Hankook Dynapro HPX RA43 vs Nexen Roadian GTX tires

All-season tires are the heart and lungs of the American transport industry, thanks to their unique rubber compound that adapts to the changing weather and works best in dry, wet, and light winter weather conditions. When looking for a great all-season tire, drivers consider Hankook and Nexen brands for their high reliability, great performance, and smart pricing. Both brands have extensive tire lines for passenger cars, CUVs, SUVs, light trucks, and sports cars.

The Dynapro HPX RA43 from Hankook and the Roadian GTX from Nexen are handpicked options for drivers wanting reliable all-season tires. Both tires are engineered for the SUVs and CUVs, where drivers want a ‘do-it-all’ performer that balances highway silence with all-season grip. The Hankook Dynapro HPX RA43 focuses more on refinement, improved wet braking over its predecessors, and utilizes advanced 3D GripKontrol sipes to maintain tread rigidity.

Conversely, the Nexen Roadian GTX is the marathon runner. Known for its exceptional tread life and high mileage warranty, it uses a specialized polymer to resist deformation, making it a favorite for budget-conscious families who refuse to compromise on durability.

So, which tire is best for you? Let’s stack the two South Korean giants up against each other in this Hankook Dynapro HPX RA43 vs Nexen Roadian GTX tires comparison based on our SimpleScore. It’s our in-house scoring mechanism that analyses and rates each tire on a scale of 0 to 10 for traction, handling, and longevity.

Hankook Dynapro HPX RA43 tires

Introduced in January 2024, the Hankook Dynapro HPX RA43 is a reliable all-season, touring tire that’s designed for use on CUVs, SUVs, and light trucks, and offers refined ride quality with reduced noise and vibration. It’s a rare combination of sophisticated drive experience with a high-strength carcass for heavy vehicle loads.

With a new all-season rubber compound, the Hankook tire returns up to 12% longer tread life than its predecessors and is backed by a superb 70,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty. The use of 3D GripKontrol sipes and Knurling Technology within the grooves improves its grip, handling, traction, and control, along with minimizing road noise for a confident and comfortable drive experience throughout the year.

Scoring an excellent 8.9 overall SimpleScore, the Hankook Dynapro HPX RA43 assures a premium, refined ride, great handling, grip, and control, and a long-lasting tread life.

Get Hankook Dynapro HPX RA43 tires at the best deals for your vehicle here

Nexen Roadian GTX tires

Launched in 2019, the Nexen Roadian GTX is also a capable grand touring all-season tire that’s designed for drivers of CUVs and SUVs who prefer long-term durability and highway comfort without the premium price tag of top brands. The Nexen tire features a tread pattern that includes a zigzag lateral groove pattern that efficiently channels water away to prevent hydroplaning while enhancing light snow traction.

Additionally, the Roadian GTX is optimized for a quiet cabin experience, utilizing varied pitch sequences to dampen road noise. Backed by a 70,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, the all-season tire is supported by a specialized polymer compound that resists tread deformation and irregular wear.

Achieving a superb 8.9 in its overall SimpleScore, the Nexen Roadian GTX promises impeccable grip, traction, handling, and longevity in different driving conditions.

Get Nexen Roadian GTX tires at the best deals for your vehicle here

Hankook Dynapro HPX RA43 vs Nexen Roadian GTX tires on traction

Traction is a deciding factor for the performance of all-season tires. These tires often change between dry, wet, and light snow throughout the year. Decent traction keeps the driving experience consistent in different conditions. Both tires are almost equal when it comes to offering grip and traction.

The Hankook Dynapro HPX RA43 scores an 8.5 in traction, which looks great for an all-season tire. It provides a dependable grip for daily commutes. While the GripKontrol sipes maintain the stability of the blocks, the tread design ensures consistent braking and acceleration. Drivers experience better road contact in dry, wet, and even light winter conditions. The pressure is evenly distributed across the contact patch, which helps in maintaining a steady grip over time.

On the other hand, the Nexen Roadian GTX earns an impressive traction score of 8.7. It offers a slightly stronger bite on the road. Thanks to its symmetric tread pattern, optimized grooves, and angled sipes, drivers experience better grip on different surfaces. The all-season tire also features zigzag lateral grooves and a semi-longitudinal groove that evacuates water to reduce the risk of hydroplaning. It also improves cornering grip, which makes the tire feel more confident when you drive in wet conditions.

The Nexen Roadian GTX emerges as the winner in terms of traction with a higher score and better response on wet roads.

ADVANTAGE: Nexen Roadian GTX

Hankook Dynapro HPX RA43 vs Nexen Roadian GTX tires on handling

Handling matters for all-season tires, as this parameter defines your overall control and steering response. You may be changing lanes, cornering, or just cruising along highways. With good handling, you enjoy better overall control. Here, too, the battle is fierce between Hankook and Nexen, but one gets the better of the other.

The Hankook Dynapro HPX RA43 scores an 8.6 in handling, which makes the vehicle stable on the road. With extended shoulder blocks, drivers experience better steering response and grip during turns. Its tread design helps to maintain the proper shape of the tire under load. As a result, drivers can maintain highway speeds and retain momentum.

The Nexen Roadian GTX secures a marginally higher score of 8.7 in handling. Drivers experience more balanced handling performance, thanks to its optimized tread pattern and stiff blocks that improve stability during cornering. On the other hand, the groove design helps the tire maintain consistent contact with the road. As a result, the tire feels more composed, particularly when you switch between dry and wet surfaces.

Although it’s a close call, the Nexen Roadian GTX edges past the Hankook tire with a higher score in handling performance.

ADVANTAGE: Nexen Roadian GTX

Hankook Dynapro HPX RA43 vs Nexen Roadian GTX tires on longevity

Longevity is one criterion drivers can’t compromise with, particularly for all-season tires. It ultimately determines how long your tire is likely to last.

With an exceptional longevity score of 9.6 out of 10, the Hankook Dynapro HPX RA43 ascertains its long-lasting tread and service life. Backed by a 70,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, the Hankook tire’s wear-resistant rubber compound and higher contact area distribute the pressure evenly, which reduces uneven wear. With this design, the tire holds up well over time, even when you continue to use it on the highway consistently.

On the other hand, the Nexen Roadian GTX is just behind the Hankook as it scores a phenomenal 9.5 in longevity. Its optimized groove and sipes maintain even wear, while the low rolling resistance reduces strain on the tread. As a result, drivers enjoy a long tire life and better fuel efficiency. The Nexen is covered by the same 70,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty.

The Hankook Dynapro HPX RA43 takes the lead in longevity with a better SimpleScore.

ADVANTAGE: Hankook Dynapro HPX RA43

When to use each

All-season tires offer a balanced mix of traction, handling, and longevity. These tires perform on dry, wet, and light snow year-round and offer both comfort and better fuel efficiency.

The Hankook Dynapro HPX RA43 would be the right choice if you want a long-lasting tire (9.6 vs 9.5) with better fuel efficiency and comfort. On the other hand, the Nexen Roadian GTX would be a suitable pick if you want better traction (8.7 vs 8.5) and handling (8.7 vs 8.6). However, none of the tires is Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified, which means they cannot be used in extreme winter conditions, including deep snow and ice.

Which one should you choose?

In a nutshell, both tires perform closely in all three parameters. So, when you’re buying one of these, consider what matters more to you. The Nexen Roadian GTX wins in traction and handling, giving you a better experience in wet conditions. However, if better longevity and fuel efficiency matter to you, the Hankook Dynapro HPX RA43 would be the better choice.

For the 215/60R17 tire size, the Hankook Dynapro HPX RA43 costs around $177 per tire, and the cost of four such tires comes to $708. On the other hand, the Nexen Roadian GTX is priced at about $147 per tire, which means you need to pay around $588 for four such tires (a difference of $120).

Based on SimpleScore, you should choose the Hankook Dynapro HPX RA43 if you:

• Drive vehicles like the Chevrolet Tahoe, Dodge Charger, or BMW X3
• Want an all-season tire with better traction (8.7 vs 8.5)
• Need superior handling (8.7 vs 8.6)
• Prefer an all-season tire with a refined ride quality

On the other hand, you may consider buying the Nexen Roadian GTX if you:

• Drive vehicles like the GMC Yukon, BMW X1, or Hyundai Tucson
• Want a set of all-season tires that offers a longer service life (9.6 vs 9.5)
• Are looking for a budget-friendly 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.