Tests 76 · 5 tests Owners 79 · 6 reviews
Best test result: #2 of 14 in 2020 Autoklub CR Winter / All-Season Tire Test R16 (overall ranking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ vs Hankook Ventus Prime 4 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
UltraGrip 9+ leads, 76–75 Narrow edge
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Tests 77 · 12 tests Owners 75 · 2,440 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 16 in 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test (fuel consumption)
“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”
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
70
Dry
Ventus Prime 4 +979Why this score
Source UltraGrip 9+ Ventus Prime 4 Professional tests (TWG score) 64 81 Reviews found online 80 77 Dry Braking (% of best) 95% 100% Dry Handling (% of best) 98% 98% -
86
Wet
UltraGrip 9+ +878Why this score
Source UltraGrip 9+ Ventus Prime 4 Professional tests (TWG score) 89 78 Reviews found online 83 78 Wet Braking (% of best) 95% 99% Wet Braking - Concrete (% of best) 91% 77% Wet Handling (% of best) 99% 97% -
80
Snow
No comparison–Why this score
Source UltraGrip 9+ Ventus Prime 4 Professional tests (TWG score) 84 – Reviews found online 72 – -
80
Comfort
UltraGrip 9+ +971Why this score
Source UltraGrip 9+ Ventus Prime 4 Professional tests (TWG score) 83 71 Reviews found online 75 72 -
64
Noise
UltraGrip 9+ +163Why this score
Source UltraGrip 9+ Ventus Prime 4 Professional tests (TWG score) 62 61 -
75
Treadwear
UltraGrip 9+ +174Why this score
Source UltraGrip 9+ Ventus Prime 4 Professional tests (TWG score) 72 77 Reviews found online 80 70 -
76
Handling
Level76Why this score
Source UltraGrip 9+ Ventus Prime 4 Reviews found online 76 76
Scores at a glance
| Category | Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ | Hankook Ventus Prime 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 76 | 75 |
| Dry | 70 | 79 |
| Wet | 86 | 78 |
| Snow | 80 | – |
| Comfort | 80 | 71 |
| Noise | 64 | 63 |
| Treadwear | 75 | 74 |
| Handling | 76 | 76 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Important
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Important
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Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score
76
/ 100
UltraGrip 9+
75
/ 100
Ventus Prime 4
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
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.
| Discipline | Category | UltraGrip 9+ | Ventus Prime 4 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curved Aquaplaning | Curved | 97% #4/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | 82% #17/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | +15.4 | Different tests |
| Dry Braking | Dry | 95% #10/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 100% #3/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | −5.1 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 98% #18/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 98% #5/8 · 2023 Motor Summer Tyre Test | −0.5 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 87% #9/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 77% #5/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | +10.0 | Different tests |
| Fuel Consumption | Fuel | 98% #3/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | 100% #1/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | −1.8 | Different tests |
| Abrasion | Other | 69% #11/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | 72% #6/16 · 2026 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | −3.1 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 97% #10/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 96% #11/12 · 2023 Best SUV Tyres Tested | +1.1 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 80% #15/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 69% #9/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | +10.8 | Different tests |
| Value | Other | 79% #10/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 90% #4/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | −10.7 | Different tests |
| Wear | Other | 78% #6/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | 77% #6/16 · 2026 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | +0.6 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 92% #2/14 · 2020 Autoklub CR Winter / All-Season Tire Test R16 | 14% #7/8 · 2023 Motor Summer Tyre Test | +78.0 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 97% #3/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 91% #16/16 · 2026 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | +5.1 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 100% #2/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 95% #4/7 · 2025 Die ReifenTester Summer Touring Tyre Test | +4.9 | Different tests |
| Subj. Dry Handling | Subj | 80% #5/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 95% #4/7 · 2025 Die ReifenTester Summer Touring Tyre Test | −15.0 | Different tests |
| Subj. Wet Handling | Subj | 50% #7/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 85% #6/7 · 2025 Die ReifenTester Summer Touring Tyre Test | −34.5 | Different tests |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Total | 0% #7/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 0% #4/20 · 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test | 0.0 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 95% #4/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | 99% #2/44 · 2022 Summer Tyre Market Overview | −3.5 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking - Concrete | Wet | 91% #9/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | 77% #15/16 · 2026 ADAC Summer Tyre Test | +13.8 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 99% #3/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 97% #6/7 · 2025 Al Volante Summer Tyre Test | +2.2 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A UltraGrip 9+
Pros
- Excellent wet and cold weather grip
- High levels of ride comfort and low noise
- Strong value proposition compared to premium competitors
Cons
- Performance on deep snow and ice may lag slightly behind specialized winter-focused brands like Nokian
- Limited feedback on long-term tread wear due to low mileage in current reviews
- Increased noise levels specifically on concrete road surfaces
Tire B Ventus Prime 4
Pros
- Exceptional wet and dry grip providing high confidence
- Significantly reduced road noise and smooth, quiet ride quality
- Competitively priced offering great value compared to top-tier premium brands
Cons
- Accelerated tread wear reported by some users, leading to shorter overall tire life
- Noticeable decrease in wet traction and grip as the tread wears down past the halfway mark
- Stiffer sidewalls can translate to a firmer ride or reduced comfort on rough surfaces
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Goodyear UltraGrip 9+
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Tire B
Positive
Hankook Ventus Prime 4
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
·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
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ | B · Hankook Ventus Prime 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Summer Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | — |
Which one should you actually buy?
76
/ 100
Goodyear UltraGrip 9+
75
/ 100
Hankook Ventus Prime 4
Too close to call: Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ and Hankook Ventus Prime 4 are within 2 points overall. Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ is stronger on comfort and wet. Hankook Ventus Prime 4 is stronger on dry.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ scores 80 vs 71 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Hankook Ventus Prime 4 scores 79 vs 70 on dry.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ scores 86 vs 78 on wet.
Tire A · Goodyear UltraGrip 9+
Tire B · Hankook Ventus Prime 4
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How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements), each result compared with every other tire in the same test and newer tests counting more. 40% comes from owner reviews found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates. Both use one scale: the average tested tire gets 70, the best 100. When a tire has only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from the other and the score stays closer to average; with no road test and fewer than five owner reviews it gets no score yet.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.