Hankook Kinergy GT (H436) vs Goodyear Assurance MaxLife tires

With over 90% of US vehicles equipped with all-season tires, the options to buy one are immense. Car owners wanting to lay their hands on the best value for money option in this category often pick Goodyear as one of their shortlisted brands, while the South Korean tire manufacturer Hankook is also a formidable player in this category. The Kinergy family from Hankook and the Assurance family from Goodyear are among the great all-season tire lines out there.

Choosing between the Hankook Kinergy GT (H436) and the Goodyear Assurance MaxLife requires weighing immediate ride refinement against long-term durability. The Hankook Kinergy GT is essentially a grand touring tire, frequently selected by automakers as original equipment for its balanced performance profile. It focuses on a quiet cabin, smooth damping, and reliable handling across dry and wet surfaces while being backed by a respectable mileage warranty.

In contrast, the Goodyear Assurance MaxLife lives up to its name with a primary focus on longevity. Boasting one of the industry’s highest treadwear warranties, it is the specialist for high-mileage commuters seeking to maximize the interval between replacements. While it provides dependable year-round traction, its firmer compound—necessary for that extreme wear resistance—may offer slightly more road feedback than the plush Hankook. Ultimately, the Kinergy GT excels as a comfort-first daily driver, while the MaxLife stands as the definitive choice for those who value total mileage.

So, which one to go for? Let’s do a Hankook Kinergy GT (H436) vs Goodyear Assurance MaxLife tires comparison based on our proprietary scoring mechanism, SimpleScore, which calibrates each tire on the basis of traction, handling, and longevity on a scale of 0 to 10. Read on.

Hankook Kinergy GT (H436) tires

Introduced five years back, the Hankook Kinergy GT (H436) is a grand touring all-season tire designed for sedans, CUVs, and coupes that offers great comfort and performance. Engineered for versatility, the Hankook tire features wide circumferential grooves and a high-grip silica compound to provide enhanced traction in dry, wet, and light winter conditions.

As an Original Equipment (OE) choice for leading manufacturers, it is designed for accurate steering response and high-speed stability using a jointless full-cover reinforced belt. Backed by a generous 70,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, the Kinergy GT (H436) is built for longevity and uniform wear.

With an impressive 8.6 overall SimpleScore, this tire is a top-tier choice for a smooth, quiet, and dependable year-round driving experience.

Get Hankook Kinergy GT (H436) tires at the best deals for your vehicle here

Goodyear Assurance MaxLife tires

The Goodyear Assurance MaxLife is a premier all-season touring tire designed for drivers who prefer value and long-term reliability. Designed for CUVs, sedans, and minivans, it features Goodyear’s innovative TredLife Technology, which provides up to 30% more miles of wear than standard all-season tires. This intense focus on durability is backed by an industry-leading 85,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, one of the highest available in the market.

Beyond its longevity, the MaxLife is designed for consistent year-round safety. Its symmetrical tread pattern includes four deep circumferential grooves to effectively evacuate water to mitigate the risk of hydroplaning and boost wet performance. Additionally, built-in Wear Gauges allow drivers to visually monitor tread depth.

With an overall SimpleScore of 9.0, the Goodyear Assurance MaxLife returns exceptional longevity, along with great year-round performance in different driving conditions.

Get Goodyear Assurance MaxLife tires at the best deals for your vehicle here

Hankook Kinergy GT (H436) vs Goodyear Assurance MaxLife tires on traction

Being all-season tires, do not expect them to offer outstanding traction. However, the grip is fantastic and assures safety whichever option you choose. The Hankook and Goodyear tires offer great traction, but one tire emerges as a clear winner here.

With an 8.4 traction score, the Hankook Kinergy GT (H436) features 4 wide circumferential grooves and wide lateral grooves with a step-wing shoulder for quick outflow of water from the tread, which eventually boosts wet braking and traction. Meanwhile, the equalized chamfer sipe and optimized lateral groove elements improve snow grip in light wintry conditions.

On the other hand, the Goodyear Assurance MaxLife is at home with a superb 8.8 in traction. It features reliable all-season traction through a specialized rubber compound and a smooth tread design. The Goodyear Assurance MaxLife comes with multiple biting edges that grip the road in rain and light snow, while four deep circumferential grooves effectively channel water away to prevent hydroplaning.

With a better traction score, the Goodyear Assurance MaxLife wins the traction battle.

ADVANTAGE: Goodyear Assurance MaxLife

Hankook Kinergy GT (H436) vs Goodyear Assurance MaxLife tires on handling

The more prompt your steering wheel is, the safer you drive. Quick and timely maneuvers allow increased control and better stability in dry, wet, and light wintry conditions. Here, both tires return better handling figures, but one of the tires turns out to have a more accurate steering response.

Securing an 8.6 in handling, the Hankook Kinergy GT (H436) comes with optimized block stiffness and center rib that not only improve durability but also boost steering response and stability in different driving conditions. Also, the rigid center rib of the Hankook all-season tire allows better interlocking with the surface for reassuring braking and improved handling.

With an excellent 9.0 in handling, the Assurance MaxLife is characterized by predictable and stable steering response. The Goodyear tire features a symmetrical tread pattern that includes solid shoulder blocks to stabilize the tire's footprint during cornering and lane changes. Additionally, a continuous center rib maintains constant road contact, providing drivers with enhanced control and great balance during long, highway drives.

The Goodyear Assurance MaxLife continues its winning streak and beats the Hankook tire yet again by achieving an exceptional handling score.

ADVANTAGE: Goodyear Assurance MaxLife

Hankook Kinergy GT (H436) vs Goodyear Assurance MaxLife tires on longevity

All-season tires are preferred for their long-lasting tread life and are usually covered by long mileage warranties from manufacturers. The Hankook and Goodyear tires are incredible when it comes to tread life, but one of the tires turns out to be an exceptional performer. Let’s check out who that one is.

The Hankook Kinergy GT (H436) ups its game and scores a phenomenal 9.0 in longevity. Designed for enhanced longevity, it features optimized tread block stiffness and a rigid center rib to ensure even wear. Backed by a superb 70,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, the Hankook tire utilizes a durable, high-grip silica compound and symmetric design that effectively resists deformity, helping drivers achieve maximum mileage while maintaining a quiet, refined ride.

Contrarily, the Goodyear Assurance MaxLife achieves an exceptional 9.6 out of 10 in terms of longevity, affirming its superior tread life. Covered by an industry-leading 85,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, it employs proprietary TredLife Technology, which provides up to 30% more miles of wear than standard all-season tires. Its advanced rubber compound and symmetrical tread pattern ensure uniform wear, while built-in gauges offer easy, at-a-glance tread monitoring.

The Goodyear Assurance MaxLife seals the comparison with yet another convincing victory over the Hankook, as it returns outstanding longevity figures.

ADVANTAGE: Goodyear Assurance MaxLife

When to use each

All-season touring tires are the "jack-of-all-trades" for daily drivers, balancing comfort with year-round versatility. Designed for sedans, SUVs, and minivans, they feature special rubber compounds and tread patterns that provide a quiet ride, predictable handling, and reliable traction in dry, wet, and light winter conditions—all while maximizing tread life.

That said, the Goodyear Assurance MaxLife should be your preference if you need a longer service life and strong handling and traction, while the Hankook Kinergy GT should be your option if you want a superb tread life, great traction, and decent handling throughout the year at an aggressive price.

Which one should you choose?

To sum up, the Goodyear Assurance MaxLife is a better overall performer than the Hankook, as it does a clean sweep 3-0! However, each tire has its own advantages and attributes that may align better with your driving habits and requirements. So, choose wisely. Lastly, let’s see the prices of these tires and know which one is a real deal.

With a starting price of $120 per tire, a set of four Hankook Kinergy GT (H436) tires would cost $480. Additionally, the Goodyear Assurance MaxLife is tagged at a starting price of $159, making a set of four tires cost $636 (a difference of $156).

Looking at SimpleScore, you should choose the Hankook Kinergy GT (H436) if you:

• Drive vehicles like the Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, or Chevrolet Trailblazer
• Want an all-season tire that offers solid handling and traction
• Prefer a set of all-season tires that return a fantastic tread life with a 70,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty
• Want a reliable all-season tire at an affordable tag

On the other hand, you should consider the Goodyear Assurance MaxLife if you:

• Drive vehicles like the Ford Fusion, Honda Odyssey, or Toyota Camry
• Want an incredible longevity (9.6 vs 9.0)
• Prefer a tire with a longer mileage warranty (85,000 vs 70,000 miles)
• Want improved handling (9.0 vs 8.6) and traction (8.8 vs 8.4)
• Are ready to pay a premium for a reliable all-season tire

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.