Lionhart Tires Review: You Get What You Pay For

The tire market is flooded with new cheap models that promise high levels of performance and durability, at more than half the price of premium tires, such as the Lionhart brand. And, I’ve seen many drivers trust these promises, even those that own very expensive cars.

The thing is, there is a reason why tires from Michelin, Bridgestone, Pirelli, and Continental cost so much. These manufacturers invest a lot of money in research and development, which often results in superior performance on the road.

And, the difference is not minor. A premium tire will need 20 feet less to stop from 70mph when compared to a very cheap tire. Or, if you want it more directly, the difference between hitting and not hitting something.

The same happens with handling and stability. Cheap tires will drive just fine for everyday driving, but push them a little harder, and they will immediately lose traction. Moreover, wet traction is usually even worse.

Lionhart is the newest cheap brand that tries to win over buyers with very low prices and a promise for high levels of performance. The problem is, the company doesn’t specify where it develops or produces the tires (hint: China), which immediately makes things a little bit sketchy.

Now, sure, that doesn’t mean that the tires aren’t good. Nonetheless, the same happened with many other Chinese tire manufacturers, most of which often used the same facility to manufacture the tires. And, I have a suspicion that Lionhart is the same in this regard.

All of this begs the question – are Lionhart tires any good? The short answer is – it depends on what you’re looking for in tires. For me, I would still go for a more respectable tire manufacturer, like Cooper Tire and General Tire, pay $100 more, and have peace of mind.

However, if you still want to save cash on the next set of tires, read on to find out which Lionhart tires are worth it. In this Lionhart tires review, I’ll list the five best tires from the company, each for a different type of vehicle.

If you want to learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of Lionhart tires, you can jump to the buying guide, which is right after the Top 5 list. Let’s uncover the truth about Lionhart tires, shall we?

Top 5 Best Lionhart Tires Review

1. Lionhart LionClaw HT

Best SUV and Light-Truck Tire

The LionClaw HT is a very cheap tire for owners of mid-size and larger SUVs and trucks. For everyday driving, the tire feels safe, both in dry and rainy conditions.

That said, the tire suffers on a damp tarmac, and it isn’t well-suited to harsh wintry conditions. On the positive side, Lionhart offers a 40,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is good for the price.

2. Lionhart LH-Five

Best Performance Tires

The LH-Five is a very popular option for performance car drivers. The tire offers a good grip in dry conditions, with adequate steering responsiveness and short braking distances.

However, wet traction is far off the pace in the category, and treadlife also isn’t very impressive. I’ve also heard owners complaining about the tire being noisy when worn down.

On a more positive note, Lionhart provides a 30,000-mile treadwear warranty.

3. Lionhart LH-501

Best Touring Tires

The best touring tire in Lionhart’s lineup is the LH-501. The tire is very quiet and comfortable and handles safely on dry surfaces. It also comes with a 40,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is good for the price.

That said, wet traction is much worse than on premium tires, while snow traction is almost non-existent. Also, the treadlife is shorter than what you’d get on premium tires.

4. Lionhart LH-Ten

Best SUV Performance Tires

The LH-Ten offers the same level of performance as the LH-Five, only for owners of sports SUVs. The handling on dry tarmac is very good for the price, with a high level of grip and traction.

Lionhart also offers a 30,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is very good for the price. That said, wet traction could be further improved – the braking distances are simply too long. Also, despite the warranty, the treadlife isn’t very impressive.

5. Lionhart LionClaw MT

Best Off-Road Tire

The LionClaw MT works surprisingly well on off-road surfaces, especially when you put the price into consideration. Traction in mud is excellent, and there is enough traction on rocky surfaces, too. Moreover, the tire also works surprisingly well in deep snow.

That said, the LionClaw MT suffers on the street, where it lacks the sharpness and grip of the premium competition. Meanwhile, the ride is also not very smooth, and you can clearly hear the tires. The tires won’t last very long as well.

Lionhart Tires Review: Buying Guide

Lionhart offers an extensive portfolio of tires, including passenger-car touring tires, passenger-car performance tires, high-performance and ultra-high-performance tires, light-truck tires, light-truck performance tires, light-truck highway tires, light-truck all-terrain tires, light-truck mud-terrain tires, and even trailer tires.

From what I can see on Lionhart’s website, the main focus of the company is performance. More accurately, Lionhart emphasizes handling in their tire lineup. Moreover, Lionhart’s products are much cheaper than the competition, especially in larger sizes, where the difference is astronomical.

For those reasons, you’ll see Lionhart tires mostly on expensive SUVs and performance sedans. For those vehicles, purchasing premium tires can be very expensive, which is why the owners often resort to cheaper options like Lionhart.

The thing is, most Lionhart tires are identical to other cheap tires in the tread pattern design. For example, Lexani has many tires that look identical to Lionhart’s, and are also priced almost similarly.

However, buying cheaper isn’t always the best option, and that’s especially true with tires. Premium tires aren’t only much safer, but they also last more. Let’s get into more detail and see what Lionhart offers to vehicle owners.

1. Lionhart Tires Positive Aspects

Extremely Low Prices

Lionhart produces some of the least expensive tires you can buy. The products from the company are often half the price of premium tires, and in the upper classes, they are three times cheaper.

For example, ultra-high-performance tires from Lionhart cost around $400 for a set of four tires. Meanwhile, if you opt for Michelin, Bridgestone, or Pirelli, you’ll be paying north of $1200.

So, sure, if you care about saving money the next time you purchase tires for your performance car, Lionhart is a very good option.

Sporty Design

Most Lionhart tires look very aggressive. The sidewalls are well-designed, and in some models, the Lionhart logo is red, which certainly brings style to your vehicle.

Moreover, the tread pattern is usually directional and sporty, which additionally improves the appearance of performance cars. I’ve seen many people purchase Lionhart tires for these reasons alone.

Good Grip Levels on Dry Roads

Almost every Lionhart product will provide the drivers with good grip and traction on dry roads. More accurately, products from the company are completely safe for driving on dry surfaces, and especially in hot weather.

The handling is also not bad. The tires are responsive enough and provide the driver with a good steering feel. Now, sure, you will be happier behind the wheel of a car with premium tires, but for the price, the Lionhart’s are good.

2. Lionhart Tires Negative Aspects

Limited Wet Traction

Most cheap tires offer good levels of traction on dry roads, but they usually suffer in wet conditions. Tires from Lionhart, sadly, are no exception here. If you drive carefully, the tires will perform well on wet pavement. However, push them harder, and the tires will immediately show their limits.

Hydroplaning resistance is only average, and traction is limited for faster driving. Crucially, Lionhart tires need much longer braking distances than premium tires, or even tires from budget-oriented manufacturers, such as Cooper Tire, General Tire, Hankook, Kumho, or Sumitomo.

Short Treadlife

Don’t expect Lionhart tires to last very long. On average, the treadlife of these tires is, on average, half as short as on premium tires. In other words, expect around 50,000-miles from touring tires, and 35,000 to 40,000-miles from performance tires.

Mounting and Balancing Issues

I’ve heard many tire technicians complain that Lionhart tires are made from hard rubber. As a result of that, the tires can’t be mounted easily. Now, sure, that’s not something you should care about, but harder rubber usually means lower-quality rubber.

Crucially, I’ve also heard that Lionhart tires have balancing issues. In other words, you will definitely feel more vibration on the steering wheel.

Conclusion

In my opinion, safety is always the number one priority. And, the single most important thing for safe driving is a good set of tires. Even if you have the best sports car on the planet, it won’t behave well with very cheap tires.

Lionhart is one of the manufacturers that fall into that category. Its tires aren’t bad, but they aren’t very good either. That’s why, if you care about safety and performance, I think you’d be better off with tires from well-renowned manufacturers.

Sure, there is a market for Lionhart, primarily for people that mostly drive in urban environments and don’t push their vehicles too hard.

However, even in those circumstances, sometimes you will need a tire that will stop in the shortest amount of time, and the Lionhart’s might not be able to provide that, especially on wet tarmac. And, when that happens, you’d wish that you had.