The latest generation of the ADVAN Sport A/S+ was recently introduced.
Too often, “performance” comes at the expense of comfort.
My Volkswagen Golf Sportswagen will be rolling on a set this summer.
I’ve been a fan of Yokohama tires for more than 25 years. In fact, back in the late 1990s, I winter-rallied my mildly modified 1989 Mazda MX-6 GT shod with Yokohama winter rubber. While I never remotely came close to the podium, I always drove my car home after the event. The point is the tires were phenomenal.
Yokohama ADVAN Sport A/S+ Tire | Photo: Matt St-Pierre
When I finally got a WRX, nearly 15 years later, I’d left rallying but was very much into track events. My tire of choice early on was the ADVAN Sport V103. Their major shortcomings were a lack of overall on-road comfort, and they were noisy, both acceptable compromises based on their intended use.
It is thus the promise of a smoother all-around driving experience that got me to knock on Yokohama’s door to see if I could sample the latest iteration of their ADVAN Sport A/S+ tire. The name “ADVAN” finds its roots in the word ADVANCE which is a succinct way to describe the tire’s job and the technology involved.
Over the last few years, I’ve reviewed a number of all-season/summer tires, and all were rated for performance driving. With the exception of the Nokian zLine however, comfort compromises were always made in the name of speed and outright stability. The ADVAN Sport A/S+ tire has been designed to deliver impressive driving dynamics, more than the vast majority of drivers will ever experience, without ever overlooking the fact that “comfort” can be a huge component of performance
Yokohama ADVAN Sport A/S+ Tire | Photo: Matt St-Pierre
The key element that will make this possible, I hope to discover, is the four-pitch tread variation as part of the pattern. Yokohama boasts that the varying types of treads help reduce noise and maintain a high level of comfort.
Despite these efforts, the ADVAN Sport A/S+ tire is fitted with oversized outer shoulder blocks. They, along with the enhanced sidewalls were conceived to deliver sharper responses to driver inputs and confidence-inspiring handling.
The new tire includes Yokohama’s HS-2 Compound. The silica-rich compound is said to vastly improve overall wet driving performance, including braking. This is always a crucial measure of a tire’s worth. Yokohama adds that the mixture also helps in wintry conditions however nothing beats a true winter tire. Even so, the four circumferential grooves enable superior water and slush evacuation greatly limiting the possibility of hydroplaning. Finally, the tire includes a 90,000 km limited warranty.
Yokohama ADVAN Sport A/S+ Tire | Photo: Matt St-Pierre
Based only on this information, the Yokohama ADVAN Sport A/S+ reads like an exceptional tire. Winter is winding down and the snow is melting. Exterior temperatures are still averaging below the 7 ºC mark meaning that it’s still a little too cold to remove the winter tires.
Like you, we’re counting the days and hours until we can finally wash our cars and install our summer shoes. Incidentally, I may have purchased new wheels for my 2018 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen…
I’ll have an update posted on Motor Illustrated in a few months.
