65
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
65/100
24 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated May 2026
Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 Plus vs Hankook Optimo H426 — Compared (May 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
61
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
56/100
9 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 Plus — better snow, comfort and treadwear. Pick the Hankook Optimo H426 if wet, handling and dry matter 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)
Optimo H426 leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | Ecopia EP422 Plus | Optimo H426 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 81 | 67 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 60 | 81 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Optimo H426 leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | Ecopia EP422 Plus | Optimo H426 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 74 | 51 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 57 | 76 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Ecopia EP422 Plus leads by 39
Why this score
| Source | Ecopia EP422 Plus | Optimo H426 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 54 | 25 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | – | 20 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Ecopia EP422 Plus leads by 13
Why this score
| Source | Ecopia EP422 Plus | Optimo H426 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 77 | 56 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 64 | 58 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Ecopia EP422 Plus leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | Ecopia EP422 Plus | Optimo H426 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 72 | 47 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 53 | 60 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Optimo H426 leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | Ecopia EP422 Plus | Optimo H426 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 55 | 63 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 Plus | Hankook Optimo H426 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 65 | 61 |
| Dry | 74 | 80 |
| Wet | 66 | 74 |
| Snow | 60 | 21 |
| Comfort | 71 | 58 |
| Noise | 70 | – |
| Treadwear | 63 | 59 |
| Handling | 55 | 63 |
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
65
/ 100
Tire A
61
/ 100
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 Plus is a polarizing tire that excels in fuel efficiency and initial comfort but frequently disappoints users regarding tread longevity and wet-weather performance. While many owners appreciate its low rolling resistance and quiet ride when new, a significant portion of the user base reports premature wear and a noticeable increase in road noise as the tire ages.
Pros
- Excellent fuel economy due to low rolling resistance
- High level of ride comfort and noise suppression when new
- Predictable handling for daily commuting and highway driving
- Good dry traction for standard, non-spirited driving
Cons
- Significant premature tread wear failing to meet mileage expectations
- Poor performance in snow and ice conditions
- Increased road noise and vibration as the tire wears
- Lack of grip during spirited driving or in heavy rain
Observations
- SUV and Crossover owners (e.g., Mazda CX-9, Subaru Forester) frequently report that the tire's sidewall stiffness and grip limits are insufficient for the vehicle's weight and handling characteristics.
- Users of smaller, lighter vehicles (e.g., VW Jetta, Toyota Yaris) tend to report higher satisfaction with comfort and noise levels compared to those driving larger SUVs.
- Multiple reports indicate that the tire's performance degrades significantly after the first 20,000–30,000 miles, particularly regarding noise and vibration.
The Hankook Optimo H426 presents a polarizing experience, often serving as an OEM tire that provides competent dry and wet traction for daily commuting. While some users appreciate its initial comfort and handling capabilities, the consensus is heavily impacted by concerns regarding premature tread wear and inconsistent noise levels over the life of the tire.
Pros
- Reliable grip and handling on dry pavement
- Confident performance in wet weather conditions
- Initial comfort and quietness when new
Cons
- Short tread life and premature wear
- Increased road noise as the tire ages
- High price point relative to performance value
- Uneven wear patterns across front and rear axles
Observations
- Users reported significantly faster wear on front-wheel-drive vehicles, leading to uneven tread depletion compared to rear tires.
- Drivers of compact sedans noted that while the tire offers decent handling, it fails to maintain its initial noise-dampening qualities over time.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 Plus | B · Hankook Optimo H426 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Premium Touring tires | All Season Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
65
/ 100
Bridgestone
61
/ 100
Hankook
Winner: Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 Plus — better snow, comfort and treadwear. Pick the Hankook Optimo H426 if wet, handling and dry matter most to you.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 Plus scores 60 vs 21 on snow.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 Plus scores 71 vs 58 on comfort.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Hankook Optimo H426 scores 74 vs 66 on wet.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Hankook Optimo H426 scores 63 vs 55 on handling.
Tire A · Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 Plus
Tire B · Hankook Optimo H426
More comparisons
Also compared with
Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 Plus also compared with
Hankook Optimo H426 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.