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Last updated 10/21/2024 - Originally published 10/21/2024
Written by SimpleTire
Pirelli is well-known as a performance brand due to its long history with Formula One, Grand Prix, and sports vehicles such as Ferraris and Porsches, but it also designs superb tires for a wide range of applications. On the other hand, Nexen, South Korea's first tire producer, was founded more than 80 years ago. Thanks to its cutting-edge manufacturing facilities that roll out quality tires (some even recognized as Original Equipment), Nexen is ahead of its competitors.
An all-weather tire, the Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive tire is designed specifically for passenger vehicles. It provides drivers exceptional traction and performance in dry, wet, and winter weather plus a 60,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty.
Designed for use on light trucks and SUVs, the Nexen Roadian HTX2 is an all-weather tire that provides great grip and handling performance year-round and comes with a 70,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty.
How do these tires compare in terms of performance? Here is a comparison of the handling, traction, and longevity of the Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive and Nexen Roadian HTX2 using SimpleScore (SimpleTire's proprietary tire rating system).
Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive tires
Say goodbye to the hassle of switching between summer and winter tires each season, as the Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive offers everlasting confidence in all weather situations. This new directional tire provides unparalleled peace of mind thanks to its exceptional snow traction and performance. In addition, its cutting-edge rubber compound is engineered to perform well throughout a wide temperature range and comes with a 60,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty. Regardless of the weather conditions, it provides unrivaled confidence and performance for 365 days. Designed for passenger vehicles, the Pirelli Cinturato Wetheractive has been precisely built to outperform all-season tires, particularly in snowy situations, earning them the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake rating.
On average, the Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive sports an excellent SimpleScore of 9.6 out of 10 thanks to its excellent traction, exceptional handling, and outstanding longevity.
Nexen Roadian HTX2 tires
The Nexen Roadian HTX2 is the culmination of a long-inspired quest to develop a high-mileage SUV and light truck tire that also provides exceptional all-weather driving performance. Compromise is no longer an option when purchasing tires, thanks to the Roadian HTX2's exclusive technical features. It provides drivers with great traction and handling performance all year long, as well as a 70,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty. With the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification ensuring optimum performance in moderate to severe winter weather conditions, the Nexen Roadian HTX2 features wide grooves and an open shoulder design that forces water out of the tread to reduce the risk of hydroplaning on wet roads and boost wet grip.
On average, the Nexen Roadian HTX2 sports a great SimpleScore of 8.6 thanks to its great traction, superb handling, and excellent longevity.
Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive vs Nexen Roadian HTX2 tires on traction
Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified, all-weather tires offer light winter weather traction as well as grip in dry and wet conditions. Let’s check out the traction scores of the Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive and the Nexen Roadian HTX2.
While the Cinturato WeatherActive’s special rubber compound provides improved dry grip, the trumpet-shaped lateral grooves drive water and slush out of the tread, lowering the risk of hydroplaning on slick surfaces and increasing wet traction. Cinturato WeatherActive's zigzag central grooves improve traction in snowy situations, while deep and continuous sipes bite into the road for extra traction. As a result, the Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive boasts an excellent traction score of 9.8.
On the other hand, the Nexen Roadian HTX2 has a great traction score of 8.4. Its four wide grooves and open shoulders promote increased wet grip, while large, angled tread blocks and dense siping increase traction by biting into the road.
In terms of traction, the Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive has a superior score than the Nexen Roadian HTX2 (9.8 vs 8.4).
ADVANTAGE: Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive
Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive vs Nexen Roadian HTX2 tires on handling
All-weather tires can handle year-round weather conditions (dry, wet, and light winter) due to their specialized tread design and rubber compound. What are the handling scores of the Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive and the Nexen Roadian HTX2? Let’s see.
Cinturato WeatherActive's zigzag central grooves reduce braking distances in snowy situations and improve handling performance on wet roads. As a result, the Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive boasts an excellent handling score (9.8).
On the flip side, the Nexen Roadian HTX2 has a symmetrical tread pattern and is designed to offer great handling performance in dry, wet, and light winter weather conditions. Thus, the Nexen Roadian HTX2 sports a great handling score of 8.3.
Comparing the Cinturato WeatherActive to the Nexen Roadian HTX2, the WeatherActive has a superior score (9.8 vs 8.3).
ADVANTAGE: Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive
Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive vs Nexen Roadian HTX2 tires on longevity
When it comes to longevity, the Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive and Nexen Roadian HTX2 have somewhat equal scores. Let’s check out the scores.
The Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive features an innovative compound using a new polymer/resin system that ensures great wet performance across a wide temperature range, successfully balancing the demands of snow and wet conditions without sacrificing mileage. It has a balanced footprint, which has a small and elongated contact patch that provides excellent snow performance while promoting uniform tread wear. Additionally, the Cinturato WeatherActive's 3-rib tread block maintains the tread blocks rigid, preventing uneven wear and promoting extended tread life. Backed by a 60,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, the Cinturato WeatherActive’s longevity score is an excellent 9.2.
Likewise, the Nexen Roadian HTX2 also boasts an exceptional longevity score of 9.1 which is almost equivalent to the Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive’s longevity score. It comes with a 70,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty.
When it comes to longevity, the Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive has a slight edge over the Nexen Roadian HTX2 (9.2 vs 9.1).
ADVANTAGE: Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive
When to use each
All-weather tires combine the best attributes of both all-season and winter tires to make them suitable for year-round use. All-weather tires, the Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive and the Nexen Roadian HTX2 are ideal choices for those who live in locations with warmer winters and can withstand a wide range of weather conditions, including rain, wind, slush, and light snow.
These are Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified and are designed to meet the standard for winter use while remaining functional in spring, summer, and autumn. However, these tires cannot withstand harsh winter weather conditions and you need to switch to winter tires if you live in an area where you regularly face ice, slush, and snow during winter.
Which one should you choose?
So, what have you decided? Which all-weather tire will you choose: the Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive or the Nexen Roadian HTX2? According to the SimpleScore, the Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive offers superior performance than the Nexen Roadian HTX2. However, the Nexen Roadian HTX2 also is a long-lasting all-weather tire that offers superb performance.
As far as the pricing is concerned, the Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive is available at a starting price of at least $186 per tire, while the Nexen Roadian HTX2 is available at a starting price of at least $137 per tire. So, this means, a set of four Cinturato WeatherActive will cost you at least $744, while a set of four Roadian HTX2 will cost you at least $548.
According to SimpleScore, you should choose the Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive if you:
- Drive a mid-size sedan like the Hyundai Sonata, a family sedan like the Toyota Camry, or a 5-seater sedan like the Volkswagen Passat
- Prefer better traction (9.8 vs 8.4)
- Want better handling (9.8 vs 8.3) and longevity (9.2 vs. 9.1)
On the flip side, you should choose the Nexen Rodian HTX2 if you:
- Drive a luxury mid-sized SUV like the Alfa-Romeo Stelvio, a compact crossover SUV like the Buick Envision, or a crossover SUV like the Chevrolet Equinox
- Prefer a less-priced all-weather that can offer comparable longevity (9.1)
- Want a better mileage warranty (70,000 vs 60,000 miles)
While the Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive is among the top all-weather tires, the Nexen Roadian HTX2 is also a long-lasting all-weather tire that offers great performance. However, you should choose a tire that meets your driving needs, budget, and preferences for handling, traction, and cost.
Still not sure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help as our helpful agents are more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.