Summit Trail Climber HT03 vs Sailun Terramax HLT tires

Summit was founded in 1974 and is a part of Tire Alliance Group. The manufacturer utilizes advanced technologies to make high-quality tires in different sizes that cover 90% of the passenger vehicle replacement market in the United States. This US-based manufacturer offers ̉ tires for use on passenger cars, light trucks, CUVs, SUVs, commercial vehicles, farm applications, and trailers. Summit offers a variety of tire types, such as all-season, rugged-terrain, UHP all-season, all-terrain, and performance.

Sailun Tire, on the other hand, is a part of the Chinese tire brand Mesnac and offers tires for use on passenger cars, light trucks, trailers, SUVs, and commercial vehicles. Since 2001, the manufacturer has seen commendable growth with the portfolio expanding from all-season, all-terrain, rugged-terrain, winter, to highway tires.

Offered by these two manufacturers, the Summit Trail Climber HT03 and the Sailun Terramax HLT are two popular highway-terrain all-season tires that are suitable for use on light trucks and SUVs. These tires are specialized to offer quieter, stable, and long-lasting rides. Their construction is optimized for heavy-duty use, and the tread life warranty coverage makes them both value-for-money choices.

If you are looking for a reliable choice between the two, read this Trail Climber HT03 vs Terramax HLT tires comparison and find out which one is better overall, and in areas like traction, handling, and longevity based on our SimpleScore tire rating system.

Summit Trail Climber HT03 tires

The Trail Climber HT03 was launched in 2017 and sports an optimized pattern that utilizes an all-season rubber compound for a year-round performance in dry, wet, and light snow conditions. This tire is optimized for sharper handling and braking response, and offers smooth rides, long-lasting use, solid durability, optimum hydroplaning resistance, and quieter rides. Outstanding tread life warranties in both LT and P-metric sizes make the tire a value for money choice.

Overall, the Summit Trail Climber HT03 earns a SimpleScore of 8.2 on a scale of 10 because of its longer tread life, strong traction, and responsive handling.

Get Summit Trail Climber HT03 tires at the best deals for your vehicle here

Sailun Terramax HLT tires

The Sailun Terramax HLT is another good choice in the highway-terrain all-season tire category for SUV and pickup truck owners. Built using an all-season rubber compound, this tire also assures solid traction and performance in dry, wet, and light winter weather. There’s a tread life warranty to keep the drives worry-free, and the pattern and overall construction are engineered to offer stable and quieter rides. The tire is tuned to offer long-lasting performance, improved handling, reduced hydroplaning resistance, and better ride comfort.

Overall, the Terramax HLT from Sailun scores a strong 8.0 SimpleScore rating, thanks to its great handling response, long-lasting tread life, and reliable traction.

Get Sailun Terramax HLT tires at the best deals for your vehicle here

Summit Trail Climber HT03 vs Sailun Terramax HLT tires on traction

Traction is something that needs to be focused on as it relates to the tire’s gripping ability and hints of how good a tire is on the surface-biting front for better rolling. When we compared both tires, one of them was comparatively much better than the other.

Starting with the Trail Climber HT03, the tire is covered by a solid 8.0 SimpleScore rating in traction. The multiple 3D siping on the tread provides reliable traction year-round, while the circumferential channels boost water evacuation for improved wet weather performance. The flat footprint allows a larger tread to come in contact with the road, thus assuring a better grip. Likewise, the optimized rubber compound adapts to the varying seasons.

On the contrary, the Terramax HLT earns a good 7.5 SimpleScore in the traction area. It comes with an optimized tread with a larger contact area and bigger tread blocks that improve the tire’s surface holding ability. There are 4 extra-wide grooves that channel water away from the surface and prevent hydroplaning, allowing drivers to drive more confidently in wet conditions. Additionally, the bunch of lateral grooves also forces water out of the contact patch for a strong grip and traction.

While the Terramax HLT is adequately offered with features that enhance traction, it is the Trail Climber HT03 that’s superior and has a higher score in traction.

ADVANTAGE: Summit Trail Climber HT03

Summit Trail Climber HT03 vs Sailun Terramax HLT tires on handling

Handling is another important area that defines a tire’s ability to maneuver and respond to the driver’s command. Let’s find out which of the two tires is better in areas like steering response, ride control, cornering, stability, and overall controllability.

Commencing with the Trail Climber HT03, the tire is rated 8.0 in handling and gets void angles and lateral groove tie bars that ensure smooth airflow and enhance handling stability. The tread pattern is tuned to offer better braking performance, and the wider, flatter footprint improves stability. The solid shoulders are engineered to resist cornering pressures for a confident driving experience, while the three center ribs improve maneuvering. The steering response is enhanced by the grooves that do not let the layer of water form below the footprint.

Comparatively, the Terramax HLT is rated an 8.1 in handling and comes with a tread pattern that reduces noise levels and enhances comfort. Its rubber compound and tread design boost braking efficiency and offer stable rides, while the pitch sequencing reduces noise levels for quieter rides. The tread blocks are arranged to improve handling response, and the larger contact area provides a more stable ride. The three-rib arrangement of the tire allows better maneuvering and lane changing on the highways.

No doubt, both tires offer a confident handling performance on the highways; it is the Terramax HLT that marginally wins the race with a 0.1 addition to its SimpleScore in this area.

ADVANTAGE: Sailun Terramax HLT

Summit Trail Climber HT03 vs Sailun Terramax HLT tires on longevity

The long-lasting ability of a tire also needs to be analyzed, especially when you are considering buying a set of highway all-terrain tires. When we compared these tires, we found that one of them was way better in the longevity. Here are more details:

First, let’s talk about the Trail Climber HT03 that scores an outstanding SimpleScore rating of 8.7 and is covered by a 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty for the LT sizes and a 60,000 mile tread life warranty with the P-metric sizes. This means the tire can control the wear rate and last for a good number of miles. Additionally, the reinforced tire casing of the Trail Climber HT03 provides solid durability for even wear and increased load-carrying capacity.

On the other hand, the Terramax HLT secures an 8.0 SimpleScore because of its long-lasting tread life. This tire is covered by a 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, underlining its extended usability. The larger contact area controls the wear rate and distributes the driving pressures across the tread for a longer use. The inner construction and rubber compound of the Terramax HLT are also reinforced to promote a long-lasting performance.

As we can see, the Trail Climber HT03 scores a higher rating than the Terramax LT and takes the lead.

ADVANTAGE: Summit Trail Climber HT03

When to use each

Both tires are suitable for use on light trucks and SUVs and come with an all-season tread compound that offers solid traction in rain, shine, and light winter weather. They both are great for regular highway driving and come with a long-lasting tread to cover a good number of miles. However, they should not be considered for driving in moderate to severe winter weather as they are not Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified. They are also not designed for off-roading purposes, so if you are looking for something that’s more inclined towards off-road use along with highway drives, consider checking out all-terrain tire options.

While the Trail Climber HT03 tires are available in 15- to 22-inch rim sizes, the Terramax HLT tires are offered in 15- to 20-inch rim sizes.

Which one should you choose?

Looking at overall SimpleScore of both tires, we found that the Summit Trail Climber HT03 tires were slightly ahead of the Sailun Terramax HLT tires (8.2 vs 7.8 overall SimpleScore rating). However, they both are equipped with unique features, and therefore, your decision to buy one of them should be based on your driving needs and budget.

Coming to the price part, the Trail Climber tires are offered at a starting price of at least $89 per tire, while the Terramax HLT tires are available at a starting price of at least $114 per tire. This means, a set of four Terramax tires will cost you at least $356, while a set of four Terramax HLT tires will cost you at least $456.

Based on SimpleScore, you should choose the Trail Climber HT03 if you:

• Drive a vehicle like the RAM 3500, Land Rover Defender, or Ford F-250.
• Need a tire that’s better in traction (8.0 vs 7.5).
• Prefer a tire that’s long-lasting (8.7 vs 8.0).
• Need a tire that’s covered by a 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty for LT sizes and a 60,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty for P-metric sizes.
• Prefer an affordable but overall better tire.
• Need a set of tires available in the size range of 15- to 22-inch rims.

Comparatively, you should consider the Terramax HLT if you:

• Drive a vehicle like the Nissan Xterra, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, or Dodge Sprinter 2500.
• Need a tire that’s better in handling (8.0 vs 8.1).
• Want a tire that’s covered by a 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty for all sizes.
• Are comfortable paying more to buy a tire that’s good at steering response.
• Need a set of tires suitable for use on vehicles with 15- to 20-inch rims.

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.