Yokohama AVID Ascend Review

We live in South Dakota, our climate in the spring and summer gets as high as 90 F, mainly stays around 70 F. In the winter time we commonly get about 5 or 6 snowfalls, each producing 3-4 inches and stays there. Sometimes it melts and causes ice, and sometimes we have sheets of ice under the snow from freezing rain. The temperatures normally will go as low as -10 F but average temp is around 20 F.

I work in a city that is 40 miles from where I live, all highway driving, so we are using the Prius for that. 281 seems to get treacherous in the winter time so I may end up using our Santa Fe to get to work during the winter months. My wife will still need to use the Prius in town to navigate.

Right now we are looking at the ENVigors being $87 a tire, $348 for a set plus a $100 MIR from Ford. The Ascends will be $95 a tire, being $380 for a set and the $100 MIR from Ford.

Then there's also the Yoko Touring S which are $69 at Tire Rack, would still be $100 MIR at Ford.

Like I said, this prius does all highway driving probably in the temps that I've listed above. I've also heard of the Passenger Car Yokohamas start to get noisy after 20k or so. Thanks!

 

Bridgestone Ecopia 422s continued

Did a fill earlier . Got 39.64 m.p.g. calculated ( 250.7 mis. / 6.324 gals. of 87/wE10 @ 1 click ) . The fill might of been more closer to the dispay of 40.2 if surface at pump had been more level . All mileage is with the Ecopia 422s' at 35 p.s.i.. Most was the 2 of us ( 90% ) , many steep hills , some head winds up to 15 , speeds up to 65 , and some city driving ( maybe 15% ) . The last few pics are when arrived home . 40+ seems to appear more on the display since the Ecopia 422 . If F.E. not better , same as the Dunlop SP 31 A/S . Can live with that at the price we paid for them . Handling is better and the cabin is quieter . Have to wait on the rain handling report .

 

I would lean towards the Ascend for mpg as well but I don't have any data to back this up. I can only go by my own results. A call to Yokohama could help you choose. [/QUOTE]

Hi there - just a plug for the fuel efficiency of the Avid Ascends. I drive a standard civic rated at 34 mpg highway. Before putting these tires on the best mileage I EVER experienced in this car was 36 mpg. Last week drove a full tank over country roads/hwy and got almost 40 (39.7) at a 41 PSI. This just blows me away that I could, on a dime, improve my mileage by 10%. At this rate I will recover the cost of tires in gas savings alone in 2 years!

 

Interesting. Ascend is 3 lbs heavier than Ecopia 422 or Energy Saver. 4 lbs heavier than ProContact with EcoPlus. That to me suggests a bit less fuel economy.

 

I really believe that the MPG king is the Michelin
Energy Saver tire. I have noticed a true 2-3 mpg
perhaps more with this tire over the Yoko Avid
tire I replaced, we now have over 61,000 miles
on the Energy Saver Tires and have about 10,000
miles of tread life left. (195x65x15) with 44 psi
max pressure in all 4 tires / Costco Nitrogen.

I believe that the Nokian Entyre is also as good but
there is no real driver feed back on this tire.

I would consider the Nokian tire but they are another $200.00
more for a set of 4 over the Energy Saver compared to Costco
price with the $70.00 off program in effect now.

Costco Price I believe is $113.00 / tire/ 195x65x15.

 

It is a 4 speed Auto

 

Here is some driver feedback. 2004 Prius

DATE__________ODO____INC_____AVG
--- Nokian eNTYRE put on here
10/14/10____115205____644____69.0 (3.4)
11/03/10____115819____613____67.5 (3.5)
11/22/10____116381____561____64.9 (3.6)
12/11/10____116940____558____65.1 (3.6)
-- Cold weather starts here
01/04/11____117516____575____62.0 (3.8)
-- 23 F here
01/04/11____118047____530____62.3 (3.8)
-- 13 F here plus ice days and snow days
02/09/11____118508____461____55.6 (4.2)
-- 18 F here plus ice days and snow days
02/25/11____119029____520____64.8 (3.6)
03/15/11____119551____521____65.9 (3.6)
03/31/11____120138____587____68.1 (3.5)
04/21/11____120732____593____66.9 (3.5)
05/11/11____121347____614____67.6 (3.5)
05/31/11____121962____614____69.4 (3.4)
-- High temperatures start here
06/22/11____122606____643____67.7 (3.5)
07/17/11____123251____644____69.1 (3.4)
-- Flat tire here
08/10/11____123900____648____67.1 (3.5)
09/07/11____124533____633____70.2 (3.4)
-- 12V battery changed here
09/27/11____125180____647____70.6 (3.3)
10/18/11____125708____614____69.7 (3.4)
11/07/11____126389____594____68.6 (3.4)
-- Cold weather starts here
11/28/11____126991____601____67.3 (3.4)
-- 27F here
-- New commute route starts here
-- Flat tire here
12/12/11____127535____543____66.2 (3.6)
12/31/11____128012____586____67.8 (3.5)
--- Trip to NE starts here
01/07/12____128603____481____56.6 (4.2)
-- 13 F here
01/12/12____129042____438____52.7 (4.5)
01/15/12____129420____378____50.3 (4.7)
01/20/12____129094____481____56.2 (4.2)
--- Trip to NE ends here
01/31/12____130503____600____69.8 (3.4)
02/23/12____131050____546____69.4 (3.4)
03/07/12____131679____629____72.2 (3.3)
03/23/12____132319____638____71.3 (3.3)
04/12/12____132987____668____74.0 (3.2)
05/02/12____133647____659____74.3 (3.2)

 

So interesting update/question...I recently lowered my tires to 30psi (factory recommending for the 06 Corolla) from 36 psi and the ride was definitely smoother, but not really quieter and mpg was MUCH lower. I increased them to 40psi today and they actually seem quieter than before and mpg was easily at 40+ on highway. It seems weird to me that the tires would be quieter at higher psi? What psi are people running their Ascends at? What are your comments on noise level? I've come to just accept the fact that most of my road noise is just because the Corolla has basically no insulation....anyway, I've decided that mpg is more important than comfort but I wish I could have both haha

 

Correction, they were at 36psi before lowering them to 30, and now they're at 40 and seem quieter.

 

Are you sure you did that claim for the model AVID Ascend for the OE S33D tire through Yokohama? I spoke today with the manager at Yokohama Karen Simmons. She said she's never even heard of anything like that.

She told me to call Discount Tires or the dealer where I bought my car and they might be able to do something.

 

I'm pretty set on getting the Ascends for my Gen 3. What about H vs T speed rating? They are the same price at the place I'm going. Since H are rated for higher speeds would they handle a little better/get better dry/wet traction etc, but sacrifice 1-2 mpg? If so, I would go with H over T.