Cheap tires are difficult to find reliable information about the brand. This 2017 Hercules tire review is an example. Since the Hercules official website is currently down, it is not worth trying to access it. It’s funny because search engines are able to find relevant keywords about Hercules tires.
But, clicking on the search results that lead to the Hercules official website brings up an error message. It states that the site is slow to respond or has been moved to another address. I tried five different web browsers, but the same result. Bummer.
This was something I tried for a week, but it didn’t work. What does this all mean? My experience is that the website may be under construction or Hercules trying to promote Ironman more, since tires with the Hercules brand are also called Ironman tires.
Are you still confused? I am too. I am not trying to sound like a total failure but I did manage to find some useful information about Hercules tires.
Why choose Hercules Tires
- Brand Reputation
American Tire Distributors Inc. (ATD), a subsidiary of The Hercules Tire and Rubber Company, has been in operation since 1952. The company’s headquarters are in Findlay, Ohio. ATD purchased Hercules tires from Hercules in 2014. Since then, the company has been providing high-quality tires to North American customers.
- Affordable price
Hercules tires are similar to Ironman tire, which Hercules also produces. However, they have a lower price than the mainstream and more well-known brands. They are a great choice for car owners looking for reliable tires that won’t break the bank.
- Good tread designs
It is very similar to judging tires based solely on their tread design. There are tires that will make your car more aggressive and attractive than others. Hercules tires have sporty and attractive tread designs, despite their low price.
Hercules Tires Review
I phoned a few tire dealers and sent several emails. I wanted to test Hercules tires on vehicles. I was blessed with good fortune because it took me no time to find vehicles with friendly owners that were equipped using Hercules tires.
Hercules/Ironman IMOVE Gen 2 AS
We tested the Ironman IMOVE high performance tires on a Lexus IS350 in . This tire is presumably the first generation IMOVE.
Upon closer examination, it appears that the IMOVE Gen 2 and IMOVE Gen 2 are identical.
I also asked the same question to my friends at a tire dealer, but I only got blank stares. They did confirm that the IMOVE Gen 2 was brand new, as they no longer sell the original IMOVE at the time of writing. The Gen 2 is an upgraded version that has a longer tread life. The situation was made more complicated by the fact that you can still purchase the original-generation IMOVE online.
I chose to not think about it and focus on the driving. My test car for Hercules IMOVE GEN 2 consisted of a 2014 Subaru Impreza WRX bone stock.
This is a rare find as most owners of a WRX will likely modify the appearance and performance of their vehicle with a variety of aftermarket parts. The owner of this particular Mazda 6 is selling it as he is the proud owner.
The Hercules IMOVE Gen 2 AS was a smooth, comfortable ride.
Although the WRX is not known for its smooth ride, it was more comfortable than most cheap tires. The WRX was excellent in terms of traction, braking and grip on dry roads. Also, the steering response was spot-on.
It is clear that the Hercules IMOVE GEN 2 AS tire is more than an all-season one. It is also very fast. This tire is high-performance and has the same price as a regular touring tire.
My Subaru test car had Hercules tires that were relatively new. The Scooby owner took it on a trip to Vegas last year and noticed no difference in tread wear. This was a journey of approximately 15 hours and about 1,000 miles.
The Hercules IMOVE Gen 2 has an asymmetric tread design with five circumferential grooves that improve grip on wet and dry roads. The tire also features a wear-resistant compound that will increase its durability and service life.
The IMOVE Gen 2 is a better option than the original IMOVE. It has a reputation of wearing down to a minimum level.
Hercules All Season Tour 4.0 plus
The All-Season Tour 4.0 Plus is one the most popular tires in the Hercules range. It’s easy to find a test vehicle with this tire since it was introduced in 2011.
The Hercules All-Season Tour 4.0 Plus’s asymmetric tread design makes it look like a high-performance tire. This tire can be used on sedans, vans, small crossovers, and other vehicles.
I was able find a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze with the Hercules Tour 4 tires.
The dry traction was excellent and the ride comfort was top-notch. The front driver’s side of my test car made a loud squeaking sound (worn bushings), and the steering wheel pulled slightly to the left. This was due to a bad accident a few weeks ago. Despite these flaws, the car was still smooth on the highway.
These tires can also be used in light winter conditions, according to the owner. Although I couldn’t confirm, the Hercules Tour 4.0 Plus performed well on wet roads, provided the treads were still thick.
This tire’s only problem is its tread wear.
The Hercules Tour 4.0 features a silica-enhanced tread that delivers solid performance on both wet and dry pavement. The shoulder blocks are larger to increase cornering grip, and the continuous center rib provides greater stability.
Hercules/Ironman Radio A/P
The Hercules Radial A/P all-season tire is designed for trucks, crossovers, vans, and SUVs.
The five-rib tread design of this tire makes it suitable for mild offroad and winter applications. Although this tire is not intended for highway driving, it provided a quiet ride on well-paved roads.
I had the chance to test drive the 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 equipped with the Hercules Radial P tires.
The tires felt comfortable and quiet when driving around the city. Potholes and road craters did not affect the tires. Since this was my first experience driving this truck, I have to give credit to the GMC Sierra’s refinement.
Imagine my smile when the truck’s owner asked if I wanted the truck to go off-road.
It’s not the boulder-traversing off-road type, but rather a narrow, rough trail that leads to spectacular views of the outdoors. The Hercules Radial A/P performed well in this terrain. Even when traversing on loose soil strewn with rocks and sharp gravel, it never lost traction.
The tire features a multi-ply construction and a deep tread to withstand extreme road conditions. EKG sipes are also responsible for the tire’s excellent grip on light off-road terrain.
The Hercules Radial A/P is an excellent choice for an all-season, all terrain tire for your SUV or truck.
Because you don’t have to spend a lot on new Hercules Radial P tires, the price is a great deal.
Hercules/Ironman IMOVE Gen 2 SUV
The Hercules IMOVE Gen 2 SUV suits crossovers and sport-utility vehicles, which are often used on the highway or in cities. The Radial A/P tire is intended for all-season and all-terrain use. Based on its tread design, the IMOVE Gen 2 SUV has been clearly marketed as a sporty SUV tire.
The Hercules IMOVE Gen 2 SUV features an asymmetric tread design that provides high levels of traction and grip on wet and dry pavements.
A 2010 Subaru Forester was my test vehicle for this tire. The Forester is my favorite car because it has all-wheel drive and excellent safety scores. This tire and the crossover are a match made in Heaven.
The Hercules IMOVE Gen 2 SUV has excellent wet-and-dry traction.
The Forester rode quietly and comfortably, even at higher speeds. I was told by Forester’s owner about the slight tread wear. The tires still look new after 5,000 miles. The tires perform admirably, despite being a budget-priced purchase. He was right.
Hercules Terra Trac A/T II
Although I don’t consider myself an off-road enthusiast, I do appreciate the aggressive styling and macho of trucks as well as SUVs that are specially modified to handle extreme terrain.
The Hercules Terra Trac A/T II has 29% more siping and 12 percent more lateral grooves. The silica-based compound used in this tire ensures excellent grip and traction on wet and dry surfaces.
My test vehicle is a 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee equipped with a lift kit, large aftermarket wheels and a lift kit.
First, I wanted to mention that the tires looked great on the Jeep.
This gave the SUV a rugged, go-anywhere vibe. The Jeep’s owner was a keen off-roader, as you might expect. He visits the trail almost every weekend, and is considering adding a few more parts to his Jeep to make it more capable.
The Hercules Terra Trac A/T II was quiet when I drove it on the highway. This is something that I had previously believed was impossible to find in a large all-terrain tire. It was silent on highway speeds, and had excellent traction and brakes on wet and dry roads.
The Jeep’s owner had the opportunity to test the tires on snowy roads and was amazed at the performance of the tires.
He also discovered that the tire was not able to withstand moderate or heavy mud.
The Hercules Terra Trac A/T II has deep tusk grooves. However, this makes it more suited for handling snowy, wet and loose gravel than mud.
Conclusion
Although there is not much information about the brand, the Hercules tires review left me with a positive impression regarding quality, performance, price, and overall value. Although there is still some confusion regarding the branding, Hercules tires can also be sold with the Ironman moniker. Still, both brands managed to combine style, comfort, and on-road attributes in a cost-effective package.