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Last updated 7/16/2024 - Originally published 7/16/2024
Written by SimpleTire
When it comes to premium all-season touring tires for crossovers and SUVs, there are a lot of options on the market. We’re going to take a closer look at the Bridgestone Alenza A/S Ultra and Goodyear Assurance CS Fuel Max, both of which are valuable performers in their own right. These are tires that have commonalities and contrasts as well as their own unique sets of strengths and weaknesses, and we’ll get a bit deeper into that in this head-to-head comparison.
In the course of this product comparison, you’ll see frequent references to SimpleScore numbers. If you’re not familiar with that, SimpleScore is the ranking system that the SimpleTire team developed for tires. We look at reviews and other data points to determine numerical values for the categories of traction, longevity, and handling on each tire, as well as an overall average SimpleScore for each. It’s a quick and handy way to get an overview of a tire’s capability and performance in those respects.
Our SimpleScores for these tires are as follows:
Bridgestone Alenza A/S Ultra:
- Traction: 9.7
- Handling: 9.6
- Longevity: 9.8
- Overall average SimpleScore: 9.7
Goodyear Assurance CS Fuel Max:
- Traction: 9.2
- Handling: 8.9
- Longevity: 8.9
- Overall average: 8.9
As you can see, these tires are pretty closely matched but not quite equivalent to each other. SimpleScore is a handy at-a-glance tool, but it’s also a 30,000-foot view that doesn’t give you a comprehensive, detailed idea of what to expect with a tire. Let’s go in for a closer look with this Bridgestone Alenza A/S Ultra vs. Goodyear Assurance CS Fuel Max tires comparison, shall we?
Bridgestone Alenza A/S Ultra tires
Our first tire in the faceoff is the Alenza A/S Ultra from Bridgestone. The Alenza A/S Ultra is a tire that’s designed to let you unlock the full potential of your vehicle’s handling and braking performance while still delivering year-round traction and ride quality that’s refined and cushy. The Bridgestone Alenza A/S Ultra uses a next-generation silica-rich tread formulation for great wear properties and consistent all-season performance, with a symmetric all-season tread design that includes a system of circumferential and angled grooves that mitigate any tendency to hydroplaning as the circumferential grooves channel water behind the tire’s contact patch.
For winter traction, the Alenza A/S Ultra has a dense network of sipes- hundreds of tiny hair-thin slits that multiply the tire’s surface area and enhance traction to help it slice through snow and slush. It is also designed with Bridgestone’s innovative Snow Vices- grooves that pick up and trap snow to build snow-to-snow friction in wintry weather. The internal construction of the A/S Ultra is designed for a balance of durability and stability with ride comfort and handling. That internal design includes a two-ply polyester casing, a twin steel belt package, and a single nylon reinforcement ply that helps cushion the ride. The Alenza A/S Ultra offers low noise too- Bridgestone’s QuietTrack design suite reduces road noise and harshness by canceling certain frequencies and harmonics. The Alenza A/S ultra is protected by a tremendous 80,000 mile warranty. When it comes to SimpleScore ratings, the Alenza A/S Ultra is a tire that’s pretty admirable all around, garnering an overall average score of 9.7.
Goodyear Assurance CS Fuel Max tires
There’s one key difference between the Goodyear Assurance CS Fuel Max and the Bridgestone Alenza A/S Ultra: the Goodyear is designed specifically for low rolling resistance. That means lowering the friction involved to get a vehicle moving and keep it heading down the road, resulting in lower emissions and improved fuel economy over the life of the tire. That said, the Assurance CS Fuel Max is also designed for long service life, with a tread compound that’s engineered for long wear as well as fuel savings. The Assurance CS Fuel Max’s enhanced internal construction makes it an especially good tire for bigger, heavier crossovers and SUVs (where low rolling resistance and fuel savings will definitely be appreciated).
The Assurance CS Fuel Max delivers great year-round traction with Goodyear’s Aqua Channels that efficiently route standing water away from the tire’s contact patch. The tire’s tread is divided into two distinct segments: the “wet zone” at the center which features a tread pattern designed specifically for wet-weather performance, and the “dry zone” towards the shoulders which consists of a different type of tread blocks that enhance handling and grip in wet or dry weather. Like the Yokohama, the Goodyear Assurance CS Fuel Max is protected by a 65,000 mile manufacturer’s warranty. This tire is suitable enough for an overall average score of 8.9.
Bridgestone Alenza A/S Ultra vs Goodyear Assurance CS Fuel Max tires on traction
While the Goodyear tire has a SimpleScore of 9.2 for traction (which is quite commendable), it doesn’t quite match up to the 9.7 that the Bridgestone is able to score. We think the disparity between the two is pretty clear – the Bridgestone Alenza A/S Ultra does perform better when it comes to winter traction. Bridgestone’s SnowGrooves system traps and retains snow to boost traction, and though it seems counterintuitive, it’s a proven design to increase friction and grip in winter conditions. We do like the wet zone/dry zone design of the Goodyear that ensures confident grip on rainy or dry roads, but it falls a little short of Bridgestone’s performance in winter conditions. Our decision:
ADVANTAGE: Bridgestone Alenza A/S Ultra
Bridgestone Alenza A/S Ultra vs Goodyear Assurance CS Fuel Max tires on handling
This one’s not even close, with the Bridgestone Alenza A/S Ultra registering a SimpleScore of 9.6 for handling vs. 8.9 for the Goodyear Assurance CS Fuel Max. The reinforced internal design of the Bridgestone and big, reinforced shoulder blocks give the tire extra rigidity to resist tread squirm and deformation during hard cornering and maneuvers, meaning handling and steering responses that are more confident and precise. Reviews mention that the Goodyear feels a little slow and sluggish and not quite as nimble as drivers might hope for. Our decision:
ADVANTAGE: Bridgestone Alenza A/S Ultra
Bridgestone Alenza A/S Ultra vs Goodyear Assurance CS Fuel Max tires on longevity
Again, this one’s a pretty easy call. The Goodyear Assurance CS Fuel Max does have the heavier load rating and reinforced construction that would make it a great tire for a heavier SUV like a Ford Explorer, but it comes in with a SimpleScore of 8.9 for longevity vs. 9.7 for the Bridgestone Alenza A/S Ultra. That’s backed up by a pretty significant difference in warranty coverage too, with an 80,000 mile warranty (best-in-class or close to it) for the Bridgestone vs. 65,000 miles for the Goodyear. The numbers and the warranty coverage don’t lie, so our decision:
ADVANTAGE: Bridgestone Alenza A/S Ultra
When to use each
When we’re talking about a premium Bridgestone tire vs. a premium Goodyear tire, you can’t go wrong with either one. Both are equally strong performers for a wide variety of SUVs and crossovers; both offer great traction and handling in wet or dry conditions (with the Bridgestone showing a distinct edge when it comes to winter performance). The Goodyear is designed for lower rolling resistance, which can save considerably on fuel costs over the life cycle of the tire, and that’s a pretty major consideration if you’re driving a bigger, heavier vehicle. The Bridgestone, on the other hand, is designed for a quiet and luxurious ride, along with a better treadwear warranty and enhanced handling. But considering the traction, treadwear, handling, low noise, and year-round performance of both of these tires, it’ll really come down to your preference and budget.
Which one should you choose?
At the risk of repeating everything we said in the above paragraph, these Bridgestone and Goodyear tires are closely matched in terms of market reputation, though the Bridgestone accelerates ahead by a significant margin in most aspects. There’s one fairly significant difference, though – the Goodyear’s advantage in fuel economy might make it the right tire for bigger SUVs like the Nissan Rogue, Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadian, Buick Enclave, or Toyota 4Runner. However, when it comes down to performance vs. price, real-world reviews, and SimpleScore numbers, we’d probably have to select the Bridgestone Alenza A/S Ultra over the Goodyear Assurance FuelMax.
Still not sure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help, and our helpful agents will be more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.