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

ENEOS Racing Series Oils - Racing Pro and Racing Street ENEOS Racing Series Oils - Racing Pro and Racing Street
If you’re a dedicated racer driver, weekend warrior, or even just a driver who pushes their engine to its limit, you’ll want to pay attention to ENEOS...
Improving Horsepower and Throttle Response Without Engine Mods Improving Horsepower and Throttle Response Without Engine Mods
Whether you've just purchased a new vehicle, or you've got something that's still OEM-fresh, there are ways to make considerable gains in your vehicle...
Air Lift Performance Performance Kits for 2019-2023 Toyota Corolla Air Lift Performance Performance Kits for 2019-2023 Toyota Corolla
Get your 2019-2023 Toyota Corolla Hatchback and 2020-2023 Corolla Sedan to the perfect stance with Air Lift Performance’s front air spring suspension...
Wilwood Superlite Front BBK for BMW E36 M3 Wilwood Superlite Front BBK for BMW E36 M3
Wilwood Disc Brakes has just unveiled their latest big brake kits, specifically engineered for the front end of the iconic 1995-1999 BMW E36 M3 and...
Whiteline Grip Series Kit for VB Subaru WRX Whiteline Grip Series Kit for VB Subaru WRX
Unleash your Subaru WRX's true potential with Whiteline's VB Grip Series Kit (GS1-SUB011). This isn't just a suspension upgrade package; it's a game-...
ACT Unveils Push-Type Mod-Twin for Subaru WRX ACT Unveils Push-Type Mod-Twin for Subaru WRX
Advanced Clutch Technology (ACT) announced the launch of its new 225 Mod-Twin Clutch Kits (Push-Type) specifically designed for the Subaru WRX. This...