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.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Hankook Kinergy 4S2 vs Hankook Ventus ST — 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
84
/ 100
Objective (60%)
72/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
87/100
46 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Hankook Ventus ST — better handling, treadwear and wet. Pick the Hankook Kinergy 4S2 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)
Ventus ST leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | Kinergy 4S2 | Ventus ST |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 84 | 84 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 81 | 89 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 91% | 95% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 99% | 98% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Ventus ST leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | Kinergy 4S2 | Ventus ST |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 85 | 95 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 81 | 83 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 91% | 99% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 98% | 98% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Kinergy 4S2 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | Kinergy 4S2 | Ventus ST |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 77 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 75 | – |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Ventus ST leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | Kinergy 4S2 | Ventus ST |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 80 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 74 | 85 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Kinergy 4S2 leads by 16
Why this score
| Source | Kinergy 4S2 | Ventus ST |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 78 | 51 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Ventus ST leads by 9
Why this score
| Source | Kinergy 4S2 | Ventus ST |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 76 | 91 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Ventus ST leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | Kinergy 4S2 | Ventus ST |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 74 | 84 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Hankook Kinergy 4S2 | Hankook Ventus ST |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 81 | 84 |
| Dry | 84 | 86 |
| Wet | 85 | 91 |
| Snow | 78 | 76 |
| Comfort | 80 | 86 |
| Noise | 83 | 67 |
| Treadwear | 80 | 89 |
| Handling | 74 | 84 |
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.
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Recomputed
Headline score
81
/ 100
Tire A
84
/ 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 | 91% #3/10 · 2018 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test | 95% #2/8 · 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test | -3.3 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #8/9 · 2021 AZ All Season Tyre Test | 98% #5/8 · 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test | +1.2 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 83% #5/10 · 2018 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test | 81% #8/8 · 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test | +2 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 100% #14/16 · 2024 ADAC All Season Tyre Test | 96% #5/8 · 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test | +3.3 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 83% #6/10 · 2023 Tyre Reviews All Season Tyre Test | 89% #6/8 · 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test | -6.1 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 33% #3/15 · 2022 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test | 50% #2/8 · 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test | -16.7 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 97% #5/16 · 2021 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test | 98% #2/8 · 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test | -0.5 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 91% #14/35 · 2023 All Season Tyre 35 Set Shootout | 99% #3/8 · 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test | -7.8 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 98% #6/10 · 2018 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test | 98% #3/8 · 2018 All Road 265/60 R18 4x4 Tyre Test | +0.2 | 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 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.
The Hankook Ventus ST is widely regarded as a high-value, durable tire that frequently outperforms more expensive premium brands in both longevity and road noise. While the vast majority of users report excellent dry and wet traction on heavy SUVs and performance trucks, a small minority of users experienced issues with wet-weather handling and road noise as the tread wears down.
Pros
- Exceptional tread life and durability compared to premium competitors
- Low road noise levels and high ride comfort
- Strong dry and wet traction for heavy, high-torque vehicles
- High value-for-money proposition
- Consistent performance across a wide range of SUV and truck applications
Cons
- Increased road noise as the tire reaches the end of its tread life
- Potential for reduced wet-weather feedback or 'skating' in heavy standing water
- Inconsistent availability across different retail markets
- Some reports of hard ride quality if tire pressure is not properly managed
Observations
- Users with high-torque, heavy SUVs (e.g., Jeep Grand Cherokee, Range Rover) consistently report superior longevity compared to Pirelli or Continental alternatives.
- Owners of high-performance trucks (e.g., F-150, Dodge Charger) note improved stability and reduced rear-end spin compared to factory-fitted tires.
- Drivers running 22-inch low-profile configurations report surprisingly good comfort levels despite the reduced sidewall.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Hankook Kinergy 4S2 | B · Hankook Ventus ST |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All Season Premium Touring tires | Summer High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | SUV and 4x4 |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
81
/ 100
Hankook
84
/ 100
Hankook
Winner: Hankook Ventus ST — better handling, treadwear and wet. Pick the Hankook Kinergy 4S2 if noise matters most to you.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Hankook Kinergy 4S2 scores 83 vs 67 on noise.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Hankook Ventus ST scores 84 vs 74 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Hankook Ventus ST scores 89 vs 80 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Hankook Ventus ST scores 91 vs 85 on wet.
Tire A · Hankook Kinergy 4S2
Tire B · Hankook Ventus ST
More comparisons
Also compared with
Hankook Kinergy 4S2 also compared with
Hankook Ventus ST 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.