BFGoodrich g-Force COMP-2 A/S: Blurring The Line Between High-Performance And All-Season

In Canada, the term “all-season tires” always elicits a smirk. There just isn’t technology that allows tires to perform well at both 30 degrees below and 30 degrees above zero. In Quebec, the government has even made it mandatory for drivers to own two sets of tires – one for summer (spring to fall) and the other for winter.

And yet, tire manufacturers continue to produce all-season tires. They’re popular in the U.S., where drivers don’t have to deal with the same heaps of powder as we do. On our side of the border, we’re generally OK with having two sets of tires. This is particularly true for sports cars, with performance tires being the best choice.

But what do you think happened when a manufacturer announced that it was about to unveil all-season tires that compared favourably to summer tires in handling and responsiveness? They caught our attention and we were eager for them to prove it!

So that’s how it came to be that I accepted an invitation from BFGoodrich to participate in the launch of their new g-Force COMP-2 A/S tires. If you know anything about the brand’s products, you’ve already heard about this line, which includes the g-Force Sport COMP-2 high-performance summer tires for sports cars. Since these two products have almost the same name, it stands to reason that their construction is similar. But whereas the Sport COMP-2 tires are only effective in warm weather, the new ones promise to be just as good when the mercury dips. According to BFGoodrich, the COMP-2 A/S is good for light snow, which is practical for those unexpected dumps in early spring.

BFGoodrich prepared a number of tests for the journalists who came out to test the new tires. There was a wet track, a dry track and a braking zone. For the sake of comparison, each test pitted the BFGoodrich products against one of their direct competitors.

Wet track

The first test of the day took place on the short autocross track, which had been sprayed with water. Half of the vehicles (2015 Ford Mustang V6) were outfitted with COMP-2 A/S, while the others had Yokohama AVID ENVigor and General G-MAX AS-03, two rival products. After the first corners, we noted that the BFGoodrich tires were stable during quick changes in direction, helping reduce body roll. The tread design helped fully expel water from the COMP-2 A/S, ensuring better traction than its competitors, and I found it easier to keep the Mustang steady when it was equipped with the BFGoodrich tires. Finally, these tires offered surprisingly good traction from a stop—even with the Ford coupe’s 280 lbs.-ft. of torque, traction was more than sufficient. The rear tires never squealed, even when my right foot pushed into the accelerator.

Dry track

Once we were done with the Mustang, we headed over to a second autocross track, but this one was completely dry. To make the most of this circuit requiring great handling, the organizers chose the Scion FR-S, which is essentially a street-legal go-kart. The procedure being the same as before, I first tried a vehicle with COMP-2 A/S and then redid the same circuit with the same two rival tires. On this track, my conclusions were the same, only much more pronounced. The BFGoodrich tires were not only more lively and prompt in direction changes, they also adhered better and inspired much more confidence in sudden manoeuvres. This trial proved to me that the COMP-2 A/S is also resistant to heat; even after an intensive demo on the track, they performed just as well as they did when we first started out. The same could not be said for the competition.

Braking

The last test of the day was easy as pie. Driving an Audi A5, we accelerated to 90 km/h, then braked abruptly, forcing the tires and ABS brakes to bring the vehicle to a stop. On wet and dry surfaces alike, the BFGoodrich tires braked 1.5 metres ahead of rival Hankook Ventus S1 noble 2. But the numbers don’t tell the full story: As soon as we applied the brakes, the anti-lock system activated without any jolts, and we felt it pulse more steadily. In the case of the Hankook tires, we noted that the vehicle’s nose dove a bit when we braked.

Tires: Connecting you and the road

The BFGoodrich COMP-2 A/S occupies a funny place in our market. It targets performance buffs, but since it can’t be used in winter, it has less appeal. However, the tests that I did proved to me that this newcomer can offer a similar experience as its big brother, the Sport COMP-2. What’s more, it can be useful for drivers who are eager to take their sports car out in early spring or late fall, as it can withstand colder temperatures. Plus, the manufacturer has assured us that the COMP-2 A/S will come in 59 different sizes, meaning you’re sure to find some that fit.