BlackHawk Street-H HU01 vs Thunderer Mach III R702 tires

BlackHawk is part of Sailun Tire Group and has a footprint in over 40 countries worldwide. The manufacturer makes tires in China and other parts of the world and utilizes advanced engineering to make tires that are high in quality and offer greater purchase value. BlackHawk makes tires for use on passenger cars, light trucks, CUVs, SUVs, trailers, and commercial vehicles. Its portfolio consists of all-season, all-terrain, rugged-terrain, UHP summer, and UHP all-season tires.

On the other hand, Thunderer is a subsidiary of the Deestone family, and its tires are aimed at meeting the needs of American drivers. Its Ranger and Mach lines are very popular among enthusiasts, and the tire brand offers tires for use on passenger cars, light trucks, commercial vehicles, trailers, and other vehicles. Thunderer sells all-season, all-terrain, mud-terrain, highway-terrain, UHP summer, and UHP all-season tires that offer high value and dependable performance.

Coming from these manufacturers, the BlackHawk Street-H HU01 and the Thunderer Mach III R702 tires are the two reliable ultra-high-performance (UHP) all-season tires optimized for punchy performance, year-round service, and sharper handling response. Both tires utilize advanced technologies and features, and they get tread pattern and designs that allows them to perform in dry, wet, and light snow conditions. Suitable for use on sedans and coupes, these tires are good for driving at higher speeds with better ride control.

But, which one of the two is better and can offer superior performance with the optimum level of punch? Let’s find out in this BlackHawk Street-H HU01 and Thunderer Mach III R702 tires comparison. We have used our proprietary tire rating SimpleScore to compare the overall, traction, handling, and longevity abilities of these tires to give you are fairer understanding.

BlackHawk Street-H HU01 tires

Introduced in October 2022, the BlackHawk Street-H HU01 is an affordable choice in the UHP all-season tire category and is optimized for year-round performance in dry, wet, and light snow conditions. The tread improved fuel efficiency, responsive handling, reduced noise levels, rim protection, anti-skidding, improved stability, longer tread life, and optimum hydroplaning resistance. The Street-H HU01 is offered in 16- to 20-inch rim sizes and is also backed by a tread life warranty.

Overall, the Street-H HU01 scores an impressive 8.2 SimpleScore rating, thanks to its long-lasting tread life, great handling response, and strong year-round traction.

Get BlackHawk Street-H HU01 tires at the best deals for your vehicle here

Thunderer Mach III R702 tires

The Thunderer Mach III R702 was first available in February 2021 and is another budget-friendly UHP all-season tire picked for comparison. This tire, being suitable for year-round use, assures solid performance in dry, wet, and light snow weather. Thunderer has optimized this tire for responsive handling, year-round traction, improved stability, and better braking response. This ultra-high-performance all-season tire is also engineered for longer service and comes with a decent tread life warranty.

Overall, the Mach III R702 secures a great 8.2 SimpleScore rating because of its sharper handling response, longer tread life, and solid year-round traction.

Get Thunderer Mach III R702 tires at the best deals for your vehicle here

BlackHawk Street-H HU01 vs Thunderer Mach III R702 tires on traction

As we dive deep into analyzing these tires, let’s take a look at their traction performance and find out which one is better when it comes to maintaining surefootedness and offering better rolling.

Talking about the Street H- HU01 first, the tire is rated at 8.0 SimpleScore in traction, assuring that you won’t lose the grip in rain, shine, and snow (milder). The aggressive high-angle grooves of this UHP all-season tire are engineered to boost water drainage from the contact patch for better wet grip and hydroplaning resistance, while the sharper block edges improve surface biting ability, especially in dry and light snow conditions. The rubber compound of this tire is also tuned to offer a consistent grip for an enhanced driving experience.

On the other hand, the Mach III R702 secures a slightly better SimpleScore of 8.2 in traction. With an optimized, directional tread design, this tire can bite the surface better for a commanding forward motion, and its sharper biting edges ensure increased surefootedness. The grooves are wide enough to facilitate quicker water evacuation for hydroplaning resistance and solid wet grip. The sipes and edges on the shoulder provide increased grip for driving on wet and light snowy surfaces, and the special rubber compound ensures increased contact with the surface in varying weather conditions.

In traction, it is the Mach III R702 that marginally surpasses the Street-H HU01 and comes as a winner.

ADVANTAGE: Thunderer Mach III R702

BlackHawk Street-H HU01 vs Thunderer Mach III R702 tires on handling

The handling performance helps determine the tire’s performance abilities in various areas like stability, steering response, ride control, braking performance, acceleration, and cornering. Let’s discuss the handling attributes of both tires and compare their scores to find out which tire is better on the controllability front.

Commencing with the Street-H HU01, this tire is rated at 8.0 SimpleScore for its reliable handling. It features tapered tread edges that ensure uniform contact pressures for increased stability, and its tread block design features multiple grooves and evenly distributed stiff blocks for better handling response. The groove design of the Street-H HU01 is optimized for a great wet handling performance. The flat and wide footprint of the Street-H HU01 can also be credited for improved handling, stability, and ride control.

On the contrary, the Mach III R702 outshines the peer with a higher 8.3 SimpleScore in handling and confirms that controllability isn’t an issue with a set of these tires installed. There is a continuous center rib on the directional tread pattern that improves stability, and the sweeping grooves enhance the tire’s ability to clear water from the contact patch for commanding handling in wet and light snow conditions. The inner construction of the Mach III R702 remains intact to maintain the tire’s original shape for better steering response and maneuvering, while the shoulders are reinforced to absorb the cornering pressures along with the sidewalls for an overall better maneuvering.

While the Mach III R702 leads in handling, the Street-H HU01 is also a reliable performer with a decent steering response.

ADVANTAGE: Thunderer Mach III R702

BlackHawk Street-H HU01 vs Thunderer Mach III R702 tires on longevity

Let’s now talk about longevity and find out which tire is engineered better for a long-lasting service. To mention, longevity was the area where both tires scored their highest scores, and it was one of them that excelled the other with a better rating.

Commencing with the Street-H HU01, the tire achieves an impressive 8.7 out of 10 SimpleScore rating in longevity. It is backed by a whopping 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, which is very rare in the case of UHP tires. The tread blocks of the Street-H HU01 are grooved to reinforce block stiffness and assure even load distribution for improved tread wear. The flat and wider footprint also contributes to better service life by preventing uneven wear. The inner and outer reinforcement of steel belts and compounds also increases the Street-H HU01’s tread life.

Contrarily, the Mach III R702 also earns a respectable 8.3 SimpleScore rating in longevity. This tire is also offered with a 40,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty that underlines its long-lasting service. The optimized tread design helps in even and longer wear, while the strong inner casing and robust rubber compound control the wear rate. Overall, the tire looks solid and can resist the driving pressures for a longer service life.

When both tires are compared against each other in the longevity area, it is the BlackHawk that’s better than the Thunderer.

ADVANTAGE: BlackHawk Street-H HU01

When to use each

Both tires fall in the UHP all-season category and can be used year-round in rain, shine, and light snow conditions, however, they are more for performance-oriented drives than the standard commuting that you would expect from the typical all-season tires. This means they will wear faster than the normal tires and might not be able to offer the same level of ride comfort or quietness that the standard all-season tires do. None of them is Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified, so don’t consider them for driving in moderate to severe winter conditions or for driving on snow or ice. Driving with a set of these UHP tires installed is recommended only on paved roads and not in rough conditions.

Which one should you choose?

Based on overall SimpleScores, both the Street-H HU01 and the Mach III R702 tires are equally good and score an equal 8.2 SimpleScore. However, they both are strong in one or the other area, and therefore, you should choose the one that better aligns with your driving needs.

Coming to the price part, the Street-H HU01 is available at a starting price of at least $65 per tire, while the Mach III R702 is offered at a starting price of at least $72 per tire. This means that a set of four Street-H tires will cost you at least $260, while a set of four Mach III tires costs you at least $288.

Looking at SimpleScore, you should choose the Street-H HU01 if you:

• Drive a vehicle like the Audi A5, BMW 6 Series, Hyundai Sonata, or Tesla Model 3.
• Want a tire that’s long-lasting (8.7 vs 8.3).
• Prefer a tire that’s more affordable.
• Want a tire that’s backed by a better tread life warranty (50,000 vs 40,000 miles).

Alternatively, you should select the Mach III R702 if you:

• Drive a vehicle like the Audi A2, Mercedes-Benz A-Class, or Maserati Ghibli.
• Want a tire that’s better in traction (8.2 vs 8.0).
• Want a tire that’s better in handling (8.3 vs 8.0).
• Are comfortable paying slightly more to get a tire that’s better in the two most important areas of purchase consideration (traction and handling).

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.