Hankook Weatherflex GT vs Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady tires

Hankook, the South Korean tire manufacturer, was founded in 1941, and in no time has climbed the global ranks to be among the most reputable manufacturers. Hankook’s range of tires is known for its advanced technology and exceptional value. With a diversified portfolio, the manufacturer is committed to making an innovative range of high-performance and eco-friendly tires to cater to a wide variety of driving needs. In the US, it makes tires for use on passenger cars, pickup trucks, CUVs, SUVs, EVs, minivans, trailers, and commercial trucks. For distinct needs, it has all-season, all-weather, all-terrain, UHP summer, UHP all-season, winter, mud-terrain, and touring tires on offer.

Goodyear, on the other hand, is the iconic player in the tire industry, with over 120 years of experience and a reputation for being at the forefront of tire technology. Goodyear’s extensive research and development have produced numerous industry-leading designs focused on comfort, enhanced performance, and long-lasting durability. The tire giant offers tires for use on passenger cars, light trucks, CUVs, SUVs, EVs, farm applications, commercial equipment, trailers, industrial applications, and OTRs. Goodyear’s range includes all-season, all-terrain, UHP summer, UHP all-season, all-weather, rugged-terrain, winter, touring, mud-terrain, performance, and track competition.

Coming from Hankook and Goodyear, the Weatherflex GT and the Assurance WeatherReady are two respective all-weather tires chosen for the comparison here. While the Hankook Weatherflex GT is a relatively new all-weather grand touring tire engineered for drivers who want dependable performance year-round without the hassle of seasonal changes, the Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady is an established premium touring all-season tire specifically made to adapt to changing weather conditions with advanced reactive technologies. What makes them qualify in the all-weather category is their Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification, which allows these tires to perform even in moderate to severe winter, in temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you want to own a reliable set of all-weather tires, this Weatherflex GT vs Assurance WeatherReady tires comparison will be a great source to help you decide which one aligns better with your driving needs, preferences, and budget. Here, we will use our proprietary tire rating system, SimpleScore, to determine each tire’s overall ability, along with its capability in areas like traction, handling, and longevity on a scale of 0-10. Read on!

Hankook Weatherflex GT tires

Launched in October 2024, the Hankook Weatherflex GT is an all-weather touring tire suitable for use on coupes, sedans, minivans, and CUVs. It is designed to deliver reliable performance across multiple seasons, including severe winter conditions. Enhanced with the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) certification, the Weatherflex GT provides traction in snow and ice, which brings convenience for drivers who want a single set of tires to perform in every given weather. This tire features a new-gen rubber compound with high silica and resin levels for solid grip on both wet and dry roads, and there are also features like interlocking 3D GripKontrol sipes and zigzag grooves for better cornering and stability. We will get into further details in the later sections of this comparison!

Overall, the Weatherflex GT earns a superb 9.0 SimpleScore, accredited by its nearly perfect longevity, balanced year-round traction, and great steering response.

Get Hankooki Weatherflex GT tires at the best deals for your vehicle here

Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady tires

Introduced in January 2017, the Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady is among the tried and tested premium all-weather tires on the market. With driving abilities in dry and wet conditions along with all-weather performance attested to its 3PMSF severe snow rating, the tire has always stood way ahead of its time in terms of technologies, features, and performance. The use of Weather Reactive Technology for improved cornering and utilization of soybean oil into the rubber compound for improved flexibility in winter weather are some of the impressive qualities of this tire. Likewise, its hydroplaning resistance, confident winter traction, and superior daily driving performance keep it among the top picks in the all-weather category.

Overall, the Assurance WeatherReady is rated a great 8.7 SimpleScore, thanks to its exceptional traction and handling capabilities, and extended service life.

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

Hankook Weatherflex GT vs Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady tires on traction

With the overviews of both tires covered, let’s now get into more details of these tires, commencing with comparative analysis of traction.

The Weatherflex GT earns an impressive 8.6 out of 10 in traction, ensuring confident grip and traction performance in dry, wet, and winter weather conditions. The solid traction performance is contributed through its high sipe density in the center and shoulder blocks. There are widened lateral grooves for quick and seamless water evacuation, which significantly improve hydroplaning resistance and reduce wet stopping distance. The zigzag grooves on the tread improve grip while cornering, whereas the silica-rich rubber compound boosts grip on wet and dry surfaces.

On the contrary, the Assurance WeatherReady is rated an excellent 9.4 SimpleScore in traction. The higher traction rating showcases its dominance in gripping the road. Thanks to its Evolving Traction Grooves, it evacuates water effortlessly even till the last of its wearing miles. The use of a specialized rubber compound further enhances traction on wet, snowy, and icy surfaces. The asymmetric tread pattern of the Assurance WeatherReady features sweeping grooves and multiple sipes for increased grip in wet and slick conditions, while the use of Soybean oil promotes flexibility in cold temperatures for increased all-weather grip.

While the Hankook tire is very capable in winter conditions, the Assurance WeatherReady's advanced weather-reactive features and evolving grooves make it a better choice for consistent all-weather traction.

ADVANTAGE: Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady

Hankook Weatherflex GT vs Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady tires on handling

Let us now find out which of the two tires is better on the handling front and ensures better stability, ride control, steering response, braking performance, and cornering in dry, wet, and winter weather conditions.

Commencing with the Weatherflex GT, the tire is rated an 8.6 SimpleScore in handling, assuring confident controllability overall. It features an outer chamfer on the tread blocks for increased rigidity, which contributes to more stable ground pressure and seamless lane changes. The tire’s interlocking 3D sipes reduce block deformation for crisp steering response in both wet and dry conditions. The widened lateral grooves prevent hydroplaning, allowing you to maneuver the vehicle more confidently in wet and slushy conditions, whereas the ride comfort is optimally catered through advanced multi-pitch sequencing.

On the other hand, the Assurance WeatherReady scores an excellent 9.4 SimpleScore in handling, assuring exceptional command on the road. The use of Tredlock Technology locks the tread together while cornering for better stability, whereas the asymmetric tread design maintains precise steering. The sweeping traction grooves additionally also play an important role in maintaining ride balance and control during sudden weather changes. Additionally, the shoulder blocks are solid enough to handle cornering pressures, whereas the flat contact patch additionally ensures stable rides.

In the handling battle, we see that the Assurance WeatherReady comes out ahead with more accurate steering response and advanced cornering support, beating the Hankook tire by a big margin.

ADVANTAGE: Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady

Hankook Weatherflex GT vs Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady tires on longevity

Long-lasting ability of the tire is highly important for a majority of tire buyers, as it relates to the value they get from their tires. Therefore, in the longevity section, we will see which of the two tires is better when it comes to controlling wear and covering more miles.

Let’s start with the Weatherflex GT. This tire scores a near-perfect 9.9 rating in longevity and is also backed by an excellent 70,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty. The higher score and tread life warranty clearly indicate the manufacturer’s confidence in the long-lasting ability of the Weatherflex GT. Its optimized rubber compound resists irregular wear by evenly distributing driving pressure across the tread, and likewise, the flat footprint also keeps the wear rate balanced for a longer service.

Comparatively, the Assurance WeatherReady scores an 8.8 SimpleScore in longevity and comes with a 60,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty. There are Evolving Traction Grooves to maintain performance as it wears, and the squared shoulder blocks allow great contact with the surface for even and longer wear. Additionally, the solid inner construction of the Goodyear tire helps maintain the tire’s original shape to avoid uneven wear.

Both tires showcase excellence in longevity; however, we see that the Hankook Weatherflex GT earns significantly more points and is the clear winner for drivers seeking maximum mileage.

ADVANTAGE: Hankook Weatherflex GT

When to use each

Both the Weatherflex GT and the Assurance WeatherReady are all-weather tires, which means they can be used in dry, wet, and moderate to severe winter conditions. Both are Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified, ensuring confident use in temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Hankook Weatherflex GT is available in 15- to 20-inch rim sizes, offering wide compatibility for coupes, sedans, minivans, and CUVs. The Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady is offered in 15- to 19-inch rim sizes, fitting a similarly broad range of passenger cars on the market.

Which one should you choose?

Based on the overall SimpleScore, the Hankook Weatherflex GT is slightly better than the Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady (9.0 vs 8.7), mainly due to its excellent longevity. However, your selection of tires should be based on whether you prioritize maximum tread life or the absolute best traction and handling.

Talking about prices, the Weatherflex GT is available at an initial price of at least $116 per tire, while the Assurance WeatherReady is offered at a starting price of at least $120 per tire. This means you get a set of four Hankook tires at a starting price of at least $464, while a set of four Goodyear tires will cost you at least $480.

Looking at SimpleScores, you should choose the Weatherflex GT if you:

• Drive vehicles like the Chevrolet Cruze, Kia Optima, Ford Fusion, or Lexus IS.
• Want a tire that’s better in longevity (9.9 vs 8.8 in longevity).
• Want a tire that’s backed by an excellent 70,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty.
• Want an affordable but overall better tire.
• Want a tire in the rim size range of 15- to 20-inch.

Alternatively, you should choose the Assurance WeatherReady if you:

• Drive vehicles like the Hyundai Santa Fe and Buick Envision.
• Want a tire that’s better in traction (9.4 vs 8.6 in traction).
• Want a tire that’s better in handling (9.1 vs 8.6 in handling).
• Are comfortable paying more to buy a tire that’s offered by the popular American tire giant.

Still not sure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help, as our helpful agents will be more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.