With the onset of the changing seasons, drivers have a problem that should be addressed as quickly as possible. It is about replacing rubber - from summer to winter and vice versa. Well, when from last year an unworn kit remained. However, if it is not, you have to quickly make a choice in favor of a particular manufacturer. How not to make a mistake at the same time? Not only official characteristics and test results provided by the manufacturer and dealers can help, but also reviews of ordinary drivers who already had the opportunity to test tires in practice. The subject of this review is Yokohama BluEarth-A AE-50 rubber, reviews of which will form the basis of the analysis of the veracity of the material provided by the developer regarding its characteristics.
Briefly about the model in question
Japan has always been serious about producing any kind of product. So it happened this time. The novelty was launched on the market relatively recently, but has already managed to get a fairly large number of positive feedback from drivers who managed to test it.
In the development of the summer tire Yokohama BluEarth-A AE-50, reviews of which will help us determine the level of its quality, intended mainly for cars, innovative methods were used to analyze real life situations that occur on the roads. Based on the data obtained as a result of such a study, amendments were made to the already prepared draft of the new tire. After passing all kinds of tests, the manufacturer said that this model is ready to cope with any weather conditions that may occur in the summer.
The main task set by the developers
When creating the Yokohama BluEarth-A AE-50 tire, reviews of which we will analyze at the end of the article, one of the goals was considered by the manufacturer as the main one. According to the laws of physics, it is simply unrealistic to create such rubber that would be good in everything. But this is only beneficial, because drivers have the opportunity to choose exactly the option that they like and suitable for their driving style.
According to the team that created this tire model, their main goal was to bring to the market an economical solution that would reduce fuel costs by reducing rolling resistance, but would not wear out quickly.
According to the manufacturer, while the main characteristics of the tire regarding the dynamics and coupling with the surface, as well as stability when driving, were not affected. Whether this is actually so, we can find out at the end of the article when we will analyze the reviews of drivers who have already tested the novelty in their car.
Development of a rubber compound based on proprietary technology
The brand has a patented technology for creating a rubber formula, which differs significantly from competitors and has been successfully applied over the past years. It was called Nano Blend and continues to develop with each new generation of tires. So this time, some changes were made to the formula, which made it possible to make the rubber more prepared for work. Owner reviews of the Yokohama BluEarth-A AE-50 can show how effective the use of this technology is in the company's products.
In percentage terms, the proportion of synthetic silica used increased, which now makes up more than half of the compound. As noted in official reports, such a step allowed to improve tire grip on wet roads with any type of coating and even without it.
However, it would be impossible to simply increase the percentage, since other indicators, in particular, wear resistance, would suffer from this. Therefore, new elements were added to the composition, designed to compensate for the difference. Thus, the use of chemical polymer compounds has increased the strength of intermolecular bonds that hold all the components of the compound. And the addition of orange oil entailed an increase in the tensile and tensile strength of the rubber compound, which strengthened the overall strength of the tire and provided additional protection against punctures and cuts.
Increase wear resistance
Proper selection of the components of the rubber compound allowed us to make tires more wear-resistant against abrasion. As a result, they can last longer, and in theory they will not need to be changed after the first season, although this depends on both the driving style and the number of kilometers traveled.
With an increase in service life, the manufacturer took care to strengthen the rubber in the most insecure places. Therefore, it is encircled by a dense cord, designed to protect against damage that could result from sharp objects falling into the lamellas between the tread. And the side parts are made of dense rubber, which protects them from damage that may occur, for example, when parking close to the curb.
The use of a two-layer tread
It was possible to achieve a consistency between strength, wear resistance and dynamic characteristics through the use of two different types of rubber compound. One of them, more dense and durable, serves as a kind of body. Thanks to this, the tire turns out to be quite rigid, as a result of which the level of controllability increases and the comfort and safety during movement increase.
Available reviews and photos of the Yokohama BluEarth-A AE-50 show that the working part of the tread that is in contact with the track, on the contrary, is made of softer rubber. This makes it possible to achieve several important points at once:
- Reduces fuel consumption . Since rolling between the tread blocks is simplified due to its softness, the vehicle rolls up, which leads to positive results.
- The vibration associated with driving on the road with minor defects is minimized , since the tread can handle them on its own.
- The noise level is reduced . In the cabin, in the presence of good sound insulation, rubber is not heard at all, which adds comfort when driving in a car.
As you can see, such a solution, used by many manufacturers and confirmed by years of research, gives a large number of positive results.
Features of the structure of the tread
Externally, Yokohama BluEarth AE-50 92V tires, reviews of which you can find below, are very similar to most representatives of summer tires, the main tasks of which are high-speed, but at the same time silent movement. In the central part there is a continuous strip that stretches across the entire surface. Its task is to maintain exchange rate stability during high-speed movement along the highway, as well as to ensure smooth maneuvering. It has notches on both sides, the purpose of which is to provide the best rowing characteristics when driving on dirt roads.
At the same time, on both sides there are strips of individual tread blocks, separated by narrow lamellas. Through these slots, water from the central part of the contact patch can be diverted to the edges of the tire without problems, which allows it to be operated in rainy weather without loss in coupling characteristics.
Tread side and its purpose
On both extreme sides of the tread pattern, you can see large blocks that go to the side of the tire. They play four roles at once. Firstly, when turning without reducing speed, the contact spot moves from the center to the edge, and it is these individual elements that provide stability and prevent the car from slipping into side skid.
The second task is the continuation of water drainage from the central part of the tire. Through the small lamellas with which the blocks are cut together, she can freely leave the point of contact with the road surface.
The third purpose is to protect the side from damage with sharp objects. As customer reviews of the Yokohama BluEarth-A AE-50 show, they can prevent rubber breaks if the car parks parallel to the curb and “wipes” it.
Well, the last one is providing the best performance when driving on loose or wet ground. Of course, these tires are not designed for off-road driving, but they can handle dirt country roads well. The edges that are formed due to the side blocks improve rowing characteristics and allow you to feel confident outside the paved track.
Assortment of sizes
More than 50 size options are available for buyers regarding tire width, profile height, and inner diameter. So, if you have wheels from 14 to 18 inches installed on your car, then you can easily choose the option that is most suitable for you according to the technical characteristics.
The choice should be made based on the recommendations of the car manufacturer, as a mismatch in size can lead to poor performance or other problems while driving.
Positive feedback on tires from drivers
In order to verify the veracity of the manufacturer’s words or, on the contrary, to be disappointed in them, one should turn to the opinion of those who already had the opportunity to experience rubber on their own experience. According to reviews, the advantages of Yokohama BluEarth-A AE-50 are as follows:
- The softness of the rubber compound . Thanks to her, the ride becomes more comfortable, because rubber is able to smooth out minor irregularities, even without involving the suspension of the car.
- Low noise . It is clear that rubber, no matter how good, will have a certain level of noise. However, in this case, as the Yokohama BluEarth AE-50 98H reviews say, it is minimal, which positively affects the sensations from the trip, making them more pleasant.
- Resistant to aquaplaning . Of course, everything is within reasonable limits, and at a very high speed, this rubber can “swim”, but subject to the speed limit, even if you sharply enter a puddle, the car will continue to drive confidently.
- Good directional stability . When driving in high-speed mode along the highway, if the suspension is in good condition and the collapse is made qualitatively, you can not worry about the fact that the car will lead somewhere to the side. According to reviews on the Yokohama BluEarth-A AE-50, small bumps like pebbles, thanks to the softness of the rubber compound, do not knock the car off a given path.
- Reasonable cost . These tires can be safely attributed to the budget segment, since their cost is low, almost every driver can buy them for themselves.
- Good braking performance . Due to its tenacity and well-thought-out tread pattern, rubber got the opportunity to respond well to braking. Even if you need an emergency stop on wet pavement, it will perfectly cope with this task.
These are the main advantages that can be identified in the reviews on Yokohama BluEarth-A AE-50 tires written by drivers. Now it’s the turn to consider its weaknesses, so that you can summarize the veracity of the advertising materials.
The negative sides of the rubber in question
What can you notice if you analyze the reviews for the Yokohama BluEarth-A AE-50? The disadvantages of rubber are, and they are very significant. As many drivers note, despite the fact that the manufacturer sought to reduce the level of wear, the softness of the rubber compound failed in this matter. Depending on the driving style, in some cases, the rubber on the driving wheels was enough for only 15 thousand kilometers, which is a very modest indicator. This is a fat minus, because it may not be enough even for one season, if you are used to aggressive driving. This is especially true for rear-wheel drive cars.
Also, some users note that when the temperature drops during the cold snap, the rubber mixture hardens slightly, as a result of which you should expect its former softness and noiselessness until it gets warmer on the street.
Comparison of declared characteristics with user reviews
So, as was said at the beginning of the article, the main goal of the developers was to create rubber that would be silent and could save fuel due to this, but at the same time it had good wear resistance. And if they coped with the first task perfectly, then the second failed miserably.
Rubber Yokohama BluEarth-A AE-50, the reviews we reviewed, turned out to really increase driving comfort. She "swallows" the pits and potholes, does not make noise, so riding it is a pleasure. True, it is short-lived, because the level of wear leaves much to be desired. The result is a double impression.
Output
This rubber is suitable for those who put driving comfort above practicality. In terms of safety and durability, rubber showed good results. She confidently keeps on the road and allows you to drive a car without fear that she will behave unpredictably.
But at the same time, buying the model in question, you need to be prepared for its rapid wear. If you have money for an early replacement, you appreciate the ability to drive without any noise and you are not afraid of the negative part of the Yokohama BluEarth-A AE-50 reviews, then this option will be most welcome.