/GY0419.pdf
Sizes
| 15” | 16” | 17” | 18” | 19” | 20” |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 195/65R15 | 205/55R16(91H) | 205/50R17 | P 215/55R18 | 225/55R19 | 235/55R20 |
| 205/60R16(92V) | 215/45R17 | 225/45R18 | 235/40R19 | 245/50R20 | |
| 205/65R16 | 215/50R17(XL) | 225/55R18 | 235/45R19 | 255/50R20 | |
| 215/55R16 | 215/55R17 | 225/60R18 | 235/50R19 | 255/55R20 | |
| 215/60R16 | 215/60R17 | 235/40R18 | 235/55R19 | ||
| 215/70R16 | P 215/65R17 | 235/45R18 | 245/55R19 | ||
| 225/60R16 | 225/45R17 | 235/50R18 | P 255/60R19 | ||
| 225/50R17 | 235/60R18 | ||||
| 225/55R17 | 235/65R18(106V) | ||||
| 225/60R17 | 235/65R18(106H) | ||||
| 225/65R17 | 245/60R18 | ||||
| 235/45R17 | 265/60R18 | ||||
| 235/50R17 | |||||
| 235/55R17 | |||||
| 235/60R17 | |||||
| 235/65R17 |
Most tire sizes begin with modifier letters(P, LT, etc.) that identify the type of vehicle or type of service for which they were designed. Here is a perfect guide for reading tire size –> https://tireterrain.com/how-to-read-tire-size/
Conclusion
Goodyear Assurance Maxlife does justice to its name. It has a pretty impressive tread life and promises better fuel consumption. Though worth reminding, this isn’t a performance tire. It’s not a good option for an aggressive driving style.
| Goodyear Assurance MaxLife | |
|---|---|
| Best for | 3-season traction (light snow included), longevity, responsiveness and comfort |
| Test Report | vs Defender2 & PureContact Tour (July 18, 2022) |
| Category | Touring All-Season |
| Vehicle | Crossover, sedans, coupes |
| Weight | 20 – 36 lbs |
| Made In | USA |
| Warranty | 85,000 Miles |
| Available Sizes (Rim) | 15”, 16”, 17”, 18”, 19”, 20” |
| Labels | M+S |
A quick check list,
- XL sizes tend to carry more load and offer better handling. Hence, they might be a better pick for bigger vehicles( XL vs SL tires)
- Please pay attention to the load index and speed index. These metrics are essential if you expect decent tread life
- There isn’t a bad tire in the market right now, you should just know what to expect from tires
I hope the article was helpful. If you need any further questions, please leave them in the below section.
For those who prefer to see whole market analyze:
- https://tireterrain.com/best-all-terrain-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-all-terrain-tires-for-snow/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-1-2-ton-truck-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-3-4-ton-truck-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-rt-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-tires-for-snow-plowing/
- https://tireterrain.com/on-road-all-terrain-tires-highway/
A couple of popular size analyses:
- https://tireterrain.com/best-35x12-50r20-all-terrain-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-285-70r17-all-terrain-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-275-55r20-all-terrain-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/best-275-65r18-all-terrain-tires/
Want to learn more about all-terrain tires:
- https://tireterrain.com/highway-tires-vs-all-terrain-vs-mud-terrain/
- https://tireterrain.com/all-season-vs-all-terrain-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/tire-load-index-and-load-range/
- https://tireterrain.com/lt-tires-vs-passenger-tires/
- https://tireterrain.com/are-all-terrain-tires-good-for-daily-driving/
- https://tireterrain.com/are-all-terrain-tires-good-in-snow/
- https://tireterrain.com/are-all-terrain-tires-loud/
- https://tireterrain.com/how-long-do-all-terrain-tires-last/
- https://tireterrain.com/are-all-terrain-tires-good-in-rain/
- https://tireterrain.com/off-road-tire-pressure-load-range-for-every-rig/
How much mileage loss might be experienced going to the GoodYear Max Life from the GoodYear Fuel Max? 5% or less?….on Chevy volt.
Hey there,
While I cannot make absolute guarantees, it is highly unlikely that you will experience any significant mileage loss. In fact, it is quite probable that this particular option will perform exceptionally well on a Chevy vehicle.