April 27, 2020
As crossovers and small SUVs continue to gain popularity with American consumers, the number of tires in the Crossover/SUV Touring All-Season tire category will increase as well, both in outright quantity and in variety. For our 2020 testing, we are fortunate to have three new, untested tires in the group, and they all bring something different to the table.
The Cooper Discoverer EnduraMax is designed as a touring tire, but it has a unique focus on durability. Knowing a large percentage of the roads in the U.S.’s infrastructure are in some state of disrepair, Cooper equipped the Discoverer EnduraMax with a robust casing and extra strength, light truck steel belts to help the tire endure the cracks, potholes, and construction zones that are common in daily life. On the outside, a chip- and tear-resistant tread compound helps defend against coarse surfaces, unimproved roads, and even light off-road use. Additionally, the Discoverer EnduraMax is severe snow service-rated and branded with the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol.
Sumitomo’s HTR Enhance CX2 is designed to deliver balanced performance, with polished on-road manners, responsive handling, satisfying wet traction, and a noticeable improvement in light snow traction compared to its predecessor.
The Yokohama Geolandar CV G058 focuses on refinement on the road plus confidence in inclement weather and extended tread life. The tread pattern is optimized for a quiet, comfortable driving experience, and the internal construction helps deliver engaging handling characteristics. Yokohama’s advanced CV-2 compound and combination of 2D and 3D sipes are designed to work together to provide impressive traction in wet conditions and light snow.
To find out how these three new tires perform in real-world use, we decided to compare them head-to-head. Our evaluation used 2019 Audi Q5 2.0T SUVs fitted with new, full tread depth 235/60R18 tires mounted on 18x8.0 wheels.
Our 6.0-mile loop of expressway, state highway and county roads provides a great variety of road conditions that include city and highway speeds, smooth and coarse concrete, as well as new and patched asphalt. This route allows our team to experience noise comfort, ride quality and everyday handling, just as you would during your drive to school or work.
The tires in our test are likely to spend the majority of their lives racking up the miles on the road in clear conditions, so on-road comfort and driving characteristics are essential to their success in delivering driver satisfaction.
On the road, the Geolandar CV G058 had the softest ride of the group. The tire did a commendable job obscuring small impacts to make them less perceptible. Over larger hits, it felt a little underdamped, leaving our team wishing they could trade some of the plush for a little more control. Impact noise had a slight ring to it, and the tread created some moderate-volume noise, however, it was a broad tone that wasn’t distinct or obtrusive. Steering was light on-center and quick to respond which is acceptable for a Crossover/SUV Touring All-Season tire, though an increase in effort and precision would have made for a more engaging driving experience. The HTR Enhance CX2 also delivered an acceptable ride on the road, feeling slightly more firm than the Yokohama. Repetitive impacts tended to upset the tire a bit, leading to some excessive motion that felt slightly unsettled. Noise quality from the Sumitomo was acceptable as well, with a few distinct tones that came at a medium volume, particularly on coarse surfaces. The steering was responsive immediately off-center and reasonably direct, delivering a nice blend of attributes. Cooper’s Discoverer EnduraMax provided the most controlled, and also the firmest, ride of the group. While the taut ride quality meant the driver was aware of most imperfections in the road, it wasn’t objectionable because each bump was a succinct and singular event. The tire did create some distinctive tread noise that was difficult to ignore by the vehicle’s occupants. While we would still consider it acceptable, it is something to be aware of for consumers who are particularly sensitive to tire noise. The steering and light handling provided by the tire were a highlight of the test. Solid on-center feel transitioned to direct and linear response with no perceptible lag or dead spot. Combined with the natural build-up of effort and good precision, overall the tire delivered a satisfying driving experience.
Our 1/3-mile per lap test track course includes 90-degree street corners and simulated expressway ramps. Run in both dry and wet conditions, the test track allows our team to experience the traction, responsiveness, handling and drivability normally only encountered during abrupt emergency maneuvers.
In the dry, all three tires were acceptable for the task at hand. The objective results were very tightly grouped, almost close enough the results could be considered equivalent, though the Sumitomo led the way in braking, cornering traction, and average lap times. None of the tires had any nervous or unsettling behavior at the limit, and all would likely respond appropriately in an emergency situation.
Wet testing revealed some very clear differences between the tires in the test group, with the Yokohama leading by a significant amount. Our testers appreciated clear communication from the tire that revealed where the limit was and how to remain very close without stepping over. Though the natural tendency of the tire, and our Q5 test vehicles, is to understeer, the driver could induce some gentle and usable oversteer if it was desired. In addition to these traits that helped earn the highest subjective rating, the Yokohama also led all our objective testing by a healthy margin, including 50-0mph braking distances that were 20 ft. shorter than the competition. The Sumitomo and Cooper tires were closely paired in our braking and skidpad testing, with the Sumitomo leading by a small amount. It was around the handling track and with our team’s driving impressions where the real separation between the two became apparent. While both tires had a tendency to oversteer at the limit, it was easier to use that trait to the driver’s advantage with the Sumitomo. The Cooper delivered adequate wet traction, though it was the most eager to understeer on corner entry. This required our drivers to carry less speed into turns, and ultimately the Cooper was a second behind the Sumitomo in average lap times.
The Discoverer EnduraMax was the only tire in our test that was branded with the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol, and it stood out above the competition in our light snow testing. Between the confident traction provided by the tires and our Audi Q5 test vehicle’s sophisticated all-wheel drive system, acceleration was nearly effortless, and braking from 25mph required 17 feet less distance to come to a stop compared to the next-closest competitor. The Geolandar CV G058 was a noticeable step back from the Cooper in our objective testing. In addition to the longer acceleration and braking distances, our drivers could feel the vehicle working harder to shuffle power between the tires under heavy acceleration, and there was noticeably less bite under braking. The HTR Enhance CX2 was very close to the Yokohama, though just a touch behind objectively. Around the handling track, our drivers found the HTR Enhance CX2 had a more balanced blend of attributes than the Yokohama, but the deficit in traction nonetheless resulted in slightly slower lap times.
In our ice braking test, all three products were relatively closely grouped, and none delivered traction that was anywhere near that of a dedicated winter product. The Discoverer EnduraMax once again delivered the shortest braking distances, with the HTR Enhance CX2 and Geolandar CV G058 requiring an additional 1.4 feet and 3.9 feet, respectively, to come to a stop.
Due to the limited number of drivers participating in our 2020 testing as a result of the global pandemic, the sample size was not large enough to provide reliable fuel consumption data.
The Yokohama Geolandar CV G058 is a comfortable and relaxed cruiser on the road. The ride is soft and can feel a little underdamped over impacts. The moderate-volume tread noise blends into an indistinct, unobtrusive tone, and the steering is light and fast. Very good wet traction combined with predictable composure at the limit are highlights of our on-track evaluation, and we would like some additional grip in the snow. The Sumitomo HTR Enhance LX2 offers a balance of performance all around. On the road, the ride is compliant and reasonably well controlled. Some distinct tread noise is perceptible in the cabin, and the steering is appropriate for the category. Wet traction is acceptable for daily use, though ultimately our testers would be happy with more capability in that regard. Similarly, light snow traction could use a bump to help round out the package of traits offered by the tire. Cooper’s Discoverer EnduraMax features a firm ride that does a nice job making impacts into singular events. Medium-volume tread noise features multiple tones that make their way to the vehicle occupants, and the steering feel and light handling are satisfying and athletic. While the wet traction is likely enough to meet the needs of everyday driving, a bump in grip would be appreciated. Test-leading light snow traction is a particularly high point, as the Cooper is head and shoulders above the other tires in the test in that regard.
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