Ironman tires review for 2024: Are Ironman tires good?

I was looking forward to creating this Ironman tires review. I never had firsthand experience with this brand, but I did have a chance to test drive a 2015 F-150 fitted with Hercules tires a couple of months ago. So what’s the relation, you say? Well, it so happens that Ironman tires are also manufactured by Hercules, which is a subsidiary of American Tire Distributors  Inc. or ATD. ATD is the driving force behind Tirebuyer.com

I find this to be a bit funny because as of this writing, there are no Hercules tires available on the Tirebuyer.com website. But the good news is that you can buy Ironman tires directly from the site.

Hercules is the parent brand of Ironman and is the brand’s foray into the low-cost tire market. Similar to Hankook creating the Laufenn brand of tires, this is an attempt to segregate Hercules as a premium brand while identifying Ironman as the budget-friendly alternative.

With that in mind, you can already expect Ironman tires to be cheaper than other top brands. But does the price come with compromises in performance and quality? You will find out in this Ironman tires review.

Why Choose Ironman Tires?

Judging by the name itself, Ironman tires depict the image of durability, technology, and quality. Here are a few of the reasons why you should look into Ironman tires for your car, truck, crossover, or SUV:

• Great price

Budget tires are all about the price, and Ironman tires are no exception. I talked with a bevy of tire dealers and they were quick to say that consumers with modern cars prefer budget tires over the more expensive variety. As a car owner myself, I have no qualms about using cheap tires since I do most of my driving in the city. Unless you own a high-performance sedan or sports car, there is no point in spending more money on an expensive tire if a budget-friendly alternative like Ironman is within reach.

• Reputation for quality

Hercules tires have been on the market since 1952 and are known for their quality, performance, and sterling customer support. The company created the Ironman brand in mid-2000 as a response from loyal customers who clamored for an economical alternative.

• Stylish tread designs

Gone are the days when cheap tires forego style over performance. Ironman tires have stylish tread designs which will significantly improve the visual appeal of your vehicle.

Ironman Tires Review

Ironman GR906

The Ironman GR906 is an all-season touring tire. It has gripping sipes on the tread which mean that this tire can also be used on icy roads or mild snow.

This tire has a modern symmetric tread design with an all-season touring compound that enhances grip on both wet and dry roads while lowering the rolling resistance of the tire to provide good fuel economy.

I briefly tested a 2002 Honda Civic LXi fitted with stock rims and Ironman GR906 tires. The traction was good and the ride comfort was superb.

I did notice a bit of noise while traveling at speed but that was the only complaint I have about this tire.

The Ironman GR906 is also good for small crossovers and minivans. It comes with a wide array of sizes and configurations so you can easily choose the right size for your vehicle.

What really struck my fancy was the low price. The Ironman GR906 starts at less than $40 to $70 each. Not a bad deal, right?

Ironman RB-12

The Ironman RB-12 is also an all-season touring tire. It is a direct replacement for the Ironman Touring Pro.

This tire is engineered to provide better wet and light snow traction. Other versions of the RB-12 features a white wall design and is a good choice for classic car enthusiasts.

This tire is equipped with a computer-optimized tread design with a squared tread profile to provide maximum contact area while improving the handling characteristics and stability of the tire.

I tested a 2014 Toyota Corolla LE fitted with stock wheels and Ironman RB-12 tires.

The grip on dry surfaces was good, while the ride comfort was also superb. However, the RB-12 was a bit shaken when driven over wet surfaces. I imagine that this tire will also have a hard time coping with ice and snow.

There was also a bit of road noise at higher speeds but this will mainly depend on the road surface. On smooth roads, the RB-12 was a bit silent than other cheap brands but tire roar was more evident on harsh concrete surfaces.

The owner of the Corolla was also concerned about the tread wear since the tires only cost around $60 to $70 a pop.

As long as you don’t drive like a lunatic, the Ironman RB-12 is an economical choice for sedans and small crossover vehicles.

Ironman iMove

The Ironman iMove is an all-season high-performance tire. Upon closer inspection, the tread pattern looks similar to the Continental ContiSportContact 5P and the Michelin Pilot Sport performance tires. But unlike the Conti and the Michelin, the Ironman iMove costs only half as much. It is also renowned for its dry and wet performance.

Tire dealers say that the iMove is the most popular tire in Ironman’s lineup. It is equipped with an asymmetric tread pattern and a silica-based tread compound to deliver exhilarating traction, handling, and steering response. This tire is also known for its silent and comfortable ride.

I tested a 2012 Lexus IS350 fitted with Ironman iMove tires and it was surreal. The iMove performed as advertised and was a perfect match for the sporty refinement of the IS350.

The continuous center tread rib gave a telepathic steering response. The low rolling resistance construction of the iMove is also designed to improve the fuel economy of your ride. The truth of the matter is I was so busy driving the Lexus that I didn’t get a chance to monitor any changes in the fuel consumption.

The proud owner of the white Lexus test car gave me a thumbs up as I handed back the keys.

He said that the Ironman iMove is a good choice because it is way cheaper than other high-performance tires.

But the downside to the iMove is the appalling tread wear. It seems to wear faster than other brands and this holds true if you’re a spirited or aggressive type of driver. Don’t expect much traction on snowy roads either since this not designed to cope with winter driving.

For the price, the Ironman iMove is a solid choice.

I only wish that the tread wear was a bit tolerable given the sporty reputation of this tire.

Ironman iMove SUV

The Ironman iMove SUV is a high-performance street/sports tire specifically designed for your sport-utility vehicle or crossover SUV.

It is equipped with an asymmetrical tread design for stylish good looks and exceptional performance on wet roads. This tire is also available in large diameter and low profile sizes in order to accommodate the demands of owners who like to plus-size the wheels on their SUV.

Our test car is a 2001 Lexus RX300 fitted with 20-inch aftermarket wheels and Ironman iMove SUV tires.

The first thing I noticed was the silence and ride comfort, which is a given in the Lexus RX300.

However, the ride was still silent even as I was approaching 70 or 80 mph. I wish I had the chance to drive on wet roads but traction on dry roads was excellent nevertheless.

The owner of the Lexus SUV loved the tires so much that he is planning to purchase a set of Ironman iMove tires for his Chrysler 300. I asked him about the tread wear and he was quick to retort that it was acceptable given the low price. The iMove tires in his Lexus SUV were less than 3 months old and the treads were still fresh as a daisy.

Ironman Radial A/P

If you want an all-season tire for your SUV, take a closer look at the Ironman Radial A/P. This tire is also designed for crossovers, vans, and light trucks.

This tire is engineered with a hybrid tread design with a five rib all-season tread pattern to deliver solid handling, exceptional durability, and a smooth and quiet ride. The deep treads and the multi-ply body construction will ensure that the tire can handle all types of roads including mild off-road terrain. This tire can also handle light and moderate snow.

The owner of the tire shop lent me the keys to his 2015 F-150 EcoBoost. My initial impression of the Ironman Radial A/P is the smooth and quiet ride. Traction on dry roads was also commendable.

I wanted to do some light trail driving but it was almost dark when I was testing the truck.

All I was able to muster was about 10 miles of city driving and around 19 or so miles of highway. I know that this is not enough if I want to get a full impression of the Ironman Radial A/P, but for an all-season tire, it was enough to garner a commendable score.

If you don’t have $600 to spend on brand new all-season tires for your truck or SUV then I highly recommend the Ironman Radial A/P.

Ironman All Country A/T

If you demand a more aggressive or rugged tire for your SUV then the Ironman All Country A/T is worthy of your attention.

This tire is equipped with wide angled lateral grooves and a void ratio designed to improve performance in snow and mud.

The Ironman All Country A/T is engineered with a tread compound that provides excellent all-weather grip while enhancing traction in icy or wet conditions. With large tread blocks and deep grooves, there is no doubt that this tire will deliver stellar performance when the roads turn from mild to wild.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t get my hands on a vehicle fitted with the Ironman All Country A/T.

Luckily for me, the tire dealers were able to give me a short summarization regarding the on-road manners of this all-terrain tire. They told me that it comes with a wide array of sizes and performs well on wet, dry, sandy, or snowy terrain. It is also quiet when driven on paved roads. I’m also told that the only downside is the tread wear.

I think this is a fair compromise given the low price.

Ironman All Country M/T

One look is all it takes to conclude that the Ironman All Country M/T is capable of handling the toughest and most demanding off-road terrain. This tire is engineered with staggered buttresses to protect the sidewalls from deep cuts and abrasions caused by sharp stones and other road debris.

The studdable treads on this tire are designed to protect against stone drilling while the shoulder blocks are designed to shift sway loose sand, gravel, and silt for better traction. The Ironman All Country M/T utilizes a three-ply sidewall construction for added strength and rigidity. The void ratio on the sidewall is designed to self-clean the tire under extremely muddy conditions.

My test car for this tire is a souped-up Chevy Silverado with chunky aftermarket wheels.

The first thing I noticed was the road noise. The Ironman All Country M/T is not designed for long-term highway use, but the tire roar was simply deafening in my book.

Taking the truck off-road revealed a different facet. Even when faced with loose gravel and sand, this tire provided outstanding traction and comfort. The owner of the truck is a die-hard off-road enthusiast. He also has a Jeep Wrangler fitted with the same Ironman tires. He told me that you can spend thousands of dollars on brand new mud tires but the Ironman M/T delivered the same type of performance at half the price.

What I really like about this mud tire is the style.

I know it’s a bit pointless to judge a tire based on looks, but there is no denying that the Ironman All Country M/T will give your truck or SUV a more aggressive and rugged look.

Conclusion

I had a lot of fun writing this Ironman tires review. I find it comforting that it’s possible to spend less on brand new tires and still get the same type of performance and durability that you can get from more expensive brands.