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.
Head-to-head
Updated May 2026
Hankook Optimo H426 vs Kumho Solus KL21 — 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
76
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
76/100
26 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Kumho Solus KL21 — better snow, treadwear and comfort. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Read full
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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)
Solus KL21 leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | Optimo H426 | Solus KL21 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 67 | 79 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 81 | 73 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Solus KL21 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | Optimo H426 | Solus KL21 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 51 | 71 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 76 | 67 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Solus KL21 leads by 51
Why this score
| Source | Optimo H426 | Solus KL21 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 25 | 45 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 20 | – |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Solus KL21 leads by 18
Why this score
| Source | Optimo H426 | Solus KL21 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 56 | 73 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 58 | 65 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Solus KL21 leads by 22
Why this score
| Source | Optimo H426 | Solus KL21 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 47 | 63 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 60 | 73 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Optimo H426 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | Optimo H426 | Solus KL21 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 63 | 61 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Hankook Optimo H426 | Kumho Solus KL21 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 61 | 76 |
| Dry | 80 | 83 |
| Wet | 74 | 76 |
| Snow | 21 | 72 |
| Comfort | 58 | 76 |
| Noise | – | 86 |
| Treadwear | 59 | 81 |
| Handling | 63 | 61 |
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
61
/ 100
Tire A
76
/ 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 Kumho Solus KL21 is a polarizing tire that frequently serves as original equipment on SUVs and crossovers. While many owners report exceptional tread life and value, a significant subset of users expresses concerns regarding road noise, inconsistent grip in adverse weather, and premature structural degradation.
Pros
- Exceptional tread longevity and durability, with some users reporting over 60,000 miles of use.
- Strong value proposition as a cost-effective alternative to premium tire brands.
- Generally reliable performance in dry, warm-weather conditions.
- Consistent ride comfort for daily commuting and long-distance driving.
Cons
- Reports of excessive road noise and a harsh ride quality.
- Poor traction and braking performance in snow, ice, or cold conditions.
- Inconsistent quality control, with isolated reports of tire deformation or premature wear.
- Lack of confidence-inspiring grip during emergency braking maneuvers.
Observations
- Users with mid-size SUVs like the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento report highly variable experiences, ranging from extreme longevity to early failure.
- The tire is frequently noted as a standard OEM fitment for Korean-manufactured SUVs, which influences user expectations regarding replacement intervals.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Hankook Optimo H426 | B · Kumho Solus KL21 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All Season Touring tires | All Season Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
61
/ 100
Hankook
76
/ 100
Kumho
Winner: Kumho Solus KL21 — better snow, treadwear and comfort. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Kumho Solus KL21 scores 72 vs 21 on snow.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Kumho Solus KL21 scores 81 vs 59 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Kumho Solus KL21 scores 76 vs 58 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Kumho Solus KL21 scores 83 vs 80 on dry.
Tire A · Hankook Optimo H426
Tire B · Kumho Solus KL21
More comparisons
Also compared with
Hankook Optimo H426 also compared with
Kumho Solus KL21 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.