Prinx HiRACE HZ2 A/S vs Summit Ultramax HP A/S tires

Prinx vs Summit: Which UHP all-season tire is right for you?

Prinx, the flagship high-performance brand under Prinx Chengshan Tire Corporation (founded in 1976), combines decades of international manufacturing expertise with advanced tire design to deliver reliable, technology-driven solutions for drivers tight on budget. Another value brand, Summit brings decades of private-label heritage to the automotive aftermarket, focusing on rolling out great quality products across a wide range of passenger, SUV, CUV, and light truck vehicles.

Ultra-high-performance (UHP) all-season is an excellent option for your performance-oriented sedans, coupes, and CUVs. And the HiRACE HZ2 A/S for Prinx and Summit Ultramax HP A/S stand out as smart, budget-conscious options. Both tires are designed for spirited driving in different driving conditions, including dry, wet, and light snow.

While the Prinx HiRACE HZ2 A/S focuses on a refined ultra-high-performance feel, leveraging a silica-infused rubber compound and asymmetric tread design to improve high-speed cornering, steering response, and cabin comfort. On the other hand, the Summit Ultramax HP A/S is more towards delivering dependable year-round versatility, featuring wide circumferential grooves and optimized siping to clear water quickly, resist hydroplaning, and ensure solid braking on wet or light snow-covered roads.

Both UHP all-season tires are backed by a limited manufacturer tread life warranty for great value on their purchase. But which one is the better option? Let’s pit both budget tires against each other in this Prinx HiRACE HZ2 A/S vs Summit Ultramax HP A/S comparison to know the answer. We will compare them on the basis of their performance in our in-house scoring mechanism, SimpleScore, that rates each tire on a scale of 0 to 10 for traction, handling, and longevity. Let’s delve into the details.

Prinx HiRACE HZ2 A/S tires

Engineered for coupes, sedans, and SUVs, the Prinx HiRACE HZ2 A/S delivers great traction and handling throughout its lifespan. It features an asymmetric tread design and wide grooves that remove water quickly to improve wet braking and resist hydroplaning. Meanwhile, the integrated Pattern Noise Simulation (PNS) technology of the Prinx tire ensures a quiet, smooth ride.

Built with advanced Nano Blend Compound technology, it maintains continuous high-speed stability and long-term durability without sacrificing power. Lastly, the HiRACE HZ2 A/S comes backed by a 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty.

With an 8.2 overall SimpleScore, the Prinx HiRACE HZ2 A/S returns dependable grip, traction, control, and a superb tread life.

Get Prinx HiRACE HZ2 A/S tires at the best deals for your vehicle here

Summit Ultramax HP A/S tires

Designed for performance-oriented sedans, coupes, CUVs, and SUVs, the Summit Ultramax UHP A/S delivers dependable all-season high-speed performance in dry, wet, and light snowy conditions. The Summit tire uses a reinforced belt ply structure and an optimized sidewall design that absorbs vibrations and road noise for a quiet and comfortable ride.

The tire’s innovative asymmetric tread pattern with wider shoulder blocks provides confident cornering grip, while four wide circumferential grooves channel water away to mitigate the risk of hydroplaning on rain-soaked roads. The Ultramax UHP A/S is backed by a 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty for consistent, long-term use.

The Summit Ultramax HP A/S scores an 8.1 in its overall SimpleScore and assures dependable handling, traction, braking, and durability year-round.

Get Summit Ultramax HP A/S tires at the best deals for your vehicle here

Prinx HiRACE HZ2 A/S vs Summit Ultramax HP A/S tires on traction

UHP all-season tires require superior traction as you need strong grip for controlled spirited rides. Good traction is necessary for rapid acceleration and quick braking, as well as making sudden lane changes smoother. The Prinx and Summit tires are quite good on this front. Let’s see who wins the first race.

The traction score of the Prinx HiRACE HZ2 A/S is pretty decent at 8.0. This UHP all-season tire comes with a unique tread pattern that features extra sipes, improving grip on wet roads. Its wide grooves eliminate water away from the contact patch, reducing the chances of hydroplaning. Even as the tire wears, the Nano Blend compound helps it maintain consistent braking and grip, and that’s exactly why the tire delivers uniform performance over time.

On the other hand, the Summit Ultramax HP A/S earns a great traction score of 8.3 and features a silica-based compound that improves grip in wet road conditions. The special rubber compound also lowers the rolling resistance of the tire. With four high-angle grooves, the Ultramax HP evacuates water quickly, which helps you improve control under heavy rain. The tire also features a directional tread pattern, which helps in maintaining grip during hard acceleration and braking.

The Summit Ultramax HP A/S performs better in traction and earns a higher SimpleScore in this parameter.

ADVANTAGE: Summit Ultramax HP A/S

Prinx HiRACE HZ2 A/S vs Summit Ultramax HP A/S tires on handling

Sharper handling is one of the key reasons why drivers opt for UHP-all-season tires. When the tire is responsive, you gain more control while driving on highways or changing lanes at high speeds. Both tires are fantastic in offering solid handling and stability performance. Let’s see who has an edge over here.

At 8.0, the handling score of the Prinx HiRACE HZ2 A/S is commendable. The asymmetric tread pattern of the tire improves stability during cornering as a large part of the rubber remains in contact with the road during turns. Thanks to the Nano Blend Compound, you’ll experience more consistent braking, while the tread design gives a predictable feeling behind the steering wheel. The HiRACE HZ2 A/S also features the Pattern Noise Simulation technology, which reduces noise during your regular commutes.

The Summit Ultramax HP A/S earns a higher handling score of 8.3 and comes with a reinforced belt ply structure that maintains a rigid tread on highways. As a result, the tire remains stable when you change lanes fast or corner your vehicle. The directional tread pattern on the tire helps to achieve high-speed performance, while the tapered edges of the tread increase the contact area with the road. This eventually improves stability and reduces uneven wear. The optimized sidewall design absorbs road impacts, which makes the tire feel composed while driving.

With a higher score, the Summit Ultramax HP A/S wins in handling.

ADVANTAGE: Summit Ultramax HP A/S

Prinx HiRACE HZ2 A/S vs Summit Ultramax HP A/S tires on longevity

You’d expect your set of performance tires to last a reasonable number of miles. That’s why longevity is one of the crucial parameters to consider while buying these tires.

Boasting an 8.5 in longevity, the Prinx HiRACE HZ2 A/S is backed by a 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty. Featuring Nano Blend Compound, the Prinx tire ensures even wear as the tire ages and features an asymmetric tread pattern that distributes road forces more evenly, thus reducing premature wear as you drive on city roads or highways.

Covered by the same 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, the Summit Ultramax HP A/S secures a superb longevity score of 8.8. The tapered edges of the tread place more rubber on the road, which reduces uneven wear of its tread. Additionally, the reinforced internal construction keeps the tread stable over long distances.

The Summit Ultramax HP A/S performs better in terms of longevity and earns a higher SimpleScore in this parameter.

ADVANTAGE: Summit Ultramax HP A/S

When to use each

UHP all-season tires offer responsive handling and precise steering response throughout the year. They are suitable for driving in different weather conditions, including dry, wet, and light snow.

For those looking for an affordable tire with consistent braking and a quiet ride, the Prinx HiRACE HZ2 A/S is a great choice. But if you are someone who wants sharper handling, stronger wet grip, and a longer tread life, go for the Summit Ultramax HP A/S. It should be noted that neither tire is Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified, which means it cannot be used in moderate to severe winter weather conditions of deep snow.

The Prinx HiRACE HZ2 A/S is available in 16- to 24-inch rim sizes while the Summit Ultramax HP A/S comes in 16- to 20-inch rim sizes.

Which one should you choose?

The Prinx HiRACE HZ2 A/S is overall a better tire (8.2 vs 8.1) compared to the Summit Ultramax HP A/S. The Summit Ultramax HP A/S is the clear winner in all three categories, securing higher scores in traction, handling, and longevity. However, the Prinx HiRACE HZ2 A/S is an attractive option for budget-conscious buyers.

For the 235/45R17, each of the Prinx HiRACE HZ2 A/S tires costs around $84, which brings the cost of four such tires to $336. The price of each Summit Ultramax HP A/S is around $86, which means a set of four such tires would cost you approximately $344 (a difference of $8).

Considering the SimpleScore, you may choose the Prinx HiRACE HZ2 A/S if you:

• Drive cars like the Ford Mustang, Volvo S90, Volkswagen Golf R, or the Subaru WRX
• Prefer quieter rides
• Want a set of UHP all-season tires at affordable prices

You may, however, choose the Summit Ultramax HP A/S if you:

• Drive cars like the Scion FR-S, Cadillac ATS, Honda Civic, or the Mercedes-Benz C300
• Want a tire with better traction (8.3 vs. 8.0)
• Need a UHP all-season tire with superior handling (8.3 vs. 8.0)
• Prefer tires with a longer service life (8.8 vs 8.5)

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.