67
/ 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.
Head-to-head
Updated May 2026
Hankook Optimo H426 vs Hankook OPTIMO ME02 K424 — 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
73
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
72/100
5 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Hankook OPTIMO ME02 K424 — better treadwear, comfort and handling. Pick the Hankook Optimo H426 if wet matters most to you.
Read full
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made via links on this page.
Category breakdown
6 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 ME02 K424 leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | Optimo H426 | OPTIMO ME02 K424 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 67 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 81 | 84 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Optimo H426 leads by 22
Why this score
| Source | Optimo H426 | OPTIMO ME02 K424 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 51 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 76 | 52 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Optimo H426 | OPTIMO ME02 K424 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 25 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 20 | – |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
OPTIMO ME02 K424 leads by 22
Why this score
| Source | Optimo H426 | OPTIMO ME02 K424 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 56 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 58 | 80 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
OPTIMO ME02 K424 leads by 25
Why this score
| Source | Optimo H426 | OPTIMO ME02 K424 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 47 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 60 | 84 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
OPTIMO ME02 K424 leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | Optimo H426 | OPTIMO ME02 K424 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 63 | 70 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Hankook Optimo H426 | Hankook OPTIMO ME02 K424 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 67 | 73 |
| Dry | 80 | 84 |
| Wet | 74 | 52 |
| Snow | 21 | – |
| Comfort | 58 | 80 |
| Treadwear | 59 | 84 |
| Handling | 63 | 70 |
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
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score
67
/ 100
Tire A
73
/ 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 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.
The Hankook Optimo ME02 K424 receives highly polarized feedback, with a significant majority of users expressing severe concerns regarding its performance in wet conditions. While some users report satisfaction with its durability and performance in specific climates, the consensus leans heavily toward the tire being unreliable and potentially dangerous on slick surfaces.
Pros
- High tread longevity due to a harder rubber compound
- Reported effectiveness in light snowy conditions by select users
Cons
- Extremely poor traction and handling on wet roads
- Increased risk of skidding and loss of control during cornering in rain
- Longer braking distances in wet weather, even with ABS engagement
- Audible road noise described as 'squealing' during dry driving
Observations
- Users report that the tire's hard compound contributes to a lack of confidence during routine maneuvers like navigating roundabouts in the rain.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Hankook Optimo H426 | B · Hankook OPTIMO ME02 K424 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All Season Touring tires | Summer Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
67
/ 100
Hankook
73
/ 100
Hankook
Winner: Hankook OPTIMO ME02 K424 — better treadwear, comfort and handling. Pick the Hankook Optimo H426 if wet matters most to you.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Hankook OPTIMO ME02 K424 scores 84 vs 59 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Hankook Optimo H426 scores 74 vs 52 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Hankook OPTIMO ME02 K424 scores 80 vs 58 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Hankook OPTIMO ME02 K424 scores 70 vs 63 on handling.
Tire A · Hankook Optimo H426
Tire B · Hankook OPTIMO ME02 K424
More comparisons
Also compared with
Hankook Optimo H426 also compared with
Hankook OPTIMO ME02 K424 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.