Firestone Firehawk Sport vs Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
- TR Score
- 8.6/10
- Owners say
- 79% · 6
- TR Score
- 8.4/10
- Owners say
- 70% · 18
In the 5 independent tests that ran both tires, the Firestone Firehawk Sport finished ahead 3 times and the N Fera Sport SU2 twice. The Firehawk Sport had 14.8% lower rolling resistance; the N Fera Sport SU2 lasted 23.6% longer in the wear tests.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Buy the Nexen N Fera Sport SU2 for wet braking and much lower running costs; the Firestone Firehawk Sport only makes sense if dry braking and rolling resistance outweigh a tire that wears out a quarter sooner.
Where the Firehawk Sport is stronger
- Shorter dry braking in four of the five comparisons
- Lower rolling resistance in both tests that measured it, 7.62 against 8.41 kg/t in 2025
- Won both curved aquaplaning runs and both dry handling tests, and 7th of 18 at ADAC
Where the N Fera Sport SU2 is stronger
- Wet braking 27.1m against 29.9m in the 2026 braking shootout, 3rd of 50 against 23rd
- Longer tread life in both wear tests, 43,700km against 34,500km at ADAC
- Cheaper per 1000km by 21 and 29 percent, and quieter in all three noise tests
The bullet points are analysis of the shared tests and of owner reviews; the measured wins in each discipline are in the tables below. Where the two disagree, the figures are right.
Firehawk Sport vs N Fera Sport SU2 at a glance
| Category | Firehawk Sport | Gap | N Fera Sport SU2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won5 shared tests | 3 | 2 | |
| Dry7 measurements | 6 | The Firehawk Sport averaged a 1.8% higher speed on the dry handling course (2 tests) | 1 |
| Wet16 measurements | 9 | The Firehawk Sport held 0.5% more grip in curved aquaplaning (3 tests) | 7 |
| Comfort4 measurements | 0 | The N Fera Sport SU2 was 1.2 dB quieter (3 tests) | 4 |
| Value6 measurements | 3 | Level between the two. | 3 |
| Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 8.6/10 | The Firehawk Sport by 0.2 | 8.4/10 |
| Owner rating6 and 18 reviews | 79% | The Firehawk Sport by 9 points | 70% |
| Would buy againshare of owners | 67% | The Firehawk Sport by 29 points | 38% |
| Pricein the 3 tests that listed prices | +16.5% | The Firehawk Sport was dearer in 3 of 3 | Cheaper |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 35 | 35 sizes made in both | 138 |
Wins count every measurement the shared tests recorded for both tires; a tick marks the tire ahead on that line. Subjective driver scores count as wins but are never averaged, because each test uses its own scale.
Head to head in 5 tests, 2023 to 2026
Each row is one published test in which both tires ran on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The line is the whole field, winner on the left.
| Test | Firehawk Sport | Field | N Fera Sport SU2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Summer Braking Super Tire Test - How do 52 Tires Perform in Wet and Dry Braking? | P23 of 50 | P3 of 50 | |
| 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tire Test | P20 of 20 | P14 of 20 | |
| 2025 ADAC Summer Tire Test | P7 of 18 | P10 of 18 | |
| 2025 Summer Tire Test Shootout | P15 of 52 | P16 of 52 | |
| 2023 Sport Auto UHP Tire Test | P4 of 11 | P11 of 11 |
Performance profile
9 measurements from the 5 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Firehawk Sport
N Fera Sport SU2
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
In each test the better of the two figures counts as 100% and the other as its share of it, so a 118 ft stop against 112 ft is 95%; each spoke averages the shared tests that recorded it. The scale stops at 96%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 6 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Firehawk Sport
N Fera Sport SU2
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Category scores are percentiles among tires of the same season and class: 90 means this tire out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
Where owners rate each higher
Firehawk Sport
N Fera Sport SU2
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Firehawk Sport 79% from 6 reviews and the N Fera Sport SU2 70% from 18. Each spoke is one question owners answer out of 10; reviews are vetted by hand before publication.
Every measurement, side by side
Averages of the figures both tires posted in the same tests. The gap is the average of each test's own gap, so figures from different cars and years are never mixed. Open a discipline for its measurements, and a measurement for every test's figure.
| Measurement | Firehawk Sport | Gap | N Fera Sport SU2 | Wins | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| 115 | 0.1% | 115 | 4-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 67.6 | 1.8% | 66.4 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 108 | 1.9% | 106 | 2-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 125 | 1.3% | 126 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 48.9 | 1.3% | 48.2 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 19 | 2.4% | 18.5 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 15.08 | 0.2% | 15.05 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 49 | 0.2% | 49.1 | 2-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 9.9 | 0.5% | 9.9 | 2-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 16.3% | scored | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 72.4 | 1.2 dB | 71.2 | 0-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 19,685 | 23.6% | 24,383 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 7.36 | 14.8% | 8.66 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 5.5 | 1.8% | 5.6 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 81.1 | 7.9% | 74.7 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Braking distances and lap times are better when lower; speeds, wear and grip figures when higher. A test's figures are its own: sizes, cars, surfaces and temperatures differ from one to the next, which is why the averages here are only ever of tests the two tires shared. "Scored" rows are subjective driver ratings: each test uses its own scale, so only the wins are counted.
Scores beyond the shared tests
On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Firehawk Sport scores 8.6 and the N Fera Sport SU2 8.4 out of 10.
| Firehawk Sport | Category | N Fera Sport SU2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 86 | Dry | 78 | ||
| 66 | Wet | 76 | ||
| 54 | Comfort | 91 | ||
| 56 | Value | 29 | ||
Category scores are percentiles among tires of the same season and class: 90 means this tire out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
What owners say
| Firehawk Sport | Category | N Fera Sport SU2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.8 | Dry Grip | 8.1 | ||
| 8.5 | Wet Grip | 7.7 | ||
| 7.8 | Road Feedback | 7.8 | ||
| 8.4 | Handling | 7.7 | ||
| 5 | Wear | 5.6 | ||
| 8 | Comfort | 6.4 | ||
Owners rate the Firehawk Sport 79% from 6 reviews and the N Fera Sport SU2 70% from 18. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Firestone Firehawk Sport
- 79%from 6 reviews
- 67%would buy again
- 18,510 milesdriven by reviewers
Drivers generally report the Firestone Firehawk Sport delivers strong wet and dry grip with confident aquaplaning resistance, making it feel secure in heavy rain. Many also highlight low road noise and improved fuel economy/MPG versus prior tires, with stable handling and reduced tramlining. A smaller share of reviews raise concerns about faster-than-expected wear or durability on rough/potholed roads, though most feedback remains clearly positive.
- Excellent wet grip and rain confidence (including aquaplaning resistance)
- Strong dry grip/traction and stable handling
- Low road noise/quiet ride
- Improved fuel economy/MPG
- Some reports of faster wear or reduced durability on rough/potholed roads
Summarised by AI from 6 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 6 Firehawk Sport reviewsI came from a hankook ventus s1 evo3 . But they had pretty bad dry cracks even before the tire ran out of life . I have 245/35/20 tires . the comfort on the firestones are a little bit worse then the hankooks . i could run the hankooks on 2.5 bar , these on 2.3 for the same comfort . i think the firestones are a bit more fuel efficient , even when they are on a lower tire pressure . Dry grip is very good , never lost any traction , even in the rain . aquaplanning is also very good , never had any feel of losing controle .
So far i ran the tires around 15.000 km and lost 1.5mm out of the 5.5mm tread on the front , and only lost 0.5 on the back . so i think ill get aroud 60.000km out of it if i switch them every year . Found out they have like 0 traction on snow , keep that in mind .
Nexen N Fera Sport SU2
- 70%from 18 reviews
- 38%would buy again
- 141,160 milesdriven by reviewers
Drivers describe the Nexen N Fera Sport SU2 as a strong value-focused performance tire with very good dry and wet grip, confident handling, and stability at speed for the money. However, a large share of users report short tread life (often with heavy/uneven shoulder wear) and many also mention poor refinement as the tire ages, including increased road noise and a harsher ride. Overall sentiment is mixed, with performance praised but longevity and comfort commonly limiting repeat purchases.
- Very good dry grip and handling
- Strong wet grip and confidence in rain
- Good value/price versus premium brands
- Stable and predictable at higher speeds
- Fast wear/short tread life (often uneven shoulder wear)
- High road noise and mediocre comfort/harsh ride
- Weaker performance in cold temperatures
Summarised by AI from 15 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 18 N Fera Sport SU2 reviewsI've driven the tire's about 40 000km on my family diesel wagon.The final result is four summers and they're gone.The protector is about 4mm,the outer side of the tires is melted like slick tire,and pieces of rubber come off.After a little bump one of the tires got a puncture in the side board,which surprised me a little,but for the price everything is OK.The grip is very good in wet and dry,they perform good in dynamic driving...when they new :)
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tire: 35 sizes of the Firehawk Sport and 138 of the N Fera Sport SU2, 35 of them made in both.
| Category | Firehawk Sport | N Fera Sport SU2 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Summer | Summer |
| Sizes made | 35 sizes, 18 to 20 inch | 138 sizes, 16 to 22 inch |
| Made in both | 35 sizes 215/35 R18225/40 R18225/45 R18235/40 R18245/40 R18245/45 R18255/35 R18255/40 R18265/35 R18225/35 R19225/45 R19235/35 R19and 23 more | |
| EU label wet grip | A100% | A64%B34%C2% |
| EU label rolling resistance | B77%C20%A3% | C36%A26%D25%B13% |
| EU label noise | 70 dB B54%A46% | 68-75 dB B80%A20% |
| Severe snow (3PMSF) sizes | 0 of 35 | 2 of 266 |
| On the market since | 2023 | - |
| Replaced | Firestone Firehawk SZ90 | Nexen N Fera SU1 (2012) |
| Price in the shared tests | The Firehawk Sport was the dearer tire in 3 of the 3 tests that listed prices, by 16.5% on average. Each test priced the tires in its own market at the time; only the gap is comparable. | |
Label grades are shown as the share of registered sizes carrying each grade, so "B (88%), C (12%)" means most sizes are B. Grades vary by size; check the label for yours.
Reading the results
Written from the test results and owner reviews above. It is analysis, not a measurement: where it and the tables disagree, the tables are right.
Two mid-range ultra high performance tires with five tests in common and a scoreline that hides more than it tells. The Firestone Firehawk Sport finished ahead three times to the Nexen N Fera Sport SU2's two, yet the single most emphatic result belongs to the Nexen: 3rd of 50 in Auto Bild's 2026 braking shootout, where the Firestone was 23rd.
The split is clean. The Firestone brakes better in the dry, winning four of the five comparisons, and it rolls with less resistance, 7.62 against 8.41 kg/t in Auto Bild's 2025 performance test. It also took both curved aquaplaning runs.
The Nexen brakes better in the wet, by 9.4 percent in that braking shootout, 27.1m against 29.9m, and everything about owning it is cheaper. It was quieter in all three noise tests, projected to last 20.5 percent longer in one wear test and 26.7 percent longer in the other, and it cost 29.1 percent less per 1000km at ADAC.
Conclusion
The Nexen N Fera Sport SU2 is the better buy for most people, and tread life is why. Auto Bild projected 34,780km against the Firestone's 28,860km in 2025, ADAC 43,700km against 34,500km, and the cost per 1000km followed: 9.20 against 11.64 at Auto Bild and 2.26 against 3.19 at ADAC, gaps of 21 and 29 percent. It also stopped 2.8m shorter in the wet in Auto Bild's 52 tire braking shootout, finishing 3rd there against the Firestone's 23rd, and it was the quieter tire in all three tests that measured noise.
The Firestone Firehawk Sport answers with dry braking and efficiency. It stopped shorter in the dry in four of the five comparisons and posted the lower rolling resistance in both tests that measured it, 7.62 against 8.41 kg/t in 2025, which is a genuine fuel saving over a set's life. It also won both curved aquaplaning tests and both dry handling runs, and at ADAC it finished 7th of 18 against the Nexen's 10th.
That ADAC result is the one to keep in view, because it runs against the rest: the same test that placed the Firestone ahead also measured it wearing 26.7 percent faster and costing 29.1 percent more per 1000km, which is a lot to pay for a three place gain. Unless dry braking is the only thing you buy tires for, the Nexen is the more sensible choice.
Firehawk Sport vs N Fera Sport SU2: your questions
Is the Firestone Firehawk Sport or the Nexen N Fera Sport SU2 the better tire?
In the 5 independent tests that ran both tires, the Firestone Firehawk Sport finished ahead 3 times and the N Fera Sport SU2 twice. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Firehawk Sport scores 8.6 and the N Fera Sport SU2 8.4 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Firehawk Sport or the N Fera Sport SU2?
The Firehawk Sport led 9 of the 16 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it held 0.5% more grip in curved aquaplaning across 3 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Firehawk Sport led 6 of the 7 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it averaged a 1.8% higher speed on the dry handling course across 2 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Firehawk Sport had 14.8% lower rolling resistance (2 tests); the N Fera Sport SU2 lasted 23.6% longer in the wear tests (2 tests). Owners rate wear 5/10 for the Firehawk Sport and 5.6/10 for the N Fera Sport SU2.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
The N Fera Sport SU2 was 1.2 dB quieter (3 tests). Owners rate comfort 8/10 for the Firehawk Sport and 6.4/10 for the N Fera Sport SU2.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Firehawk Sport 79% from 6 reviews and the N Fera Sport SU2 70% from 18. 67% of Firehawk Sport owners would buy it again, against 38% for the N Fera Sport SU2.
Which is more expensive?
In the 3 tests that listed prices, the Firehawk Sport was the dearer tire in 3 of them, by 16.5% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Firehawk Sport is made in 35 sizes (18 to 20 inch) and the N Fera Sport SU2 in 138 (16 to 22 inch). 35 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Firehawk Sport is graded A for wet grip and B for rolling resistance in most sizes; the N Fera Sport SU2 A and C.
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Run either of these?
Your review is the part of this page no test can supply: how the tire wore, how it aged, what it was like in the rain in year three. It takes about five minutes.
Where this data comes from
Finishing positions and measurements are transcribed from each published test. A test only counts here when both tires ran in it, so every figure was recorded on the same car, size and day as the one it is compared to.
About the TR Score
The Tire Reviews Score rates each tire out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tires can be compared even before a test has run them together.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tire Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tires independently since 2007.
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