69
/ 100
Objective (60%)
71/100
17 professional tests
User signal (40%)
66/100
44 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Firestone RoadHawk vs Yokohama BluEarth AE50 — Compared (September 2026)
Our Relative Score blends 60% objective test data with 40% owner-review signal — so any two tires can be compared even if they were never tested on the same day.
VS
69
/ 100
Objective (60%)
70/100
2 professional tests
User signal (40%)
66/100
36 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictToo close to call: Firestone RoadHawk and Yokohama BluEarth AE50 are within 2 points overall. Firestone RoadHawk is stronger on noise, dry and wet. Yokohama BluEarth AE50 is stronger on comfort, handling and treadwear.
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Category breakdown
6 categories, side by side
Each bar is the Relative Score for that category. Expand a tile to see the test results and owner ratings behind it.
Dry
Score (0–100)
RoadHawk leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | RoadHawk | BluEarth AE50 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 84 | 75 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 83 | 74 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 99% | 95% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 100% | 99% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
RoadHawk leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | RoadHawk | BluEarth AE50 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 76 | 76 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 73 | 67 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 83% | 93% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 99% | 93% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
BluEarth AE50 leads by 19
Why this score
| Source | RoadHawk | BluEarth AE50 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 39 | 72 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 71 | 68 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
RoadHawk leads by 19
Why this score
| Source | RoadHawk | BluEarth AE50 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 91 | 72 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
BluEarth AE50 leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | RoadHawk | BluEarth AE50 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 55 | 60 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
BluEarth AE50 leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | RoadHawk | BluEarth AE50 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 63 | 69 |
| DriverReviews owners | 82 | – |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Firestone RoadHawk | Yokohama BluEarth AE50 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 69 | 69 |
| Dry | 84 | 74 |
| Wet | 75 | 72 |
| Comfort | 52 | 71 |
| Noise | 91 | 72 |
| Treadwear | 55 | 60 |
| Handling | 63 | 69 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
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Recomputed
Headline score
69
/ 100
Tire A
69
/ 100
Tire B
Test data
The professional test results behind the scores
Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.
| Discipline | Category | Tire A | Tire B | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 99% #2/12 · 2018 Gute Fahrt Summer Tyre Test | 95% #7/10 · 2019 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test | +3.9 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 100% #2/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test | 99% #6/10 · 2019 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test | +0.7 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 91% #10/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | 94% #3/10 · 2019 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test | -2.7 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 100% #20/20 · 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test | 97% #4/10 · 2019 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test | +2.8 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 74% #4/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test | 73% #6/10 · 2019 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test | +1.2 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 11% #9/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | 5% #22/47 · 2018 AutoBild Summer Tyre Overview | +6.6 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 98% #4/20 · 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test | 94% #8/10 · 2019 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test | +3.3 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 56% #16/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | 88% #6/20 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test | -31.9 | Different tests |
| Subj. Dry Handling | Subj | 83% #7/20 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test | 80% #8/20 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test | +3.3 | Same test |
| Subj. Wet Handling | Subj | 27% #15/20 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test | 29% #13/20 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test | -2.2 | Same test |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 83% #11/14 · 2018 New and Worn Summer Tyre Test | 93% #4/10 · 2019 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test | -9.7 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 99% #2/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test | 93% #4/10 · 2019 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test | +5.7 | Different tests |
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Firestone RoadHawk is a polarizing mid-range tire that excels in comfort and wet-weather grip for daily commuting but suffers from significant durability concerns. While many users praise its value and performance on smaller, lighter vehicles, a substantial portion of owners report rapid, uneven tread wear and soft sidewalls that compromise handling precision during spirited driving.
Pros
- Strong wet-weather traction and hydroplaning resistance
- High levels of ride comfort and noise suppression
- Competitive price point compared to premium brands
- Effective performance for standard, non-sporty daily driving
Cons
- Rapid and often uneven tread wear
- Soft sidewalls leading to a 'mushy' feel and visual appearance of under-inflation
- Lack of steering feedback and precision in cornering
- Reports of premature cracking or perishing in low-mileage scenarios
Observations
- Users with smaller, lighter vehicles (e.g., Fiesta, Golf) report higher satisfaction regarding comfort and handling compared to owners of heavier diesel estates or vans.
- Drivers of heavier vehicles frequently report significant sidewall deflection and poor cornering confidence, often requiring higher tire pressures to compensate.
- The tire is frequently criticized for lack of stability when fitted to commercial vans, with users noting a 'wobbling' sensation under load.
The Yokohama BluEarth AE50 presents a polarizing experience for drivers, with user feedback sharply divided between those praising its comfort and wet-weather confidence and those frustrated by rapid tread wear and inconsistent noise levels. While many value it as a cost-effective, daily-driving tire, others report significant dissatisfaction regarding its longevity and performance degradation over time.
Pros
- Strong wet and dry road grip for daily commuting
- High levels of ride comfort and smoothness
- Good value for money compared to premium competitors
- Noticeable fuel efficiency and low rolling resistance
Cons
- Rapid and premature tread wear reported by many users
- Significant increase in road noise as the tire ages
- Soft sidewalls leading to vague steering feedback and poor cornering stability
- Inconsistent performance in wet conditions, with some users reporting aquaplaning
Observations
- Users with heavier vehicles or FWD configurations frequently reported faster-than-expected front tire wear.
- Drivers of performance-oriented hatchbacks noted that while the tire offers good daily comfort, it lacks the structural rigidity required for aggressive cornering.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Firestone RoadHawk | B · Yokohama BluEarth AE50 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Premium Touring tires | Summer Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
69
/ 100
Firestone
69
/ 100
Yokohama
Too close to call: Firestone RoadHawk and Yokohama BluEarth AE50 are within 2 points overall. Firestone RoadHawk is stronger on noise, dry and wet. Yokohama BluEarth AE50 is stronger on comfort, handling and treadwear.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Firestone RoadHawk scores 91 vs 72 on noise.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Yokohama BluEarth AE50 scores 71 vs 52 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Firestone RoadHawk scores 84 vs 74 on dry.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Yokohama BluEarth AE50 scores 69 vs 63 on handling.
Tire A · Firestone RoadHawk
Tire B · Yokohama BluEarth AE50
More comparisons
Also compared with
Firestone RoadHawk also compared with
Yokohama BluEarth AE50 also compared with
How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements) normalized against the best tire in each test and weighted toward recent tests. 40% comes from thousands of owner reviews collected from retailers and review sites. When a tire has only one of the two, we use what exists and say so.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.