Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen 3
WatchThe Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen 3 is a premium touring all-season tyre built around confidence and consistency when conditions turn wet, cold or snowy. Across both independent tests and real-world ownership, it stands out for secure wet handling, strong winter competence and an easy, predictable feel through big temperature swings. It also tends to deliver good longevity and makes a compelling case for year-round convenience over seasonal tyre changes.
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In Depth Tyre Comparisons
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View Test ResultsAlternative Tyres
| Size | Fuel | Wet | Noise |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 inch | |||
| 175/65R14 86 H XL | C | B | 69 |
| 185/60R14 86 H XL | C | B | 70 |
| 175/65R14 86 H XL | D | B | 69 |
| 15 inch | |||
| 185/65R15 92 T XL | C | B | 70 |
| 195/65R15 95 V XL | C | B | 71 |
| 185/65R15 92 V XL | C | B | 70 |
| 185/65R15 92 T XL | B | C | 70 |
| 185/65R15 92 T XL | B | C | 70 |
| 195/65R15 95 T XL | C | B | 71 |
| 195/65R15 95 V XL | C | B | 71 |
| 195/65R15 95 V XL | C | B | 71 |
| 16 inch | |||
| 205/55R16 94 V XL | C | B | 70 |
| 205/60R16 96 V XL | C | B | 70 |
| 205/55R16 91 V | C | B | 70 |
| 215/60R16 99 V XL | C | B | 71 |
| 215/60R16 99 V XL | C | B | 71 |
| 205/55R16 94 V XL | A | B | 72 |
| 205/60R16 96 V XL | C | B | 70 |
| 205/60R16 92 H | C | B | 69 |
| 205/60R16 96 V XL | A | C | 71 |
| 205/60R16 96 V XL | A | C | 71 |
| 205/60R16 96 V XL | A | C | 71 |
| 205/55R16 94 V XL | A | B | 72 |
| 205/55R16 94 V XL | A | B | 72 |
| 205/55R16 94 V XL | A | B | 72 |
| 205/55R16 94 V XL | A | B | 72 |
| 205/55R16 94 V XL | A | B | 72 |
| 205/55R16 94 V XL | A | B | 72 |
| 205/55R16 94 V XL | A | B | 72 |
| 17 inch | |||
| 225/45R17 94 W XL | C | B | 70 |
| 205/50R17 93 W XL | C | B | 71 |
| 215/55R17 98 W XL | B | B | 70 |
| 215/45R17 91 W XL | C | B | 70 |
| 225/50R17 98 W XL | C | B | 70 |
| 215/55R17 98 W XL | B | B | 70 |
| 225/50R17 98 W XL | D | B | 71 |
| 225/45R17 94 W XL | D | B | 71 |
| 215/55R17 98 W XL | A | B | 71 |
| 215/55R17 98 W XL | A | B | 71 |
| 215/55R17 94 V | B | B | 71 |
| 215/55R17 98 W XL | A | B | 71 |
| 215/55R17 94 V | B | B | 71 |
| 215/55R17 94 V | B | B | 71 |
| 215/55R17 94 V | B | B | 71 |
| 215/55R17 98 W XL | B | B | 70 |
| 215/55R17 98 W XL | B | B | 70 |
| 18 inch | |||
| 225/40R18 92 Y XL | C | B | 72 |
| 245/40R18 97 W XL | C | B | 72 |
| 245/45R18 100 Y XL | B | B | 72 |
| 235/60R18 103 T | B | B | 71 |
| 235/60R18 103 T | B | B | 71 |
| 235/60R18 103 T | B | B | 71 |
| 235/60R18 103 T | B | B | 71 |
| 255/35R18 94 Y XL | C | B | 72 |
| 19 inch | |||
| 235/35R19 91 Y XL | D | C | 72 |
| 20 inch | |||
| 255/45R20 105 W XL | C | B | 72 |
| 245/35R20 95 W XL | C | B | 72 |
| 255/45R20 105 T XL | C | B | 72 |
| 255/45R20 105 T XL | C | B | 72 |
| 255/45R20 105 H XL | C | B | 72 |
Questions and Answers for the Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen 3
Ask a questionI bought a brand new set of this tyres for my Audi A3, size 225/45 R17, to replace my 7 year old winter tyres. Now I can hear a very obvious bumping noise coming from tyres, at about 40 to 50km/h. I can kind of feel it on the steering wheel too. Never heard that before with any winter nor all-season tyres, let alone summer tyres. Two separate garages checked the car, including Audi, and said they could no find anything wrong, and that the noise may be normal for those tyres. Can this be the case? Has anyone had the same experience with these tyres? I am really quite unhappy with them.
Been looking at these to fit on a Gen 10 Honda Civic 1.5 turbo which is a reasonably quick car and has good handling, I am just a little concerned regarding dry braking, do these tyre make an appreciable difference compared to the OE tyres which are Michelin Primacy 3?
I have to fit my Hyundai Tucson with new tires. I have to choose between Goodyear 4season Gen 3 and Michelin crossclimate plus. My main focus is on treadlife and dry and wet performance. What should I choose?
Is the Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen 3 also available in a RunFlat version?
Hello! I been choosing new tires for Ford Kuga MK1 SUv with 4x4 120kW. I checked all tests which i found on yuour website and i want to buy Goodyear Vector 4Seasons G3, but i found there are two types of tires - Vector 4Seasons G3 with index H99 which is still good for me and Vector 4Seasons G3 SUV with index 103Y, my question is do i need to buy SUV variant or should be good the first variant? Because on SUV variant there are not that much tests like the first variant. Thanks
Just imported these tyres from UK to AUS to use as my winter tyres. Now moving to the USA for 3 years. Put about 10000kms on them. Think they will store well for 3 years?
Are these tyres any good on black ice?
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Review Summary
Based on 66 user reviews
Across most reviews, the Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen 3 is described as a highly capable all-round tyre with standout wet-road security (strong grip, wet braking, and aquaplaning resistance) and confidence in cold conditions including snow for an all-season. Many drivers also report very good longevity/wear and a generally quiet, comfortable ride. The most repeated drawbacks are a softer, less precise steering/feedback feel and slightly weaker dry braking/traction when pushed in warm or hot conditions compared with dedicated summer tyres.
Strengths
- Excellent wet grip and strong aquaplaning resistance
- Very capable in cold weather
- Slush and snow for an all-season tyre
- Long tread life/slow wear and good value over mileage
- Comfortable ride and generally low road noise
- Stable
- Predictable handling and confidence-inspiring all-round performance
Areas for Improvement
- Softer/less direct steering feel with reduced feedback (can feel floaty/wallowy on some cars)
- Dry braking/traction not as strong as dedicated summer tyres
- Especially in warm/hot conditions or when driven hard
Top 3 Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen 3 Reviews
On dry very well, lot more than average grip
Next generation could improve the braking (when the weather is hot). However they are not bad.
On wet the grip is good (can be improved on next generation). The driver has to be sure the tyres have the best tyre pressure. If they don't the grip will not be good on muddy-dusty parts of the road. If the tyre's pressure is correct then they perform well.
Tested them on very cold (not freezing) to very hot (higher than 40C), they performed very well, on dry and wet.
Their shape and condition is still very nice despite the use and the time.
They can perform well (cautiously of course) even on sporty driving.
Even under heavy load their performance remains steady (tyre pressure has to be right).
Next generation could be improved on the things mentioned above.
Overall they are above average -to excellent on dry, wet, cold, very warm, rain, braking and handling.
8,0 plus/10 clearly.
Of course if they keep up like this, they will be the first option again.
When they were brand new, it was difficult to fault these tyres. They preformed better than the aging premium Nordic winter tyres in the snow. Comfort good, dry performance as good as you could expect, wet performance was also fine.
After 50000km they all have around 5.5-6 mm left. However, the way the treads are designed meant that around the centre line, they have less than 1mm left at this stage (there is no uneven wear or under/over pressure, tracking on the car is checked yearly, no punctures/repairs) - the base of the tyre has a V shape so the centre of the tyre also start with less mm when they were brand new. This interesting design and wear pattern meant that there is now a significant drop in performance: aquaplaning risk increased dramatically, wet grip is completely gone, braking performance in all conditions deteriorated. Noise also increased significantly.
So even those most of the tyres still have more than 5.5mm left, they need to be replaced. They have become almost dangerous under all conditions.
Perhaps they were designed this way, but I was expecting more even and consistent performance through the lifespan of the tyres. Unfortunately I will not buy them again.
Just after switching to the Vector 4S, I had the same feeling as when I changed to winter tyres: I felt a bit unsecure while driving: compared to my summer tyres (Continental PremiumContact 6) the road contact of the V4S is noticeably less direct. Better than a winter tyre, but worse than a summer tyre. Once you realise the grip is actually present, the confidence comes back quickly. In fact, in terms of safety, I see it as a good thing: because it is so much fun to go quickly with the PC6, I sometimes feel tempted to go just that bit faster. The V4S isn’t that inviting, so I drive slower. Safe in winter, fun in summer, I can live with that.
And in terms of grip, the V4S does an excellent job: In the dry, it is more than sufficient. The steering feedback is obviously less than with the PC6, but still more than enough to know what’s going on. In the wet, I was impressed by the grip on near freezing wet surfaces and by the aquaplaning resistance. And when the tyres start sliding, it all goes very gradually and controllable. Such a safe and stable tyre! In all aspects better and more pleasant than the TS860, which to be honest didn’t do bad at all for a winter tyre in the dry and in the wet.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to test the tyres on real snow. On muddy roads, light snow, frost and in salted snow/ice slush however, the V4S provides sufficient grip to steer, accelerate and brake without problems. In such conditions, other cars on summer tyres are the biggest risks one can encouter anyway, so I drive extra carefully then.
Comfort (noise and suspension) is just fine. Slightly better than the TS860 and way better than the PC6.
I noticed an increase in fuel consumption of about 0,2 l/100 km when driving in similar conditions as with the summer tyres.
In terms of wear, the tyres lost about 0.4 mm. tread depth (almost no difference between front and rear), which is in line with the AutoBild wear test (70.000 km). If I replace the tyres at the minimum winter tyre depth (4 mm.), I will be able to drive about 50.000 km on them. Very reasonable (My PC6 front tyres will last about 30.000 km).
In short: thank you Goodyear for getting me safely through the winter season. And now let’s get the Conti’s back on!
Latest Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen 3 Reviews
I have never experienced this before with new tyres, but it has taken over 2,000 miles for these Goodyear Vector 3’s to ‘bed in’. There is definitely less resistance from the tyres now, and the car will freewheel further. Fuel consumption has improved, but it is still not as good as my previous tyres - Kleber Quadraxer 3’s. Apart from that gripe, the tyres are excellent.
I drive a lot in Italy and generally the locals don’t hang around. So you need a car that is agile and tyres that will grip well. Certainly on wet and greasy roads, the Goodyears really hold on. Wet braking is good too. I have not had a chance to try them on snow or ice.
The Goodyears make the car feel more chuckable and it changes direction without hesitation. The ride quality though, maybe because of this, is not so forgiving. It is just a question now of how long they will last, and when their performance might start to drop off.
In the future I will certainly pay more attention to the rolling resistance of tyres, and will choose a tyre with the lowest. It really does seem to make a difference.
In terms or reliability I have to say I had an small leak recently on the rear left tire which lead me to repair it but after a quick and cheap visit to the mechanic it gave me no more problem.
In terms of noise, considering I haven't measured it specifically I would say these are very silent, most of the noise I hear with this car is aerodynamic, the engine or certain parts of the interior due to their age, I tried the car on sound-absorbing asphalt that has been recently installed in my town and that absorbs around 75% of the rolling noise, other cars I've experienced to hear had a massive difference but not with mine, which leads me to think that there is not so much noise to absorb from the tires.
I hope these to be my tires for a loong time, for now it seems like it's the case since the tire wear with this mileage is minimal.
They handled very well on the 3-4 occasions they were met with heavy snow on winding roads, even with tens of thousands if miles already on them. Barely any TCS activation and slippage when driving smart. Managed to dig out of snow with no hassle any time I was parked and snowed in.
Dry performance is excellent, nothing bad to say, handling is excellent. Comfort and noise are also very good.
Wet performance is the one thing that I feel was not up to par. At around the three year mark, TCS would activate more often than I would expect when accelerating from a start on cold tires on wet asphalt. No problems in breaking or cornering, but the wheelspin on acceleration was annoying and a bit questionable.
Overall I can recommend, and I would buy them again if the price is right.
Comfort-wise, they certainly are not the best. I can quite often feel the bumps quite hard through the car, but that is the only negative in my opinion. It may well just be down to the tyre size.
I would certainly consider buying these again in the future.
Although acceptable in other driving dynamics, the extremely high rolling resistance is a problem. My average fuel consumption has been increased from 5.4/ per 100 kms to 6.6/ per 100 kms at 115 kph. In mpg terms, the consumption has increased from an average on a long run of 49/51 mpg to 42/43 mpg. This is huge. I have been in contact with Goodyear technical UK, but they have not been much help. I watched the tyres being fitted at Halfords - nothing else happened to the car. However the effect of these new tyres was immediately noticeable. They are like driving on donuts is the best description I can find.
The tyres are not only increasing my fuel consumption, but sap the power of the engine. I have never known tyres to have such an adverse effect in nearly 50 years of driving. These tyres are supposed to be B rated for rolling resistance. In my experience these tyres do not compare to my previous tyres with the same rating. Either the B classification for rolling resistance is wrong for these tyres, or the category is extremely broad. With such a high rolling resistance, the extra cost of these tyres over 50,000 miles is huge.
Goodyear is supposed to be a premium brand, but they are producing tyres with the rolling resistance of a Budget tyre. Tomorrow I will drive from northern France to Venice again. This is a regular run for me. I will be able to calculate how much extra in fuel these tyres are costing me.
On the other side, on wet but especially on dry it feels a bit "sticky" and not pleasant to drive.
At the moment i drove about 7000km and the tires seem brand new. Durability was my main concern and during summer time i drove less than 2000km with this car.
[Total driving experience about 600,000km]
Yesterday I had my first long distance run in really dreadful wet conditions. The Goodyears performed well, but it was noticeable that when there was a lot of surface water, the Goodyear’s did not cope as well as the Klebers. Where the Klebers simply cut through the water, you can feel the car slowing down as the Goodyears clear the water.
In the wet and greasy conditions, the Goodyears offered excellent grip and inspired confidence. The handling of the car has improved with a more rapid response to directional changes.
What I have been shocked by is the drop in fuel economy of my car. It is huge. Where my 1.2 Citroen C5x would give 3.9L/100km at 115 kms with the Klebers, this is now 4.8L/100km. I will check the tyre pressures and keep an eye on this, but if this does not improve, I will have to remove these Goodyear tyres very soon.
I bought these to fit to an all wheel drive Vitara and based in Italy with temps ranging from 35°C to -15°C. I've had them for 5 years, done 65K km and tread-wise they would probably last another year, so I couldn't be happier with how they've worn. They've only just started to lightly crack where the tread meets the sidewall, but given their age I'm going to replace them this winter.
SNOW
I chose the Vectors mainly because of their snow performance. Throughout the winter I spend a lot of time in the mountains where there is considerable snow and ice and they've performed exactly how I'd hoped. Snow traction, breaking and handing have been great, I've been able to drive confidently on snowy mountain roads, and especially with all wheel drive the car feels solid. I've watched BMWs slide backwards down hills with slick compact snow (I hope on summer tyres) which have been easy to get up in the Vectors without any wheel spin at all. The same goes for -10°C frosty morning without snow, handling and traction feels the same as +10°C.
SUMMER
I've also used these a lot off-road in 30°C on dry rocky routes and they've performed really well, I assume because of the tread pattern and softer compound. Even in the summer at 35°C I haven't really noticed longer dry braking which people mention with the Vector.
NEGATIVES
The only really downsides I've noticed compared to the OE tyres (Conti eco contact) is the handling generally feels 'softer'- although still fun to drive in a spirited way, and that the tyres seems to slide on those metal joints on bridges which can be unnerving when on a corner.
BUY AGAIN?
I would definitely buy these again, in fact I've recommended them to many people. However, being a sucker for Tyre Review's videos and tests, I want to try something else. I'll probably go for Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 for even better snow performance and an overall more balanced profile.
I had the Goodyear Gen 3 on a Renault Scenic, used them for 20k km with literally no visible wear. We had 2 weeks of snow, my neighbors struggled to get out of the parking lot with cheap winter tires, I had no issues. My father also uses Goodyear Vector Gen 3 on another Scenic and after almost 5 years and 50k km he still has 4.5 mm of the fronts and 5mm on the rears and he says they are still excellent in the snow.
Yes, they are not the best on hot summer days, the lower dry traction and braking makes them squeal easily. They also aren't as quiet as a CrossClimate or a summer Premium Contact 5 or Eco Contact 6. And the steering feels a bit too light with them (when I put them on I felt like the car just got a new power steering).
But they are great in the wet, great in the snow, good enough in the dry and they last longer than any other tire I owned.
I used to run dedicated summer/winter tires, Michelin changed that with the CrossClimate, and Goodyear made sure I won't go back.
Just for reference, I owned:
- Continental Premium Contact 2: 55k km until 2.5mm tread
- Continental Premium Contact 5: 45k km until 2.5mm tread
- Continental Eco Contact 6: 40k km until 3mm tread
- Nokian WR D3: 45k km until 4mm tread
- Nokian WR D4: 35k km until 4mm tread
- Continental TS860: 40k km until 4mm tread
- Michelin CrossClimate: 40k km until 3.5mm tread
