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Head-to-head Updated May 2026

Hankook Ventus K104 vs Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 — 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.

Tire A Hankook

Hankook Ventus K104

Summer High Performance tires

Hankook Ventus K104 tread pattern
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
52/100
11 owner reviews
Dry
68
Wet
42
Snow
–
Comfort
61
Noise
–
Treadwear
55
Handling
44

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VS
Tire B Hankook

Hankook Ventus S1 evo3

Max Performance Summer tire

Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 tread pattern
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
77/100
84 owner reviews
Dry
86
Wet
84
Snow
80
Comfort
79
Noise
80
Treadwear
71
Handling
74

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VerdictWinner: Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 — better wet, handling and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
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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

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Ventus S1 evo3 leads by 18
A — Hankook Ventus K104
68
B — Hankook Ventus S1 evo3
86
Why this score
SourceVentus K104Ventus S1 evo3
Tire Rack owners – 86
Tyre Reviews owners 68 85

Wet

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) Ventus S1 evo3 leads by 42
A — Hankook Ventus K104
42
B — Hankook Ventus S1 evo3
84
Why this score
SourceVentus K104Ventus S1 evo3
Tire Rack owners – 81
Tyre Reviews owners 42 83

Snow

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100)
A — Hankook Ventus K104
–
B — Hankook Ventus S1 evo3
80

Comfort

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Ventus S1 evo3 leads by 18
A — Hankook Ventus K104
61
B — Hankook Ventus S1 evo3
79
Why this score
SourceVentus K104Ventus S1 evo3
Tire Rack owners – 78
Tyre Reviews owners 61 77

Noise

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100)
A — Hankook Ventus K104
–
B — Hankook Ventus S1 evo3
80

Treadwear

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) Ventus S1 evo3 leads by 16
A — Hankook Ventus K104
55
B — Hankook Ventus S1 evo3
71
Why this score
SourceVentus K104Ventus S1 evo3
Tire Rack owners – 57
Tyre Reviews owners 55 69

Handling

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Ventus S1 evo3 leads by 30
A — Hankook Ventus K104
44
B — Hankook Ventus S1 evo3
74
Why this score
SourceVentus K104Ventus S1 evo3
Tyre Reviews owners 44 74

Scores at a glance

Hankook Ventus K104 vs Hankook Ventus S1 evo3: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryHankook Ventus K104Hankook Ventus S1 evo3
Relative Score 53 79
Dry 68 86
Wet 42 84
Snow – 80
Comfort 61 79
Noise – 80
Treadwear 55 71
Handling 44 74

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

Tire A

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.

Tire A Hankook Ventus K104

The Hankook Ventus K104 is generally regarded as a budget-oriented performance tire that offers acceptable dry-weather handling for enthusiasts with specific suspension setups, but it suffers from significant deficiencies in wet-weather traction. While some users appreciate its responsiveness and longevity, the consensus points toward inconsistent performance, high road noise, and a lack of confidence-inspiring grip in damp or rainy conditions.

Pros

  • Responsive and crisp handling characteristics in dry conditions
  • Competitive price point for budget-conscious buyers
  • Good tread life for users who maintain proper suspension geometry
  • Aesthetically pleasing tread pattern

Cons

  • Poor and unpredictable wet-weather traction
  • High levels of road noise
  • Inconsistent tread wear performance across different vehicle types
  • Lack of progressive grip during cornering

Observations

  • Users noted that the tire's performance is highly dependent on precise suspension tuning, with some suggesting it is better suited for performance-oriented setups than standard passenger vehicles.
  • Drivers of luxury vehicles, such as Mercedes-Benz, reported that the tire's high noise levels negatively impacted the overall refinement of the vehicle.
  • Light commercial vehicle users reported premature tread wear, suggesting the tire is not well-suited for heavier loads or utility applications.
Tire B Hankook Ventus S1 evo3

The Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 is widely regarded as a high-value, comfortable summer tire that excels in wet and dry traction, often serving as a competent OEM choice for premium vehicles. While many users praise its ride quality and wet-weather confidence, a significant portion of enthusiasts note a lack of steering feedback and 'soft' sidewall characteristics that can make the handling feel less precise compared to top-tier competitors like the Michelin Pilot Sport series.

Pros

  • Excellent wet-weather grip and hydroplaning resistance
  • High level of ride comfort and low road noise
  • Strong dry-road traction and predictable handling at the limit
  • Competitive pricing relative to premium performance alternatives
  • Good overall durability for many daily driving applications

Cons

  • Lack of steering precision and 'numb' road feedback
  • Soft sidewalls can lead to a wobbly or unstable feel during aggressive cornering
  • Inconsistent tread life, with some users reporting premature wear on specific vehicle platforms
  • Occasional reports of sidewall bubbling or structural issues on rough road surfaces

Observations

  • Users with heavy EVs and SUVs often report mixed results, with some praising the low rolling resistance and comfort, while others note rapid tread wear.
  • Drivers of performance-oriented sedans (e.g., BMW 3-series, Audi S3) frequently highlight the tire's comfort advantage over competitors but criticize the lack of sharp steering response.
  • The tire is frequently noted as a significant upgrade over stock Pirelli P Zero or Dunlop Sport Maxx tires in terms of wet-weather confidence and noise reduction.
Specifications

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Hankook Ventus K104 B · Hankook Ventus S1 evo3
CategorySummer High Performance tiresMax Performance Summer tire
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Final verdict

Which one should you actually buy?

Hankook

Hankook

Winner: Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 — better wet, handling and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 scores 84 vs 42 on wet.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 scores 74 vs 44 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 scores 86 vs 68 on dry.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 scores 79 vs 61 on comfort.

Tire A · Hankook Ventus K104
Tire B · Hankook Ventus S1 evo3

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.