Yokohama YK740 GTX Review: Does this tire fit your vehicle?

If there’s one thing you need to know in this Yokohama YK740 GTX review, it’s the fact the Yokohama YK740 tires are good. And I mean really good. No, let me rephrase that. The Yokohama YK740 is awesome. It’s one of the best all-season performance touring tires in the market today. 

But do you actually get your money’s worth? That’s the thing I want to figure out in this Yokohama YK740 GTX review. But there’s a catch. The Yokohama YK740 is a bit pricey at around $130 to $140 each. Of course, bigger sizes will cost more, and that’s something you need to think about if your vehicle is equipped with bigger 18-inch to 20-inch wheels. You can easily pay upwards of $500 to $600 for a set of Yokohama YK740 GTX tires. Call this a shout out to potential buyers who are looking for the best bang for the shout out.

And while it’s true that some cheap tires are capable of performing at the same level as the Yokohama YK740 GTX, the tire offers more than just silent and comfortable touring performance. With higher levels of traction on wet and dry roads, the Yokohama YK740 GTX is capable of elevating the sporty performance in your compact car, sports coupe, midsize sedan, and crossover SUV. Try that with a cheaper set of tires. 

Is the Yokohama YK740 really that good?

Oh yes. Don’t let the plebian tread design fool you. The tire is equipped with an asymmetric grooves that are optimized to enhance road contact. The design is meant to keep out as much water as possible as the tire rolls over the ground. This tire can deliver the grip levels of a high-performance tire without suffering the penalties of a stiff ride or louder tire roar. 

However, I still find the tire lacking in terms of extreme sporty performance or track days. This is not a racing tire, nor is it formulated to deliver the handling of a summer tire. But there are certain tires that will simply make your vehicle feel better when driven. The Yokohama YK740 is one of those.

I bet it shines in both dry and wet pavements?

Absolutely. Part of it is due to Yokohama’s unique ELS Orange Oil tire compound. It not only sounds sustainably cool, but the orange oil enables the rubber to be extremely pliable in both extreme hot and cold weather. The result is a tire that maintains consistent grip in true all-season driving. 

Another good thing with the Yokohama YK740 is the steering feel and stability. Not all cheap tires can deliver the stable handling and composure of the YK740. The steering also feels accurate and pointy, even on vehicles with naturally dull steering. And this is something I want to hammer home about the Yokohama YK740. It is expensive, but it can improve the behavior of your vehicle in many ways.

However, this is not a dedicated sporty tire. It feels like a sporty tire, but it is easy to breach the limits of adhesion if you drive like a speed-obsessed junkie on steroids. But for everyday driving, the tire is more than capable to live up to the task.

How does it handle snow?

Would you believe it if I say the tires are great on snow as well? The treads are equipped with Triple 3D sipes. These are basically the teeth or anchors. The tire can claw its way over light to moderate snow. It is even good on ice, but not by much. The tires have a tendency to slip before gripping over ice. If you live in a colder part of the planet, consider getting your car a set of snow tires.

How about ride comfort and road noise?

Touring tires are primarily designed to deliver a comfortable ride. And while the Yokohama YK740 GTX is not the most comfortable tires in the same price range, it belongs on top of the list. But I do have an issue with the dual-personality of the YK740 when it comes to ride comfort and road noise.

For starters, the tire can roll comfortably over uneven road surfaces. The tires remained calm and composed even when driving over coarse tarmac. But the tires will also hump and thump louder when faced with deep potholes and other road undulations. Let me put it this way – the tires are comfy in the highway but are jarring in the city.

The same goes for the road noise. The tires are silent at low to medium speeds. But there are noticeable amounts of tire roar as you speed up on the highway. However, it’s not as loud to be considered annoying or deafening, but it’s there.

Is the Yokohama YK740 GTX an economical choice?

Good question. The Yokohama YK740 GTX is backed by a 60,000-mile limited treadwear warranty. The orange oil compound is a low-rolling resistance tire compound. It makes the rubber more pliable while reducing road resistance as well. This is not really surprising given the YK740 GTX is Yokohama’s premium touring tire. But if you put all of that into consideration, the higher price tag inevitably worth it.

But then again, it all depends on your budget. May I dare say this tire is a bit of overkill for mini compact cars? Possibly. But if you can afford it, the Yokohama YK740 GTX is still a solid choice for your sedan, sports coupe, station wagon, or crossover SUV.

You can see more Yokohama YK740 GTX Review here: videos created by Junzen Pastoral

Is the tire good for sporty cars with powerful motors?

Not exactly. If you have a Subaru Impreza WRX STI, VW Golf GTi, Mitsubishi Evo, or any type of sporty car, the Yokohama YK740 GTX may not live up to your expectations. After all, this is a touring tire we’re talking about here, right? 

If you’re looking for tighter handling and maximum adhesion, check out the Yokohama Advan Sport and Advan Neova. Both tires are designed for ultra-high performance driving.