Goodyear Eagle Sport All-Season vs Goodyear Assurance All-Season

Both the tires come from same manufacturers and are designated as all-season grand touring tires. They are built to provide optimal performance in varying conditions.

Eagle Sport has relatively wider grooves and broad shoulders, providing satisfactory wet traction along with impressive hydroplaning resistance. While Goodyear Assurance, performs better in warm weather and dry roads but loses when it comes to grip on snowy roads.

The compact tread pattern of Assurance, along with sweeping grooves work to provide better wet and dry traction. Let us take a closer look to find more interesting facts and features about these tires.

Comparing Both Tires

Goodyear Sport tire has asymmetric tread design with three central ribs and two broad shoulders. The tread is divided by four longitudinal grooves which are equally deep.

This tire lacks lateral grooves which are replaced by its wider and deeper sipes covering its broad shoulders. The shoulder blocks are wide and enables sporty handling in wet and snowy conditions. Because of its grooves, it provides excellent aquaplaning resistance. This aquaplaning resistance is enhanced by full-depth sipes.

Moreover, the broad shoulders promote lateral stability and assist the tire while cornering over tricky turns.

If we talk about Goodyear Assurance, it features a tread design with a tread depth of 11mm. The sipes pattern is also quite efficient to provide a satisfactory grip on icy roads. This tire has relatively shallow circumferential grooves, dividing the entire tread into three equal tread sections with two adequate shoulders.

The overall pattern gives an increased contact patch to the tire to provide maximum traction on dry roads with reduced braking distance. It has inclined sipes and AquaChannel grooves that provide outstanding aquaplaning resistance. Its shoulder width is pretty decent which provides adequate sidewall protection.

Grip Comparison

Goodyear Sport has a lower contact patch that causes loss of grip on dry roads. Due to increased void ratio, this tire is not able to maintain maximum grip while going at high speeds which compromises the stability of vehicle to some extent.

However, if we talk about grip on wet surfaces then the performance of this tire is considerably good but still it cannot compete with Assurance. Similarly, these sipes along with wide grooves help the tire to navigate confidently through soft snow.

Goodyear Assurance comes with large tread blocks that allow optimum road-to-rubber contact which gives splendid performance on highways, especially in warmer weather. This tire provides better grip in both wet and dry conditions.

The tread blocks provide optimal contact patch to reduce the braking distance of the vehicle. This tire has introduced Hydrogrip Technology that increases its wet grip. It provides suitable traction on ice as well due to increased contact patch with efficient sipes technology. However, it has to struggle a bit in snowy conditions as compared to its rival due to its compacted design and narrower grooves.

Handling Comparison 

The Goodyear Assurance tire never disappoints when it comes to handling on sharp edges and corners. This tire comes with wider shoulders and gives adequate contact area with the road. The broad shoulders with sipes are mainly responsible for better handling of the vehicle in wet conditions as well. If we take the tire on snow, then the results are not as good as its competitor due to its relatively closed shoulder blocks which do not allow snow to pass from in-between them but it handling on ice is quite good due to compact shoulder design.

On the other hand, Eagle has a comparatively smaller shoulder blocks due to which dry handling is not as good as its competitor. The tire has to struggle a bit over tricky turns if the speed is high as the relatively narrow shoulders cannot assist much at higher pace. The handling of this tire is not so efficient on wet and icy surfaces as the shoulder blocks are open and are unable to provide firm contact with the ground. However, the performance on snow is comparatively better.

Comparison of Hydroplaning Resistance:

Eagle Sport has an effective zig-zag pattern of sipes present on its tread. The wider groove channels allow this tire to remove water timely and effectively. The inclined and zig-zag pattern of sipes, along with deeper grooves, allows maximum water flow through the tread and because of more number and better design of sipes, it exhibits better aquaplaning resistance.  

The Goodyear Assurance tire has optimized AquaChannel grooves that are balanced symmetrically to help maximize the evacuation of water and reduce aquaplaning for superior wet road performance. This tire provides adequate hydroplaning resistance but, because of the higher rubber-to-road contact ratio, it lacks a bit as compared to its competitor as it has limited sipes to wipe away water from the tread.

Comparison of Rolling Resistance:

The Eagle Sport has a higher void ratio because of the open tread pattern and more lateral sipes. The rolling resistance of such tire is relatively lower as it has reduced contact area with the road. The rolling resistance of this tire is 8.1 kg t. With enhanced fuel efficiency, these tires move swiftly.

The Goodyear Assurance has a better rubber-to-road contact ratio; therefore, it shows more rolling resistance. The rolling resistance of this tire is approximately 8.85 kg t. Its fuel consumption is relatively higher compared to its counterpart. The fuel efficiency is reduced because more surface area of this tire is in contact with the road and hence requires more energy to keep rolling smoothly.

Comfort and Noise Comparison:

The deeper grooves of the Eagle result in a relatively noisier ride. As deeper grooves allow more air particles to strike against their walls and produce noise. Goodyear Assurance tire is made with advanced technologies to provide its users with a luxurious comfort level. Besides providing a smooth ride, one of the main features of this tire is its Sound-Comfort Technology. By use of this technology, the rider can enjoy a comfortable and quieter journey by reducing the vehicle’s internal voice levels. More contact patch with the road allows smooth and quieter rides.

Durability and Treadwear:

Eagle Sport shows a rim flange protection system, MFS (Maximum flange Shield) which employs a profile of rubber that thoroughly runs around the circumference of the tire above the wheel flange hence creating a protective buffer zone.

Goodyear Assurance has enhanced durability because of the Silica-reinforced Durawall compound that is provided in the sidewall which in turn, provides increased resistance to cuts and tears. To improve grip, a 3-dimensional blading system, featuring a ball-and-socket mechanism is introduced for maximized traction. 

The difference in Prices

The Price of the Goodyear Assurance is a bit budget-friendly with improved handling. Whereas, the Eagle Sport is somehow costlier because of all the advanced features and extreme hydroplaning resistance provided by this tire.

Quick Summary

• Both the tires are all-seasonal tires.
• Assurance has reduced braking distance and better grip on dry roads.
• Sport has better rolling resistance with more fuel efficiency.
• Assurance provides more comfortable rides while going at high speeds.
• Assurance is more durable and provides better mileage.
• Eagle is more expensive than Assurance which can be justified by its exceptional abilities.