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Last updated 11/14/2024 - Originally published 11/14/2024
Written by SimpleTire
All-season tires are designed to perform year-round and specifically excel in dry, wet, and light winter weather conditions. Indeed they are the most common ones used on the road today.
Hankook and Yokohama consistently stay ahead by embracing innovation, meeting evolving market demands, and collaborating with external partners.
Their commitment to quality, performance, and durability is evident in models like the Hankook Kinergy GT (H436) and Yokohama Avid Ascend LX both of which are ideal for use on passenger cars, CUVs, and SUVs. While both tires offer great performance, one has to be better than the other, right? Let’s compare Hankook Kinergy GT (H436) vs Yokohama Avid Ascend LX tires using SimpleScore to show where each tire excels and which one might be right for you.
Hankook Kinergy GT (H436) tires
Looking for a reliable all-season tire that performs consistently throughout the year? Look no further than the Hankook Kinergy GT (H436), boasting an impressive SimpleScore of 8.5 out of 10.
Designed for year-round use on paved roads, the Kinergy GT (H436) comes with a 70,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty. It delivers enhanced control through a wide contact area, which ensures stable and responsive steering, even in challenging driving conditions, by maximizing road contact. Equalized chamfered sipes and optimized lateral grooves contribute to a strong grip on snowy surfaces, while the stiff tread blocks of the Kinergy GT (H436) provide added strength and durability, resulting in extended tread life.
Yokohama Avid Ascend LX tires
All-season tires are designed to perform effectively year-round, offering reliable traction in dry, wet, or light winter weather conditions. These tires prioritize a smooth and comfortable driving experience while also delivering longer tread life. If you're in the market for a great all-season tire consider the Yokohama Avid Ascend LX. This tire offers strong traction in both wet and dry conditions.
With an impressive average SimpleScore of 9, the Yokohama Avid Ascend LX features a special rubber compound in its tread that enhances grip on wet and snowy roads, improving both drive comfort and safety. With the Yokohama Avid Ascend LX on your vehicle, you can expect unmatched performance, uncompromising quality, and exceptional durability. Additionally, it is also backed by an 85,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty for standard fitment or the front of staggered fitment and a 42,500 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty for the rear of staggered fitments.
Hankook Kinergy GT (H436) vs Yokohama Avid Ascend LX tires on traction
Traction is a critical aspect of tire performance, particularly for all-season tires. These tires are specially designed to provide grip in various weather conditions, they aim to strike a balance between performance on dry roads, wet surfaces, and even light snowy terrain.
Comparing the above two based on traction, you will see that the Hankook Kinergy GT (H436) is designed with a symmetrical tread along with an innovative tread pattern for great traction on wet roads, improving tread wear and fuel efficiency. Additionally, wide lateral grooves in the tire tread provide hydroplaning resistance and the step-wing shoulder design maximizes water evacuation to ensure safety on wet surfaces. This has helped this tire reach an average traction SimpleScore of 8.2, which is exceptionally great for performance.
On the other hand, the Yokohama Avid Ascend LX has a score of 8.5 out of 10 in traction. This is thanks to a special symmetrical tread design and four wide grooves paired with lateral grooves that help improve braking performance, while the rest of the tread helps reduce road noises for a quiet, comfortable ride. You get considerate traction with this tire and can depend on it for your all-season great traction performance.
When it comes to winter weather traction, the Hankook Kinergy GT (H436) falls behind the Yokohama Avid Ascend LX.
ADVANTAGE: Yokohama Avid Ascend LX
Hankook Kinergy GT (H436) vs Yokohama Avid Ascend LX tires on handling
All-season tires are crafted to offer a blend of performance across diverse weather conditions. These versatile tires cater to dry roads, wet surfaces, and even light snow. Their enhanced handling capabilities come from a combination of factors, including the intricate tread pattern and the overall tire design.
The Hankook Kinergy GT (H436) sports a solid 8.6 SimpleScore for handling, which is largely driven by the tire’s innovative tread and stiff tread blocks, which also provide excellent grip on wet roads and can help to improve fuel efficiency so that drivers save at the pumps, allowing it to be more durable and improving its handling.
On the flip side, the Yokohama Avid Ascend LX comes in with a SimpleScore of 8.7. Features an innovative design and an all-new rubber compound that boosts wet braking so that drivers can stop shorter on rain and snow-covered roads allowing for consistent year-round use for a quiet, comfortable ride, plus an optimized footprint that allows for even wear to extend the tire's tread life.
ADVANTAGE: Yokohama Avid Ascend LX
Hankook Kinergy GT (H436) vs Yokohama Avid Ascend LX tires on longevity
Longevity is equally important to traction and handling when purchasing a tire. The longevity of a tire depends on several factors, including the quality of the tire, driving habits, road conditions, and maintenance. Based on SimpleScore, this was the biggest gap between the two tires.
Starting with the Hankook Kinergy GT (H436), the tire offers an excellent SimpleScore of 9.0 out of 10 on the longevity front. The tire’s tough, rugged rubber compound and reinforced construction work together to increase handling which allows for a longer tread life. Outside of that, the tire’s optimized design and tied shoulders put more rubber on the road which prevents irregular wear by evenly distributing road forces (in addition to boosting handling).
Conversely, the Avid Ascend GT’s exceptional 9.8 SimpleScore in longevity shows that it lags behind a lot. The Yokohama Avid Ascend LX also features reinforced construction, and its innovative multi-pitch tread design gives drivers a quiet, comfortable ride, plus even wear to extend the tire's tread life.
Although both the tires perform solid when it comes to longevity, the Hankook Kinergy GT (H436) falls a bit behind the Yokohama Avid Ascend LX as the Kinergy GT (H436) comes with 70,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty against the 85,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty from the Yokohama Avid Ascend LX.
ADVANTAGE: Yokohama Avid Ascend LX
When to use each
All-season tires are a popular choice due to their convenience and adaptability, performing well in a variety of weather conditions. Their tread compound is designed to provide balanced handling, traction, and longevity across different seasons, which makes them generally more durable than tires specifically made for summer or winter. Models like the Hankook Kinergy GT (H436) and Yokohama Avid Ascend LX offer reliable performance and tread life, suited for moderate climates where winters are mild.
However, in regions that experience harsh winters with heavy snow, all-season tires may fall short of providing the necessary grip and control for safe driving. Dedicated winter tires are engineered with specialized rubber compounds and deeper, more aggressive treads that allow for superior traction on ice and snow. This extra grip enhances stopping power, stability, and overall safety in winter's most severe conditions.
That said, all-season tires remain an excellent choice for drivers in areas that experience a mix of light snow, rain, and dry roads, as they are designed to handle these conditions with ease. They strike a balance between summer and winter performance, offering a practical solution for year-round use without the need to switch between seasonal tires.
Additionally, cautious driving habits and avoiding harsh conditions can help preserve the tread and overall integrity of the tires.
Which one should you choose?
So, which all-season tire is the right option for you? When looking at SimpleScore, the Hankook Kinergy GT (H436) comes out slightly ahead of the Yokohama Avid Ascend LX with an overall score of 9.0 versus 8.5.
As noted above, there are key differences between the two tires and these need to be weighed against each other to determine what’s best for you. Finally (and maybe, most importantly), pricing on these two tires is a bit different as Hankook Kinergy GT (H436) tires cost at least $70.96 per tire while Yokohama Avid Ascend LX tires cost at least $114.99 per tire. That means a set of four Hankook Kinergy GT (H436) all-season tires will cost you at least $283.84 for a set of four, while a set of four Yokohama Avid Ascend LX tires will cost you at least $459.96.
Based on SimpleScore, you should choose the Hankook Kinergy GT (H436) if you:
- Drive a passenger vehicle like Buick Envision, Chevrolet Captiva, Dodge Challenger, or Honda CR-V
- Want an affordable set of tires
Conversely, you should choose the Yokohama Avid Ascend LX if you:
- Drive a Honda Accord, Kia Soul, Lexus ES, Mazda Atenza or Nissan Astra or a Fiat Strada
- Want great traction (8.5 vs 8.2)
- Prefer excellent longevity (9.8 v 9)
- Want a tire that handles the vehicle better (8.7 vs 8.6)
- Want a better-performing tire and are willing to pay the cost difference
Hankook Kinergy GT (H436) vs Yokohama Avid Ascend LX tires might not seem a close comparison on the surface, but the above clearly shows that either is a great option. Remember, both of the tire brands are some of the best tire manufacturers on the market, and that tradition continues with the Hankook Kinergy GT (H436) and Yokohama Avid Ascend LX. At the end of the day, the decision to buy one or the other depends on your vehicle, where (and how) you drive, and what you care more about in terms of traction, handling, longevity, and price.
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.