The Goodyear EfficientGrip was announced and released back in August of 2019. So it has had plenty of time to build up a reputation built based on use.
The EfficientGrips practicality, longevity, and durability have also been extensively tested by a number of experts and tire enthusiasts.
So what is the verdict? Are there significant problems with the EfficientGrip?
The two complaints that crop up the most concerning the Goodyear EfficientGrip are the overall tread life of the tire and its poor performance in wet weather—in terms of braking. There haven’t been any significant recalls on the Goodyear EfficientGrip.
There are complaints here or there about the noise level of these tires as well. When the tire is brand new, it doesn’t seem to be much of a problem.
Once the tread wears down, however, the noise levels increase, sometimes to the point where it’s aggravating for the driver and surrounding drivers.
What Is the Goodyear EfficientGrip Tire?
Since this tire is on its third year out there on the road, it had enough time to go through some extensive testing.
There are also large pools of consumer reviews to pull from as well. First and foremost, the Goodyear EfficientGrip Tire is a budget tire.
As usual, concessions are made in certain areas when it comes to budget tires.
Overall, the EfficientGrip Tire is a fine tire. It’s by no means a garbage tire, and it generally performs well in a number of testing scenarios.
- Highly or highest rated in straight aqua
- Places third amongst comparable tires in lateral aqua
- Performed third amongst comparable tires in dry braking
- Placed fourth in dry handling
- Placed third in comfort
- Landed in the middle of the pack for noise levels
- Placed third in fuel economy
Throughout the testing, the Goodyear EfficientGrip tire competed against twelve other tires, giving some context to the bullet list above.
Most Common Problems with Goodyear EfficientGrip
As we mentioned in the opening paragraphs, the problems with the Good Year Efficient Tires were wet braking, where the tire finished at the bottom of the pack.
Overall tread life wasn’t a part of the test, but it’s one of the major knocks against the tire nevertheless.
Poor Wet Braking Performance
As far as driving in the rain is concerned, the EfficientGrip tire actually performs pretty well, with comfortable cornering and feel, even at higher speeds.
It also does a pretty good job of diverting water away from the tire, guarding against hydroplaning.
Unfortunately, the tire just isn’t up to par when braking on wet roads. In numerous tests, the Goodyear EfficientGrip Tire takes longer than most comparable tires to bring the vehicle to a stop.
Braking harder to try and stop sooner risks the tire skidding across the asphalt rather than simply slowing down.
Ironically, Goodyear included WearControl technology in the EfficientGrip Tire, which is supposed to reduce rolling resistance by 18%.
For the most part, the technology works great, just not so great when the tire is rolling over wet asphalt.
In all other aspects, the braking and acceleration capabilities of the tire are perfectly fine or above average.
It’s a well-received tire, and while it’s not the most popular tire in the world, it’s definitely high on Goodyear’s sales lists.
Wet weather isn’t the only thing affecting this tire’s braking capabilities.
Snow is also an issue, and the reality is that you shouldn’t have these tires on your vehicle if you are expecting snow, either on a trip north or because of where you live.
Not only does snow create the same wet braking issues that rain creates, these tires just aren’t made to work in snowy and icy weather, losing their ability to remain in contact with the asphalt much of the time.
Overall Tread Life is Sketchy at Best
The Goodyear EfficientGrip Tire comes with an average warranty.
However, the worst complaint about the tire is how quickly the tread wears down.
Apparently, the tread wear on this tire is also associated with the noise level that we mentioned above.
After about 20,000 miles, the tread wear is enough to start seriously increasing the decibels on this tire. The tread itself wears down much faster than most consumers expect it to do.
Of course, much of this may depend on the vehicle and the fact that every driver handles their vehicle differently.
For instance, there are several reviews out there that claim these tires still have more than 5mm of tread depth after 35,000 miles. At the same time, there are reviews that acknowledge the fact that the tire wears down rapidly.
The problem is, both are probably true. So if you are really hard on your tires, this may be a matter of staying away from a tire that is known for reacting pretty poorly to hard-driving habits.
Some people like to go from 60 to 0 in half a second and replace their brake pads twice a year.
Others can’t be coaxed into going any faster than 10mph below the posted speed limit.
Then there are those—and well have all experienced this oddity—that takes an inordinate amount of time to come to a full stop at a red light. When they finally stop, they’re still 15 yards from the stopping line.
The latter types of people will probably never have a problem with this tire, while the former may go through a Goodyear EfficientGrip Tire like a hot knife through butter.
How Do You Deal with The Poor Braking Performance?
When brake pressure is applied to the pedal, the brake pads press down on the rotor, so the tire actually has very little to do with the process of braking.
However, the tire’s capabilities and handling on the road directly affect how fast or slow you come to a stop.
The capability of the tire and the brake pad/rotors are working in conjunction, and one is completely worthless without the other.
The Goodyear EfficientGrip Tire has trouble dealing with the pressure of hard braking in wet weather and will actively fight the ABS.
The ABS has to adjust in relation to the tire’s capability, meaning that it will take a lot longer than necessary to come to a complete stop while using these tires.
The only way to counterbalance that is to get different tires.
Sure, adjusting the PSI in the tires will have some effect, but when your tire is in the lower rankings in terms of braking distance in wet weather, there’s not much you are going to be able to do to reverse that without purchasing a different set of tires.
If you live in a state or city that gets a ton of annual rain, like Mobile, Alabama, or Seattle, Washington, you should consider avoiding this tire altogether.
If you happen to live in places like New Mexico, Arizona, or Nevada, these tires will serve you just fine.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Goodyear EfficientGrip Tire is an excellent budget tire.
However, as with all tires, there are some caveats, such as sketchy braking capability in wet weather and rapid tread wear, along with potential noise issues.
It’s not a bad tire, however. As a budget tire, it’s reasonably priced and considered an overall safe tire.
Sources
https://www.goodyear.com/en-US/tires/family/efficient-grip
https://www.tire-reviews.com/Tire/Goodyear/EfficientGrip.htm
https://denverexpresscare.com/how-tires-affect-your-brake-system