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GT Radial SportActive

Ultra High Performance Summer

Replaced by the SportActive 2 Replaces the Champiro HPY

The GT Radial SportActive is a mid-range ultra high performance summer tire with favorable owner reports for dry grip, handling and tread life. Wet-road confidence is divided, while braking tests show repeated wet-stopping deficits and more variable dry performance.

The quick answer

Owners say 66% from 20 owner reviews 40% would buy again Read the reviews
Tests say 28th average finish across 3 independent tests Latest: P47 of 50 · 2020 See every test
Strengths & weaknesses Owner-reported tread life Dry grip Wet braking Wet-cornering concerns Summarised from the tests and owner reviews

Built from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold for this tire - the evidence is all further down the page. Data updated November 2026.

  • 20owner reviews
  • 217,808miles driven
  • 3professional tests
GT Radial SportActive 3 photos

Tire Reviews Score

GT Radial SportActive

6.2/10

Better than 31% of summer tires

  • Medium Confidence
  • 2 tests
  • 20 owner reviews
Scores of the 406 summer tires we have tested

How this score is built

Better than Weight
Independent tests2 tests · 1 publication · 2019-2020 30% 88%
Owner reviews20 owner reviews · rated 66% 40% 12%
Combined 31% 6.2

A fixed curve turns the combined figure into the 0 to 10 score, so roughly the top 10% of a group score 9 or more.

Category by category

How it compares with other summer tires in each area, and how much each area counts. 50 is the middle of the group.

Category Better than Weight Tests
WetBraking, handling and aquaplaning in the wet 21% 53% 2
DryBraking and handling on dry roads 49% 47% 2

Weights are shares of the test result. Owner reviews are blended in afterwards. Faded bars rest on one or two tests.

By discipline

The same results grouped by what the tire was doing. They are not counted a second time.

BrakingEvery braking test, on any surface 29% 2

Confidence

  1. Limited
  2. Medium
  3. High

Its own test results decide 85% of the test figure. The other 15% is the average for its group, and it shrinks as more tests arrive.

High needs at least 3 tests, with its own results deciding 90% or more. Medium needs 2 tests and 70%. Anything less is Limited: expect the number to move as tests arrive.

The tests behind it

Only measured results count. A test that published its placings alone is listed, but not scored.

  1. 2020 2020 Tire Market Overview Braking Test Auto Bild · 245/45 R18 P47 / 50
  2. 2019 2019 Summer 53 Tire Braking Shootout Auto Bild · 225/45 R17 P26 / 53
  3. 2016 2016 GTU Performance Summer Tire Test 225/45 R17 P12 / 14 Placing only
All Tests
View Test Results

Tested 3 times by independent publications, the GT Radial SportActive averages a finish of 28th.

3 Tests
0 Test Wins
28th Average
12th Best
47th Worst
Finishing position in each test1stLast20162020

Finishing position in each test

YearTestResultAward
20202020 Tire Market Overview Braking TestAuto Bild · 245/45 R18P47 / 50
20192019 Summer 53 Tire Braking ShootoutAuto Bild · 225/45 R17P26 / 53
20162016 GTU Performance Summer Tire TestGTU · 225/45 R17P12 / 14

On the full record: Record by disciplineHead-to-head recordEvery published verdict

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Dimensions & Label Scores
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Size Range44 sizes available

195-275Width35-60Profile16-20Rim84-111 V-YLoad/Speed Index2015First On Market

EU LabelAcross 44 sizes - the grade depends on the size you buy.

Noise

71-72dB

Popular sizes225/45 R17215/45 R17225/40 R18215/40 R17225/45 R18225/45 R19
Frequently Asked Questions
How good is the GT Radial SportActive in the wet?
Across the 2 wet-braking tests it has featured in, the GT Radial SportActive stops 21.4% longer than premium rivals, 12.7% longer than mid-range rivals and 3.8% longer than budget rivals. It has a Tire Reviews wet score of 21/100, and owners rate it 6.1/10 in the wet from 20 reviews.
How good is the GT Radial SportActive in the dry?
Across the 2 dry-braking tests it has featured in, the GT Radial SportActive stops 6.1% longer than premium rivals, 2% longer than mid-range rivals and 1.1% shorter than budget rivals. It has a Tire Reviews dry score of 49/100, and owners rate it 7.6/10 in the dry from 20 reviews.
How many miles does the GT Radial SportActive last?
Based on test and owner data, the GT Radial SportActive is expected to last around 29,333 miles (47,207 km).
What do owners say about the GT Radial SportActive?
Across 20 owner ratings the GT Radial SportActive averages 66%. Owners rate Wear highest at 7.8 out of 10 and Wet Grip lowest at 6.1. 8 of those reviews come from owners past 10,000 miles. 61% of owners score it 70% or better.
What is the GT Radial SportActive's EU tire label rating?
Across its range, the GT Radial SportActive most commonly carries EU label ratings of C for fuel efficiency, B for wet grip and 72 dB for noise.
More questions about the GT Radial SportActive (8)
How comfortable and quiet are the GT Radial SportActive?
Owners rate the GT Radial SportActive 6.7 out of 10 for comfort and noise across 18 reviews.
How well do the GT Radial SportActive wear, according to owners?
Owners rate the GT Radial SportActive 7.8 out of 10 for wear across 18 reviews. 8 of those reviews come from owners past 10,000 miles, and the typical review covers 8,150 miles.
Would owners buy the GT Radial SportActive again?
40% of owners say they would buy the GT Radial SportActive again, based on the 20 owner reviews that answered the question. 20% of them gave it the highest possible answer.
What do owners say about the GT Radial SportActive's tread life?
Of the 19 owner reviews analyzed for the GT Radial SportActive, 10 mention tread life: 10 praise it (long-lasting) and 0 criticise it (wears quickly). One owner wrote: "I have now driven over 7.000 miles and has used LESS than 1MM !!! Expected life OVER 30.000 MILES!!!". Read those reviews
What do owners say about the GT Radial SportActive's wet grip?
Of the 19 owner reviews analyzed for the GT Radial SportActive, 8 mention wet grip: 4 praise it (confident wet grip) and 4 criticise it (weak wet grip). Read those reviews
What does the GT Radial SportActive replace?
The GT Radial SportActive is the successor to the GT Radial Champiro HPY in GT Radial's range.
Has the GT Radial SportActive been replaced?
The GT Radial SportActive has been replaced by the GT Radial SportActive 2.
What sizes does the GT Radial SportActive come in?
The GT Radial SportActive is available in 108 sizes, ranging from 195-275/35-60 R16-20.
Owner Questions (3)
Ask a question
Is sportactive suitable for tpms systems ?
August 13, 2022
Yes, TPMS sensors attach to the wheel not the tire so they will be fine.
Show all questions (3)
A couple of months ago I bought a BMW Z4 privately and it has Giti SportActive GT Radial tires size 225/40 R18 92Y XL on the front. Show more A couple of months ago I bought a BMW Z4 privately and it has Giti SportActive GT Radial tires size 225/40 R18 92Y XL on the front. Having no spare wheel the car tires should be run-flat. Are the fitted tires run-flat? Show less
October 20, 2019
If the SportActive fitted is a runflat version, it will have a marking on the side indicating it. It would usually say "runflat", ROF, RF, ZP or a similar marking.
Is the sport active SUV 235/55R19 suitable for my 2017 Ford Edge , the recommended pressure when towing is 45 psi but the writing on the tire wall states not to… Show more Is the sport active SUV 235/55R19 suitable for my 2017 Ford Edge , the recommended pressure when towing is 45 psi but the writing on the tire wall states not to inflate above 41psi with a maximum inflation pressure of 50psi cane you help . Show less
June 15, 2019
Here's an answer from GT: Although I don’t have the tire in front of me, I will assume the 41psi figure references bead seating, it will probably have more text before and after the figure that refers to this process. It does have a max inflation pressure of 50psi to carry 925kgs.

GT Radial SportActive Owner Reviews

Review this tire

What owners say summarised from 18 reviews

The GT Radial SportActive is most consistently praised for tread life, dry grip and dry handling, with some owners also favoring its value. Mid-life and end-of-life accounts support slow wear or useful mileage, although many reviews are initial impressions. Wet grip is evenly divided between praise and criticism, with around one in five reviews raising concerns and several describing weaker confidence in wet corners. Half the 18 reviews are positive overall, so the picture is mixed rather than uniformly favorable. The repeat accounts include a size correction and differing experiences, without a consistent ageing trend.

What owners mention most counted across 19 reviews

Tap one to read only the reviews that mention it.

Owner ratings averaged from 20 ratings

  • Owner score 66%
  • Wear 78%
  • Dry Grip 76%
  • Comfort 67%
  • Handling 66%
  • Road Feedback 64%
  • Wet Grip 61%

Featured reviews

Most helpful 37%

“Hi,so had these tires put on my Abarth595 and in the wet they 'let go',over large drain covers at town speeds.The road was damp/wet and i use the road often it was a little worrying.Cornering was OK but if you push them...”

  • Fiat 500 Abarth
  • 4,500 miles
Read full review → 951 found this helpful
Most critical 31%

“For a cheapie tire I can't complain about grip on wet or dry, but excessive side swaying and increasing tire pressures don't help. Biggest problem is the blowouts and side wall cracks in exactly the same places with all...”

  • Ford Sierra Sapphire
  • 12,000 miles
Read full review → 13 found this helpful
Longest term 74%

“Very good dry grip but when it's gets wet no so great. The tire lift however is excellent done over 38000 on a negative camber adjustment on a 320d. I would recommend for the money but if wet grip is more of a concern...”

  • BMW 320 d
  • 38,000 miles
Read full review → 1,062 found this helpful

All 18 GT Radial SportActive reviews

Score spread across 18 written reviews
71%
Member
Mid-Life
  • 215/45 R17
  • 20,000 miles

Been on the rear axle for few years now and so hard to make critical judgements being on the as many of you know but they have still lots of tread after 20k miles (super lack of wear) and were a competitive mid tier tire at the time. Only buy them if you're getting them ultra cheap as they have been superseded twice now with the Sportactive 2 which I have on my front axle (great tire) and now the Sportactive 2 Evo (8% shorter
wet braking and 5% better wet handling than the Sportactive 2) and THAT would be my tire of choice now if I needed any ( or perhaps the Kumho PS72 or Ventus Evo). Anyway tires have been faithful but not exceptional though one has developed a fast slow puncture :) between the bead and the alloy wheel but I put that down to my old scrawny battered alloy wheels. Def a fan of GT Radial/Giti tires

This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 8
  • Wet Grip 6
  • Road Feedback 8
  • Handling 8
  • Wear 10
  • Comfort 7
  • Buy again 3
Helpful 0
31%
Member
Mid-Life

For a cheapie tire I can't complain about grip on wet or dry, but excessive side swaying and increasing tire pressures don't help. Biggest problem is the blowouts and side wall cracks in exactly the same places with all four tires on such very low mileage. I will stay very far away from these tires, unless you are driving a very small lightweight car that doesn't have much top speeds.

GT Radial SportActive owner photo GT Radial SportActive owner photo GT Radial SportActive owner photo GT Radial SportActive owner photo GT Radial SportActive owner photo
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 3
  • Wet Grip 3
  • Road Feedback 3
  • Handling 1
  • Wear 7
  • Comfort 4
  • Buy again 1
Helpful 13
  1. Initial Impressions23%
    I bought these tires from a so called reputable tire dealer, ( Tiger Wheel and Tire) I originally bought Wanley tires from them and were very disappointed so I immediately returned them and was offered the 215/40/17 GT Radial Sportactive tires. They weren't very good or better than the Wanley but I decided to keep them as my budget was limited. But 2 years later with very low mileage one tire blowout for no reason. Inner side wall failure. Another year later another tire blowout exactly the same story. On both occasions all my other tires were fully inflated and tire pressures were checked regularly. Another year later the last two remaining tires I purchased had wall cracks on the inside walls. Clearly another two blowouts waiting to happen on the remaining two tires and also on the remaining Inner walls side and both tires had cracks at exactly the same locations at the tires stamped section. Tire suppliers Tiger Wheel and Tire N1 City and there Supplier are claiming that my tires were under inflated and I drove the car with heavy loads. So not honoring there services. Tire pressure is at 220 kpa on this tires. So basically I will not use there services or dealerships again. I will definitely not buy Wanley or GT Radial sportactive tires ever again as they lack integrity on the whole. Not fit for the road and just cheap cosmetic trash tires.
97%
Member
Mid-Life
  • BMW
  • 245/40 R18
  • 16,000 miles
Actualy a great tire no complaints whatsoever. they do feel sporty as the name suggests.
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 10
  • Wet Grip 10
  • Road Feedback 10
  • Handling 10
  • Comfort 8
  • Buy again 10
Helpful 38

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37%
Member
Hi,so had these tires put on my Abarth595 and in the wet they 'let go',over large drain covers at town speeds.The road was damp/wet and i use the road often it was a little worrying.Cornering was OK but if you push them you can feel there about to steer you into a hedge.In the dry i think there ok but wet conditions make the car nervous.Wouldn't recommend for any sporty car,there cheap and should last a while but i want to replace them as just not good in the wet.
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 4
  • Wet Grip 3
  • Road Feedback 3
  • Handling 3
  • Wear 6
  • Comfort 6
  • Buy again 1
Helpful 951
62%
Member
Ford Falcon 2002 6 cylinder well looked after 300000 KMS. Three years old . ON REGO check cracked side walls on inside on all 4 never buy again
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 9
  • Wet Grip 8
  • Wear 4
  • Comfort 7
  • Buy again 1
Helpful 1,029
83%
Member
Put in the wrong tire size in my recent (2nd) review....actual size is 215/45 R17 Hyundai Coupe 2.0 GLS
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 9
  • Wet Grip 7
  • Road Feedback 9
  • Handling 9
  • Wear 9
  • Comfort 8
  • Buy again 7
Helpful 1,136
80%
Member
Left a review of these tires March 2019 on this site so just a little update after reading another review on here about the tires splitting, so went and checked mine DOT Code 5217, both sidewalls and tread, 3 and a half years on and about 15,000 miles later absolutely no signs of any cracks, spider cracks or splits or any such sort. In fact they look absolutely mint. Well happy and wear is amazing, even more so being on the rear. Rear feels confident and the tires have stopped the slight tail happy character common with my model on tight wet greasy turns or roundabouts. IMO a very good mid segment tire.
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 9
  • Wet Grip 7
  • Road Feedback 8
  • Handling 9
  • Wear 9
  • Comfort 7
  • Buy again 7
Helpful 1,051
50%
Member
Had the tires on about 2 years/20000 miles. They are wearing slowly but both front tires have split badly and will need replacing. It looks like a manufacturing fault. Don't waste your time with these tires, they shouldn't split to be dangerous after 2 years on a small car.
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 8
  • Wet Grip 7
  • Road Feedback 7
  • Handling 7
  • Wear 1
  • Comfort 3
  • Buy again 2
Helpful 937
74%
Member
  • BMW 320 d
  • 225/45 R17 W
  • 38,000 miles
  • Mostly Motorways
  • Spirited
Very good dry grip but when it's gets wet no so great. The tire lift however is excellent done over 38000 on a negative camber adjustment on a 320d. I would recommend for the money but if wet grip is more of a concern buy a premium tire brand.
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 8
  • Wet Grip 6
  • Road Feedback 8
  • Handling 8
  • Wear 10
  • Comfort 6
  • Buy again 6
Helpful 1,062
64%
Member
Just not worth the money, they are at a price point where there is no significant saving over a premium tire. These feel way too hard and have at times been a little frightening in the wet. Just cough up the extra and get yourself something which feels and handles better. Biggest pro would probably be that wear appears very slow, probably due to a hard compound.
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 8
  • Wet Grip 6
  • Road Feedback 6
  • Handling 7
  • Wear 9
  • Comfort 8
  • Buy again 1
Helpful 910
70%
Member
Been on the rear (non-driven) wheels for a year now. Its a bit harder to judge the rear tires but I'll relay my impressions. This is a decent tire for the price, feels safe in the wet though I'm not pushing it to extremes. It did seem to take a while to scrub in (suppose because its so hard wearing). So if the big tire names were say segment A and this tire a 'B' segment tire then within that segment I would rank it A in the dry and B in the wet. If you're after a genuinely long lasting tire thats cheap and performs well (actually in my view quite a bit better than magazine test GTU/AZ would have you believe as DEKRA retested it with better results) then I would definitely put this on your list. It is what it is ...competent, long lasting and inexpensive.
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 7
  • Wet Grip 6
  • Road Feedback 7
  • Handling 7
  • Wear 10
  • Comfort 6
  • Buy again 6
Helpful 881
79%
Member
Had the tires for approx 5000 miles now, they replaced some older Bridgestones. I'm sure they are not as good as a set if new premium tires, but they do a good job at their price point. Sometimes struggle to put the power down in the wet. Wear seems good. Looks almost brand new after 5k
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 8
  • Wet Grip 7
  • Road Feedback 7
  • Handling 8
  • Wear 9
  • Comfort 8
  • Buy again 8
Helpful 990
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