Let's set the scene: a Toyota GR Yaris with its nearly 300 HP, all-wheel drive, and wet, broken Swiss asphalt. The combination promises action, but reality exceeded expectations. With the Goodyear Vector All Season 4 tires, the little turbo behaved like a rally tractor, allowing you to attack corners with a confidence that borders on absurd. The stability on that treacherous surface was such that you almost forget you're wearing winter tires in summer.
The key lies in the tread pattern and multi-season compounds 🏔️
The secret of the Vector All Season 4 lies in its tread design with sipes that evacuate water and snow without sacrificing dry grip. On the uneven asphalt of the Alps, the GR Yaris's all-wheel drive channels power to the axle with the most grip, but it's these tires that keep the car glued to the road. Its silica compound allows the rubber to function over a wide temperature range, key when you go from a cold, wet area to a sunny one. There are no miracles, just engineering applied to rolling in any condition.
The day a Yaris made me doubt my need for slicks 🚗💨
I confess: I left home thinking all-season tires are a compromise, a solution for lazy people who don't want to change tires. But after several blind corners in the wet, the GR Yaris was still there, steady, as if the asphalt were dry. The only moment of tension was when a cyclist suddenly appeared and I had to brake; the car stopped on a dime while I thought about renaming the car Yaris Grip. In the end, it turned out that compromises are sometimes smarter than you.