Yokohama S.Drive Tires - Road Tested

Yokohama S.Drive Tires - Road Tested

Photography by Michael Nardi (@ironwrks) & Adam Gordon


Yokohama is a brand with a long and prestigious history in both the commercial automotive world, and in motorsport. While building my project 240sx, AKA #TheReverseEntryProject, I was thrilled to know that Yokohama wanted to supply tires for the build. A legacy Japanese tire brand was the absolute perfect fit for my legacy Japanese car. They also happened to be a perfect fit for the overall goals of the project.

YokohamaSDriveTires

Since the project focuses on restoring a former track toy to its street-driven glory, one of the build chapters took aim at the car's overall comfort, and that's where Yokohama comes in as the perfect partner. Yokohama's S.Drive tires are an Ultra High Performance tire packed full of technological advancements to deliver extraordinary grip and handling, while still boasting features that make for a comfortable daily-drivable tire for any application - the perfect blend of practicality and performance in a comfortable package.

Once I had the tires mounted (thanks, Akii Tire), I set off on my first drive on the S.Drive tires. The most immediately noticeable change was the reduction of road noise, and overall comfort of ride quality. In addition to the rubber compound, this is largely thanks to the solid center rib in the tire's tread design.

Yokohama SDrive MichaelNardi2

The design of the S.Drive's tread pattern is chock full of features that contribute to both comfort and performance for a daily-driven Ultra High-Performance tire. In addition to the solid single rib in the center, the tire features four parallel channels designed to shed water quickly and efficiently, promising grip in the wettest conditions.

Being the type of person who has to see everything for himself, I waited for a rainy day to prove Yokohama's claims. With the roads well-soaked in my area, I took the car for a spin - or rather, a lack of a spin. I was genuinely surprised how much effort it took for me to push the tire to its absolute limit, even in heavy rainfall. This test left me no doubt that the S.Drives would perform daily driving duties flawlessly in all conditions.

Yokohama SDrive MichaelNardi

Of course, being an Ultra High Performance tire, not all features are strictly comfort-oriented, and since I will also be taking my "perfect street car" to the track on occasion, the performance features are just as important to me. Cornering performance receives a boost thanks to the S.Drive's variable angled groove walls. These angled walls not only optimize contact with the road, but also help keep traction while cornering.

With more than two months of street testing under my belt, I can confidently say that the grip provided by these tires is as good as advertised - maybe even better. Whether that is due to the angled groove walls or the silica-based rubber compound, or a combination of both, I'm not exactly sure, but I can attest to the fact that they both seem to work exceptionally.

Yokohama SDrive MichaelNardi3

With a perfect blend of comfort and performance qualities taken into consideration, Yokohama has created the perfect performance street tire with the S.Drive, and it works as a perfect fit for the project build. Once our harsh Canadian winter passes, I will be following up with a track review. I can't wait to test out the prowess of the S.Drive tires in a track environment.

Related Articles

MXP Comp RS Single Exit Exhaust for 86/FR-S/BRZ MXP Comp RS Single Exit Exhaust for 86/FR-S/BRZ
The Comp RS Exhaust System line from MXP introduces a more aggressive sounding system at a lower price. It’s the perfect exhaust for those seeking...
Unitronic Cat-Back Exhaust System for Mk8 VW GTI Unitronic Cat-Back Exhaust System for Mk8 VW GTI
Unitronic is proud to release its Cat-Back Exhaust System for the MK8 GTI equipped with the 2.0TSI EVO4 engine. This Cat-Back Exhaust System features...
DEI Turbo Heat Shields DEI Turbo Heat Shields
Offered in attractive, easy-to-install designs, the Design Engineering turbo heat shields come in kits that include any necessary locking ties or wire...
APR Carbon Fiber Intake System for Audi RS6/RS7 4.0T EA825 APR Carbon Fiber Intake System for Audi RS6/RS7 4.0T EA825
The APR 4.0T EA825 intake system is here for the Audi (C8) RS6 and RS7! The APR intake system is a substantial upgrade for the 4.0T EA825 engine. It...
Vortech Superchargers - Small Block Chevy Supercharger Systems Vortech Superchargers - Small Block Chevy Supercharger Systems
Vortech Superchargers now offers Small Block Chevy owners a way to easily make more power while still retaining air conditioning and power steering if...
Unitronic Shatters Expectations with Performance Software for Mk8 VW Golf R/GTI Platforms Unitronic Shatters Expectations with Performance Software for Mk8 VW Golf R/GTI Platforms
What if we told you that gaining an extra 100 horsepower and torque was attainable in 5 minutes, and you could do it from the comfort of your own home...