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 Nexen N Fera SU1 — 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
75
/ 100
Objective (60%)
70/100
2 professional tests
User signal (40%)
76/100
160 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Nexen N Fera SU1 — better treadwear, handling and wet. Pick the Firestone RoadHawk if dry and noise matter most to you.
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Category breakdown
7 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 6
Why this score
| Source | RoadHawk | N Fera SU1 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 84 | 75 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 83 | 82 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 93 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 98% | 89% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 100% | 98% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
N Fera SU1 leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | RoadHawk | N Fera SU1 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 76 | 85 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 73 | 75 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 89 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 90% | 87% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 99% | 100% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | RoadHawk | N Fera SU1 |
|---|---|---|
| SimpleTire owners | – | 78 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
N Fera SU1 leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | RoadHawk | N Fera SU1 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 39 | 40 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 71 | 79 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 91 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
RoadHawk leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | RoadHawk | N Fera SU1 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 91 | 85 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 91 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
N Fera SU1 leads by 17
Why this score
| Source | RoadHawk | N Fera SU1 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 55 | 71 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 87 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
N Fera SU1 leads by 12
Why this score
| Source | RoadHawk | N Fera SU1 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 63 | 75 |
| DriverReviews owners | 82 | – |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Firestone RoadHawk | Nexen N Fera SU1 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 69 | 75 |
| Dry | 84 | 78 |
| Wet | 75 | 81 |
| Snow | – | 76 |
| Comfort | 52 | 56 |
| Noise | 91 | 87 |
| Treadwear | 55 | 72 |
| Handling | 63 | 75 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Personalize
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
75
/ 100
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
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 | 98% #2/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test | 89% #10/10 · 2020 Teknikens 17 Inch Summer Tyre Test | +8.5 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 100% #2/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test | 98% #4/6 · 2023 APAC Tyre Test | +1.6 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 98% #4/20 · 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test | 99% #2/6 · 2023 APAC Tyre Test | -1.2 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 100% #20/20 · 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test | 99% #3/6 · 2023 APAC Tyre Test | +1.1 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 14% #7/12 · 2018 Gute Fahrt Summer Tyre Test | 20% #5/6 · 2023 APAC Tyre Test | -5.7 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 98% #4/20 · 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test | 98% #5/6 · 2023 APAC Tyre Test | -0.7 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 88% #12/20 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test | 97% #4/6 · 2023 APAC Tyre Test | -9.1 | Different tests |
| Subj. Dry Handling | Subj | 83% #7/20 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test | 95% #5/6 · 2023 APAC Tyre Test | -11.3 | Different tests |
| Subj. Wet Handling | Subj | 27% #15/20 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Summer Tyre Test | 94% #5/6 · 2023 APAC Tyre Test | -66.8 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 90% #16/45 · 2019 Summer 53 Tyre Braking Shootout | 87% #10/10 · 2020 Teknikens 17 Inch Summer Tyre Test | +2.9 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 99% #2/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test | 100% #10/10 · 2020 Teknikens 17 Inch Summer Tyre Test | -0.8 | 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 Nexen N Fera SU1 is widely regarded as a high-value, mid-range summer tire that frequently punches above its weight class, often compared favorably to premium brands like Continental and Michelin. While most users praise its exceptional comfort, low noise levels, and reliable wet/dry grip, a notable segment of reviewers reports concerns regarding premature sidewall cracking and soft sidewall construction that can impact handling precision on heavier or performance-oriented vehicles.
Pros
- Excellent value for money compared to premium competitors
- Very low road noise and high ride comfort
- Strong wet and dry traction for daily driving
- Predictable handling characteristics for standard road use
Cons
- Reports of premature sidewall cracking and tread block degradation
- Soft sidewalls can lead to vague steering feel or instability on heavy vehicles
- Performance drop-off noted as tread depth decreases
- Not suitable for winter conditions despite occasional mislabeling
Observations
- Owners of heavier vehicles (e.g., SUVs, EVs, or large sedans) frequently report that the soft sidewalls lead to a 'floating' sensation or lack of cornering confidence.
- Users replacing factory-fitted run-flat tires on BMWs and other luxury vehicles consistently report significant improvements in ride comfort and noise reduction.
- Performance-oriented drivers note that the tire lacks the necessary rigidity for track use or aggressive spirited driving compared to dedicated UHP tires.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Firestone RoadHawk | B · Nexen N Fera SU1 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Premium Touring tires | Summer Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | — | 58 |
| Rim diameters | — | 16″ – 24″ |
| Tread depth | — | 9/32″ |
| UTQG | — | 300 A A |
| Treadwear warranty | — | 25,000 mi |
| Sidewall | — | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | — | 51 psi |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
69
/ 100
Firestone
75
/ 100
Nexen
Winner: Nexen N Fera SU1 — better treadwear, handling and wet. Pick the Firestone RoadHawk if dry and noise matter most to you.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Nexen N Fera SU1 scores 72 vs 55 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Nexen N Fera SU1 scores 75 vs 63 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Firestone RoadHawk scores 84 vs 78 on dry.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Nexen N Fera SU1 scores 81 vs 75 on wet.
Tire A · Firestone RoadHawk
Tire B · Nexen N Fera SU1
More comparisons
Also compared with
Firestone RoadHawk also compared with
Nexen N Fera SU1 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.