When on the market for reliable tires, you might encounter Road Hugger tires. These tires boast solid traction and longer tread life. Road Hugger is a house brand for Discount Tire, an independent tire retailer in the US. These tires offer excellent performance in a wide range of applications.
If you’re like most automobile enthusiasts, you might want to dig deeper to know the manufacturer before purchasing tires. Doing so can help you determine if a tire brand is worth buying. So, who makes Road Hugger tires?
I reveal the manufacturer behind Road Hugger tires and the production locations. I’ll also provide exciting details about these tires to let you know why you should buy them.
Question: Who Makes Road Hugger Tires?
Kumho and Nitto are the two Asian tire manufacturers that make Road Hugger tires. They produce these tires for the American market to be exclusively distributed by Discount Tire.
Kumho Tire Company’s headquarters is in Gwangju, South Korea. Kumho Tire USA’s headquarters is in Atlanta, Georgia.
Kumho is one of the world’s leading tire manufacturers, producing most Road Hugger tires in its various facilities. It has eight manufacturing plants and facilities in China, South Korea, Vietnam, and Georgia.
Nitto Tire Company produces Road Hugger tires in Japan and various outsourced sites in the US, China, and Malaysia. It’s a renowned tire manufacturer globally with representatives in over 100 countries. The company’s headquarters is in Osaka, Japan, and Nitto Tire USA’s headquarters is in Cypress, California.
After production, Discount Tire sells Road Hugger tires at multiple US stores. The company has over 1,000 stores in 38 states, meaning you’ll quickly find one of their stores near you.
Answer: Types of Road Hugger Tires on the Market
Discount Tires sells three categories of Road Hugger tires: GT Ultra, GT Eco, and GTP A/S. They’re among the most sought-after tires for individuals seeking high-quality but affordable options. You can use these tires in crossovers, SUVs, and Sedans.
Below are the three types of Road Hugger tires you can choose for your vehicle.
Road Hugger GT Ultra
The GT Ultra can be a considerable option if you’re interested in performance-oriented tires for your sedan, crossover, or sports coupe. This Road Hugger tire type has an all-seasoned tread compound, which performs excellently in dry and rainy conditions.
However, as an all-season tire, it isn’t a good fit for the highest-horsepower muscle cars or sports cars. For instance, this tire will work best with V6 muscle car models but not the powerful V8 models.
Although its grip is far from some top-of-the-line tire brands, you’ll enjoy a higher grip than the GTP A/S tire. Moreover, its cornering grip is perfect if you don’t drive through bends at higher speeds. Also, this tire offers a good steering response, ensuring you enjoy a safe and smooth driving experience.
The GT Ultra will provide constant grip on the road if you often drive in the rain or snow. Its multiple grooves make it a hydroplaning-resistant tire for rainy conditions. It also features reliable longitudinal traction to ensure braking efficiency.
The manufacturers have added multiple 3-D sipes alongside the grooves to ensure stability in light snowy conditions. Despite having such an excellent addition, this tire doesn’t guarantee stability or grip when driving fast on snow.
One of the best things about the Road Hugger GT Ultra is the 50K-mile treadwear warranty. The warranty and the tire’s high performance mean you can count on GT Ultra for years.
Road Hugger GT Eco
As its name implies, the GT Eco is an eco-friendly tire that increases fuel efficiency while reducing CO2 emissions. Its unique tread compound provides a lower aerodynamic drag than other tire types in the same price category. As a result, you can expect low fuel consumption and minimal emissions.
Road Hugger GT Eco features a five-rib pattern to ensure dependable traction and excellent handling. The rib pattern has interlocking tread blocks to boost stability at any speed. Still, this rib pattern helps the tire retain its shape and last longer.
You’ll love this tire due to its cornering performance enhanced by its apex filler on the sidewall. The circumferential and crossover grooves make it a hydroplaning-resistant tire in rainy conditions while increasing traction.
The full-depth sipes on this tire provide extra grip when driving on light snow. However, the sipes are not ideal for harsh wintry conditions.
The good news is that GT Eco will improve riding comfort while guaranteeing extra strength and durability. You’ll enjoy the 60K-mile tread warranty, making it a reliable tire for years.
Road Hugger GTP A/S
If you’re looking for a tire for your family car or passenger vehicle, the Road Hugger GTP A/S can be an ideal option. It’s a standard touring all-season tire that can fit many older midsize car models.
You can use it with the Chevrolet Malibu, Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion, Corolla, Ford Focus, and Honda Civic. You’ll want to use this tire with older car models because of its limited performance. However, you’ll appreciate its cheaper price tag compared to many brands.
Although GTP A/S is not a high-performance tire, it offers a good steering response. Its longitudinal traction is surprisingly good, ensuring braking efficiency.
Regarding performance in rainy conditions, this tire’s tread compound expands to create a wider contact with the surface. Its small-sized voids provide it with a better hydroplaning resistance.
Unfortunately, the GTP A/S traction is not ideal for snowy roads, particularly harsh wintry conditions. It’s, however, a durable tire when used responsibly and offers a 55k-mile tread warranty.
Question: Are Road Hugger Tires Worth Buying?
After knowing who makes Road Hugger tires and the types on the market, you may still wonder if they’re any good.
Though not the best tires, Road Huggers are reliable in many applications. They’re more affordable than many well-reputed brands, making them suitable for budget-conscious consumers. Moreover, since these tires are from reputable manufacturers, you don’t have to worry about compromised quality.
They come with a better grip and traction, allowing them to perform excellently in rainy conditions. Additionally, their grip ensures better cornering performance, more traction when accelerating, and braking efficiency.
The all-season tires will work best in wet, dry, or light snowy conditions. These tires will provide better stability and control if you drive in wet or snowy conditions. However, you must avoid driving fast in harsh, wintry conditions.
With three tire types, you can choose the best tire that suits your needs. Whether you drive an SUV, crossover, or sedan, there’s a Road Hugger tire for your vehicle.
Question: Where Can You Buy Road Hugger Tires?
Discount Tire is the exclusive retailer of Road Hugger tires. Thankfully, this company has over 1000 stores across the US.
You only need to visit one of Discount Tire’s physical or online stores to get your favorite tires. Besides, you’ll find Road Hugger tires on some authorized e-commerce websites like eBay.
Discount Tire elevates the consumer experience by including a free repair under the treadwear warranty. You’ll enjoy services like flat tire repair, tire rotation service, and air checks within the warranty period.
Final Thoughts
So, who makes Road Hugger tires? These tires come from two Asian tire manufacturers, Kumho and Nitto. They make these tires for an American-based retailer, Discount Tire.
The brand offers three types of Road Hugger tires with unique capabilities. You can opt for the Road Hugger GT Ultra, GT Eco, or GTP A/S. Remember, these tires will suit different vehicles and applications.