Owners are split on the Goodyear EfficientGrip overall (62.6% average), but the strongest consensus is that it delivers a comfortable ride, good dry grip and worthwhile fuel-efficiency gains. Road noise and tread life are far more variable, with roughly as many owners praising them as criticising them. The most repeated concern is wet performance: around one in five owners specifically complain about weak wet grip, and a similar share report vague steering feel, often linked to soft sidewalls. A smaller but notable group (around one in ten) mention poor puncture resistance, particularly sidewall-related damage.
What owners mention most counted across 133 reviews
An excellent tire.
Quieter than previous Continental Sports, and seem to be providing an extra 2mpg more.
Looking forward to when I need to change the front two Contentals to Good Year.
Tires been on the GLK for 2 summer seasons. approx april 2013-oct 2013 and april 2014-oct 2014 Not used in 2015 but properly stored. Put them on rims again this week, May 3rd 2016 and the fitter showed me 2 bulges on the sidewall of one tire. Goodyear say that I must have driven up a kurb but that's not so. May have hit a pothole at some time but I cannot remember any serious 'thump' ever occuring. Goodyear (Norway/Sweden) kindly offered to give me a new tire for free, but I declined the offer. I spent a day "Googling" and note that several drivers comment on "soft" tirewalls on Goodyear Efficientgrip. Note, mine are not the Performance nor the SUV version. The tires felt fine to me while driving (only used on summer tarmac), very quiet, comfortable and responsive enough for normal driving. I have had my doubts though about the decision by Mercedes to use these as OE tires on a 4x4 with 440 Nm torque available. I have decided that the tires are not suitable for my vehicle type so are swapping them for Nokian Hakka Blue SUV. Hope they will inspire more confidence. A reputable tirefitter mentioned to me that the only tires he has seen with sidewall bulges problems in recent years were GY Efficient grip......and he could supply me with new ones if I wanted them! The tires may well be OK generally but I personally would not choose to have them on a medium size 4x4/Suv.
Check out how the BEST all seasons tires perform against premium summer and winter tires!
I think my summary would be that these aren't really good enough for the money.
Grip is ok-ish wet a little worse than dry - they don't set any new records, but they aren't too bad. Steering is a little numb and lacks sensitivity but it isn't so bad that the car is too difficult to drive. Wear is little better than an out-and-out sport tire but only a little. Noise isn't too problematic - quieter than many but not the absolute quietest.
As far as I can tell they have been reasonably economical and they aren't embarrassed by a little standing water, even at the end of their life.
The price though - you can buy an Eagle F1 Assy 2 or 3 for less; it won't last as long but look at all the stuff it will do better! Or you can buy a tire from a mid-range manufacturer and save on the purchase price and have a tire that probably outlasts this, while delivering a similar level of grip.
Which tires do you drive?
Researching the Goodyear EfficientGrip? Rate the tires you actually drive - and help the next buyer choose.
Managed 16500 miles on front pair of Goodyear Efficients, with 2mm remaining. No better than my previous budget tires (Events) which managed 16000 miles with 2mm remaining. On an Audi A4 2004 tdi saloon, with steady driving, no speeding, so not sure how good the Goodyears are on the limit. But they are twice the price of budget tires, and marketed as a long lasting tire, would not buy these again.
Can't really comment on grip as I'm driving a prius (automatic and hybrid) and it's fairly difficult to make it spin or anything. They feel as good as any other tires. However, wear is really a joke. I don't think they'll make much more than 12k miles...
one of the worst tire i have seen. i changed it after 12000 km.tire grip in wet surfaces was so scary. and the car was so noisy. after changing the tire i recognized how bad the tire was.
Tried them on the rear to replace damaged Conti sport contact 5s. Absolutely horrendous levels of grip, particularly on damp roads; lethal!. Only drove a few miles and had to swap them for available alternative (Michelin Primacy 3s - seem ok so far).
This is an interesting one. I agree with some of the positives but also some of the negatives.
I have a fwd TDI and just wanted well priced tires that would stick to the road in wet and dry conditions.
I used to run Goodrich G-Grip which I thought were pretty good (could get 30,000m out of a set). Changed to Goodyears and thought they were ok.
Positives
Good grip in wet and dry - feel sure footed and predictable
Very confident in standing water (low aquaplaning risk)
Fuel economy good (c.50 mpg)
Very predictable grip
Negatives
Poor wear rate - c.22,000 miles
Soft sidewalls so some `wobble` at speed on corners
More prone to punctures? I've had 2 in 3 months.
My driving has changed from main roads to more country lanes so it may be harsh to blame the tire for punctures. Both were small nails.
The wear rate and more noticeably weaker side walls could be because I push the car a bit more on the country roads so again it's subjective.
There is the always the trade off of grip v's wear rate so you can't have everything.
Overall they aren't a bad tire. I feel safe using them and if you are a commuter and not planning to push them too hard then they aren't a bad tire. Maybe not the best for the more free-spirited dirver - but again, you get what you pay for!
I will probably change to something with a stronger side wall (might go back to the Goodrich if I can find them).
I bought these to try to reduce the boomy road noise of my Tiguan. The tires that came off were nearly new Pirelli Scorpion Zeros. They had a noise rating of 71db. The Goodyear efficient grip's had a noise rating of 67db. I appreciate that this is an external drive by noise measurement however with a difference of 4db, I hoped that some of that would translate into reduced cabin noise. I opted for the non SUV tires rather than the SUV one's owing to the latter having slightly harder shoulders and a 1db louder rating. Once the new tires were fitted, I noticed no difference in noise level. Realising that subjectivity would skew results, I measured the interior noise level using a mobile phone app with the old tires on and then with the new tire I.e a before and after test on the same stretches of road and the same speeds. The results; the sound levels of the old and new tires were identical! I feel a little bit cheated by Goodyear as they make a big thing about the efficient grip's quietness. So, lots of money spent for no improvement. Regarding ride and economy, these are no more comfortable or economical than the Pirelli Scorpion's they replaced.
I notice on this website that a lot of people say that the efficient grip is a wonderfully quiet tire. All I can think of is that they are comparing the noise level with the well worn tires that they are replacing. Tires are much noisier when they are well worn than when they are new.
Bought a full set of 4 for my Golf GTI because they were on offer....had read the review after I had bought them but before they were fitted. I was very close to NOT having them fitted because the sidewalls are so soft and have very little resistance (If any) to deforming under heavy conrnerin). I got them fitted and they were okay in general. Any sort of spirited driving and they are not good at all. I have got 30,000 miles from the front set (mostly motorway) had them replaced with LingLong Greenmax and its then I could tell how POOR the Goodyear's were. Apart from a good service life I wouldn't buy them again, poor road feedback and average grip. Efficient Grip yes....just that...efficient grip....
cant comment on wear as only had for 4 weeks however had conties then verderstain and pirellis before and on my 184bhp front wheel drive Golf Covering 30k a year, they where the best tire by far! Shocking I know but these really are good tires.
