Choosing the right tire is not an easy chore. If you want to buy a good quality tire, you must see its features and specifications if that conforms to your requirements. We have conducted a test to help you choose between the world’s best tires.
Both Michelin Energy Saver and Goodyear Assurance Fuel max provide unique features to maintain a smooth and comfortable ride.
With that, we have tested both Michelin Energy Saver and Goodyear Assurance Fuel max to conclude the main aspects to look in while buying a tire, with a professional insight.
But before that, it is important to note that both tires were tested on the 2009 model year 2nd generation Toyota Prius hybrid car.
Here is a graphical representation of the comparison between Fuel Max and Michelin Energy Saver. After that, the basic features of both tires are jotted down, and also the theoretical comparison.
Table of Contents
Michelin Energy Saver
The Energy Saver from Michelin is specifically piloted to save your money at the gas pump. With this fuel-efficient Energy saver, you can now drive your small or mid-sized sedans and coupes systematically. They are all-season passenger tires.
The technically formulated silica-based tread compound helps to execute all-season traction and lowers the rolling resistance of the tire. The asymmetrical tread design comes along with an independent tread block to improve handling. As compared to other tires, Michelin claims to provide an eight feet shorter braking distance.
Key Highlights
- It saves up to 80 liters of fuel.
- It lasts 6,000 miles longer.
- Shorter braking distance.
- Wet traction is exceptional
Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max
Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max is a standard all-season tire that masters at providing fuel efficiency. It perfectly goes along with minivans, sedans, coupes, and crossovers.
The tread design of Assurance Fuel Max is made with unique polymers that are engineered to save almost 2600 miles’ worth of gas throughout the lifespan of the tire. Not only that, but they also lower the rolling resistance than the rest in the category.
Key Highlights
- The fuel economy is enhanced by 4%
- According to estimate, tire provides 27% less rolling resistance than others.
- Tire features dry and wet tread zones to provide the rider with more stability.
Fuel Efficiency
To provide a lower rolling resistance, the energy utilized when the road and tire are in contact is reduced.
In doing so, the tread design, tread compound as well as the sidewalls are specially built.
The Michelin Energy saver has an Energy Saver Construction along with a unique silica-based tread rubber to help with the fuel efficiency of your vehicle.
The Green X technology helps to keep the tire cooler and lessen the CO2 emission.
It promises to save your 400 USD in gas over the life of your tires at 3.7 USD per gallon as compared to any other leading competitor.
While keeping in view the Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max, an improvement of 4% is made in the highway fuel economy.
Goodyear has reduced the rolling resistance to 27% less.
The tread design features large shoulder blocks that are durable and energy-efficient.
This design helps Fuel Max to lower the rolling resistance without compromising on the overall performance of the tire.
Goodyear Assurance Max life consumes 543.5 gallons per year for the drivers who drive 15,000 miles per year.
Dry traction Comparison
The large and stable shoulders of Michelin energy saver help it to provide a good ride on dry paths.
Especially, if you are a regular driver, it is above average and manages to handle a stable drive on dry surfaces. Also, the dry braking distance is sufficiently short.
On the other side, Assurance fuel max also performs well for daily driving.
The traction and the corner gripping of Fuel Max on a dry road is worth mentioning.
It features circumferential grooves and a central rib throughout the tire which provides it more stability.
Generally, it is safe and sound for regular drivers.
Wet Traction Comparison
Wet traction is the measure of the grip of a tire on a wet surface. The Silica Based tread compound of Michelin energy saver helps to execute an exceptional wet traction.
Michelin claims to provide an 8 feet shorter traction than the leading competitor. The grooves help it to channel water from under the tire.
On the other hand, Assurance Fuel Max is better than the other cheaper alternative but it usually falls apart on wet roads. With an efficient hydroplaning, the traction is not as good as expected.
The braking distance on wet surface is slightly longer than the others.
And the concerning grip is nothing but average.
It features Dual Aqua Channel grooves to remove water.
Other than that, zigzag micro-grooves are present to provide grip.
Snow traction Comparison
The snow traction of Michelin energy saver, on average is satisfactory. It handles the snow roads decently if the snow is light.
The braking distance is also good.
Because it is not a winter tire, you cannot get the same traction, still it manages to provide a good drive over snow.
However, if you live in an extremely snowy place, you might have to switch to a winter tire to ensure safety.
The same is the case with Assurance Fuel Max which is good to handle over light snow.
If the road is not badly covered with ice or snow, you are good to go.
Again, it is not good for too harsh or snowy surfaces, for that, install a winter tire.
Ride and Noise Comfort
To reduce the noise and vibrations, Michelin features a Comfort Control Technology. The tread design is computer optimized and the precision in that design helps to enhance the comfort level of your ride.
Other than that, the internal structure of the tire has twin steel belts that are supported by a spirally-wrapped polyamide.
This cord casing on the top of polyester increases the strength, comfort, and efficiency of your ride.
However, on some surfaces the road noise becomes unbearable.
Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max, as compared to the other tires in the category, is not only comfortable, but a lot quieter.
The optimized tread pattern helps it to reduce road noise and to absorb the shocks in the cabin.
The overall comfort level of both the tires differ from almost 5% with Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max taking the lead.
Hydroplaning
A road mishap in which the contact of tire and surface is lost due to a layer of water between tire and surface is hydroplaning in simple terms.
Hydroplaning might lead to losing control of your vehicle, which is why better hydroplaning is one of the necessities.
Michelin energy saver has circumferential and lateral grooves to resist hydroplaning and to remove water with the help of its unique tread design.
In this way, it provides a better grip to the drivers in wet road conditions.
Whereas the hydroplaning of Assurance Fuel Max is excellent, but when traction comes, it fails to be effective.
In hydroplaning, Michelin energy saver is better than Assurance Fuel Max with a stronger tread design.
Steering Responsiveness
We tested both the tires according to wet, dry, and snow conditions.
To ameliorate the handling and responsiveness, the compound of the tread of Michelin energy saver is shaped in symmetric design.
The tread design of Michelin energy saver has siped and independent tread blocks to execute predictable handling.
On contrary, Assurance Fuel Max showed a good response on wet and dry surfaces. The handling lacked grip in snow road conditions.
Tread life
The wear rate of the tire is usually called as tread life. A good tread life causes a year-round safe and smooth driving experience.
Michelin claims that the Energy Saver tire lasts 16,000 miles longer than other tires of the same category.
To exhibit that, the contact between the tire and road is maximized that evenly distributes the accelerating and braking forces, resulting in longer tread life.
Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max has a particularly designed tread with four main deep sipes that remove the debris. Moreover, it has a less shallow siping.
Both the tires have a warranty up to 6 years past the buying date.
In comparison, Good year Assurance Fuel Max leads with a tread life warranty of 85,000 miles whereas, on basis of speed rating, Michelin energy saver offers a warranty of 55,000 miles on V, 65,000 miles on T, H, and S, and 50,000 miles on R.
Summing Up:
While choosing the right tire for your vehicle, consider all the aspects according to your preferences.
In this case, if you want a fuel-efficient tire, opt for Michelin Energy saver.
Otherwise, for longer tread life and lower rolling resistance, Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max will be perfect to satisfy your taste buds.
