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Last updated 6/13/2024 - Originally published 6/13/2024
Written by SimpleTire
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All-weather tires are a rather new-ish category in the tire world, so what’s the story with them, anyway? All-weather tires are designed to fill a specific niche where all-season tires aren’t quite capable. Anyone who’s tried to navigate through rough winter conditions when there are 3-4 inches of snow on the roads knows that most all-season tires are usually just not capable of getting the job done for you (in most cases), so all-weather tires are designed to deliver better winter traction with optimized rubber formulations, more aggressive tread patterns, redesigned sipe networks and other features that all work toward dependable traction in snow and slush. In other words, they’re designed for a specific slot between all-season and winter tires, without the inconvenience of removing winter tires and storing them once temperatures get above 40-45 degrees F.
Are you familiar with SimpleScore? SimpleScore is the system the SimpleTire team developed to give you a quick, at-a-glance idea of a tire’s strengths and weaknesses. We take in the specs, review information, and other data points for any given tire, then use that information to determine a numerical value from 1-10 for traction, handling, longevity, and an overall average SimpleScore. For the Firestone WeatherGrip and Kumho Solus HA32, the SimpleScore numbers shake out like this:
As you can see, the Firestone Weathergrip and Kumho Solus HA32 are closely matched in all of the pertinent SimpleScore categories, making some tough decisions about the superior tire. As handy as SimpleScore is, it’s still a 30,000 foot view that doesn’t give you a detailed idea of a tire’s capabilities.
The Weathergrip from Firesetone is a premium all-weather tire with the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification; Firestone loaded up this tire with features like their Hydro-Grip Technology Package that includes a fat, rounded contact patch, chamfered shoulder blocks, full-depth grooves, and open shoulder slots, all designed to work as a system to give an edge in grip and performance. Winter traction is derived from Firestone’s Snow Traction Claw Technology, a pattern of snow vices on the intermediate ribs, high-density zigzag sipes, and interlocking grooves, and the SimpleTire team gives this tire a SimpleScore of 8.6 for traction. Internal construction details of the Firestone Weathergrip include a single-ply nylon casing capped by a steel belt package and a nylon reinforcement layer. The Firestone WeatherGrip is covered by a 65,000 mile warranty, enough to pull in a SimpleScore of 9.2 in the longevity category. Braking performance, cornering, and steering response are confident, neutral, and predictable for a SimpleScore of 8.5 for handling. SimpleTire’s price on the Firestone Weathergrip starts at $125.99 per tire.
Packed with innovations, the Kumho Solus HA32 is an all-weather tire that introduces several novel design features. Designed for the conditions on European roads, the Solus HA32 has a unique V-shaped directional tread with angled grooves that divert water and slush away from the tire’s contact patch to resist hydroplaning. Its newly developed tread compound infuses pine resin for environmental sustainability, long wear, shorter braking distances, and good winter traction. 3D slope tie-bars connect the tread’s center blocks for improved rigidity and cornering ability as well as better straight-line road manners (SimpleScore for handling: 8.8). Hourglass visual wear indicators are molded into the tread, giving a driver an early heads-up as to when winter performance will start to be diminished due to tread wear. 3D sipes multiply winter and wet-weather grip for a SimpleScore of 8.5 for traction (as well as a 3PMSF certification for winter performance). Kumho stands by the Solus HA32 with a 60,000 mile limited manufacturer’s tread life warranty, rating a SimpleScore of 8.9 for traction. With an overall SimpleScore of 8.7, the Kumho Solus HA32 would be a great prospect for anyone looking for a dependable set of all-weather tires. SimpleTire’s price on the Kumho Solus HA32 starts at $97.99 per tire.
The Firestone Weathergrip weighs in the traction category with a SimpleScore of 8.6 vs. 8.5 for the Kumho Solus HA32. Both tires are 3PMSF rated for severe winter service, and both have a complex network of sipes and grooves to boost winter and wet-weather performance. Both tires also feature rubber formulations engineered to stay flexible for traction at subfreezing temperatures. Still, the Firestone incorporates open shoulder slots and Snow Traction Claw technology for improved grip in winter weather. We’re impressed with the directional tread design of the Kumho (which, incidentally, also looks great on various vehicles), but the Firestone comes out with a slight edge in SimpleScore ratings. Our decision:
ADVANTAGE: Firestone Weathergrip
When it comes to handling, it’s another tricky call since the Firestone comes in with a SimpleScore of 8.6 vs 8.8 for the Kumho. So, what’s the difference in performance, and why? As a vehicle rounds a corner or does any kind of a hard maneuver, the momentum of the car tries to keep it moving forward, and a tire’s tread face and shoulder need to be rigid enough to resist deformation and “tread squirm,” ensuring that the tire’s rubber stays in contact with the road. The 3D slope tie-bars of the Kumho Solus HA32 are designed to reinforce the tread’s rigidity and resist tread squirm; the internal construction of the Firestone is stable and robust, but it doesn’t have the same features in the tread itself as the Kumho. Our decision:
ADVANTAGE: Kumho Solus HA32
It’s a little clearer-cut regarding longevity, with the Firestone registering a SimpleScore of 9.2 vs 8.9 for the Kumho. Regarding longevity and SimpleScore, the easiest way around it is that the warranty coverage doesn’t lie – 65,000 miles for the Kumho Weathergrip vs 60,000 miles for the Kumho Solus HA32. Either tread life warranty package is admirable for any tire, but that difference of 5,000 miles tells the whole story here. Our decision:
ADVANTAGE: FIrestone Weathergrip
The Firestone WeatherGrip and Kumho Solus HA32 are excellent all-weather tire options for dependable traction year-round. As we noted, all-weather tires can be a great alternative for anyone who has to deal with difficult winter weather but doesn’t want to deal with the hassle of specialized winter tires. Winter tires use a softer tread compound that stays pliable for consistent grip at subfreezing temperatures (think the traction of a rubber boot vs. a hard-rubber hockey puck). Still, that tread compound wears prematurely on warmer days. When temperatures get above 40-45 degrees, tire manufacturers recommend dismounting your winter tires and swapping them for all-season tires again - leaving you with the headache of finding a place to store them for the next nine months until winter comes around again. With a 3PMSF rating and true year-round performance, all-season tires are a great way around that; if that sounds like your situation, you can’t go wrong with the Firestone or Kumho.
Here’s where the rubber meets the road (yes, pun intended). As you can see from the SimpleScore comparisons and the detailed breakdowns of each tire’s design and performance in those categories, the Firestone Weathergrip and Kumho Solus HA32 are closely matched. They are roughly on the same footing with each other. It’s our honest take that either one of these tires would be a great choice for your sedan, coupe, minivan, SUV, or crossover if you live in a part of the country where you need winter traction (but don’t want to have to deal with winter tires). So, in light of that, it comes down to the price spread between the two; with all things considered, it’s our opinion that the Kumho delivers a better bang for the buck than the Firestone. It’s a squeaker of an outcome, but we’d have to opt for the Kumho Solus HA32 here.
Still unsure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help. Our helpful agents are more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.
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