BlackHawk Agility SUV vs Sumitomo Encounter HT2 tires

BlackHawk is a reputed value tire brand that is marketed in the US by Sailun Tires. The affordable brand manufactures quality tires that undergo stringent checks before reaching showrooms. Similarly, Sumitomo is a Japanese tire brand that is ranked among the world’s largest tire manufacturers. Both tire makers produce tires for passenger cars, light trucks, CUVs, minivans, SUVs, and commercial vehicles.

Within the highway-terrain category, the Agility SUV by BlackHawk and the Encounter HT2 by Sumitomo offer a decent balance of heavy-duty durability and sedan-like refinement. Both are designed for highway use, where high-speed stability and all-season reliability are a must for family haulers and daily commuters.

BlackHawk, known for its value-performance engineering, positions the Agility SUV as a high-traction solution that prioritizes wet traction and responsive handling, utilizing an advanced rubber compound to minimize the ‘floaty’ feel often associated with larger vehicles. On the other hand, the Sumitomo Encounter HT2 represents the pinnacle of highway-terrain evolution. Building on the success of its predecessor, the HT2 focuses on a quiet cabin experience and class-leading longevity, often backed by a strong mileage warranty.

So, which one is a better option? Let’s try to answer the question by doing BlackHawk Agility SUV vs Sumitomo Encounter HT2 comparison, where we analyse traction, handling, and longevity aspects of the two tires based on their SimpleScore rating. It’s our in-house scoring mechanism that rates each tire on a scale of 0 to 10. Without further ado, let’s delve into finer details.

BlackHawk Agility SUV tires

Introduced in 2024, the BlackHawk Agility SUV is a reliable all-season tire that’s designed for CUVs and SUVs, and returns solid performance in dry, wet, and light snow. Featuring a special tread pattern, the BlackHawk tire offers enhanced durability and a reinforced sidewall design for maximum protection against impacts and damage. While solid shoulder design and multiple sipes provide improved handling and stability, the special rubber compound aids in delivering consistent grip and traction on dry and wet surfaces.

The wide circumferential grooves and lateral groove act together to channel water out of the tread and mitigate the risk of hydroplaning. It is covered by a superb 60,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, roadside assistance, and a 2-year road hazard replacement program.

Achieving an impressive 8.0 overall SimpleScore, the BlackHawk Agility SUV assures predictable handling, solid traction, and decent tread life.

Get BlackHawk Agility SUV tires at the best deals for your vehicle here

Sumitomo Encounter HT2 tires

A successor of the Encounter HT, the Sumitomo Encounter HT2 was launched in March 2022 and is specially designed to meet the needs of modern CUVs, SUVs, and light trucks. An all-season, highway terrain tire, the Encounter HT2 returns solid braking and precise handling, ensuring a confident driving experience on both dry and wet roads.

Focussed on comfort, the tire features innovatively curved shoulder grooves that effectively dampen road noise and vibrations for a quiet cabin experience. The circumferential grooves and multiple sipes allow quick water outflow for effective drainage and improved wet performance. Additionally, the Encounter HT2 is supported by a fantastic 60,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty.

Securing an 8.1 overall SimpleScore, the Sumitomo Encounter HT2 is a reliable highway tire that offers adequate grip, traction, handling, and durability.

Get Sumitomo Encounter HT2 tires at the best deals for your vehicle here

BlackHawk Agility SUV vs Sumitomo Encounter HT2 tires on traction

When you choose an all-season tire for your SUV or light truck, you’d look for decent traction. After all, traction determines how confidently you drive in daily conditions through wet roads or during sudden braking. The BlackHawk and Sumitomo tires offer adequate grip and traction, but one proves to be too good for the other.

The BlackHawk Agility SUV scores 8.0 in traction, and you’ll experience consistent grip when you use it for regular drives. It features wide circumferential grooves and lateral shoulder grooves that help it evacuate water efficiently, thereby reducing the chances of hydroplaning. The tread design consists of sipes across the surface, which generate dependable traction on both dry and wet surfaces. You’ll feel the rides predictable and steady, which makes it suitable for daily city driving.

At 7.7, the traction score of the Sumitomo Encounter HT2 looks good. If you mostly drive on highways, this tire would be a decent choice. It features wave-shaped sipes and four wide grooves that improve grip and evacuate water efficiently. The Encounter HT2 performs well on dry and mildly wet roads, but the overall grip isn’t as strong as the BlackHawk in demanding conditions.

The BlackHawk Agility SUV wins the section as it offers better traction and scores higher in this parameter.

ADVANTAGE: BlackHawk Agility SUV

BlackHawk Agility SUV vs Sumitomo Encounter HT2 tires on handling

The handling of an all-season tire determines the kind of steering response and control you enjoy as you change lanes or drive at higher speeds. You’d look out for tires that give a stable or predictable feel. Let’s have a look at their handling performances.

The BlackHawk Agility SUV earns a handling score of 8.1, which makes your driving experience well-balanced. Featuring a solid shoulder design, the BlackHawk tire improves stability as you turn at highway speeds. The overall tread layout makes the steering responsive, and you’d get a composed feeling when you’re switching lanes or driving at highway speeds. The Agility SUV is a dependable choice for everyday use.

The Sumitomo Encounter HT2 gets a score of 7.9 in handling, and you’ll experience more comfort and stability instead of sharp steering response with this tire. The optimized tread pattern and reinforced construction provide a smooth and controlled feel when you drive on highways. However, the steering response isn’t as crisp, and you might feel the tire slightly less engaging compared to the BlackHawk tire.

With a marginally better score, the BlackHawk Agility SUV beats the Sumitomo Encounter HT2 in handling, too.

ADVANTAGE: BlackHawk Agility SUV

BlackHawk Agility SUV vs Sumitomo Encounter HT2 tires on longevity

For regular drives, longevity is a key factor to consider before buying an all-season tire. A longer tread life defines your value for money as it translates to better service life over time. Both budget tires are great at offering decent longevity, but one goes over and above to even shame premium brands.

At 8.1, the longevity score of the BlackHawk Agility SUV looks great, and it is backed by a 60,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty. The tread undergoes even wear, thanks to the uniform distribution of pressure across the contact patch. This helps the tire maintain performance over time, which makes it a dependable option for daily use in the long term.

Achieving a superb longevity score of 8.8, the Sumitomo Encounter HT2 comes with a 60,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty. Its reinforced internal construction makes it deliver long-lasting tread life. Thanks to its twin steel belts and a durable rubber compound, the Encounter HT2 significantly improves resistance to wear. It lasts longer under heavier loads and consistent use on highways.

The Sumitomo Encounter HT2 emerges as the winner in terms of longevity and earns a superb longevity score.

ADVANTAGE: Sumitomo Encounter HT2

When to use each

All-season tires for SUVs and light trucks are suitable for daily driving and cruising along highways. These tires balance traction, handling, and longevity to offer comfort throughout the year.

If you’re looking for a tire that feels more responsive for daily driving conditions, the BlackHawk Agility SUV will be a better choice. It’s suitable for city commutes and mixed driving conditions, providing you with more control and stability.

The Sumitomo Encounter HT2 is more suited for driving on highways. If you spend more time on long drives and want a more relaxed driving experience with long-term durability, you should consider going for this tire. Here, you get more consistency and comfort, but it lacks sharp responsiveness.

Which one should you choose?

When you choose an all-season tire, consider what you want during your everyday rides. The BlackHawk Agility SUV is a better option if you want stronger traction and handling. The driving experience is more confident and responsive, which makes it suitable for daily commuting and mixed driving conditions. The Sumitomo Encounter HT2 appeals to those who frequently go for long highway drives with its service life.

For the 225/70R16 103T tire size, each BlackHawk Agility SUV costs about $90, and this brings the cost of four such tires to around $360. On the other hand, the cost of one Sumitomo Encounter HT2 is around $160, which means four such tires would cost you approximately $640 (a difference of $280).

Based on SimpleScore, you may go for the BlackHawk Agility SUV if you:

• Drive vehicles like the Chevrolet Blazer, Toyota RAV4, and the GMC Acadia
• Want better traction (8.0 vs 7.7)
• Need better handling (8.1 vs 7.9)

On the other hand, you may choose the Sumitomo Encounter HT2 if you:

• Drive vehicles like the Toyota Sequoia, Chevrolet Tahoe, and Cadillac Escalade
• Want better longevity (8.8 vs 8.1)
• Spend more time on highways

Still not sure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help, as our helpful agents are more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.