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Goodyear Assurance MaxLife vs Nexen CP661 — Compared (May 2026)
Our Relative Score blends 60% objective test data with 40% owner-review signal — so any two tires can be compared even if they were never tested on the same day.
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6 categories, side by side
Each bar is the Relative Score for that category. Expand a tile to see the test results and owner ratings behind it.
Dry
Why this score
| Source | Assurance MaxLife | CP661 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 91 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 75 | 77 |
| SimpleTire owners | 85 | – |
Wet
Why this score
| Source | Assurance MaxLife | CP661 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 85 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 30 | 71 |
| SimpleTire owners | 80 | – |
Snow
Why this score
| Source | Assurance MaxLife | CP661 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 73 | – |
| SimpleTire owners | 80 | – |
Comfort
Why this score
| Source | Assurance MaxLife | CP661 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 86 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 65 | 76 |
| SimpleTire owners | 95 | – |
Treadwear
Why this score
| Source | Assurance MaxLife | CP661 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 87 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 83 | 80 |
| SimpleTire owners | 90 | – |
Handling
Why this score
| Source | Assurance MaxLife | CP661 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 48 | 72 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Goodyear Assurance MaxLife | Nexen CP661 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 65 | 75 |
| Dry | 79 | 77 |
| Wet | 42 | 71 |
| Snow | 74 | – |
| Comfort | 71 | 76 |
| Treadwear | 85 | 80 |
| Handling | 48 | 72 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Tire A
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Goodyear Assurance MaxLife is widely regarded as a high-longevity tire that excels in daily commuting and highway driving, though it sacrifices performance in wet conditions. While users appreciate the exceptional tread life and quiet ride, the consensus indicates significant concerns regarding traction in rain and standing water.
Pros
- Exceptional tread longevity and durability
- Quiet and comfortable ride quality
- Reliable performance for standard daily commuting
Cons
- Poor traction and handling in wet conditions
- Noticeable reduction in fuel efficiency compared to OEM alternatives
- Lack of sidewall protection for rim safety
Observations
- Tesla Model 3 owners reported significant safety concerns regarding wet-weather handling and a lack of rim protection.
- High-mileage drivers, such as rideshare operators, report high satisfaction with noise levels and tread endurance over long distances.
The Nexen CP661 is widely regarded as a high-value budget tire that consistently exceeds expectations for daily driving and family-oriented vehicles. Users report reliable grip in both wet and dry conditions, alongside commendable tread longevity and low noise levels, making it a strong competitor against more expensive premium brands.
Pros
- Exceptional value for money compared to premium alternatives.
- Reliable and consistent grip in both wet and dry weather conditions.
- Impressive tread life, with some users reporting significantly higher mileage than premium tires.
- Low road noise levels contributing to a comfortable ride quality.
Cons
- Inconsistent tread wear reports, with some users experiencing premature replacement intervals.
- Performance is optimized for standard commuting rather than high-performance driving.
- Limited availability of specific speed ratings or sizes for specialized vehicles.
Observations
- Users driving front-wheel-drive hatchbacks noted excellent straight-line tracking and stability on motorway surfaces.
- Owners of family-oriented vehicles ('mum buses') frequently praised the tire for providing a safe and confident driving experience in varied road conditions.
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Goodyear Assurance MaxLife | B · Nexen CP661 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Premium Touring Summer tire | Summer Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 46 | — |
| Rim diameters | 15″ – 20″ | — |
| Tread depth | 11 - 13/32″ | — |
| UTQG | 820 A B | — |
| Treadwear warranty | 85,000 mi | — |
| Sidewall | Vertical Serrated Band | — |
| Max pressure | 50 - 51 psi | — |
Which one should you actually buy?
Goodyear
Nexen
Winner: Nexen CP661 — better wet, handling and comfort. Pick the Goodyear Assurance MaxLife if treadwear matters most to you.
Nexen CP661 scores 71 vs 42 on wet.
Nexen CP661 scores 72 vs 48 on handling.
Goodyear Assurance MaxLife scores 85 vs 80 on treadwear.
Nexen CP661 scores 76 vs 71 on comfort.
How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements) normalized against the best tire in each test and weighted toward recent tests. 40% comes from thousands of owner reviews collected from retailers and review sites. When a tire has only one of the two, we use what exists and say so.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.