Summit Ultramax HP vs Kenda Vezda UHP A/S (KR400) tires

Summit vs Kenda: Which UHP all-season tire is right for you?

Talk about quality value brands of tires, and you’re sure to come across Summit and Kenda brands, among others, as they offer a wide range of tires, have been on the market for some time, and manufacture world-class products without hurting your wallet. Both have different categories of tires under their brand, which include all-season, all-terrain, all-weather, Ultra-High-Performance (UHP) all-season, and rugged-terrain.

Summit offers a diverse range of budget-friendly passenger and specialty tires, while Kenda leverages over six decades of global automotive expertise to produce high-performing options. When it comes to picking UHP all-season tires, the Ultramax HP from Summit and Vezda UHP A/S (KR400) from Kenda are great options in the value category.

Designed for sports coupes and performance sedans, the Summit and Kenda UHP all-season tires offer dependable grip, traction, braking, and cornering in dry, wet, and light wintry conditions. The Summit Ultramax HP A/S utilizes a directional V-shaped tread pattern with a solid center rib to improve high-speed driving, crisp steering, and quick water evacuation.

On the other hand, the Kenda Vezda UHP A/S (KR400) features an asymmetric tread design with high-resin silica compounds and 3D siping that improves wet grip, light snow traction, and delivers quiet highway cruising. Both tires are backed by limited manufacturer tread life warranties.

So, which one is the best for you? Let’s analyse the two tires on the basis of their performance in our SimpleScore. It’s our in-house rating mechanism that rates each tire on a scale of 0 to 10 for traction, handling, and longevity. Let’s dive into the details of this Summit Ultramax HP vs Kenda Vezda UHP A/S (KR400) tires comparison and make your buying decision easier.

Summit Ultramax HP tires

Designed for CUVs, light trucks, and passenger cars, the Summit Ultramax HP is a reliable UHP all-season tire that delivers reliable wet and dry traction. The presence of four steep, high-angle grooves quickly removes water to mitigate the risk of hydroplaning and improve performance on wet surfaces.

Its continuous center rib guarantees precise steering feedback and crisp high-speed control. Meanwhile, an advanced silica-blend rubber compound lowers rolling resistance to improve fuel efficiency and resist uneven wear. Additionally, an optimized contact patch reduces road noise and vibrations, ensuring a peaceful, comfortable ride.

Backed by a 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, the Summit Ultramax HP secures a decent 7.8 in its overall SimpleScore.

Get Summit Ultramax HP A/S tires at the best deals for your vehicle here

Kenda Vezda UHP A/S (KR400) tires

Engineered for sedans, coupes, and CUVs, the Kenda Vezda UHP A/S (KR400) is another reliable UHP all-season tire. Featuring an asymmetric tread design with a silica-rich compound, it balances dry cornering using a low-void outer shoulder while using a high-void inner tread to improve wet grip.

The Kenda tire features wide circumferential grooves that evacuate water from the tread during heavy rainfall to avoid the risk of hydroplaning and maintain consistent contact with the surface. Meanwhile, the Vezda UHP A/S comes with integrated 3D siping that boosts traction in light snowy conditions. It is backed by a 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty.

With an 8.3 overall SimpleScore, the Kenda Vezda UHP A/S (KR400) provides solid grip, traction, braking, handling, and tread life.

Get Kenda Vezda UHP A/S (KR400) tires at the best deals for your vehicle here

Summit Ultramax HP vs Kenda Vezda UHP A/S (KR400) tires on traction

Traction is defined as the tire’s ability to hold the ground, and when it comes to UHP tires, the grip has to be strong. The Summit and Kenda tires offer great grip and traction in different driving conditions.

Scoring an 8.1 in traction, the Summit Ultramax HP assures effective grip in dry and wet conditions. It features an advanced rubber compound that binds the tire to the surface to boost its grip, braking, and traction in different driving conditions. Additionally, the high-angle and wide circumferential grooves facilitate the rapid removal of water from the tread, mitigating the risk of hydroplaning and improving wet performance.

On the other hand, the Kenda Vezda UHP A/S (KR400) scores equally impressively in traction, i.e., 8.1. Thanks to its dense 3D siping and silica-based rubber compound, the Kenda tire provides maximum biting edges for effective grip, traction, and braking in dry, wet, and light snow. Featuring four longitudinal grooves, the UHP all-season tire quickly channels water away from the contact patch to ensure the tire maintains its grip even during heavy rainfall or light snow.

Both tires deliver neck-and-neck traction performance, leaving the round as a tie.

ADVANTAGE: Tie

Summit Ultramax HP vs Kenda Vezda UHP A/S (KR400) tires on handling

When it comes to handling, UHP tires are the best. They offer reliable control, fast lane changes, and confident cornering. The Ultramax HP and the Vezda UHP A/S are both great in this context; however, one of the tires is a better performer. Let’s find out the winner.

Scoring an 8.0 in handling, the Summit Ultramax HP is a dependable UHP all-season tire for streets and tracks alike. A broad center rib and strong shoulder design mean it offers adequate steering feedback and stability along with confident cornering at high speed. Meanwhile, the reinforced sidewall design and tapered edges further aid it in returning improved control and stability in dry, wet, and light snowy conditions.

Boasting a solid 8.4 handling score, the Kenda Vezda UHP A/S (KR400) flexes its racing heritage muscle when it comes to delivering control and precise steering response. The asymmetric tread pattern of the Kenda helps deliver aggressive cornering, enhanced stability, and convincing steering response. The optimized contact patch balances driving pressures to further boost high-speed stability.

With its racing pedigree, the Kenda Vezda UHP A/S (KR400) zips past the Summit Ultramax HP and wins the handling race.

ADVANTAGE: Kenda Vezda UHP A/S (KR400)

Summit Ultramax HP vs Kenda Vezda UHP A/S (KR400) tires on longevity

UHP tires with all-season rubber compound are gaining momentum due to their long-lasting tread life and year-round capability. The Summit and Kenda UHP all-season tires are no different. The fight is fierce; let’s see if anyone wins it.

Achieving an 8.2 in longevity, the Summit Ultramax HP delivers reassuring service life without the premium price tag. Backed by a superb 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, the Ultramax HP features a unique rubber compound and tapered tread edges that aid in even distribution of driving pressures throughout the footprint, assuring longer service life.

Contrarily, the Kenda Vezda UHP A/S (KR400) scores slightly higher - 8.3 – than the Summit tire in the tread life tussle. The Kenda tire’s unique rubber compound is durable, and the tread is optimized to put enough rubber on the road and promote uniform wear throughout its lifecycle. Additionally, the Vezda UHP A/S is covered by an extensive 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty for complete peace of mind.

With a marginally better score, the Kenda Vezda UHP A/S (KR400) wins another ‘lap’ and beats the Summit to clinch the title 2-1.

ADVANTAGE: Kenda Vezda UHP A/S (KR400)

When to use each

The Summit Ultramax HP is a solid choice for drivers wanting spirited performance from their UHP all-season tire without breaking the bank. The tire offers reliable traction, handling, and longevity. On the other hand, the Kenda Vezda UHP A/S (KR400) is for those enthusiasts who want a capable UHP all-season tire that offers great handling and tread life at an aggressive price.

However, since both tires lack the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification, they should not be used when the temperature remains below 45 degrees Fahrenheit in severe winter conditions.

The Summit Ultramax HP and the Kenda Vezda UHP A/S are available in the same tire size range of 16 to 20 inches.

Which one should you choose?

To sum it up, the Kenda Vezda UHP A/S (KR400) is an overall better tire (8.3 vs 7.8) than the Summit Ultramax HP, as it offers better handling and longevity. However, each tire has its own individual traits that should be considered and matched with your driving needs and budget.

Let’s have a look at the prices of these tires. The Summit Ultramax HP price starts at around $77, which brings the price of four such tires to about $308. On the other hand, the Kenda Vezda UHP A/S (KR400)’s price starts at around $128, which means four such tires would cost approximately $512.

Based on SimpleTire, you may choose the Summit Ultramax HP if you:

• Drive vehicles like the Dodge Charger, Chevrolet Impala, and Ford Focus
• Want a set of UHP all-season tires with equally good traction (8.1 vs 8.1)
• Prefer an overall decent tire at a highly affordable price tag

On the other hand, you may go for the Kenda Vezda UHP A/S (KR400) if you:

• Drive vehicles like the BMW 528i, Toyota Corolla, or the Honda Accord
• Want a tire with superior handling (8.4 vs 8.0)
• Prefer a set of UHP all-season tires with a longer tread life (8.3 vs 8.2)

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.