Both boys come under the label of grand touring all-season tires, where the Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady offers a blend of premium touring comfort, and longevity, while the Bridgestone WeatherPeak provide superb traction. Let’s see what more they have to offer.
So out of both tires, the WeatherPeak stands out with better snow traction, shorter dry braking distances, quicker dry handling due to its lighter weight, improved fuel economy, reduced noise levels from smart pitch sequencing, and a longer tread life. Meanwhile, the Assurance WeatherReady excels in ice handling and braking with its siping and notches, superior wet traction and hydroplaning resistance, and provides you with a more comfortable ride.
Table of Contents
Tread Structure
The Bridgestone WeatherPeak unlike its counterpart, comes with symmetrical structure.
The tire comes with 5 rib design, where the outer two (shoulder ribs), are more streamlined, relatively.
Now, upon examining the shoulders, one notices distinct linear sipes arranged laterally, complemented by prominent longitudinal slits which bisect the shoulder lugs.
So one can clearly see how different they are from the 3 block columns in the middle.
These are characterized by slanted, squared-off lugs complimented by numerous biters.
For example, all lugs have chmafered edges, and a ton of wave-like siping.
These sipes also vary in angles from rib to rib, further adding to the overall efficacy of the tire’s bite.
Inside, the tire comprises a robust 2-ply polyester carcass. This structure is further reinforced by a nylon cap ply that encompasses two steel belts.
Switching focus to the Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady, this tire embraces a markedly asymmetric design
Each of its five ribs varying significantly from one another, where shoulder lugs are the least aggressive, or should I say streamlined (like the WeatherPeak).
Though they still differ from one another, slightly.
One side exhibits aggressive grooves with saw-toothed edges, while the other shoulder rib adopts a smoother approach, (as can be clealry seen in the image).
Speaking of 3 internal ribs, they are pretty biting, where the central most rib is narrower and features lateral interlocking biters and notches.
While the adjacent ribs, well, there’s a lot going on them, at least one of them.
The more aggressive rib here has needle like blocks, with a lot of in-groove biters.
While the other neighboring rib comes with squared off blocks, with zigzag teeth (facing the shoulders).
Internally, the tire is reinforced with a two-ply polyester casing, flanked by wider dual steel belts and a polyamide-reinforced cap ply.
Sizes Facts
Since both tires cater to specific needs and vehicles, the table below highlights the distinctive features of each tire, making your selection process smoother.
| Specifications | Goodyear’s Tire | Bridgestone’s Tire |
|---|---|---|
| Rim Size (inches) | 15 to 20 | 15 to 20 |
| Speed Ratings | T, H, V | T, H, V |
| Load Ratings | SL, XL | SL, XL |
| Tread Depth (32″) | 10 or 11 | 10 (all sizes) |
| Weight Range (lbs) | 19 to 37 | 17 to 30 |
| Mileage Warranty | 60k miles | 70k miles |
| UTQG Rating | 700 A A | 700 A A |
| Detailed Review Link | WeatherReady Review | WeatherPeak Review |
Winter Performance
If you’re in the market for all-season tires with exemplary snow performance, both of these tires excel in this area.
Each tire shines distinctly in essential performance aspects, encompassing acceleration, braking, and snow management. (Both options basically provide you with superb steering, when it comes to aggressive cornering).
That’s why it makes sense why both of them have 3 peak mountain snowflake ratings, along with the M+S classifications.
Side Note: There are a lot of misconceptions, when it comes to these two ratings, though I cleared them all here: https://tiredriver.com/3pmsf-and-ms-ratings/
So what makes these tires so great?
Well, basically the Bridgestone has a slight edge when it comes to snow traction. It’s rubber, equipped with slanted grooves, and a ton of chamfered edges, along with longitudinal slits on shoulders provide much better snow-to-snow contact, enhancing overall grip.
Whereas the Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady particularly shines on icy tracks, where it’s more abundant biters in the form of milt-angled siping and in-groove notches provide a supeior overall ice handling and braking efficacy.
The result: They both end up with similar overall winter performance scores, as concluded from my testing with these boys.
Wet Performance
Optimal wet grip in tires depends on two essential components:
- Abundant siping.
- Good enough tread flexibility.
But why are these components so crucial here?
Well sipes basically suck up water particles in their slits, and they need to “flex” to do that efficiently. So a good tire on wet roads usually has a lot of siping, which are also flexible enough to create proper suction.
And this is precisely where the Bridgestone WeatherPeak falls short. I mean sure, the tire comes equipped with numerous intricate, full-depth sipes set at various angles across its tread, the tire’s stiffer rubber doesn’t allow them to generate as much wet traction compared to Goodyear.
In simpler terms, Bridgestone’s increased tread rigidity prevents the sipes from absorbing and displacing water as efficiently, as its counterpart.
Whereas the Assurance tire offers both, a flexible rubber, and numerous or should I say, countless siping and biters of various shapes and sizes.
Now these sipes already provide much better water clearance.
Moreover, with a more voided up tread design, the tire already expels out more water to begin with, leaving behind less burden on sipes, further improving their efficacy.
So not only the WeatherReady offers superior hydroplaning resistance (with it’s better interconnected groove design), but also wet traction, courtesy of it’s more effective siping structure.
Fuel Economy
Tire fuel efficiency is governed by several factors that together determine the tire’s rolling resistance.
These factors encompass the tire’s weight, including both its inner and outer structures, and its tread composition/rubber-build.
Now considering all these elements, it can be explained why the Bridgestone WeatherPeak delivers superior fuel economy.
The tire weighs less, attributed to it’s lighter steel belts, relatively, (in it’s internal construction), and a shallower rubber on top. This allows for a reduced stress on it’s tread, minimizing lug flexing, and conserving fuel in the process.
Moreover, it’s rubber expels out heat better, further minimizing overall rolling resistance, and adding to it’s fuel economy.
Noise Dampening Ability
The main source of tire noise stems from the interaction between air particles and the tire tread. Let me explain.
So as the tire rolls, it allows air, primarily (getting in), through its shoulders, to collide with the tread, and the impact of that air-to-tread striking is what creates the primary source of noise.
Given this, it’s evident that the Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady, with its increased void spaces, lags behind in noise dampening.
Whereas the WeatherPeak, featuring ridges between its shoulder voids, limiting air penetration, gets to be a quieter option out of the two.
And yes, the tire also offers better pitch sequencing, where it’s tread is designed in a way, that air particles hitting it could create a spectrum of sound frequencies, which could counteract each other, dampening overall in-groove resonance.
For Your Info: The overall noise difference between these tires is very low, averaging less than a single decibel (dB).
Tread Life
Tread longevity depends on a lot of variables, including tread design (where particularly, tread depth is considered the most), tread’s rubber composition, and overall construction weight of the tire.
Examining these factors sheds light on why the WeatherPeak surpasses the Assurance WeatherReady in this regard, where it offers almost 10k more mileage on average, during it’s life time.
The Bridgestone’s tire here is basically crafted from a sturdier rubber, incorporating specific polymers known for their wear resistance.
And yes, its lighter construction means its lugs face less weight pressure, as they rub, or should I say, wear against the road.
On the flip side, in case of Goodyear, the tire benefits from a deeper tread, which in theory should take more time wear down to the 2/32″ mark, enhancing longevity, but it still lacks.
And that’s because of it’s softer rubber, which is more susceptible to wearing.
For Your Info: The 2/32″ tread depth is the legal tread depth limit in the US.
Dry Traction
To properly analyze dry performance, you have to consider two main things, tire’s straight line grip, and it’s overall handling.
Let’s check them out.
Straight-Line Grip
Now this grip is pretty “straight-forward”, as its the traction of the tire while it rolls in a straight line. So being directional, its effectively can be measured by the tire’s ability to stop or brake.
Moreover, this grip highly depends on tire’s weight, and it’s contact patch (mainly form it’s middle tread area).
Now, out of both tires, the Bridgestone WeatherPeak takes the lead, showcasing a 1.5 feet shorter braking distance (on averaged tests), than its competitor.
This is because the tire, provides greater rubber-to-road contact relatively, and benefits form it’s lighter weight, which helps maintain lower momentum at higher speeds, enabling faster deceleration.
On the other hand, although the Goodyear WeatherReady feature a continuous running rib in the middle (most part of its tread), forming a consistent contact with the road.
It’s overall contact patch is still hampered, mainly because of this (middle) rib’s narrower design, and adjacent ribs having such voided up structures.
Though they prove very advantageous for winter performance, that’s for sure, especially when it comes to more challenging icy terrains.
Dry Handling
Dry handling is a combination of how well the tire forms lateral grip, with it’s steering responsiveness.
Now in terms of (lateral) grip, shoulders are the key, as they make the most contact with the ground (with weight shifting there), as the tire corners.
And here both tires do pretty great, showcasing almost similar overall lateral g forces (with negligible difference I mean).
But still overall, the Bridgestone’s tire still takes the lead (literally), showcasing a half a second faster handling times (on average lap tests).
Well, this has to do with the tire’s lighter overall weight in comparison. So upon cornering, it’s lugs aren’t susceptible are more composed and keep under/over-steering balance better.
On the other hand, although both tires come with thermally adaptive rubber compositions, the WeatherReady is still relatively softer.
And that combined with it’s greater weight and tread depth, it’s lugs get to deform more, taking/wasting time to recover (back to their original shapes).
And that makes it a slower tire out of the too, in terms of dry handling.
To Sum Up
With both tires giving off their own merits, your preference and the driving environment will guide your decision.
The Bridgestone WeatherPeak excels in the following:
- Superior snow traction, with enhanced biters.
- Shorter braking distance in dry conditions, due to a greater contact patch.
- Faster dry handling times, with a more responsive steering.
- More efficient fuel economy, owing to it’s lighter construction and better heat expulsion.
- Lower noise levels, with effective pitch sequencing.
- Greater tread life, with sturdier rubber composition.
While the Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady takes the lead in:
- Better ice handling and braking efficacy, with its multi-angled siping and in-groove notches.
- Superior wet performance, due to its flexible rubber and effective siping structure.
- Higher hydroplaning resistance, with interconnected groove design for better water expulsion.
