Sumitomo, a major player in the tire market, operates its own brand and supplies tires for many other well-known brands around the world. What are Sumitomo’s best tires?
Sumitomo’s review will cover the company’s history, industry ratings, most popular models, and other details. Based on our extensive review of the best tires in the industry, we’ll offer our top tire recommendations. It can be expensive to buy new tires so make sure you get the best value for your money.
To compare a range of tire brands, Sumitomo included in the comparison, go to TireRack.
Sumitomo Tires Overview
Sumitomo Rubber Industries was established in 1919 in Osaka (Japan), according to a 2019 tire business report. Sumitomo produces not only its own tire line, but also Dunlop and Ohtsu tires.
Sumitomo tires have a reputation for being high quality and low-cost. Sumitomo tires are typically less expensive than other brands. Although they aren’t as affordable as Ironman tires or Cooper tire , Sumitomo’s pricing can be affordable for many drivers.
Sumitomo has a wide range of tires, including its sub-brands. Sumitomo produces a limited number of models. Although it offers more all-season and performance tires than other manufacturers, the manufacturer doesn’t produce the largest range of all terrain or winter tires.
Sumitomo Industry Ratings
Sumitomo tires use a system of evaluation created by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Uniform Tire Quality Grading is the name of this system. It grades tires based on their treadwear and traction as well as temperature resistance.
Here is a description of the UTQG grading process:
Treadwear This grade determines the life expectancy of your tires. Tires are compared to a 100-rated control tire in order to calculate treadwear. A tire with a 500 treadwear rating means that it lasts five times as long as the control. According to SaferCar.gov, most passenger tires have a treadwear rating between 300 and 500.
Traction: This grade indicates how well your tires “grip” a wet surface. On a scale from AA to A, B to C, traction grades are assigned. Good passenger tires usually receive an A rating.
TemperatureThis rating evaluates a tire’s heat resistance using a scale from A, B, and C. Tires must withstand different temperatures depending on their specialization. For example, performance tires can move at higher speeds than regular tires and have higher temperatures ratings.
Important to remember that the NHTSA doesn’t oversee UTQG testing. Tire testing and reporting are the responsibility of manufacturers and other companies that have been hired by brands.
Below are some top-rated Sumitomo tires and their treadwear, grip, and temperature scores based on data from SaferCar.gov.
The sidewalls of your tires can provide information about the UTQG scores.
Most Popular Sumitomo Tires
Sumitomo’s most popular models are highly praised for their handling, traction, and stability. Sumitomo offers high-performance tires, as well as all-season tires for cars, light trucks, and SUVs. These tires are highly rated and come with a long-lasting tread life warranty, some of which can last for as much as 60,000 miles.
Below are some of the most sought-after Sumitomo tires.
Sumitomo HTR A/S P02 (W-Speed Rated)
Type of Tire: All-season ultra high-performance tire
Price: $95.97 – $126.82 per Tire
Tread Life: up to 65,000 miles
The Sumitomo HTR/S P02 (W–Speed Rated) tire suits speed-lovers and owners of sports cars. The tire is also available in H or V-speed rated. It features an asymmetric tread and silica compounds to provide better grip all year. The tire’s unique 3D sipes make it suitable for winter driving. The model’s cold-weather driving abilities are further enhanced by the next generation A/S P03.
Sumitomo HTR Z III
Type of tire: Max performance summer tire
Cost: $105.02 per tire
Tread Life Not listed
The Sumitomo HTMLTR Z III performance tire is a great choice if you are looking for a budget-friendly option. This tire provides a smooth ride, stability, and excellent traction in both wet and dry conditions. This performance model, like many Sumitomo tires has a silica-enhanced and asymmetric tread.
Sumitomo Encounter H/T
Type of Tire: All-Season tire
Price: $102.99 – $210.99 per Tire
Tread Life up to 60,000 miles
The Encounter can carry loads up to 3,750 lbs depending on the size of the tire. The tire is able to withstand both wet and dry braking, as well as a long-lasting tread warranty. Sumitomo tires feature a symmetric tread pattern that allows for even wear, and four circumferential grooves that reduce hydroplaning on wet roads.
Sumitomo Touring LS T
Type of Tire: All-season touring tire
Price: $71.99 – $102.99
Tread Life: up to 65,000 miles
The Sumitomo Traveling LS is available in sizes that are suitable for sedans, cars, minivans and crossovers. This all-season tire is not the best for snow and ice but it provides good traction on both dry and wet roads. A symmetric tread pattern assures even wear. The carbon black compound improves the tire’s fuel efficiency as well as its tread life.
Sumitomo Tire Warranties
Sumitomo, like most tire manufacturers, offers a limited manufacturer warranty. Sumitomo covers tires for six years from the date of purchase. This protects buyers in case their tires fail due to defects in materials or workmanship. Sumitomo’s tread warranties are higher than average. Sumitomo’s models have warranties exceeding 50,000 miles which is industry norm.
Cost of Sumitomo Tires
Sumitomo tires fall in the low- to mid-range price bracket. On average, most models cost $100. Sumitomo’s tires are not cheap . They range from $50 to $60, but they rarely cost more than $165. Sumitomo tires are ideal for drivers who want to save money on tire costs but still get a premium quality product.
These are the prices for a few Sumitomo Tires:
- Sumitomo HTR A/S P03: $113.99 (225/45R18)
- Sumitomo A/S P02 (H/or V-speed rated – $70.99 205/60R15
- Sumitomo HTR Z5: $127.99 (225/40ZR18)
- Sumitomo Encounter AT: $116.99 (235/75R15)
Sumitomo Tire Reviews
Sumitomo tires have been praised for their overall quality – they provide a solid performance without a high price. The brand has won numerous design and eco-sustainability prizes over the years for its technological innovations. Our research shows that most Sumitomo models have a 4.0 star customer rating.
Below are some customer reviews by TireRack to give you an idea of Sumitomo’s pros and cons.
Positive Sumitomo Tires Reviews
These tires are on our family minivan. However, I consider myself a spirited driver and the Sumis have impressed me greatly. The Sumitomo HTR enhance L/X tires are quiet on the highway, have a comfortable ride, excellent traction and can braking in all weather conditions.
TireRack
“Recently installed a complete set of these Sumitomo Encounter At tires to replace the Hankook Dynapro tires. I was immediately impressed by the 90% decrease in tire noise. The ride is smoother on uneven and washboard roads. .”
TireRack
Negative Sumitomo Tires Reviews
“[The Sumitomo Touring LST tires are] so loud. These tires made me insane. I had never heard a tire so loud before and was unable to understand why it could be so irritating .”
TireRack
“I’m not sure what happened to the Sumitomo HTR Sport H/P tires. It was my second set with the same tire in the same size and on the same truck. The first set was very durable, performed well, and wore well. The new set was terrible and wouldn’t balance. After a few weeks, they began to feather badly and became [really] loud em>
TireRack
Our Final Thoughts on Sumitomo Tires: 3.5 Stars
Sumitomo has a wide range of high-quality, budget-friendly tires that are affordable and high-performing. Sumitomo produces high-quality all-season models for trucks, SUVs and buses, including its Encounter line. Sumitomo’s product range is not the best. Sumitomo would not be ranked at the top on any of our “best”, lists. They are good but not outstanding.