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 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
79
/ 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 wet. Pick the Hankook OPTIMO ME02 K424 if dry 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)
OPTIMO ME02 K424 leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | OPTIMO ME02 K424 | Energy Saver |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 79 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 84 | 83 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Energy Saver leads by 24
Why this score
| Source | OPTIMO ME02 K424 | Energy Saver |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 79 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 52 | 71 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | OPTIMO ME02 K424 | Energy Saver |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 80 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | OPTIMO ME02 K424 | Energy Saver |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 37 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Energy Saver leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | OPTIMO ME02 K424 | Energy Saver |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 84 | 85 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Energy Saver leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | OPTIMO ME02 K424 | Energy Saver |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 71 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Hankook OPTIMO ME02 K424 | Michelin Energy Saver |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 73 | 79 |
| Dry | 84 | 81 |
| Wet | 52 | 76 |
| Snow | – | 52 |
| Comfort | 80 | 80 |
| Noise | – | 37 |
| Treadwear | 84 | 85 |
| Handling | 70 | 71 |
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
79
/ 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 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 OPTIMO ME02 K424 | 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?
73
/ 100
Hankook
79
/ 100
Michelin
Winner: Michelin Energy Saver — better wet. Pick the Hankook OPTIMO ME02 K424 if dry matters most to you.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Michelin Energy Saver scores 76 vs 52 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Hankook OPTIMO ME02 K424 scores 84 vs 81 on dry.
Tire A · Hankook OPTIMO ME02 K424
Tire B · Michelin Energy Saver
More comparisons
Also compared with
Hankook OPTIMO ME02 K424 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.