Goodyear Reliant vs Assurance ComfortDrive: All season tires have always been the go to tires for the American market and this segment has been well established across the years. We have written quite extensively about Michelin’s CrossClimate 2 as the gold standard for all season tires with an incredible all round balance portfolio.
This time around we are concentrating on 2 Goodyear all season products. Goodyear Reliant which is exclusively sold by Walmart since 2021 is a well known product which brings the ultimate value proposition for Walmart’s customers. On the other side, we have Goodyear’s mainstream all season product Assurance Comfort Drive which is sold in all tire shops across America. This tire has a good reputation with a “Consumer Report” recommendation. Let’s put them head to head and see who comes out on top !
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Goodyear Reliant vs Assurance ComfortDrive
Goodyear Reliant and Assurance ComfortDrive are two different models of tires made by Goodyear, a leading manufacturer of tires for passenger vehicles, SUVs, and light trucks.
The Goodyear Reliant is a tire designed for all-season use, with a tread pattern that provides good traction in wet and dry conditions. It is intended for use on sedans, coupes, and minivans. The Reliant is available in various sizes to fit a range of wheel sizes.
The Assurance ComfortDrive is also an all-season tire, designed for use on sedans, coupes, and minivans. It features Goodyear’s Comfort Layer technology, which is designed to reduce road noise and provide a smooth ride. The Assurance ComfortDrive is available in a range of sizes to fit a variety of wheel sizes.
Tread pattern : Goodyear Reliant vs Assurance ComfortDrive
Pattern wise, both tires have the same design fundamental with 4 main grooves for water displacement. Both tires also have 2 blocks combined with a small horizontal separation groove in between them to ensure a uniform stiffness. The biggest difference lies on the siping concept with Assurance ComfortDrive using a closed sipe strategy mostly to prevent the block from over bending due the sheer amount of braking forces applied. In contrast, Reliant has a basic siping concept with the sipes being angled parallel to the block which is quite commonly used in all season tires.
Winter : 3 peak mountain
- Reliant: No
- Assurance ComfortDrive: No
Both tires are classified in the grand touring all season segment but they do not have the elusive 3 peak mountain logo which qualifies legally as a winter tire. All tires which have this certification are required to pass a snow traction threshold as defined by the regulation. You can expect both tires to underperform during snow conditions compared to 3 peak mountain labeled tires. If you need a better performing snow tire, Goodyear’s WeatherReady which comes with a 3 peak mountain logo would be a much suitable candidate.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goodyear | Reliant | All | 600 | A | A |
| Goodyear | Assurance ComfortDrive | All | 700 | A | A |
The mileage warranty for Reliant is at 65,000 miles while Assurance ComfortDrive is at 60,000 miles. However, looking at the UTQG tread wear values, Assurance ComfortDrive has a higher UTQG tread wear rating of 700 compared to 600 of Reliant. As we are comparing the same manufacturer, it is oddly strange why the mileage warranty value for Reliant is 5,000 miles more than Assurance ComfortDrive.
Nonetheless in this case, we could really rely on the UTQG tread wear ratings with both Goodyear brands and we can expect Assurance ComfortDrive to outperform Reliant when it comes to mileage. Both tires were rated the same in wet traction and heat dissipation with a UTQG value of “A” in each category.
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
As Goodyear Reliant is an exclusive product specific for Walmart only, it would be interesting to see how both products are priced while serving the same segmentation. With Walmart being the forefront of value, Reliant was found to be $92 cheaper than Assurance ComfortDrive which seems like a total bargain.
Tire size: 235/45R18
Reliant: $125
Assurance ComfortDrive : $217
Difference: -74% more cheaper for Reliant.
Summary
Both the Goodyear Reliant and the Assurance ComfortDrive are good choices for drivers looking for an all-season tire with good traction and a comfortable ride. Ultimately, the best tire for you will depend on your specific driving needs and preferences, as well as the size and type of vehicle you drive. It is always a good idea to consult with a tire professional or refer to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations when selecting new tires.