Bridgestone DriveGuard Plus vs Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive: Run-flat tires have been in the market since 1980’s with the legendary Porsche 959 supercar having fitted the first OE run-flat tires. Ever since then, the run-flat segment has been growing especially from the OE side. It is quite clear why the premium OE manufacturers want to utilize run flats, as a run-flat vehicle enables the elimination of spare tires. This frees up their design constraint which they could put it to good use.
Bridgestone recently in 2022 launched its latest replacement run flat product called “DriveGuard Plus”. It claims to have better lateral hydroplaning and snow braking against its predecessor. We would like to pair the DriveGuard Plus with one of the best performing non run-flat touring tires which is Goodyear’s Assurance ComfortDrive. This tireline is relatively new as it was launched in 2020 and covers a large range of passenger cars and crossovers with North America as their main market. Let’s put them head to head and see who comes out on top !
Table of Contents
Results
Results below were taken from the Tire Rack’s “Testing Grand Touring All-Season Tires 2022” test. A total of 3 tires were tested this time around. The graph below shows the comparison between Bridgestone DriveGuard Plus vs Goodyear Assurance ComfortDrive based on the relevant performance category. The Bridgestone DriveGuard Plus was set as a reference hence at the 100% mark. Note that for subjective evaluation, we equate 1 point as 5%. Hence for example if tire A is graded 7 while tire B is graded 6, A is better than B by 5%.
As both tires are categorized as an all season tire, Tire Rack will conduct the snow & ice tests in this upcoming 2022 winter season hence please stay tuned for further updates. The tire size of interest is a 225/45R17 which is a common tire size for Audi A3 and Hyundai Elantra. You can check out our latest tire size table for more information. The testing vehicle is a powerful 2022 Subaru BRZ Limited.
Wet
The friction of coefficient of the tire/road dramatically decreases in wet roads compared to dry roads. Hence it is more likely to get into a road accident during wet conditions rather than on a sunny day. It was so important that the EU label has wet braking as one of its three criteria. With regards to our comparison, Assurance ComfortDrive was ahead in wet braking compared to DriveGuard Plus with a 5.7 feet (1.7 m) deficit in braking distance.
While in wet handling, Assurance ComfortDrive took the initiative once again as it was 1.14 seconds faster than DriveGuard Plus in a relatively short lap with a total lap time of 35.81 seconds. From the subjective notes, the rating was also favoring Assurance ComfortDrive with a 7.06/10 rating compared to DriveGuard Plus’s 6.53/10 rating. Overall, Assurance ComfortDrive seems to have the advantage over DriveGuard Plus in wet.
Assurance ComfortDrive :
- +4.6% in wet braking
- +2.7% in wet handling (subj)
- +3.2% in wet handling (lap time)
Dry
As for dry, safety is usually not an issue as the braking distance is much longer than wet. However this is the default daily usage and the tires have to perform at a very consistent level. This is where we witness the largest deficit so far with a 5.8 feet (1.8m) braking distance advantage for Assurance ComfortDrive.
While things were different in subjective dry handling, both of them are almost inseparable as Assurance ComfortDrive managed a 6.94/10 rating which was a tiny fraction below the 6.97/10 obtained by DriveGuard Plus. In regards to the lap times, Assurance ComfortDrive was 0.34 seconds faster per lap relative to DriveGuard Plus. Overall, Assurance ComfortDrive had a clear dry braking advantage but both of them were equal when it comes to dry handling.
Assurance ComfortDrive :
- +6.5% in dry braking
- -0.1% in dry handling (subj)
- +1.1% in dry handling (lap time)
Noise/Comfort/Ride Quality
Ride comfort, noise & comfort was tested and the differences in noise & ride quality were most prevalent. The Assurance ComfortDrive came out ahead at 7.71/10 rating compared to the 7.25/10 rating of DriveGuard Plus.
Assurance ComfortDrive :
- +2.3% in average of Noise, Comfort & Ride Quality.
Snow & Ice
Both tires do not have the converted 3 peak mountain logo hence can not be classified as a “legal” winter tire. Nonetheless the results on snow & ice are interesting due to their all season segment classification and we expect to get this by 2023. Stay tuned !
UTQG rating
We have previously shown that UTQG tread wear rating can be a good indication of your expected mileage. Below are the UTQG values of both of the tirelines.
| Brand | Tireline | Size | Tread Wear | Traction | Temperature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgestone | DriveGuard Plus | All | 640 | A | A |
| Goodyear | Assurance ComfortDrive | All | 700 | A | A |
The mileage warranty for DriveGuard Plus is 65,000 miles while Assurance ComfortDrive is 60,000 miles. The extra 5,000 miles warranty was not aligned in UTQG treadwear rating as Assurance ComfortDrive having a higher rating of 700 compared to DriveGuard Plus 640 provides even a lower amount of mileage warranty. This technically does not make sense and it was the first time we have ever seen it. Anyhow we do expect both tires to be highly competitive against each other when it comes to mileage.
For more in depth information about UTQG, please check out this article here. We even have a free download on the latest UTQG values from the leading tire manufacturers.
Price
DriveGuard Plus cost 42 dollars more than Assurance ComfortDrive but this is not a fair comparison as it has a run-flat technology which would incur a higher cost of production.
Tire size: 225/45R17
Assurance ComfortDrive: $184
DriveGuard Plus: $226
Difference: -22% more cheaper for Assurance ComfortDrive.
Summary
Overall, Assurance ComfortDrive has an edge in all wet, dry & comfort performances. However DriveGuard Plus does have a run-flat technology which allows you to drive an extended period of time even though you lost air pressure. From the summer performances overview, without a doubt the clear winner is Goodyear’s Assurance ComfortDrive. Don’t forget to check back after the 2022 winter season to find out who performs the best in winter conditions !