For drivers of performance sedans, coupes, and sporty crossovers, ultra-high-performance (UHP) tires deliver the kind of steering response, braking, cornering, and road manners that are all a cut above what you’d expect even from premium all-season tires. The one biggest drawback is that most UHP tires are only designed for warm-weather performance. They use a tread formulation that’s softer and “stickier” (sometimes about as soft as a pencil eraser’s rubber), but will stiffen up and lose traction on colder days, sometimes even developing cracks in the rubber that will ruin a tire. Tire manufacturers advise against using many summer and UHP tires if temperatures are below 45 degrees F.

The Laufenn S FIT AS LH01 is an exception to this rule. It’s proof that you don’t have to trade off and compromise all-season traction to get UHP levels of performance, including shorter braking distances, sharp and responsive steering, confident cornering, and great road manners. In addition, the Laufenn S FIT AS LH01 is covered by a generous tread life warranty – a contrast from most UHP tires that don’t offer a mileage warranty at all.

So what is it about the tire that makes it a standout performer? Let’s go in for a closer look with this Laufenn S FIT AS LH01 review:

Features and Benefits

Here’s some of the advanced, innovative features that enhance the Laufenn S FIT AS LH01’s performance and value:

• Tread compound is enriched with high proportions of polymers, carbon black, and silica for long wear and confident traction on wet or dry pavement
• Four wide circumferential grooves evacuate water from the tire’s contact patch to resist hydroplaning
• Groove edges are designed to enhance water drainage, boosting wet-weather traction and braking ability
• Streamlined kerfs and edges work with circumferential grooves for water drainage
• Tie bars connect tread blocks and shoulder for increased stiffness, reducing tread squirm and deformation during cornering and braking
• Five separate tread pitches ensure minimal vibration and noise as well as improved ride quality
• Center and shoulder designed using 3D Vibration Analysis for reduced harshness, better ride quality, and isolation from road irregularities
• Multi-tread radius design puts more rubber in contact with the road at the tire’s footprint for even wear, great road manners, and handling
• Innovative steel belt design with folded belt edge tape between belt layers for enhanced high-speed handling and stability
• Asymmetric tread designed for shorter braking distances
• Jointless cap layer in carcass improves tread life and stability
• Single strand bead wire with stiff bead filler enhances sidewall for great cornering ability
• 45,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty

Pros and Cons

So, is this the right tire for your ride and budget? Before you decide if this Laufenn tire is right for you or not, let’s take a look at the tire’s strengths:

PROS:

• Quiet and comfortable ride
• Handling is neutral and accurate up to the limit
• Long tread life warranty
• Good traction on dry or wet pavement

Unfortunately, no tire is perfect, and that means the S FIT AS LH01 has some drawbacks too:

CONS:

• Traction in heavier snow isn’t good
• Some drivers report a dropoff in wet traction as the tread wears down

SimpleTire’s view on Laufenn S FIT AS LH01 tires

If you aren’t familiar with the Laufenn brand, it’s a sub-brand of Hankook, one of South Korea’s premier tire manufacturers. So, Laufenn tires benefit from the engineering and manufacturing expertise of Hankook, including their tread formulations. Rubber compounds are one of the aspects of modern tire design that are moving ahead the fastest, and the Laufenn S FIT AS LH01’s compound is a great example. It delivers long, even wear with traction in wet or dry conditions that’s unbeatable, and without the inconvenience of having to switch to a different set of tires when temperatures get below a certain point.

We’re impressed with this tire’s handling, braking, and ride quality as well. Just like with automobile manufacturers, tire makers have entire NVH teams devoted to controlling noise/vibration/harshness, and the design features of the S FIT AS LH01 go a long way toward maintaining ride quality that’s forgiving, if not downright luxurious. The S FIT AS LH01 provides steering feedback that’s crisp and direct, for steering response that’s immediate without being touchy and jittery. Even on rough, irregular pavement, the S FIT AS LH01 never loses its composure.

With a 45,000 mile warranty, the S FIT AS LH01 presents a great value for its price point. We feel this is a tire that’s capable and can punch far above its weight class, making it a great candidate for a replacement tire either for a late-model vehicle or a somewhat tired older model with high miles. Going with the Laufenn S FIT AS LH01 is a tire-buying decision you won’t regret.

Vehicles the Laufenn S FIT AS LH01 is a good replacement tire for

While not used as original equipment, the S FIT AS LH01 is a good replacement tire for vehicles like the:

• Acura TLX
• Audi A5
• BMW 5 Series
• Buick Verano
• Chevrolet Cruze
• Dodge Charger
• Ford Mustang
• Honda Civic
• Hyundai Sonata
• Kia K5
• Mazda3
• Nissan Altima
• Toyota Supra
• Volkswagen Passat