Road Hugger tires are a private tire label sold by the Discount Tire Company. However, they’re manufactured by Asian tire companies, such as Nitto Tire or Kumho Tire for the Discount Tire Company, and the GT Ultra is one of their top products.
So, is this the right tire for you?
Stick with us as we look at this label’s pros and cons in our Road Hugger Ultra GT review.
What we’re covering:
- About Road Hugger tires.
- Road Hugger GT Ultra tires details.
- Road Hugger GT Ultra tires’ features and specs.
- Pros and cons.
About Road Hugger Tires
Before we review the tires in our spotlight, let’s look at the larger banner that these tires belong to.
Road Hugger tires are known for their high quality and performance, which is largely thanks to state-of-the-art machinery and up-to-date manufacturing processes.
What makes them stand out is that they offer customers ultra-high performance (UHP) tires at a highly affordable price.
Also, Discount Tire Company has ensured that these tires are pretty much available throughout the US, thanks to the extensive regional distribution centers and being available online.
Their production is specifically outsourced to Asian giants to reduce production costs, which is why these high-quality tires are available at a much lower cost than other UHP tires in the market currently.
Affordability
While you’d expect to spend an average of $1,000 on a set of UHP tires, the Road Hugger’s price point is vastly different.
The Road Hugger Ultra GT is available at the $80 mark, so you can pick up an entire set for less than $500, including a spare!
This is less than half the price of comparable UHP tires!
Despite this remarkable drop-off in the pricing, the Road Hugger series can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with other UHP tires, both in terms of durability and performance.
Road Hugger GT Ultra Tires are wallet-friendly thanks to the outsourcing of the production process to world-class Asian manufacturers who’re capable of producing these tires at a reasonable price.
Handling and Performance
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a set of UHP tires that offer better quality at this price point.
In particular, the GT Ultra series receives acclaim for premium handling and cornering for all vehicle types.
On the other hand, the Road Hugger GT Eco provides a comfortable ride to its users. It has an eco-friendly tread design for a budget-friendly option for sedans and coupés.
Even the Road Huggers’ design elements are extremely well thought of and practical. All-season tread compounds, and the pairing with asymmetrical tread patterns, help you tackle any driving condition.
Specifically, these tires’ solid center rib provides excellent handling at high speeds and great performance when accelerating and braking.
Road Hugger tires are also known for their fuel efficiency. Thanks to the unique tread patterns and top-quality design, the tire rolling resistance is greatly lowered. This helps to reduce fuel consumption in the long run.
Road Hugger GT Ultra Tires Details
These are high performance and traction tires that are specifically designed by the manufacturers to offer excellent handling.
The GT Ultra is compatible with nearly all ranges of cars, and you can look to swap tires if you have a sports car, crossover, sedan, truck, or any other type of vehicle.
When we review low-budget tires, we’d expect them to offer a short lifespan and a mediocre level of grip on various driving conditions. In contrast, the GT Ultra is surprisingly durable and versatile when it comes to their usage.
In particular, the asymmetric tread patterns allow you to tackle a wide set of roads. You can confidently drive across wet or dry conditions, as these all-season tires will competently support your driving thanks to their high-quality tread pattern.
When it comes to snowy or icy conditions, all-weather tires tend to take a dip in quality. While the GT Ultra mirrors this reduction, you can rest assured that its performance is above par compared to similar tires.
Road Hugger GT Ultra Tires’ Features and Specs
Stability Increase
The clue’s in the name when it comes to road stability: they’re specifically designed to hug the road.
The GT Ultra tires can do this thanks to the shoulder blocks and intermediate ribs, which are larger than normal, greatly improving the vehicle’s performance.
Even your cornering is bolstered thanks to the wider outer shoulder detail, which has additional biting edges that grip the road surface.
Traction and Braking Improvement
The 3D sipes and four circumferential grooves play a major role in helping these tires tackle a wide set of driving conditions.
It also has a continuous center rib that improves the steering response and plays a major role in improving acceleration and braking. On closer review, this feature offers an ultra-sporty approach to the UHP tires.
Long Tread Life
The treads pretty much make or break a tire, so it’s always crucial to consider the tread life when picking them out for your vehicle.
Fortunately, this discount tire’s tread life is remarkably long! The manufacturer provides a warranty for up to 50,000 miles, with some competitor products only having a 40,000 cover.
This is largely down to the silica-infused rubber being the predominant material, which is famous for having a great lifespan while preserving tread life. Even the groove edges are tapered to preserve the tread life by reducing the tires’ stone holding capacity.
A Quiet Ride
High-performance tires aren’t known for offering a quiet ride as their priority primarily rests in improving handling.
These tires are different, though, as you can expect a quiet and noise-free experience across a multitude of driving conditions.
Size and Speed Rating
The Road Hugger series is available in several 16 to 20-inch sizes, and all of the sizes in this series come with a W speed-rating.
The following are the sizing details of these tires:
- 16 inches: 195/50R16 88W XL BSW.
- 17 inches: 225/45R17 94W XL BSW.
- 18 inches: 235/40R18 95W XL BSW.
- 19 inches: 245/40R19 98W XL BSW.
- 20 inches: 245/35R20 95W XL BSW and 245/45R20 103W XL BSW.
Some of the vehicles these tires are compatible with are:
- Chevrolet: Cobalt, Impala, Malibu and Cruze.
- Volkswagen: Golf, Passat and Jetta.
- Chrysler: PT, 200 and Cruiser.
- Toyota: Camry, Prius and Corolla.
- Dodge: Charger and Caliber.
- Subaru: Forester, Legacy and Impreza.
- Ford: Mustang, Fusion and Focus.
- Honda: CRV, Fit, Civic and Accord.
- Scion: xA, xB and xD.
- Hyundai: Elantra, Genesis and Sonata.
- Pontiac: G6 and Trans Am.
- Kia: Forte and Optima.
- Nissa: Altima and Sentra.
- Mazda: 2, 3, 5 and 6.
Pros and Cons
We do a final breakdown of the various pros and cons of this series of tires from our review to help you make up your mind and make an informed decision.
Pros
- Especially great at tackling dry and wet conditions.
- Provide a high-quality cornering performance.
- Tread lifespan and durability are far better than most tires in this class.
- Can purchase a set for less than half the price of similar models.
- World-class manufacturing practices.
- Limited tread warranty.
Cons:
- Sizes are only available between the 16 to 20-inch range.
- Not the best for wintery conditions but will still be suitable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Month Is Best To Buy Tires?
The best month to buy tires is before or after winter. Manufacturers tend to put a sale on around these times as drivers get prepped for the colder weather. So, look to buy in September/October or March/April in the US.
Although it’s important your tires have legal tread at all times of the year, it’s even more important when traction is reduced by water and ice in the winter.
Where Can I Purchase Road Hugger GT Ultra Tires?
The Road Hugger GT Ultra tires are a Discount Tire exclusive in the US. You can purchase these tires at any one of their 1,000 stores located in 34 states across the country, at the time of writing. Additionally, you can also purchase these tires online from the brand’s e-commerce site.
Should I Buy Cheap or Expensive Tires?
You shouldn’t always go for expensive tires over cheap ones thinking that higher cost equals higher quality. Many budget-friendly brands match premium tires in certain conditions, such as Road Hugger.
Instead, look for mileage warranty and traction/tread quality. Brands that outsource production to Asia can provide high-quality products at more affordable prices than those that manufacture in the US.
Four Hugs for the Road
The Road Hugger tires sold by the Discount Tire Company is a great option if you’re looking for a set of high-performance tires at an affordable price. In particular, the GT Ultra series is an excellent model.
In our review, we noted that the Road Hugger Ultra GT gives you all the frills and thrills of ultra-high performance tires without the accompanying price tag. For instance, the design allows you to tackle a wide set of driving conditions with competence.
By saving on half of your tire budget, you can hit the open road without worrying because these tires are ready to hug the road real tight.
