76
/ 100
Objective (60%)
74/100
8 professional tests
User signal (40%)
79/100
254 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance vs Goodyear Excellence — Compared (September 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.
VS
73
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
71/100
127 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance — better wet, handling and dry. Pick the Goodyear Excellence if comfort matters most to you.
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Category breakdown
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
Score (0–100)
EfficientGrip Performance leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | EfficientGrip Performance | Excellence |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 83 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 81 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 86 | 79 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
EfficientGrip Performance leads by 16
Why this score
| Source | EfficientGrip Performance | Excellence |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 88 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 77 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 84 | 70 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Excellence leads by 19
Why this score
| Source | EfficientGrip Performance | Excellence |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 34 | – |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 80 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 73 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | EfficientGrip Performance | Excellence |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 71 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
EfficientGrip Performance leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | EfficientGrip Performance | Excellence |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | – | 66 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 73 | 72 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
EfficientGrip Performance leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | EfficientGrip Performance | Excellence |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 78 | 71 |
| DriverReviews owners | 84 | – |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance | Goodyear Excellence |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 76 | 73 |
| Dry | 84 | 79 |
| Wet | 86 | 70 |
| Comfort | 54 | 73 |
| Noise | 71 | – |
| Treadwear | 73 | 72 |
| Handling | 78 | 71 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
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Recomputed
Headline score
76
/ 100
Tire A
73
/ 100
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance is widely regarded as a premium, comfort-oriented touring tire that excels in noise reduction, ride quality, and wet-weather safety. While users consistently praise its ability to transform the driving experience into a quieter and more refined one, many report significant concerns regarding rapid tread wear and a soft sidewall construction that can negatively impact steering feedback and handling precision during spirited driving.
Pros
- Exceptional ride comfort and low road noise levels
- Strong wet-weather grip and aquaplaning resistance
- Noticeable improvements in fuel efficiency
- High levels of confidence for daily, sensible driving
Cons
- Rapid tread wear, particularly on the front axle
- Soft sidewalls leading to 'floaty' handling and reduced steering feedback
- Susceptibility to sidewall damage and bulging from potholes
- Diminished performance and grip as tread depth drops below 3mm
Observations
- Drivers of vehicles with stiffer sports suspensions often report that the soft sidewalls ruin the car's 'go-kart' handling feel.
- Users with heavier vehicles or those with high-torque engines frequently report faster-than-average tread wear and occasional traction loss.
- Owners of smaller hatchbacks and city cars generally report higher satisfaction with comfort, though some note the tires feel 'boat-like' compared to firmer alternatives.
The Goodyear Excellence is viewed as a polarizing premium touring tire that excels in comfort and noise reduction but suffers from inconsistent durability and wet-weather performance. While many users praise its smooth ride and dry-road handling, a significant portion of the user base reports premature tread wear and a notable decline in grip as the tread depth approaches the 3-4mm mark.
Pros
- High levels of ride comfort and low road noise
- Strong dry-weather grip and handling
- Predictable and stable performance when new
- Good rim protection on specific run-flat variants
Cons
- Rapid and inconsistent tread wear
- Significant loss of wet-weather traction as the tire wears
- Soft sidewalls prone to bulging or damage from road hazards
- Tendency to tramline on uneven road surfaces
Observations
- Users with heavy vehicles like the Ford Galaxy and VW Tiguan report varied experiences, with some achieving high mileage while others note rapid wear.
- Drivers of performance-oriented vehicles (e.g., Focus ST, BMW 5-series) frequently criticize the soft sidewalls for lacking the necessary feedback and stability for spirited driving.
- Run-flat versions are noted for being surprisingly comfortable compared to competitors, though they are frequently cited for sidewall bulging issues when encountering potholes.
Community buzz
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Mixed
Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
Community opinion on the Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance is generally positive regarding comfort, fuel efficiency, and quietness, though some users report concerns over sidewall durability against potholes and early cracking. Reviewers note that tread design can vary slightly by size, but overall performance and smoothness remain strong compared to cheaper alternatives or all-season tires.
r/tires
·2 upvotes ·2026-09-16
“GOODYEAR EfficientGrip Performance 205/55 R17 91V - reliability and resistance to damage question Hello guys! I'm driving Skoda Octavia. not a racer, just a usual 40yo man. I have a set of GOODYEAR EfficientGrip Performance 205/55 R17 91V on the car, and during the last 2 months I lost three tires, all the same way - pothole on the road, visibly small, front right wheel, instantly deflates, and a hole in tire not on tread but on the side - irreparable, new tire for 130eur, repeat again. Do you by chance know if it's the pattern for the model, or am I getting EXTREMELY unlucky? Can you maybe suggest some tire models and characteristics to look into to stop this from happening? I have only 2 out of 4 original tires left, so maybe it makes sense to change the entire set. Read more”
r/tires
·2 upvotes ·2026-03-28
“goodyear efficientgrip performance notches Hello! I bought a new goodyear efficientgrip performance 215/55/18 tires for my car. And it was surprise to see so many notches on the summer tire (1st & 2nd photo). Although the internet image doesn’t have any (3rd photo). What could it be and is it normal? Read more”
bobistheoilguy.com
·2018-08-17
“Thanks for the comments and suggestions. As it turns out I could not get the Continental PremiumContact 6 so I ordered a set of Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 225/60 R16 102W XL from local shop. I have had these Goodyears in several cars in the past and they have been very good so far. Hopefully same continues with the W140.”
bobistheoilguy.com
·2018-08-27
“FWIW the Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 225/60 R16 102W XL tyres arrived and were installed today. The difference with previous tyres is like night and day. I have a 1200 km work trip later this week and I thought I'd take the Benz out. Interesting to see how they "break in" and how much if at all difference there is in mpg.”
Top themes
#Noise levels and comfort#Sidewall durability and potholes#Fuel efficiency and rolling resistance#Tread design and variations#Longevity and wear
Based on 9 community posts
Tire B
Goodyear Excellence
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance | B · Goodyear Excellence |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Premium Touring tires | Summer Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Tread depth | 9/32″ | 9 - 10/32″ |
| UTQG | 340 A A | 240 A A |
| Sidewall | Raised Black Lettering - Serrated Black Lettering | Black Side Wall |
| Max pressure | 50 - 51 psi | 50 - 51 psi |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
76
/ 100
Goodyear
73
/ 100
Goodyear
Winner: Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance — better wet, handling and dry. Pick the Goodyear Excellence if comfort matters most to you.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Goodyear Excellence scores 73 vs 54 on comfort.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance scores 86 vs 70 on wet.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance scores 78 vs 71 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance scores 84 vs 79 on dry.
Tire A · Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
Tire B · Goodyear Excellence
More comparisons
Also compared with
Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance also compared with
Goodyear Excellence also compared with
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.