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Head-to-head Updated September 2026

Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 vs Hankook Ventus Prime 4 — Compared (September 2026)

Our Relative Score blends 60% objective test data with 40% owner-review signal — so any two tires can be compared even if they were never tested on the same day.

Tire A Dunlop

Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2

Summer Max Performance tires

Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 tread pattern
Objective (60%)
80/100
25 professional tests
User signal (40%)
77/100
92 owner reviews
Dry
78
Wet
79
Comfort
73
Noise
71
Treadwear
75
Handling
77

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VS
Tire B Hankook

Hankook Ventus Prime 4

Summer Premium Touring tires

Hankook Ventus Prime 4 tread pattern
Objective (60%)
91/100
14 professional tests
User signal (40%)
82/100
76 owner reviews
Dry
88
Wet
82
Comfort
86
Noise
85
Treadwear
78
Handling
83

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VerdictWinner: Hankook Ventus Prime 4 — better noise, comfort and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
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Category breakdown

6 categories, side by side

Each bar is the Relative Score for that category. Expand a tile to see the test results and owner ratings behind it.

Dry

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Ventus Prime 4 leads by 10
A — Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
78
B — Hankook Ventus Prime 4
88
Why this score
SourceSportMaxx RT 2Ventus Prime 4
Professional tests (TWG score) 74 88
Tyre Reviews owners 84 88
Dry Braking (% of best) 94% 92%
Dry Handling (% of best) 98% 98%

Wet

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) Ventus Prime 4 leads by 3
A — Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
79
B — Hankook Ventus Prime 4
82
Why this score
SourceSportMaxx RT 2Ventus Prime 4
Professional tests (TWG score) 80 81
Tyre Reviews owners 78 83
Wet Braking (% of best) 93% 99%
Wet Braking - Concrete (% of best) 69% 95%
Wet Circle (% of best) 97% 86%
Wet Handling (% of best) 97% 99%

Comfort

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Ventus Prime 4 leads by 13
A — Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
73
B — Hankook Ventus Prime 4
86
Why this score
SourceSportMaxx RT 2Ventus Prime 4
Professional tests (TWG score) 69 89
Tyre Reviews owners 79 82

Noise

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Ventus Prime 4 leads by 14
A — Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
71
B — Hankook Ventus Prime 4
85
Why this score
SourceSportMaxx RT 2Ventus Prime 4
Professional tests (TWG score) 71 85

Treadwear

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) Ventus Prime 4 leads by 3
A — Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
75
B — Hankook Ventus Prime 4
78
Why this score
SourceSportMaxx RT 2Ventus Prime 4
Tyre Reviews owners 75 78

Handling

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Ventus Prime 4 leads by 6
A — Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
77
B — Hankook Ventus Prime 4
83
Why this score
SourceSportMaxx RT 2Ventus Prime 4
Tyre Reviews owners 77 83
DriverReviews owners – 80

Scores at a glance

Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 vs Hankook Ventus Prime 4: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryDunlop SportMaxx RT 2Hankook Ventus Prime 4
Relative Score 76 83
Dry 78 88
Wet 79 82
Comfort 73 86
Noise 71 85
Treadwear 75 78
Handling 77 83

Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.

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Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.

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Recomputed
Headline score

Tire A

Tire B

Test data

The professional test results behind the scores

Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.

DisciplineCategoryTire ATire BΔBoth?
Curved Aquaplaning Curved 100% #1/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test 93% #6/7 · 2025 Al Volante Summer Tyre Test +7.1 Different tests
Dry Braking Dry 94% #11/49 · 2020 Tyre Market Overview Braking Test 92% #16/16 · 2026 ADAC Summer Tyre Test +1.2 Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 98% #14/20 · 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test 98% #7/10 · 2024 Motorhome Summer Tyre Test -0.3 Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 76% #16/20 · 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test 88% #4/7 · 2025 Al Volante Summer Tyre Test -12 Different tests
Fuel Consumption Fuel 98% #8/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test 90% #1/16 · 2026 ADAC Summer Tyre Test +8.3 Different tests
Abrasion Other 82% #13/20 · 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test 54% #8/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test +28.2 Different tests
Noise Other 96% #13/20 · 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test 99% #10/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test -2.3 Different tests
Price Other 86% #12/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test 80% #7/12 · 2023 Best SUV Tyres Tested +6.2 Different tests
Value Other 91% #17/20 · 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test 54% #5/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test +36.9 Different tests
Wear Other 70% #16/20 · 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test 79% #4/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test -9.3 Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall 7% #14/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test 50% #2/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test -42.9 Different tests
Straight Aqua Straight 100% #1/9 · 2021 EVO Summer Tyre Test 91% #11/13 · Tyre Reviews Best Summer Touring Tyres +8.9 Different tests
Subj. Comfort Subj 22% #20/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test 95% #4/7 · 2025 Die ReifenTester Summer Touring Tyre Test -72.8 Different tests
Subj. Dry Handling Subj 89% #5/7 · 2020 EVO UHP Summer Tyre Test 95% #4/7 · 2025 Die ReifenTester Summer Touring Tyre Test -6.1 Different tests
Subj. Wet Handling Subj 84% #12/20 · 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test 90% #4/14 · 2025 Summer and All Season Combined Tyre Test -6.1 Different tests
Total Cost of Ownership Total 0% #10/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test 0% #4/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test 0 Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 93% #6/10 · 2021 Motor Summer Tyre Test 99% #2/44 · 2022 Summer Tyre Market Overview -6.2 Different tests
Wet Braking - Concrete Wet 69% #11/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test 95% #15/16 · 2026 ADAC Summer Tyre Test -25.6 Different tests
Wet Circle Wet 97% #13/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test 86% #4/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test +10.9 Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 97% #5/7 · 2020 EVO UHP Summer Tyre Test 99% #2/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test -2.1 Different tests
From owners

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2

The Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 is generally regarded as a comfortable, quiet, and high-performing tire that excels in daily driving and wet weather conditions. While many users praise its grip and value, a significant segment of the enthusiast community finds the sidewalls too soft for aggressive, high-speed cornering, leading to a 'spongy' or unstable feeling under heavy load.

Pros

  • Excellent wet weather traction and aquaplaning resistance
  • High levels of ride comfort and low road noise
  • Strong value proposition compared to other premium UHP tires
  • Effective rim protection features
  • Good steering feedback for normal to spirited road driving

Cons

  • Soft sidewalls can feel unstable or 'wobbly' during aggressive cornering
  • Reports of premature tread cracking or uneven wear in some cases
  • Performance can degrade significantly as the tire wears down
  • Some users report vibration issues or difficulty balancing the tires
  • Not ideal for track use or extremely heavy, high-torque vehicles

Observations

  • Users with heavier or high-torque vehicles often report that the soft sidewalls struggle to maintain composure during quick maneuvers.
  • Drivers of lighter, sporty hatchbacks generally report higher satisfaction with the tire's responsiveness and weight-saving benefits.
  • Several users noted that increasing tire pressure slightly can mitigate the 'spongy' sidewall sensation, though this may come at the cost of some grip.
Tire B Hankook Ventus Prime 4

The Hankook Ventus Prime 4 is widely regarded as a high-value, premium-touring tire that excels in comfort, low noise, and wet-weather confidence. While most users praise its balanced performance and competitive pricing, a subset of drivers reports concerns regarding rapid tread wear and a noticeable decline in grip as the tires approach the end of their service life.

Pros

  • Excellent ride comfort and low road noise levels
  • Strong wet and dry grip performance for daily driving
  • High value-for-money proposition compared to premium competitors
  • Predictable handling and stable cornering characteristics

Cons

  • Reports of rapid tread wear and premature degradation
  • Noticeable decline in wet grip performance as tread depth decreases
  • Sidewalls perceived as fragile or prone to damage by some users
  • Performance drop-off in near-freezing temperatures

Observations

  • Some users of heavier vehicles, including EVs, reported faster-than-expected tread wear and stiff sidewalls.
  • Drivers of high-torque or turbocharged vehicles occasionally noted traction issues (wheel spin) during acceleration, suggesting the tire may struggle with aggressive power delivery.
  • Users who upsized their tire profile reported improved ride comfort and corrected speedometer accuracy.
Community buzz

What real owners are saying

From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score

Tire A

Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2

We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.

Tire B

Hankook Ventus Prime 4

Positive

Community opinion on the Hankook Ventus Prime 4 is largely positive, with users praising it as a strong, high-value touring tire that often rivals more expensive premium brands like Michelin. Reviewers and owners highlight its good performance in both dry and wet conditions, though longevity estimates in professional tests show some variation. Overall, it is seen as a significant upgrade over budget or stock tires and a great choice for everyday driving.

r/TyreReviews ·6 upvotes ·2024-03-16

“Hankook Ventus Prime 4 vs Kumho Ecsta HS52? Hey there! Went to this reddit after reading a lot of reviews on the website, a bit of a newbie in general. I have read about many models and settled on 2 possible ones due to pricing and availability in my country (not looking for any other options). In my price range and requirements I've settled on Ventus Prime 4 initially (50% cheaper than Primacy that my car came stock with), but have also seen some good stuff said about HS52. I was quite settled on the first one since it scored very well in 2022 Autobild review, but now that 2024 came out a lot of numbers are completely different (predicted tread life alone took a huge dive) and Hankook is now 4 positions lower than Kumho. To add to this, Hankook was only 10% more expensive thank Kumho in my country, but now there was a price drop and and now there is 20% price difference, so set of Kumhos comes out noticeable cheaper. Spec wise they seems very similar with some trade-offs in different departments. I'm not really looking to save as much money as possible, but with latest reviews I'm not sure if there is any improvement worth paying for. Any thoughts? Thanks. Read more”

r/TyreReviews ·4 upvotes ·2024-03-19

“Are there any Hankook Ventus Prime 4 longevity reviews (perhaps personal experience?) The only info I was able to find is Autobild 2022 and 2024, and ADAC 2024 reviews. In the first one they expect 39k km, in the second 26k and in ADAC - 50k. I'm not sure what to believe. I'm a fairly moderate user and will be replacing stock Primacy 3s which lasted around 45k km. I would like to have something that will last around 4-5 years, which at my current usage would be around 30-35k km. If they consistently fall short of it I would probably pay a premium for a more expensive brand, but reviews give very different figures. If ADAC figures is to be trusted I would surely get them, because I would probably replace the car before I have to put on new tires. But 26k km in the latest Autobild review falls short of my expectations a bit. Are those figures typically less than real life due to more extensive testing and usage? I'm driving a compact SUV with 50/50 city highway driving and no sporty aspirations, very default usage scenario. I could pay more and get goodyear efficientgrip performance 2, but at their longevity they will probably need to be replaced out of age before I wear them down realistically, so that's why I was initially settling in more midrange priced Hankook offering. Would love any help, and appreciate the help I received in my previous post! Read more”

r/AutomobileRO ·2 upvotes ·2025-03-23

“Simbolul cu mașina și fulgerul de pe Hankook Ventus Prime 4 arată că anvelopa e compatibilă și cu mașini electrice (EV), nu că e destinată exclusiv lor. Poate fi folosită fără probleme și pe mașini cu motor termic.”

r/CartalkHungary ·2 upvotes ·2024-09-20

“Becsapós ez, nagyon kevés csapadék volt a nyáron, és nagyon könnyű megszokni a száraz tapadást. Aztan meglepődik az ember az esőben. Nekem is volt ilyen gumi az autón, előtte meg az volt rajta amivel vettem (valami noname), hát a Hankook egy nagyságrenddel jobb volt annál. Most VP4 van rajta, es rendben van az is szerintem.”

Top themes
#wet and dry grip#touring tire characteristics#price and value comparison#longevity and mileage#EV compatibility symbols#comparison with Michelin Primacy

Based on 13 community posts

Specifications

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 B · Hankook Ventus Prime 4
CategorySummer Max Performance tiresSummer Premium Touring tires
Vehicle typePassenger Car / Crossover—
Sizes available4—
Rim diameters17″ – 19″—
Tread depth10/32″—
UTQG300 A A—
SidewallBlackwall—
Max pressure50 psi—
Final verdict

Which one should you actually buy?

Dunlop

Hankook

Winner: Hankook Ventus Prime 4 — better noise, comfort and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.

Pick tire B You want a quieter cabin

Hankook Ventus Prime 4 scores 85 vs 71 on noise.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Hankook Ventus Prime 4 scores 86 vs 73 on comfort.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Hankook Ventus Prime 4 scores 88 vs 78 on dry.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Hankook Ventus Prime 4 scores 83 vs 77 on handling.

Tire A · Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2
Tire B · Hankook Ventus Prime 4

How do we compare tires?

Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements) normalized against the best tire in each test and weighted toward recent tests. 40% comes from thousands of owner reviews collected from retailers and review sites. When a tire has only one of the two, we use what exists and say so.

Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.