As explained in my last post, I ordered, received, and installed a set of Yokohama Advan Neova AD08 tires. Mine were pretty bald, so I had some high hopes for these new ones. I hoped they would all but eliminate the torque steer I’ve become so accustom to, and I that is exactly what they did. TireRack lists these tires under the Extreme Performance category, and for good reason.
Straight Line Acceleration
As you can see, these guys have a very aggressive tread pattern. Lots of flat surfaces to connect with the pavement. My first test for these tires was launching from a stop light. I pushed down the throttle and the tires gripped after a little chirp. Second gear usually gives me tire spin and torque steer, but not this time. I had two hands on the wheel anticipating some movement, but I got nothing. The car accelerated in a straight line without any fuss. This is what I expect from tires considered “Extreme Performance.” Yokohama called the AD08′s predecessor, the AD07s, the fastest street tires in the world. I had to test these in some turns before passing this throne on to the AD08s.
Lateral G’s
If I wanted a car for straight line speed, I would have picked a Mustang. Since I didn’t, handling turns is even more important to me than launching off the line. Since I don’t track my car frequently, the best test for this is the on-ramp loops for highway 280. I went into the turn at about 50mph and held it. As I came around the bend the car felt confident and surefooted. I couldn’t detect any loss of traction. As I began to exit the loop, I hit the gas and accelerated onto the freeway with nothing more than a little chirp.
Money well spent
If you are going to splurge, tires are THE area to do it. Tires are the only part of the car that connects the power to the pavement (otherwise you are doing something very wrong). Perhaps they don’t sound as cool as a new intake or exhaust, or look as sexy as some new OZ Allegheritas, but they are indeed the best bang for the buck. It’s also one of the few parts that plays a role in every aspect of driving whether you’re accelerating, cornering, or braking. If you are looking for tires with grip to spare and you don’t plan on hitting the snow in Tahoe any time soon, the AD08′s will not disappoint. I can’t speak to their wet weather performance, as the SF Bay Area doesn’t see a whole lot of rain during the summer.
For additional info, check out the review over at Leftlane.
