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Comparison: Firestone Roadhawk vs. Firestone Roadhawk 2 (2026)

The Roadhawk owns dry roads; the Roadhawk 2 owns aquaplaning — pick your priority.

Within Firestone's summer passenger tyre range, the Firestone Roadhawk and its successor the Firestone Roadhawk 2 occupy the same upper-middle segment but have ended up with genuinely different performance characters. The Roadhawk earned its reputation as a capable, dry-biased everyday tyre at a fair price, while the Roadhawk 2 represents a significant shift in priorities — building its identity around exceptional aquaplaning resistance and class-leading rolling efficiency. The result is a lineup where the choice is not simply old versus new, but dry-confident versus wet-safe, and both have legitimate cases to make.

Firestone Roadhawk
Good for
Drivers prioritising dry handling confidence High-mileage everyday commuters Budget-conscious buyers wanting balanced performance Drivers on smaller wheel sizes from 15"
Not ideal for
Drivers regularly encountering standing water Those needing strong wet braking confidence
Firestone Roadhawk 2
Good for
Drivers in wet, rain-heavy climates EV owners needing a manufacturer-recommended tyre Those prioritising fuel efficiency and low rolling resistance Larger vehicles needing 18" to 22" fitments
Not ideal for
High-mileage drivers sensitive to tread wear Drivers prioritising dry braking and handling precision Those sensitive to road noise

Test Profile

Firestone
Roadhawk
Firestone
Roadhawk 2
Number of tests
21
8
Best position
#2
#3
Average position
11.9
5.0
Latest test
2024
2026
Available sizes
174
143

These tyres were not tested together. The comparison below is inferred from separate tests by normalizing both tyres against 10 shared benchmark tyres, so treat it as an estimate.

Dry
Confidence
Firestone Roadhawk
94%
Firestone Roadhawk 2
92%
Safety
Firestone Roadhawk
84%
Firestone Roadhawk 2
80%
Dry braking
Firestone Roadhawk
97%
Firestone Roadhawk 2
93%
Dry handling
Firestone Roadhawk
96%
Firestone Roadhawk 2
95%
Dry Handling Objective
Firestone Roadhawk
99%
Firestone Roadhawk 2
100%
Wet
Confidence
Firestone Roadhawk
94%
Firestone Roadhawk 2
97%
Aquaplaning - cross
Firestone Roadhawk
94%
Firestone Roadhawk 2
93%
Aquaplaning - longitudal
Firestone Roadhawk
99%
Firestone Roadhawk 2
98%
Wet braking
Firestone Roadhawk
88%
Firestone Roadhawk 2
94%
Wet circle cornering
Firestone Roadhawk
95%
Firestone Roadhawk 2
99%
Wet handling
Firestone Roadhawk
96%
Firestone Roadhawk 2
97%
Wet safety
Firestone Roadhawk
94%
Firestone Roadhawk 2
100%
Comfort
Confidence
Firestone Roadhawk
86%
Firestone Roadhawk 2
87%
Exterior noise
Firestone Roadhawk
86%
Firestone Roadhawk 2
87%
Costs
Confidence
Firestone Roadhawk
95%
Firestone Roadhawk 2
76%
Mileage
Firestone Roadhawk
90%
Firestone Roadhawk 2
56%
Rolling resistance
Firestone Roadhawk
100%
Firestone Roadhawk 2
95%

Performance spider chart

Verdict

These two tyres suit different priorities. Choose the Firestone Roadhawk if dry-road composure, predictable handling and tread longevity matter most — it remains a practical, balanced everyday tyre at a reasonable price point, and real owners rate it well for normal mixed driving. Choose the Firestone Roadhawk 2 if you drive frequently in heavy rain, live in a region with standing water, or own an electric vehicle — its aquaplaning credentials are genuinely class-competitive and its rolling resistance is outstanding. Just go in with clear eyes: wet braking has been a documented weakness, noise is higher, and tread life is shorter than you might expect from a newer product.

Dimensions and prices

Compare prices across all available dimensions for these tyres.

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