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Last updated 2/25/2025 - Originally published 2/25/2025
Written by SimpleTire, Expertly reviewed by Brett Antosh
The Hankook Weatherflex GT and the Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive are both strong contenders in the all-weather tire category, designed to provide year-round performance and safety without the need for seasonal tire changes. They cater to drivers who want reliable traction and handling in dry, wet, and snowy conditions, offering peace of mind and convenience throughout the year. The Hankook Weatherflex GT emphasizes a balance of comfort, performance, and longevity, making it a suitable choice for everyday driving and occasional light winter conditions. Its tread design and rubber compound are optimized for grip on both wet and dry surfaces, while also providing adequate traction in snow.
The Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive, on the other hand, focuses on delivering a premium driving experience with a focus on handling and responsiveness. It aims to provide confident performance in various weather conditions, including more challenging winter scenarios. This comparison will delve into the specifics of each tire, considering their traction, handling, and longevity performance based on our proprietary SimpleScore on a scale of 0-10 to help you decide which tire best suits your driving needs and preferences.
Hankook Weatherflex GT tires
Launched in November 2024, the Hankook Weatherflex GT is the inaugural product in Hankook's Weatherflex line. An all-weather passenger car tire, it is engineered to provide year-round performance across diverse driving conditions. This tire features a newly formulated tread compound with increased silica and resin content, enhancing grip on both wet and dry surfaces while promoting durability. Its design includes a higher sipe density and zigzag grooves, which improve traction and cornering stability on snowy roads. The Weatherflex GT has earned the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) certification, indicating reliable performance in severe winter conditions.
To ensure a quiet and comfortable ride, the tire employs a multi-pitch tread sequence that minimizes road noise. It also offers a 70,000-mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, reflecting Hankook's commitment to longevity and quality. Available in 37 sizes ranging from 15 to 22 inches, the Weatherflex GT caters to a wide array of vehicles, from compact cars to full-size models.
With a solid 8.9 average score, the Hankook Weatherflex GT promises great traction and handling with exceptional tread life.
Get Hankook Weatherflex GT tires at the best deals for your vehicle here.
Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive tires
Engineered for passenger cars, the Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive is an all-weather tire designed to deliver exceptional performance across diverse climatic conditions. Earning the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) certification, it surpasses traditional all-season tires, particularly in snowy environments.
This tire features a zigzag central groove that enhances wet handling and braking performance on snow, while 'trumpet-shaped lateral grooves efficiently expel water, reducing hydroplaning risks. The innovative rubber compound, incorporating a new polymer and resin system, ensures outstanding wet performance across a wide temperature range without compromising mileage.
Designed for drivers seeking a reliable, year-round tire, the Cinturato WeatherActive eliminates the need for seasonal tire changes. Its balanced footprint promotes uniform tread wear, contributing to a 60,000-mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty. For those in regions with moderate to severe winter conditions, the Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive offers a compelling blend of safety, performance, and convenience.
Scoring an excellent 9.5 SimpleScore, the Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive assures incredible grip, traction, handling, and service life.
Get Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive tires at the best deals for your vehicle here.
Hankook Weatherflex GT vs Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive tires on traction
All-weather tires are driven in unpredictable weather conditions, making grip and traction a highly critical factor. The Hankook and Pirelli tires assure great traction, but in the SimpleScore one scores better than the other. Let’s check the scores.
Scoring an 8.5 in traction, the Weatherflex GT assures reliable grip and traction in dry, wet, and moderate to severe winter conditions. Thanks to the wide circumferential and angled lateral grooves, the all-weather tire expels water and slush from the tread to mitigate the risk of hydroplaning and boost traction. The 3PMSF-certified tire features high sipe density which creates an extra biting edge for enhanced traction in snow and ice.
Boasting an incredible 9.8 traction score, the Pirelli all-weather tire assures excellent grip and handling in snow and rain. Thanks to its trumpet-shaped lateral grooves and zigzag inner tread area, the Cinturato WeatherActive shows why it’s among the most preferred all-weather tire as its grip and traction on dry, wet, and snow is unmatched. Lastly, the deep and continuous sipes of the 3PMSF-certified tire create extra biting edges that further provide snow claws for improved traction even when the tire wears.
With incredible traction performance, the Hankook is no match to the Pirelli’s super ‘sticky’ Cinturato WeatherActive.
ADVANTAGE: Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive
Hankook Weatherflex GT vs Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive tires on handling
With greater control comes greater driving confidence on any surface. The tires give you that confidence as they respond to your steering commands. Both all-weather tires achieve significantly high scores but one goes a notch higher. Let’s check their handling scores.
The Hankook Weatherflex GT scores a fantastic 8.6 in handling thanks to its increased block stiffness due to interlocking 3D GripKontrol sipes which resist block deformation leading to great stability and steering response in snowy and wet surfaces. With a strong sidewall construction, the Hankook all-weather tire features zigzag grooves that bind with the surface to lend enhanced steering response especially while cornering.
The Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive leaves no margin for competition as it scores yet another significant 9.7 in handling. While its directional tread design returns exceptional steering response and stability, the multiple biting edges grip the surface to deliver superior control and lane-changing ability, even at high speed, on dry, wet, and snow.
Is there still any doubt? The Pirelli tire proves to be too ‘Active’ for Hakook’s Weatherflex.
ADVANTAGE: Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive
Hankook Weatherflex GT vs Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive tires on longevity
All-weather tires are sought for their lasting tread life. Their special rubber compound and flexible tread pattern ensure consistent performance in low temperatures while promoting even wear. Let’s check the longevity scores of the two tires.
Making its way back, the Hankook all-weather tire scores an astounding 9.7 in longevity underlining its extended tread life in different driving conditions. With a new rubber compound utilizing silica and resin, it optimally disperses silica throughout the tread for superb wearability. Backed by an excellent 70,000-mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, the Weatherflex GT features an optimized tread design for equal pressure distribution that leads to uniform wear across its lifecycle.
On the other hand, the Pirelli all-weather tire scores a superb 9.1 in tread life reiterating its long service life pledge. With a special rubber compound, the Cinturato WeatherActive uses its three-rib tread design to limit irregular wear when driving on dry, wet, and snow while, at the same time, the contact pressure management boosts uniform tread wear even as the tire ages. It is backed by a 60,000-mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty.
While the Pirelli continues to put up an excellent show, the Hankook outclasses it in the longevity race.
ADVANTAGE: Hankook Weatherflex GT
When to use each
All-weather provides a versatile solution for drivers who want reliable performance year-round without switching between summer and winter tires. They feature specialized tread compounds and patterns that enhance traction on wet, dry, and light to moderate snowy roads. Unlike standard all-season tires, many all-weather tires carry the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) certification, ensuring better winter performance. They’re ideal for regions with mild to moderate seasonal changes, offering convenience and safety in changing weather conditions.
However, if the weather continuously remains below 45 degrees Fahrenheit for 6 months or more, you should pick dedicated winter.
The Hankook Weatherflex GT is a better performer if your sole criterion is tread life and mileage warranty. However, the Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive is the better option as it offers awe-inspiring performance in traction, handling, and longevity.
Which one should you choose?
To sum up, the Pirelli all-weather tire wins the comparison by 2-1 beating the Hankook tire in handling and traction while the Hankook Weatherflex GT marks a win in the tread life area. However, both tires have their unique attributes which should be considered before finalizing a particular tire. Let’s check their prices to see who wins here.
Comparing the prices of the 215/55R17 94V tire size, the Hankook Weatherflex GT costs around $166 per tire, and four such tires cost $664, while the Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive costs around $191 per tire, and four such tires cost $764 (a difference of $100).
Based on the SimpleScores, the Hankook Weatherflex GT is a better option if you:
- Drive a Toyota Highlander, Honda Accord, and BMW 3-Series
- Want a great all-weather tire at an affordable price (four tires cost $100 less)
- Prefer a long-lasting tire (9.7 vs 9.1)
You can opt for the Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive if you:
- Drive vehicles like the BMW i3, Acura TLX, and Dodge Grand Caravan
- Need a tire that offers exceptional traction (9.8 vs. 8.5)
- Prefer superior control and stability (9.7 vs. 8.6)
- Are ready to pay extra for an overall superb all-weather tire
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.