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.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Hankook OPTIMO ME02 K424 vs Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 — 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
80
/ 100
Objective (60%)
81/100
12 professional tests
User signal (40%)
81/100
123 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 — better wet, handling and dry. Pick the Hankook OPTIMO ME02 K424 if comfort and treadwear matter most to you.
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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)
Ventus Prime 3 K125 leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | OPTIMO ME02 K424 | Ventus Prime 3 K125 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 87 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 84 | 89 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Ventus Prime 3 K125 leads by 31
Why this score
| Source | OPTIMO ME02 K424 | Ventus Prime 3 K125 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 85 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 52 | 80 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
OPTIMO ME02 K424 leads by 12
Why this score
| Source | OPTIMO ME02 K424 | Ventus Prime 3 K125 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 60 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 80 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | OPTIMO ME02 K424 | Ventus Prime 3 K125 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 65 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
OPTIMO ME02 K424 leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | OPTIMO ME02 K424 | Ventus Prime 3 K125 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 84 | 80 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Ventus Prime 3 K125 leads by 9
Why this score
| Source | OPTIMO ME02 K424 | Ventus Prime 3 K125 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 79 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Hankook OPTIMO ME02 K424 | Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 73 | 80 |
| Dry | 84 | 88 |
| Wet | 52 | 83 |
| Comfort | 80 | 68 |
| Noise | – | 65 |
| Treadwear | 84 | 80 |
| Handling | 70 | 79 |
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
73
/ 100
Tire A
80
/ 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 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.
The Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 is widely regarded as a high-value touring tire that excels in dry conditions and offers a comfortable, quiet ride for daily commuting. While it is frequently praised for its competitive pricing and balanced performance, some users report inconsistent wet-weather confidence and accelerated tread wear when subjected to heavier vehicle loads or aggressive driving styles.
Pros
- Excellent dry road grip and braking performance
- High value-for-money ratio compared to premium competitors
- Comfortable ride quality with effective vibration absorption
- Predictable and stable handling for touring applications
Cons
- Increased risk of hydroplaning as tread depth decreases
- Accelerated tread wear on heavier vehicles or under high-torque conditions
- Noise levels can increase noticeably after several thousand miles
- Sidewall durability concerns, including reports of cracking
Observations
- Users with heavier vehicles (e.g., MPVs like the Sharan or SUVs) report significantly faster tread wear and reduced longevity.
- Drivers noted that the tire performs best as a comfort-oriented touring tire, with some users finding it less responsive or 'dull' on smaller 16-inch rim sizes compared to 17-inch variants.
- Performance is highly sensitive to tread depth; wet-weather grip and aquaplaning resistance drop off noticeably once the tire reaches the 3-4mm wear mark.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Hankook OPTIMO ME02 K424 | B · Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 |
|---|---|---|
| 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?
73
/ 100
Hankook
80
/ 100
Hankook
Winner: Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 — better wet, handling and dry. Pick the Hankook OPTIMO ME02 K424 if comfort and treadwear matter most to you.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 scores 83 vs 52 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Hankook OPTIMO ME02 K424 scores 80 vs 68 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 scores 79 vs 70 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Hankook OPTIMO ME02 K424 scores 84 vs 80 on treadwear.
Tire A · Hankook OPTIMO ME02 K424
Tire B · Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125
More comparisons
Also compared with
Hankook OPTIMO ME02 K424 also compared with
Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 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.