71
/ 100
Objective (60%)
75/100
3 professional tests
User signal (40%)
65/100
20 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Hankook Kinergy Eco 2 vs Michelin Energy Saver — 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
73
/ 100
Objective (60%)
70/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
76/100
137 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Michelin Energy Saver — better treadwear, comfort and handling. Pick the Hankook Kinergy Eco 2 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)
Energy Saver leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | Kinergy Eco 2 | Energy Saver |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 79 | 79 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 77 | 83 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 99% | 92% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 99% | 98% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Kinergy Eco 2 leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | Kinergy Eco 2 | Energy Saver |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 85 | 79 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 65 | 71 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 91% | 89% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 97% | 95% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Energy Saver leads by 16
Why this score
| Source | Kinergy Eco 2 | Energy Saver |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 64 | 80 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Kinergy Eco 2 leads by 35
Why this score
| Source | Kinergy Eco 2 | Energy Saver |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 72 | 37 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Energy Saver leads by 17
Why this score
| Source | Kinergy Eco 2 | Energy Saver |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 68 | 85 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Energy Saver leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | Kinergy Eco 2 | Energy Saver |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 65 | 71 |
| DriverReviews owners | 82 | – |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Hankook Kinergy Eco 2 | Michelin Energy Saver |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 71 | 73 |
| Dry | 78 | 81 |
| Wet | 77 | 76 |
| Snow | – | 52 |
| Comfort | 64 | 80 |
| Noise | 72 | 37 |
| Treadwear | 68 | 85 |
| Handling | 65 | 71 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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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
71
/ 100
Tire A
73
/ 100
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
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 | 99% #9/11 · 2021 Sport Auto Summer Tyre Test | 92% #13/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test | +6.9 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #5/11 · 2021 Sport Auto Summer Tyre Test | 98% #7/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test | +0.7 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 78% #3/11 · 2021 Sport Auto Summer Tyre Test | 88% #3/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test | -10.3 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 98% #2/15 · 2019 Summer and All Season Tyre Test | 95% #5/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test | +3 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 87% #4/11 · 2021 Sport Auto Summer Tyre Test | 100% #20/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test | -13 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 7% #14/16 · 2019 ADAC Summer Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | 7% #15/47 · 2018 AutoBild Summer Tyre Overview | +0.5 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 95% #10/11 · 2021 Sport Auto Summer Tyre Test | 95% #8/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test | -0 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 91% #7/11 · 2021 Sport Auto Summer Tyre Test | 89% #17/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test | +2.6 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 97% #8/11 · 2021 Sport Auto Summer Tyre Test | 95% #16/20 · 2018 Auto Bild 15 inch Summer Tyre Test | +1.6 | 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 Eco 2 is widely regarded as a budget-friendly, value-oriented tire that offers competent dry-weather performance and respectable longevity for daily commuting. While many users appreciate its affordability and fuel efficiency, the consensus is polarized regarding its noise levels and wet-weather confidence, with several reports of premature road noise and inconsistent grip in adverse conditions.
Pros
- Excellent value for money
- Good dry-weather traction and handling
- High fuel efficiency due to low rolling resistance
- Impressive tread life and durability for many users
Cons
- High levels of road noise
- Inconsistent wet-weather grip and braking performance
- Stiff ride quality and lack of comfort
- Potential for premature dry rot or accelerated wear in specific conditions
Observations
- Users transitioning from larger wheels (17-inch) to smaller diameters (15-inch) reported a significant reduction in road noise.
- Drivers of light city vehicles reported better-than-average tread longevity compared to heavier or more powerful vehicle applications.
The Michelin Energy Saver is widely regarded as a class-leading tire for longevity and fuel efficiency, often exceeding 40,000–60,000 miles for many users. While it excels in dry conditions and provides a comfortable, quiet ride, it receives consistent criticism for a decline in wet-weather performance as the tread wears down and a tendency for the rubber compound to develop sidewall cracking over time.
Pros
- Exceptional tread life and durability
- Noticeable improvements in fuel economy
- Low road noise and high ride comfort
- Reliable dry-weather handling and stability
Cons
- Significant loss of wet-weather grip as the tire ages
- Susceptibility to sidewall cracking and dry rot after 3-4 years
- Hard compound can feel 'skating' or insecure in cold or wet conditions
- Lack of road feedback for spirited driving
Observations
- Users with heavier vehicles or those driving on rough, pothole-prone roads noted that the sidewalls can be fragile and prone to damage.
- Drivers of small hatchbacks (e.g., VW Polo, Ford Fiesta) frequently reported that the tire significantly improved steering lightness and overall handling compared to budget alternatives.
- Owners of high-mileage commuters and taxis consistently praise the tire for its cost-per-mile value, despite the performance drop-off in later years.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Hankook Kinergy Eco 2 | B · Michelin Energy Saver |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Premium Touring tires | Summer Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
71
/ 100
Hankook
73
/ 100
Michelin
Winner: Michelin Energy Saver — better treadwear, comfort and handling. Pick the Hankook Kinergy Eco 2 if noise matters most to you.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Hankook Kinergy Eco 2 scores 72 vs 37 on noise.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Michelin Energy Saver scores 85 vs 68 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Michelin Energy Saver scores 80 vs 64 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Energy Saver scores 71 vs 65 on handling.
Tire A · Hankook Kinergy Eco 2
Tire B · Michelin Energy Saver
More comparisons
Also compared with
Hankook Kinergy Eco 2 also compared with
Michelin Energy Saver 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.