77
/ 100
Objective (60%)
72/100
2 professional tests
User signal (40%)
78/100
13 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Hankook Kinergy 4S vs Hankook Kinergy 4S2 — 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.
VS
81
/ 100
Objective (60%)
89/100
28 professional tests
User signal (40%)
79/100
77 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Hankook Kinergy 4S2 — better dry, wet and treadwear. Pick the Hankook Kinergy 4S if noise matters most to you.
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Category breakdown
7 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
Score (0–100)
Kinergy 4S2 leads by 9
Why this score
| Source | Kinergy 4S | Kinergy 4S2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 70 | 84 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 82 | 81 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 92% | 91% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 99% | 99% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Kinergy 4S2 leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | Kinergy 4S | Kinergy 4S2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 77 | 85 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 76 | 81 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 94% | 91% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 95% | 96% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Kinergy 4S leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | Kinergy 4S | Kinergy 4S2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 69 | 77 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 93 | 75 |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 88% | 92% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 98% | 96% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Kinergy 4S2 leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | Kinergy 4S | Kinergy 4S2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 80 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 77 | 74 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Kinergy 4S leads by 12
Why this score
| Source | Kinergy 4S | Kinergy 4S2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 95 | 78 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Kinergy 4S2 leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | Kinergy 4S | Kinergy 4S2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 72 | 76 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Kinergy 4S2 leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | Kinergy 4S | Kinergy 4S2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 68 | 74 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Hankook Kinergy 4S | Hankook Kinergy 4S2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 77 | 81 |
| Dry | 75 | 84 |
| Wet | 77 | 85 |
| Snow | 79 | 78 |
| Comfort | 77 | 80 |
| Noise | 95 | 83 |
| Treadwear | 72 | 80 |
| Handling | 68 | 74 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Personalize
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.
Neutral
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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score
77
/ 100
Tire A
81
/ 100
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.
| Discipline | Category | Tire A | Tire B | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 92% #16/30 · 2025 All Season 30 Tyre Braking Test | 91% #3/10 · 2018 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test | +0.6 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #4/8 · 2018 Auto Bild SUV All Season Tyre Test | 99% #4/10 · 2018 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test | -0.1 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 89% #2/8 · 2018 Auto Bild SUV All Season Tyre Test | 83% #5/10 · 2018 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test | +5.6 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 100% #7/8 · 2018 Auto Bild SUV All Season Tyre Test | 99% #5/10 · The BEST All Season Tyres For 2026/27 | +1 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 81% #2/8 · 2018 Auto Bild SUV All Season Tyre Test | 79% #2/10 · 2018 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test | +1.5 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 25% #4/6 · New VS 4mm VS 2mm All Season Tyre Performance | 50% #2/6 · 2024 Sport Auto All Season Tyre Test | -25 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 88% #6/8 · 2018 Auto Bild SUV All Season Tyre Test | 92% #8/10 · 2018 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test | -4 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 98% #4/8 · 2018 Auto Bild SUV All Season Tyre Test | 96% #6/11 · 2025 Autobild SUV All Season Tyre Test | +2.4 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 95% #4/8 · 2018 Auto Bild SUV All Season Tyre Test | 96% #3/10 · 2018 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test | -0.7 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 94% #5/8 · 2018 Auto Bild SUV All Season Tyre Test | 91% #4/10 · 2024 Auto Bild SUV All Season Tyre Test | +3 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 95% #5/8 · 2018 Auto Bild SUV All Season Tyre Test | 96% #3/9 · 2020 Tyre Reviews All Season Tyre Test | -1.1 | Different tests |
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Hankook Kinergy 4S is generally regarded as a highly capable all-season tire, particularly praised for its impressive performance in wet, cold, and snowy conditions. While many users report excellent traction and safety in adverse weather, the tire receives mixed feedback regarding its tread longevity and consistency in dry-weather handling.
Pros
- Exceptional grip and stability in wet and torrential rain conditions
- Strong performance in snow and slush, often cited as a viable alternative to dedicated winter tires
- High value-for-money proposition compared to premium competitors
- Reliable emergency braking performance on slick surfaces
Cons
- Reports of premature tread wear and shorter-than-expected service life
- Inconsistent dry-road handling and feedback compared to dedicated summer tires
- Occasional reports of poor traction on greasy or specific wet road surfaces
- Increased road noise noted by some users
Observations
- Users of compact SUVs, such as the Honda CR-V, have reported significantly lower tread life than expected for the vehicle class.
- Drivers of performance-oriented vehicles, such as the Civic Type R, noted a trade-off in lateral grip and steering feedback when switching from dedicated summer tires.
The Hankook Kinergy 4S2 is widely regarded as a high-value, versatile all-season tire that excels in wet and cold conditions. While most users praise its exceptional price-to-performance ratio and reliable handling in varied weather, some report concerns regarding road noise at highway speeds and inconsistent tread longevity.
Pros
- Exceptional wet weather traction and hydroplaning resistance
- Strong value proposition with a competitive price point
- Reliable performance in cold temperatures and light-to-moderate snow
- Solid dry handling and steering responsiveness for an all-season tire
Cons
- Audible road noise or 'whining' at highway speeds (120-140 km/h)
- Reports of inconsistent tread wear or premature degradation
- Potential for reduced fuel economy compared to dedicated summer or specialized touring tires
- Occasional reports of sudden grip loss at the limit on specific vehicle setups
Observations
- EV owners noted that the tire can be noticeably noisier than specialized low-noise EV tires.
- Users with performance-oriented or heavier vehicles reported more rapid wear on the front axle.
- Drivers of smaller, lighter vehicles often praised the tire's ability to improve ride comfort and handling over OEM options.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Hankook Kinergy 4S | B · Hankook Kinergy 4S2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All Season High Performance tires | All Season Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
77
/ 100
Hankook
81
/ 100
Hankook
Winner: Hankook Kinergy 4S2 — better dry, wet and treadwear. Pick the Hankook Kinergy 4S if noise matters most to you.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Hankook Kinergy 4S scores 95 vs 83 on noise.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Hankook Kinergy 4S2 scores 84 vs 75 on dry.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Hankook Kinergy 4S2 scores 85 vs 77 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Hankook Kinergy 4S2 scores 80 vs 72 on treadwear.
Tire A · Hankook Kinergy 4S
Tire B · Hankook Kinergy 4S2
More comparisons
Also compared with
Hankook Kinergy 4S also compared with
Hankook Kinergy 4S2 also compared with
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.