Armstrong Blu-Trac PC vs GT Radial Maxtour LX tires

Armstrong and GT Radial are the two value-offering tire manufacturers and have a diversified portfolio that caters to different needs of drivers. While Armstrong has been in the tire business since 1912 and is based in Florida, US, GT Radial is a Singapore-headquartered tire manufacturer with a strong presence in the North American region.

The Blu-Trac and Maxtour tires from Armstrong and GT Radial respectively are the two reliable all-season tires that we have picked for the comparison. While the Blu-Trac PC is suitable for use on sedans, coupes, CUVs, SUVs, and minivans, the Maxtour LX can be used on sedans, coupes, and CUVs. Both tires are designed and engineered for year-round use in dry, wet, and light winter conditions, so you do not need to store another set of tires with the change in season.

Both tire manufacturers have utilized innovative technologies and features to make their tires great on the performance front. They are backed by outstanding tread life warranties, which we will discuss later in this comparison. Armstrong has positioned the Blu-Trac PC as a tire that’s dedicated to offering enhanced ride comfort, long-lasting use, and reliable traction. In contrast, the Maxtour LX is offered more as a grand touring tire that’s built and designed to offer longer drives with solid year-round performance.

To compare the Blu-Trac PC and Maxtour LX tires, we have used our proprietary tire rating system, SimpleScore. The purpose of SimpleScore is to help tire buyers evaluate the tire’s traction, handling, and longevity performances. So, read this Blu-Trac vs Maxtour LX tires comparison and find out which one of the two fits your driving style and needs.

Armstrong Blu-Trac PC tires

The Armstrong Blu-Trac PC made its debut in 2018 and since it belongs to the all-season tire category, it offers traction and performance in dry, wet, and light winter conditions. Reduced road noise levels, smoother rides, even wear, impressive traction, confident braking performance in dry and wet conditions, and an excellent tread life warranty make the Blu-Trac PC a great choice for use on a wide range of vehicles on the market.

Overall, the Blu-Trac scores a great 8.2 SimpleScore rating on a scale of 10 because of the aforementioned capabilities.

GET ARMSTRONG BLU-TRAC PC TIRES AT THE BEST DEALS FOR YOUR VEHICLE HERE

GT Radial Maxtour LX tires

The other tire that we have picked for comparison, the GT Radial Maxtour LX is also capable of year-round performance and belongs to the all-season tire category. The tire was introduced in 2019 and comes with features and technologies that contribute to solid year-round performance, full-depth sipes, quieter rides, precise handling and steering, and great hydroplaning resistance ability. Like its counterpart, the tire’s attractive tread life warranty also comes with a great benefit for the buyers.

Overall, because of the aforementioned attributes, the Maxtour LX scores an 8.7 SimpleScore rating.

GET GT RADIAL MAXTOUR LX TIRES AT THE BEST DEALS FOR YOUR VEHICLE HERE

Armstrong Blu-Trac PC vs GT Radial Maxtour LX tires on traction

Traction is one of the important areas of consideration during tire purchase as it relates to the tire’s road-biting ability. When we compared both tires on the traction front, we found that there was a slight difference in their scores.

Let’s start the comparative analysis with the Blu-Trac PC. The tire scores a 7.9 SimpleScore rating in traction. The symmetric tread pattern of the Blu-Trac PC comes with various features that boost traction performance. There are self-locking sipes on the tread that improve traction performance in wet and slick conditions, and the four circumferential grooves ensure quick water evacuation from the footprint, thus ensuring optimum hydroplaning resistance.

On the other hand, the Maxtour LX scores an 8.5 SimpleScore rating in traction, providing the drivers with more confident and surefooted drives. The asymmetric tread performance of the tire ensures year-round traction and grip in dry, wet, and light winter conditions, while the full-depth sipes provide multiple biting edges for solid grip throughout the life of the tire. Thanks to the additional shoulder channels, water evacuation is optimized and the chances of hydroplaning are reduced.

While both tires are good on the traction front, the Maxtour LX is slightly better than the Blu-Trac PC.

ADVANTAGE: GT Radial Maxtour LX

Armstrong Blu-Trac PC vs GT Radial Maxtour LX tires on handling

Handling is also one of the important areas that helps drivers find the right tire for themselves as it relates to steering response, cornering performance, stability, braking efficiency, and lane changes.

So in this regard, let’s talk about the Armstrong Blu-Trac PC tire that scores an 8.2 SimpleScore and assures drivers of a sharp steering response and reliable overall controllability. The tire sports lateral chamfered edges that reduce rolling resistance and increase tread rigidity for seamless lane changes. The braking performance of the tire is enhanced by self-locking sipes, while the dynamic inner ribs help reduce road noise and improve ride comfort. Additionally, smoother rolling and faster accelerations are contributed by the optimized symmetric tread design of the Blu-Trac PC.

On the contrary, the Maxtour LX scores a slightly higher 8.7 SimpleScore rating in handling. This means the drivers will enjoy better controllability overall than the rival. For quieter rides, this GT Radial all-season tire features harmonically optimized pitch sequencing, and the stiff tread blocks ensure precise vehicle handling and steering response. For better braking performance, the Maxtour LX features full-depth sipes and even the independent shoulder groove contributes to better vehicle handling.

No doubt, the Blu-Trac PC tires are great but they do not surpass the impressive performance of Maxtour LX tires.

ADVANTAGE: GT Radial Maxtour LX

Armstrong Blu-Trac PC vs GT Radial Maxtour LX tires on longevity

Nobody looks for a tire that wears faster and that’s why longevity analysis is relatively important. We must say that both of them were excellent on the longevity part, however, there was one tire that was slightly better than the other in the longevity excellence race.

Starting with Blu-Trac PC, the tire achieves a whopping 9.7 SimpleScore rating and a score like this speaks for itself that its long-lasting ability is outstanding. What adds more excitement to the longevity part is the strong backing of an 85,000 miles limited manufacturer tread life warranty. This is an indicator that the manufacturer is very confident of the tire’s extended service life. Similarly, the symmetric tread pattern of this Armstrong all-season tire is optimized for even tread wear. The tread rigidity of the tire is increased by the lateral chamfered edges that reduce the wear rate.

Contrarily, the Maxtour LX tire from GT Radial scores a 9.3 SimpleScore, which is also on the outstanding side. The Maxtour LX also comes with an attractive tread life warranty of 70,000 miles, which means that you can enjoy long-lasting drives from a set of these tires as well. The footprint of the Maxtour LX is flat and wide enough to resist uneven wear and its tough construction contributes to a long-lasting service. Both, the inner and outer construction can be credited for the tire’s extended serviceability.

Both, the Blu-Trac PC tires and Maxtour LX tires are exceptional on the long-lasting part, but the Blu-Trac PC’s score is in the near-perfect range, which makes it a better choice here.

ADVANTAGE: Armstrong Blu-Trac PC

When to use each

Both, the Blu-Trac PC and the Maxtour LX tires are all-seasons and therefore, you can consider them, for use in shine, rain, and light snowy conditions. However, they aren’t Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified and shouldn’t considered if you live in a region where the temperature typically remains below 45 degrees Fahrenheit or the region witnesses moderate to severe snow for more than 6 months in a year.

While the Blu-Trac PC tires are suitable for use on sedans, coupes, CUVs, SUVs, and minivans that have rims measuring between 13- to 17-inch, the Maxtour LX tires can be used on sedans, coupes, and CUVs that have rims measured between 15- to 20-inch.

Which one should you choose?

When we compared the overall SimpleScores of both tires, we found that the Maxtour LX tires were ahead with an overall 8.7 SimpleScore, compared to the Blu-Trac PC tires’ overall SimpleScore of 8.5. So, technically there isn’t a big difference in the performances of both tires. But yes, they have their positives, which must be considered before making a purchase.

Next is the pricing part, which becomes a deciding factor. The Blu-Trac PC is available at a starting price of at least $39.99 per tire, while the Maxtour LX is offered at a starting price of at least $83.99 per tire. This means a set of four Armstrong tires will cost you at least $159.96, while a set of four GT Radial Maxtour tires will cost you at least $335.96.

Based on SimpleScore, you should consider the Blu-Trac PC if you:

• Drive a compact car like the Hyundai Elantra, a fuel-efficient hatchback like the Mitsubishi Mirage, or a semi-premium subcompact car like the Mini Cooper
• Need a long-lasting tire
• Need a more affordable tire
• Need a tire that’s backed by an excellent 85,000 miles limited manufacturer tread life warranty
• Need a tire that’s suitable for use on vehicles with rim sizes ranging between 13- to 17-inch

On the contrary, you should consider the Maxtour LX if you:

• Drive a compact car like the Honda Civic, a compact SUV like the Chevrolet Equinox, or a full-size car like the Nissan Maxima
• Need a tire that’s better in traction
• Need a tire that’s better in handling
• Need a tire that’s suitable for vehicles in the rim size range of 15- to 20-inch

Still not sure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help as our helpful agents will be more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.