The Yokohama Avid Ascend GT is the grand touring tire, crafted for those who seek a blend of comfort, durability, and performance on varied conditions. On the other hand, the Avid Ascend LX is the standard touring tire, focusing on reliability, fuel efficiency, and a quiet, comfortable ride for everyday use. Let’s see which tire suits you better.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaway
The Yokohama Avid Ascend GT is better at:
- Wet traction and hydroplaning resistance.
- Winter braking, acceleration, and cornering.
- Smoother ride over bumps.
Detailed Discussion on Ascend GT: https://tiredriver.com/yokohama-avid-ascend-gt-review/
While the Avid Ascend LX is better at:
- Dry performance and braking.
- Longer tread life and fuel economy.
- Reducing tire noise.
Tread Pattern
The Avid Ascend LX sports a symmetrical tread pattern, typical of standard touring tires.
Let’s first talk its 3 ribs (or block columns) in the middle, forming four circumferential grooves in conjunction with the shoulders…
Here, the central most one is continuous running and is equipped with sharp, bidirectional notches and linear sipes.
The adjacent ribs, although are also “continuous-running”, feature more pronounced notches and siping.
These slanted notches face the shoulders, which are actually very similar to the Ascend GT.
These shoulder blocks have proper (and prominent) lateral voids and straighten-up sipes.
And yes, they also have rounded outer edges, which aids steering responsiveness.
Now the AVID Ascend GT comes with asymmetrical tread design with similar 5 ribs and circumferential grooves.
Two of the central ribs are nearly identical, featuring chamfered edges, notches, and a mix of linear lateral and longitudinal sipes.
The third rib, however, has a unique design with longitudinal slits and lateral siping, adding a distinct touch to the tread pattern.
The shoulder lugs on both sides are almost mirror images of each other, equipped with in-groove notches and linear lateral siping for added grip and stability.
Inside, the tire is built tough with a single-ply polyester casing, dual wide steel belts, and a full nylon cap ply.
Now sure, this internal construction looks similar to the Ascend LX, but its only on paper, as the Ascend GT uses denser materials.
Sizes – What To Know?
| Specs | Avid Ascend GT | Avid Ascend LX |
|---|---|---|
| Rim Sizes | 15 to 20 inches | 15 to 18 inches |
| Speed Ratings | H and V | T, H, and 4 sizes with V |
| Load Ratings | SL and XL | SL and XL |
| Tread Depth | 12/32″ on all | 11/32″ on all |
| Weight Range | 17 to 32 lbs | 18 to 30 lbs |
| Warranty | 65k miles | 85k miles |
| UTQG Rating | 740 A A | 600 to 800 A A |
Dry Performance
I the world of dry performance, there are 3 essential elements to consider: directional grip (also called braking), lateral traction and steering feel (and feedback).
Let’s take a look at them all.
Directional Grip
Directional or braking grip is the traction of a tire when it rolls straight. And let me tell you, the Yokohama Avid Ascend LX tire is a standout performer here.
From what I’ve seen in my own tests, the LX consistently pulls up shorter than its counterpart, the GT. We’re talking about an average of a foot less in braking distance, which is pretty significant.
Now, the secret sauce for the LX’s performance is its slick rib design. It’s got this unbroken structure running through it, which ensures the tire maintains a steady/consistent contact with the road, enhancing longitudinal traction.
On the other hand, the Avid Ascend GT doesn’t quite hit the same mark. The main issue here? It’s got this somewhat patchy space right in the middle rib.
But why this middle area matters here? Well, this is because its where most of the weight (on the tire) gets concentrated. In other words, this area meets the road, the most.
Now, sure, the Avid Ascend GT tries to make up for it, with in-groove notches (biters) meant to increase grip. But, honestly, they’re doing more harm than good here.
What I mean is that, by taking away some of the rubber, these notches reduce the tire’s contact patch with the road, which in turn, dials down the grip, even though they provide increased biting edges.
Dry Handling
Cornering can be categorized into three distinct stages: the entry, mid-corner, and exit phases.
- During the entry phase, effective braking and downshifting are crucial for a smooth, slip-free approach to the corner.
- The mid-corner phase requires precise and responsive steering to maintain control and trajectory.
- The exit phase is characterized by the vehicle straightening and reintroducing acceleration.
Having said that, the Avid Ascend LX thrives in all these aspects, where it offers superior braking capabilities, thanks to its refined design, allowing for faster corner entry.
Additionally, its shallower tread depth and lighter build provide enhanced mid-corner feedback, offering a clear indication of available grip. Thus, it outperforms in the remaining two phases as well.
Conversely, the Yokohama Avid Ascend GT falls short of the LX’s dynamic prowess, evidenced by its comparatively slower lap times in my tests and lackluster handling.
The primary drawback of this tire is its lethargic on-center feel, notably affecting its performance during corner exit.
And this necessitates a cautious approach when accelerating post-corner, (to avoid slippage, drifting), as it lacks the sharp, immediate feedback essential for confident acceleration.
Wet Performance
Wet traction relies heavily on sipes (those small cuts in the tread that help channel water away).
So the more sipes a tire has, and the more flexible they are, the better it can grip wet roads.
Now the LX variant doesn’t do so well here. In my tests, it consistently took longer to stop and felt less stable in wet conditions.
But why? Well the main issue is its stiffer rubber, which limits how well the sipes can flex and clear water.
On the other hand, the Avid Ascend GT performs much better. It has more sipes, and their design which is straight on the edges, wavy in the middle, keeps them flexible even during sharp turns.
Plus its interconnected grooves also help water escape faster, reducing the load on the sipes.
So out of both, the grand touring Ascend “GT“ provides better overall wet performance.
Winter Performance
Both tires with do great in winter conditions even without 3 peak ratings.
Yet, it’s the Yokohama Avid Ascend GT that really takes the spotlight, as it excels in all of the three crucial areas of winter driving: braking, acceleration, and cornering.
The tire provides nice stability during turns, with its better lateral traction and steering responsiveness.
Whereas the Avid Ascend LX lacks. Though its performance is still appreciable, given its a standard touring tire.
I mean its really good in light snow, thanks to its multi-directional biting edges, or in-groove notches which traps snow in effectively.
This is key, because snow tends to stick to itself better than it does to rubber, giving you that extra grip when you need it most.
Tread Life and Fuel Economy
Discussing fuel efficiency and tire longevity, the key factors are rolling resistance and heat generation. And the tire’s weight, tread design, and rubber composition play pivotal roles here.
Now the GT tire comes with relatively heavier construction and softer rubber. And both of these contribute to increased rolling resistance, leading to higher fuel consumption.
Furthermore, despite having a 1/32″ deeper tread depth, the GT falls short in tread life. Its softer rubber wears down to the 2/32″ legal tread depth limit more quickly than one might expect.
This explains why the LX offers a 20,000-mile greater treadwear warranty in comparison here.
Overall Ride Comfort
A comfortable drive hinges on two vital components: the tread noise of the tire and the tire’s ability to soften the blow from uneven road surfaces. Let’s dissect each component in detail.
Noise Comfort
Tire noise primarily originates from the interaction of air particles with the tire’s tread blocks. These particles enter through the shoulder blocks and create noise as they collide against the tread walls.
This initial noise then echoes within the tire’s cavity, a phenomenon influenced by the rubber’s composition and known as in-groove resonance.
So, it’s no wonder the Yokohama Avid Ascend GT is on the noisier side. Its design has bigger gaps, especially around the shoulders and sidewall areas, which means more air gets in and does its noisy dance inside the tread pattern.
Plus, the tire’s softer rubber makes this in-groove resonance even louder.
In contrast, the Yokohama Avid Ascend LX employs a different approach to mitigate noise. By incorporating ridges between the shoulder blocks, it disrupts the pathway of air particles, thereby reducing noise at the source.
Plus the tire also has better pitch sequencing, so in its tread various tone generate various frequencies and those cancel each other out, providing a quieter driving experience.
Road Smoothness
The Yokohama Avid Ascend GT really shines when it comes to vibration comfort, which boils down to how well a tire can smooth out road bumps while keeping the ride stable.
While everyone has their own take on what feels comfy, in my experience, the Ascend GT tends to deliver a ride that many would find quite pleasant, especially when you stack it up against the LX.
This viewpoint comes from my hands-on (subjective) evaluations/testing, where I’ve checked out how the tires handle both minor and major road flaws, including those pesky cracked surfaces.
So, what gives the GT its edge in comfort? It’s largely thanks to its internal build, where it’s decked out with an extra layer of polyester cap ply, which really steps up its game in absorbing those jolts and judders from the road.
To Conclude
Speaking of Ascend GT first. While its lateral grip and steering response also impress, it’s the LX’s superior handling through all cornering phases that truly stands out.
On the wet front, though, the GT takes the lead, especially with its siping and groove design enhancing traction and hydroplaning resistance.
And same is the case for winter conditions, where the GT offers higher speeds and ensuring better grip.
However, in terms of tread life and fuel economy, the GT’s softer rubber and heavier build increase rolling resistance and decrease longevity, whereas the LX offers a longer treadwear warranty, highlighting its durability.
Noise and ride comfort see the LX mitigating noise more effectively and the GT providing a smoother experience over bumps.
