Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN vs Maxxis Premitra HP6
The interesting twist is that the Maxxis can look good in isolated metrics-most notably wet braking in ADAC (33.4 m vs 34.9 m) and Netzwelt (49.9 m vs 51.1 m), plus very low rolling resistance in Netzwelt. But when you zoom out to handling stability, aquaplaning resilience, and real-world “confidence at the limit,” the Firestone builds a clearer case-especially in wet handling and aquaplaning, and in cost-per-kilometre value where measured.
Test Results
Independent comparison tyre tests are the best source of data to get tyre information from, and the good news is there have been three tests which compare both tyres directly!
| Tyre | Test Wins | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN | three |
While it might look like the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN is better than the Maxxis Premitra HP6 purely based on the higher number of test wins, tyres are very complicated objects which means where one tyre is better than the other can be more important in real world use.
Let's look at how the two tyres compare across multiple tyre test categories.
Key Strengths
- Consistently shorter dry braking across all shared tests (3/3 wins; e.g., 34.9 m vs 35.8 m in ADAC)
- Stronger aquaplaning resistance in both straight and curved measures (e.g., Auto Zeitung 82.6 vs 80.5 km/h; ADAC curved 3.6 vs 3.0 m/s²)
- More confidence-inspiring wet dynamics overall in Auto Zeitung (faster wet handling 70.9 s vs 74.0 s; much higher subjective wet score 39 vs 20)
- Better cost-per-kilometre case where measured, with markedly higher predicted mileage in Auto Zeitung (40,000 vs 29,000 km) and best value index (14.13 vs 17.76)
- Can deliver shorter wet braking in some tests (ADAC 33.4 m vs 34.9 m; Netzwelt 49.9 m vs 51.1 m)
- Lower fuel consumption/rolling efficiency indicators in parts of the data (ADAC 5.6 vs 5.7 l/100 km; Netzwelt notes lowest rolling resistance)
- Lower abrasion in ADAC (76 vs 95 mg/km/t), suggesting potentially gentler particulate output under that methodology
- Slightly lower external noise in Auto Zeitung (70 dB vs 71 dB)
Dry Braking
Looking at data from three tyre tests, the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN was better during three dry braking tests. On average the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN stopped the vehicle in 1.39% less distance than the Maxxis Premitra HP6.
Best In Dry Braking: Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN
See how the Dry Braking winner was calculated >>
Dry Handling [s]
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN and Maxxis Premitra HP6 performed equally well in dry handling [s] tests.
Best In Dry Handling [s]: Both tyres performed equally well
See how the Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Dry Handling
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN was better during one subj. dry handling tests. On average the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN scored 16% more points than the Maxxis Premitra HP6.
Best In Subj. Dry Handling: Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN
See how the Subj. Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Braking
Looking at data from three tyre tests, the Maxxis Premitra HP6 was better during two wet braking tests. On average the Maxxis Premitra HP6 stopped the vehicle in 1.16% less distance than the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN.
Best In Wet Braking: Maxxis Premitra HP6
See how the Wet Braking winner was calculated >>
Wet Braking - Concrete
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Maxxis Premitra HP6 was better during one wet braking - concrete tests. On average the Maxxis Premitra HP6 stopped the vehicle in 4.99% less distance than the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN.
Best In Wet Braking - Concrete: Maxxis Premitra HP6
See how the Wet Braking - Concrete winner was calculated >>
Wet Handling [s]
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN was better during one wet handling [s] tests. On average the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN was 4.19% faster around a wet lap than the Maxxis Premitra HP6.
Best In Wet Handling [s]: Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN
See how the Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Wet Handling
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN was better during one subj. wet handling tests. On average the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN scored 48.72% more points than the Maxxis Premitra HP6.
Best In Subj. Wet Handling: Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN
See how the Subj. Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Circle
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN was better during one wet circle tests. On average the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN was 3.42% faster around a wet circle than the Maxxis Premitra HP6.
Best In Wet Circle: Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN
See how the Wet Circle winner was calculated >>
Straight Aqua
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN was better during two straight aqua tests. On average the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN floated at a 2.69% higher speed than the Maxxis Premitra HP6.
Best In Straight Aqua: Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN
See how the Straight Aqua winner was calculated >>
Curved Aquaplaning
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN was better during one curved aquaplaning tests. On average the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN slipped out at a 16.67% higher speed than the Maxxis Premitra HP6.
Best In Curved Aquaplaning: Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN
See how the Curved Aquaplaning winner was calculated >>
Subj. Comfort
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN and Maxxis Premitra HP6 performed equally well in subj. comfort tests.
Best In Subj. Comfort: Both tyres performed equally well
See how the Subj. Comfort winner was calculated >>
Noise
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Maxxis Premitra HP6 was better during one noise tests. On average the Maxxis Premitra HP6 measured 1.41% quieter than the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN.
Best In Noise: Maxxis Premitra HP6
See how the Noise winner was calculated >>
Wear
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN was better during one wear tests. On average the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN is predicted to cover 13.69% miles before reaching 1.6mm than the Maxxis Premitra HP6.
Best In Wear: Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN
See how the Wear winner was calculated >>
Value
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN was better during one value tests. On average the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN proved to have a 20.44% better value based on price/1000km than the Maxxis Premitra HP6.
Best In Value: Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN
See how the Value winner was calculated >>
Rolling Resistance
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN was better during one rolling resistance tests. On average the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN had a 2.7% lower rolling resistance than the Maxxis Premitra HP6.
Best In Rolling Resistance: Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN
See how the Rolling Resistance winner was calculated >>
Fuel Consumption
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Maxxis Premitra HP6 was better during one fuel consumption tests. On average the Maxxis Premitra HP6 used 1.75% less fuel than the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN.
Best In Fuel Consumption: Maxxis Premitra HP6
See how the Fuel Consumption winner was calculated >>
Abrasion
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Maxxis Premitra HP6 was better during one abrasion tests. On average the Maxxis Premitra HP6 emitted 20% less particle wear matter than the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN.
Best In Abrasion: Maxxis Premitra HP6
See how the Abrasion winner was calculated >>
Real World Driver Reviews
Tyre Reviews also collects real world driver reviews for the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN and Maxxis Premitra HP6.
In total the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN has been reviewed 10 times and drivers have given the tyre 88% overall.
The Maxxis Premitra HP6 has been reviewed 1 times and drivers have given the tyre 73% overall.
This means in real world driving, people prefer the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN.
Continental Premium Contact 6 tires are used up front.
The MAXXIS tires are very quiet, precise, and light. I'm convinced they're absolutely on par with the Continentals, as my car zips around fast corners with absolute neutrality and remains neutral with every load change.
Conclusion
The Maxxis Premitra HP6's best argument is targeted efficiency and occasional strong wet stopping-ADAC also credits it with low fuel use (5.6 vs 5.7 l/100 km) and markedly lower abrasion (76 vs 95 mg/km/t). However, professional testers repeatedly flag its dynamic weaknesses: less precise steering, weaker wet-road behaviour, and in Auto Zeitung an unpredictable wet-limit balance plus poor predicted tread life. If your priority is squeezing a bit more wet-braking distance in some conditions or chasing low rolling resistance, the HP6 can make sense-but for a dependable summer tyre that blends braking, stability and ownership value, the Firestone is the more convincing choice.
Key Differences
- Overall test ranking consistently favours Firestone (4/16, 4/10, 3/6) over Maxxis (8/16, 7/10, 5/6), indicating a broader performance envelope
- Dry braking is a clear Firestone advantage across sizes (wins 3/3), even if margins are sometimes small
- Wet braking is split: Maxxis leads in ADAC and Netzwelt, but Firestone leads in Auto Zeitung-so Maxxis's wet-stop edge isn't consistent across methodologies and conditions
- Aquaplaning resistance strongly favours Firestone in the measured tests (straight and curved), aligning with multiple reports of better wet security
- Durability/value diverges sharply depending on test: Auto Zeitung heavily favours Firestone (40k vs 29k km), while ADAC shows near parity (36.7k vs 37.2k km), suggesting Maxxis's longevity is more uncertain and can be weak in some fitments
- Handling character: Firestone is repeatedly described as safe/neutral/predictable, while Maxxis is criticised for weaker precision and, in Auto Zeitung, a less predictable wet-limit breakaway
Overall Winner: Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN
Based on the tyre test data and user reviews we have in our database, the Firestone Roadhawk 2 ENLITEN has demonstrated better overall performance in this comparison. However, as you can see from the spider diagram above, each tyre has its own strengths which should be considered in your final tyre buying choice.Similar Comparisons
Looking for more tyre comparisons? Here are other direct comparisons involving these tyres:
Maxxis Premitra HP6 Top Comparisons
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Footnote
This page has been developed using tyre industry testing best practices. This means we are only comparing tests which have had both tyres in the same test.
Why is this important? Tyre testing is heavily affected by things like surface grip levels and surface temperature, which means you can only compare values from the same day. During a tyre test external condition changes are calculated into the overall results, but it is not possible to calculate this between tyre tests performed on different days or at different locations.
As a result you will see other tests on Tyre Reviews which feature both the %s and %s, but as they weren't conducted on the same day, the results are not comparable.
Lots of other websites do this sort of tyre comparison, Tyre Reviews doesn't.
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