Goodyear Excellence Review: Is This Premium Touring Tire Worth Your Money in 2024?

I remember the exact moment I realized my old tires were completely shot — hydroplaning through a moderate rain shower on my morning commute while doing barely 45 mph.

That wake-up call sent me searching for a premium touring tire that could deliver confidence in wet conditions without sacrificing the smooth, quiet ride I need for my daily highway miles.

After reading through countless options in my comprehensive Goodyear tires review, I decided to put the Goodyear Excellence through its paces on my own vehicle — and what I discovered might surprise you.

What Exactly Is the Goodyear Excellence?

Before I dive into my hands-on testing experience, let me give you some background on this tire. The Goodyear Excellence sits in the premium grand touring category, designed specifically for luxury sedans, coupes, and some performance vehicles.

Goodyear positions this tire as a high-end option for drivers who demand refined handling, superior wet performance, and a whisper-quiet ride. It’s not designed for aggressive cornering or track days — this is a tire built for comfortable cruising.

The Excellence features Goodyear’s asymmetric tread design with an emphasis on water evacuation and even wear distribution. It also incorporates their noise-reducing technology in the tread blocks to minimize road noise at highway speeds.

My Testing Setup and Methodology

I installed a set of four Goodyear Excellence tires on my 2021 BMW 3 Series, which came with a size of 225/45R17 on the front and rear. This is a common fitment for mid-size luxury sedans.

My testing included a variety of real-world driving conditions that most American drivers encounter regularly. I drove through city streets, suburban neighborhoods, and plenty of highway miles during my daily commute.

I also made sure to test these tires in the rain, on wet pavement, and during early morning drives when roads were damp with dew. Living in the Mid-Atlantic region gave me access to diverse weather conditions throughout my testing period.

Dry Performance: Refined but Not Sporty

Let me be upfront — if you’re looking for a tire that makes your car feel like a sports car, the Goodyear Excellence isn’t it. But that’s not what this tire is designed for.

In my experience, the dry handling characteristics lean heavily toward comfort and stability rather than razor-sharp responsiveness. During highway driving, the tire feels planted and predictable, which is exactly what you want on a long commute.

Highway Stability

I was genuinely impressed by how stable the Excellence felt at highway speeds. Lane changes were smooth and controlled, with no nervous wandering or excessive body roll that some comfort-oriented tires exhibit.

During my test period, I took several longer highway trips, and the tire maintained consistent tracking even in crosswind situations. This is a tire that inspires confidence when you’re cruising at 70 mph on the interstate.

Cornering and Responsiveness

Here’s where the Excellence shows its true character — it’s a grand touring tire, not a performance tire. During spirited driving on twisty back roads, I noticed the steering felt slightly muted compared to sportier options.

The tire provides adequate grip through corners, but there’s a softness to the initial turn-in that performance enthusiasts might find disappointing. For me, this was actually acceptable because I prioritize comfort on my daily commute.

Push the tire hard through a fast corner, and you’ll feel it start to lose grip gradually rather than suddenly. This progressive breakaway characteristic makes the Excellence predictable and safe, if not exactly thrilling.

Wet Performance: Where This Tire Truly Shines

This is the category where the Goodyear Excellence absolutely earned my respect. After my hydroplaning scare with my old tires, wet performance was my top priority — and this tire delivered.

Hydroplaning Resistance

The asymmetric tread pattern on the Excellence includes wide circumferential grooves that channel water away from the contact patch efficiently. I tested this extensively during several heavy rainstorms.

Driving through standing water at highway speeds, I felt remarkably little loss of traction. The tire maintained contact with the road surface in conditions that would have had my old tires floating.

On one particularly rainy day, I encountered significant puddles on my commute route. The Excellence powered through them with confidence, giving me none of that terrifying light-steering feeling that signals hydroplaning.

Wet Braking

I performed multiple emergency braking tests on wet pavement, and the results impressed me. The tire’s stopping distances felt significantly shorter than what I experienced with my previous all-season tires.

The silica-enhanced compound Goodyear uses in this tire seems to maintain grip even when temperatures drop and roads are wet. This is crucial for early morning commuters who often face damp road conditions.

Wet Cornering

Taking corners in the rain requires trust in your tires, and the Excellence built that trust quickly. I found I could maintain near-normal speeds through wet curves without the rear end getting nervous.

The tire communicates well through the steering wheel, giving you feedback about how much grip is available. This predictability is invaluable when driving in rainy conditions.

Comfort and Noise: Premium Tire, Premium Experience

If there’s one area where the Goodyear Excellence justifies its premium pricing, it’s in ride comfort and noise reduction. This tire transformed my daily commute.

Road Noise Reduction

The first thing I noticed after installing the Excellence tires was the dramatic reduction in road noise. My BMW’s cabin became noticeably quieter, especially at highway speeds where tire noise is typically most prominent.

Goodyear achieves this through variable-sized tread blocks that break up the frequencies that create that annoying drone. The result is a tire that almost disappears acoustically on smooth pavement.

Even on coarse chip-seal roads that typically amplify tire noise, the Excellence remained impressively quiet. I could actually hold conversations and enjoy music at lower volumes than before.

Impact Absorption

Potholes, expansion joints, and rough pavement are unavoidable facts of life for American drivers. The Excellence handles these imperfections with grace.

The tire’s sidewall construction absorbs small bumps and rough surfaces without transmitting harsh impacts into the cabin. Larger potholes still make themselves known, but the edge is taken off considerably.

I particularly noticed this improvement on a stretch of my commute with notoriously rough pavement. What used to be a jarring experience became merely bumpy.

Overall Ride Quality

The Excellence delivers what I’d describe as a “luxury car” ride quality. It smooths out the road surface and isolates you from minor imperfections while still providing enough feedback that you feel connected to the driving experience.

For anyone who spends significant time commuting, this level of comfort is worth considering. My back and shoulders feel less fatigued after long drives than they did with firmer, sportier tires.

Treadwear and Durability Assessment

While I haven’t had these tires long enough to give a complete longevity assessment, I can share my early observations about how the Excellence is holding up.

Early Wear Patterns

After several weeks of daily driving plus some weekend trips, the tread wear appears even across the entire contact patch. There are no signs of unusual wear patterns or accelerated degradation in any specific area.

The tire’s shoulders look good, with no feathering or cupping that might indicate alignment issues or suspension problems. Of course, proper alignment is crucial for any tire to wear correctly.

Treadwear Warranty

Goodyear backs the Excellence with a limited treadwear warranty, though it’s worth noting this is primarily a comfort-oriented tire, not a high-mileage touring tire. Set your expectations accordingly.

Based on my early observations, I believe these tires will deliver reasonable longevity for the premium touring category. However, if maximum tread life is your priority, you might want to consider other options.

Compound Quality

The rubber compound feels high-quality and hasn’t shown any signs of premature hardening or cracking. The sidewalls remain supple and the tread blocks flex appropriately.

I’ll update this review as I accumulate more time on these tires, but my initial impression is that Goodyear has used quality materials throughout.

Winter and Cold Weather Capability

I want to be clear — the Goodyear Excellence is not a winter tire or even a true all-season tire. It’s a grand touring summer/all-season tire with limitations in cold weather.

Light Snow Performance

During a light snow dusting early in my testing period, the Excellence showed its limitations. Traction was adequate for getting around safely, but I wouldn’t want to rely on this tire in serious winter conditions.

The tread pattern simply isn’t designed for snow evacuation or biting into packed snow. If you live in an area with regular snowfall, plan on switching to dedicated winter tires.

Cold Temperature Behavior

When temperatures dropped below 45°F, I noticed the tire felt slightly firmer and less grippy than in warmer conditions. This is typical for tires in this category — the compound is optimized for warmer temperatures.

For drivers in the Sun Belt or those who only use these tires during warmer months, this won’t be a concern. But northern drivers should factor this into their decision.

Price Analysis and Value Proposition

Let’s talk money, because the Goodyear Excellence commands premium pricing that requires serious consideration. Here’s what I found when shopping for my set.

Current Market Pricing

Depending on size, expect to pay between $180 and $280 per tire for the Goodyear Excellence. My 225/45R17 size came in around $210 per tire before installation.

A full set of four will set you back $720 to $1,120 before mounting, balancing, and any additional services. This places the Excellence firmly in premium territory.

Comparison to Competitors

Is It Worth the Premium?

In my opinion, the Goodyear Excellence justifies its pricing for the right buyer. If you drive a luxury vehicle and prioritize comfort, wet weather confidence, and a quiet ride, the value proposition makes sense.

However, if you’re looking for maximum tread life or aggressive handling, your money would be better spent elsewhere. This is a specialized tire for a specific type of driver.

Who Should Buy the Goodyear Excellence?

Based on my extensive testing, I’ve identified the ideal buyer profile for this tire. Let me break down who will love this tire and who should look elsewhere.

The Excellence Is Perfect For:

• Luxury sedan and coupe owners who want tires that match their vehicle’s refined character
• Highway commuters who prioritize quiet, comfortable rides over sporty handling
• Drivers in rainy climates who need confident wet weather performance
• Anyone who values ride quality and is willing to pay for premium comfort
• Mature drivers who have moved past their need-for-speed phase and appreciate refinement

Look Elsewhere If You:

• Want sporty, responsive handling — consider the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S instead
• Need maximum tread life — look at the Michelin Defender or Continental TrueContact
• Drive in significant winter conditions — you need dedicated winter tires
• Are on a tight budget — many quality options exist at lower price points
• Drive a sporty vehicle aggressively — this tire will feel underwhelming

Installation Tips and Recommendations

Getting the most out of your Goodyear Excellence tires requires proper installation and maintenance. Here’s what I recommend based on my experience.

Choosing an Installer

I always recommend using a reputable tire shop that includes proper mounting, balancing, and alignment check with installation. Don’t cheap out on installation for premium tires.

Many Goodyear dealers offer package deals that include road hazard warranties and free rotations. These add-ons can provide excellent value over the life of the tires.

Break-In Period

New tires, including the Excellence, have a thin layer of release compound from the manufacturing process. I recommend driving conservatively for the first few days to allow this layer to wear off.

Avoid hard acceleration, aggressive braking, and spirited cornering until the tires have had time to scrub in. This allows the tread to reach its optimal grip level safely.

Maintenance Schedule

To maximize the life and performance of your Excellence tires, follow a regular maintenance schedule. I rotate mine every oil change to ensure even wear across all four positions.

Check tire pressure at least monthly — I do it weekly because proper inflation is crucial for both performance and longevity. The recommended pressure for my vehicle is listed on the driver’s door jamb.

My Final Verdict on the Goodyear Excellence

After spending significant time with the Goodyear Excellence on my daily driver, I can confidently say this tire delivers exactly what it promises — premium comfort, exceptional wet weather performance, and a refined driving experience.

Is it perfect? No. The handling isn’t sporty, the price tag is substantial, and winter capability is limited. But for the driver who values a quiet, comfortable commute and wants confidence in rainy conditions, the Excellence is an excellent choice.

I’ve genuinely enjoyed my time with these tires. My daily commute has become less fatiguing, my confidence in wet conditions has increased dramatically, and my car simply feels more luxurious.

If you drive a luxury vehicle and prioritize refinement over aggressive performance, I recommend giving the Goodyear Excellence serious consideration. It’s earned a permanent spot on my short list of premium touring tires worth buying.

The Goodyear Excellence won’t be the right tire for everyone, but for the right driver, it’s genuinely excellent. Sometimes products live up to their names — this is one of those times.

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