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Last updated 10/13/2023 - Originally published 10/12/2023
Written by SimpleTire
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You may find it interesting to note here that Firestone is currently under the ownership of Bridgestone. Hankook is a South Korean tire manufacturer and Firestone is a homegrown brand based out of Akron, Ohio. The Hankook Winter i* Pike (RW11) and Firestone Winterforce LT are both studdable winter tires for light trucks, and they both carry the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol.
Firestone exists as a premium tire brand with an illustrious history of manufacturing tires of high quality. On the other hand, South Korean brand Hankook has built a reputation amongst members in racing circuits. Hankook is recognized as the 6th largest brand in the world, and Firestone patented the idea of anti-skid tires for the first time. Both the Hankook Winter i* Pike (RW11) and Firestone Winterforce LT are known to exhibit solid traction on wet, icy, and snowy surfaces. To indicate the better performer in this comparison, we have used SimpleScore here, enabling the scores to help you make the best decision for your vehicle. Details of the battle between Hankook Winter i* Pike (RW11) and Firestone Winterforce LT are given below.
The Hankook Winter i* Pike (RW11) is a studdable winter tire which is built to generate tremendous braking performance in snow and ice. If greater performance on snowy and icy roads than what is available is required, these tires can be pinned with six rows of TSMI #15 studs at the most. This tire has a directional tread pattern that increases performance on wintry and cold roads, and it must be rotated from front to back or vice versa. The Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification here ensures that you can drive CUVs. light trucks, and SUVs with these tires confidently in the cold.
These tires perform exceedingly well as genuine off- and on-road performers due to the special rubber compound which has been developed for dry, wet, icy and snowy surfaces. Expect a T- speed rating to drive in the cold, and grip will be available at temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. A reinforced casing prevents interior damage if you have an impact while driving off-road and stone ejectors get rid of mud, dirt, stones, and other impurities. Of course, to fit these on a light truck, remember to choose the LT sizes.
The overall SimpleScore for this tire is 8.1.
Apart from light trucks, these studdable winter tires are usable on SUVs and commercial vans as well. The special winter tread compound here has been molded into an aggressive tread pattern with siped tread blocks for the requisite biting edges on snow and ice. The internal structure on Firestone Winterforce LT tires includes twin steel belts above a polyester casing to offer a combination of strength and ride quality. High-density sipes are meant to provide grip on loose snow and the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol can be seen on these tires. For grip in severe snow conditions, TSMI #15 studs are available.
The overall SimpleScore for Firestone Winterforce LT is 8.3, which is just marginally ahead of 8.1 from the Winter i* Pike (RW11).
The Hankook Winter i* Pike (RW11) features a center block with a series of ribs which pack snow into the tire for best traction. Six rows of TSMI #15 studs are also helpful in enhancing traction, which is the case for Firestone Winterforce LT tires too. When compared to the Winter i* Pike (RW11), the Winterforce LT features added sipes and biting edges for great traction on wet, snowy, and icy surfaces. This tire is meant for commercial van drivers as well, where 24/7 operations in different weather conditions is an absolute necessity. The minimum traction SimpleScore for Firestone Winterforce LT at 8.8 is slightly behind the score by Hankook Winter i* Pike (RW11) at 9.1.
ADVANTAGE: Hankook Winter i* Pike (RW11)
An optimized footprint allows precise steering responses from Hankook Winter i* Pike (RW11) tires. The zigzag center rib provides constant contact with the road for enhancing stability, with the directional tread pattern playing a part in further promoting stability. In contrast, although the Winterforce LT features a directional tread pattern, directional treads are much better in terms of traction and handling. Directional tread patterns are also better at wet handling and in preventing aquaplaning as compared to the symmetric ones, but these are present on both tires. One difference can be seen in terms of the speed ratings, where the tire with the better rating has an edge in terms of handling. While Hankook Winter i* Pike (RW11) is rated a higher T, Firestone Winterforce LT receives R.
The above scenario is clearly reflected in the average handling SimpleScores for both tires, with Hankook Winter i* Pike (RW11) scored 8.7 against the Firestone Winterforce LT’s 8.5.
ADVANTAGE: Hankook Winter i* Pike (RW11)
Reinforced twin steel belts are available with both tires, but nylon wrapping is available for Hankook Winter i* Pike (RW11) tires, giving them a slight edge. However, we must also mention that the tread on Firestone Winterforce LT tires have been proven time and again to be long-lasting. As per our tests, we found Firestone Winterforce LT scoring better, with 7.8 when compared to Hankook Winter i* Pike (RW11) with 7.4.
ADVANTAGE: Firestone Winterforce LT
As mentioned above, both the Hankook and Firestone tires are studdable tires that should be used at temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit for best performance and to prevent the tire from losing shape. As studdable tires, both the Hankook and Firestone can only be pinned when driven in certain areas or months/weeks of the year. This is because studs are not legal in all 50 States or at all times, as they’re known to chew up the road.
While other factors are important, no comparison can be complete without analyzing the price differences here. Despite the tire being close in terms of average handling and overall average SimpleScores, there’s a decent gap in price. The Hankook Winter i* Pike (RW11) starts at $184.96 per tire, meaning that around $740 is the cost for four tires before installation. In comparison, The Firestone Winterforce LT starts at $177.99 per tire, meaning you’ll ned to shell out about $712 before installation.
With that in mind, we recommend you to select Firestone Winterforce LT if you:
On the other hand, choose the Hankook Winter i* Pike (RW11) if you:
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.
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