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Head-to-head Updated September 2026

Hankook Ventus Prime 4 vs Kumho Ecsta HS52 — 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.

Tire A Hankook

Hankook Ventus Prime 4

Summer Premium Touring tires

Hankook Ventus Prime 4 tread pattern
Objective (60%)
91/100
14 professional tests
User signal (40%)
82/100
76 owner reviews
Dry
88
Wet
82
Comfort
86
Noise
85
Treadwear
78
Handling
83

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VS
Tire B Kumho

Kumho Ecsta HS52

Summer Premium Touring tires

Kumho Ecsta HS52 tread pattern
Objective (60%)
84/100
7 professional tests
User signal (40%)
81/100
23 owner reviews
Dry
90
Wet
78
Comfort
70
Noise
80
Treadwear
75
Handling
83

Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.

VerdictWinner: Hankook Ventus Prime 4 — better comfort, noise and wet. It leads or ties in every category we score.
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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

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Ecsta HS52 leads by 2
A — Hankook Ventus Prime 4
88
B — Kumho Ecsta HS52
90
Why this score
SourceVentus Prime 4Ecsta HS52
Professional tests (TWG score) 88 90
Tyre Reviews owners 88 90
Dry Braking (% of best) 100% 95%
Dry Handling (% of best) 100% 99%

Wet

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) Ventus Prime 4 leads by 4
A — Hankook Ventus Prime 4
82
B — Kumho Ecsta HS52
78
Why this score
SourceVentus Prime 4Ecsta HS52
Professional tests (TWG score) 81 76
Tyre Reviews owners 83 80
Wet Braking (% of best) 87% 97%
Wet Braking - Concrete (% of best) 61% 64%
Wet Circle (% of best) 86% 92%
Wet Handling (% of best) 94% 97%

Comfort

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Ventus Prime 4 leads by 16
A — Hankook Ventus Prime 4
86
B — Kumho Ecsta HS52
70
Why this score
SourceVentus Prime 4Ecsta HS52
Professional tests (TWG score) 89
Tyre Reviews owners 82 70

Noise

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100) Ventus Prime 4 leads by 5
A — Hankook Ventus Prime 4
85
B — Kumho Ecsta HS52
80
Why this score
SourceVentus Prime 4Ecsta HS52
Professional tests (TWG score) 85 80

Treadwear

Weight: Important
Score (0–100) Ventus Prime 4 leads by 3
A — Hankook Ventus Prime 4
78
B — Kumho Ecsta HS52
75
Why this score
SourceVentus Prime 4Ecsta HS52
Tyre Reviews owners 78 75

Handling

Weight: Neutral
Score (0–100)
A — Hankook Ventus Prime 4
83
B — Kumho Ecsta HS52
83
Why this score
SourceVentus Prime 4Ecsta HS52
Tyre Reviews owners 83 83
DriverReviews owners 80 78

Scores at a glance

Hankook Ventus Prime 4 vs Kumho Ecsta HS52: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryHankook Ventus Prime 4Kumho Ecsta HS52
Relative Score 83 79
Dry 88 90
Wet 82 78
Comfort 86 70
Noise 85 80
Treadwear 78 75
Handling 83 83

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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Headline score

Tire A

Tire B

Test data

The professional test results behind the scores

Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.

DisciplineCategoryTire ATire BΔBoth?
Curved Aquaplaning Curved 93% #6/7 · 2025 Al Volante Summer Tyre Test 82% #20/20 · 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test +11.3 Different tests
Dry Braking Dry 100% #3/44 · 2022 Summer Tyre Market Overview 95% #9/16 · 2026 ADAC Summer Tyre Test +4.8 Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 100% #1/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test 99% #12/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test +1.4 Same test
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 88% #4/7 · 2025 Al Volante Summer Tyre Test 88% #16/20 · 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test -0.1 Different tests
Fuel Consumption Fuel 98% #32/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test 98% #13/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test -0 Different tests
Abrasion Other 57% #4/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test 69% #12/16 · 2026 ADAC Summer Tyre Test -12.3 Different tests
Noise Other 100% #7/7 · 2025 Al Volante Summer Tyre Test 100% #16/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test 0 Different tests
Price Other 76% #9/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test 68% #5/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test +8.2 Same test
Value Other 63% #4/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test 35% #1/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test +28 Different tests
Wear Other 79% #4/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test 60% #12/20 · 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test +19.5 Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall 50% #2/44 · 2022 Summer Tyre Market Overview 17% #6/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test +33.3 Different tests
Straight Aqua Straight 99% #4/10 · 2024 Motorhome Summer Tyre Test 94% #14/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test +4.6 Different tests
Total Cost of Ownership Total 0% #4/20 · 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test 0% #7/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test 0 Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 87% #14/16 · 2026 ADAC Summer Tyre Test 97% #3/16 · 2026 ADAC Summer Tyre Test -9.5 Same test
Wet Braking - Concrete Wet 61% #2/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test 64% #10/50 · 2023 ADAC Summer Tyre Test -3.6 Same test
Wet Circle Wet 86% #4/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test 92% #15/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test -6 Same test
Wet Handling Wet 94% #6/7 · 2025 Al Volante Summer Tyre Test 97% #14/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test -3.3 Different tests
From owners

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A Hankook Ventus Prime 4

The Hankook Ventus Prime 4 is widely regarded as a high-value, premium-touring tire that excels in comfort, low noise, and wet-weather confidence. While most users praise its balanced performance and competitive pricing, a subset of drivers reports concerns regarding rapid tread wear and a noticeable decline in grip as the tires approach the end of their service life.

Pros

  • Excellent ride comfort and low road noise levels
  • Strong wet and dry grip performance for daily driving
  • High value-for-money proposition compared to premium competitors
  • Predictable handling and stable cornering characteristics

Cons

  • Reports of rapid tread wear and premature degradation
  • Noticeable decline in wet grip performance as tread depth decreases
  • Sidewalls perceived as fragile or prone to damage by some users
  • Performance drop-off in near-freezing temperatures

Observations

  • Some users of heavier vehicles, including EVs, reported faster-than-expected tread wear and stiff sidewalls.
  • Drivers of high-torque or turbocharged vehicles occasionally noted traction issues (wheel spin) during acceleration, suggesting the tire may struggle with aggressive power delivery.
  • Users who upsized their tire profile reported improved ride comfort and corrected speedometer accuracy.
Tire B Kumho Ecsta HS52

The Kumho Ecsta HS52 is widely regarded as a high-value summer tire that delivers impressive dry and wet grip, often punching above its price point. While most users praise its handling and braking capabilities, opinions on comfort and noise levels are polarized, and there are notable inconsistencies regarding tread longevity.

Pros

  • Excellent dry and wet braking performance
  • Strong cornering grip and handling confidence
  • High value-for-money proposition
  • Responsive and direct steering feedback

Cons

  • Inconsistent tread wear reports, with some users experiencing premature degradation
  • Noise levels can be intrusive at higher speeds
  • Sensitivity to tire pressure, affecting ride comfort
  • Occasional reports of high-speed vibration or balancing issues

Observations

  • Users reported that the tire feels particularly sporty and direct on smaller 16-inch fitments.
  • SUV owners noted surprisingly strong wet-weather performance, though some experienced faster wear patterns on heavier vehicles.
  • Ride comfort is highly dependent on precise tire pressure; even slight deviations can lead to a harsh or uncomfortable experience.
Community buzz

What real owners are saying

From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score

Tire A

Hankook Ventus Prime 4

Positive

Community opinion on the Hankook Ventus Prime 4 is largely positive, with users praising it as a strong, high-value touring tire that often rivals more expensive premium brands like Michelin. Reviewers and owners highlight its good performance in both dry and wet conditions, though longevity estimates in professional tests show some variation. Overall, it is seen as a significant upgrade over budget or stock tires and a great choice for everyday driving.

r/TyreReviews ·6 upvotes ·2024-03-16

“Hankook Ventus Prime 4 vs Kumho Ecsta HS52? Hey there! Went to this reddit after reading a lot of reviews on the website, a bit of a newbie in general. I have read about many models and settled on 2 possible ones due to pricing and availability in my country (not looking for any other options). In my price range and requirements I've settled on Ventus Prime 4 initially (50% cheaper than Primacy that my car came stock with), but have also seen some good stuff said about HS52. I was quite settled on the first one since it scored very well in 2022 Autobild review, but now that 2024 came out a lot of numbers are completely different (predicted tread life alone took a huge dive) and Hankook is now 4 positions lower than Kumho. To add to this, Hankook was only 10% more expensive thank Kumho in my country, but now there was a price drop and and now there is 20% price difference, so set of Kumhos comes out noticeable cheaper. Spec wise they seems very similar with some trade-offs in different departments. I'm not really looking to save as much money as possible, but with latest reviews I'm not sure if there is any improvement worth paying for. Any thoughts? Thanks. Read more”

r/TyreReviews ·4 upvotes ·2024-03-19

“Are there any Hankook Ventus Prime 4 longevity reviews (perhaps personal experience?) The only info I was able to find is Autobild 2022 and 2024, and ADAC 2024 reviews. In the first one they expect 39k km, in the second 26k and in ADAC - 50k. I'm not sure what to believe. I'm a fairly moderate user and will be replacing stock Primacy 3s which lasted around 45k km. I would like to have something that will last around 4-5 years, which at my current usage would be around 30-35k km. If they consistently fall short of it I would probably pay a premium for a more expensive brand, but reviews give very different figures. If ADAC figures is to be trusted I would surely get them, because I would probably replace the car before I have to put on new tires. But 26k km in the latest Autobild review falls short of my expectations a bit. Are those figures typically less than real life due to more extensive testing and usage? I'm driving a compact SUV with 50/50 city highway driving and no sporty aspirations, very default usage scenario. I could pay more and get goodyear efficientgrip performance 2, but at their longevity they will probably need to be replaced out of age before I wear them down realistically, so that's why I was initially settling in more midrange priced Hankook offering. Would love any help, and appreciate the help I received in my previous post! Read more”

r/AutomobileRO ·2 upvotes ·2025-03-23

“Simbolul cu mașina și fulgerul de pe Hankook Ventus Prime 4 arată că anvelopa e compatibilă și cu mașini electrice (EV), nu că e destinată exclusiv lor. Poate fi folosită fără probleme și pe mașini cu motor termic.”

r/CartalkHungary ·2 upvotes ·2024-09-20

“Becsapós ez, nagyon kevés csapadék volt a nyáron, és nagyon könnyű megszokni a száraz tapadást. Aztan meglepődik az ember az esőben. Nekem is volt ilyen gumi az autón, előtte meg az volt rajta amivel vettem (valami noname), hát a Hankook egy nagyságrenddel jobb volt annál. Most VP4 van rajta, es rendben van az is szerintem.”

Top themes
#wet and dry grip#touring tire characteristics#price and value comparison#longevity and mileage#EV compatibility symbols#comparison with Michelin Primacy

Based on 13 community posts

Tire B

Kumho Ecsta HS52

Mixed

Community opinion on the Kumho Ecsta HS52 is generally positive regarding its rigid sidewalls, dry grip, responsiveness, and budget-friendly pricing, though some users report mixed experiences with wet weather performance, aquaplaning, or durability over time.

r/Mazda323 ·6 upvotes ·2026-06-14

“Mini review of the Kumho Ecsta HS52 I was running some Hankook's on my GT before and the tire wall not stiff enough. Now I've mounted these Kumho Ecsta HS52's and I highly recommend them: The tire wall is nicely rigid and they grip great in the dry, took quite some intent to make them loose traction. Additionally, I've accidentally ran over a pretty big sharp looking rock at decent speed that aimed right in a tread groove (thinnest part) and the thing shrugged it off no problem. And all of this for a damn good price too! So if anyone's looking for good tires, now you know.”

r/tires ·3 upvotes ·2025-09-23

“What’s up with these tyres? Kumho ectsa hs52 date code 3923, tyres are (UK) legal regards tread but I can’t imagine this damage is normal. Both front tyres have this, looks like the tread is tearing apart in multiple places. I did not fit these tyres but it was mot’d 3 months ago and has done 2k miles since. I’ve owned the car 11 months but only noticed this very recently. I am getting them replaced on Monday with little use before then but I’m curious how this has happened. Is it just a shit brand? Wear is even across the face so I don’t think it would be the alignment or anything to do with the car and the damage is random across the contact patch. It’s a Peugeot 508 2l diesel so quite a bit of weight on the nose. Fitting Bridgestone Turanza 6. Rear tyres are good, but a different brand (horizon horace 2122 date)”

r/TyreReviews ·2 upvotes ·2026-02-07

“I had the kumho ecsta hs52's on my previous car. I was very satisfied with them. Good grip in the dry and wet and very responsive. Kumho in general makes really good tires”

r/TyreReviews ·1 upvote ·2026-01-22

“Bad i have hs52 on my audi a3 8l quattro 1.8t i have no grip with rain.. Like cant corner fast it just goes straight... Dry its fine but wet forget it. My oncle has the same experience with kuhmo on his bmw 118 diesel he got some rims and they had pretty good threats kumho on it. He said all it wanted was to drift and spin out. He said a couple of times it did a 180 he said never again i said same don't trust my car with these tyres. Im gonna get some new rim 17" and Goodyear asymmetric 6. To replace my 16" stock rims with kumho... I have had bad tyres but never this bad. Like 1 ere prix were even better in my Mercedes even doh they became ovals.”

Top themes
#Sidewall stiffness and handling#Dry and wet grip performance#Value and price comparison#Fuel consumption and rolling resistance#Magazine test inconsistencies

Based on 16 community posts

Specifications

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Hankook Ventus Prime 4 B · Kumho Ecsta HS52
CategorySummer Premium Touring tiresSummer Premium Touring tires
Final verdict

Which one should you actually buy?

Hankook

Kumho

Winner: Hankook Ventus Prime 4 — better comfort, noise and wet. It leads or ties in every category we score.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Hankook Ventus Prime 4 scores 86 vs 70 on comfort.

Pick tire A You want a quieter cabin

Hankook Ventus Prime 4 scores 85 vs 80 on noise.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Hankook Ventus Prime 4 scores 82 vs 78 on wet.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Hankook Ventus Prime 4 scores 78 vs 75 on treadwear.

Tire A · Hankook Ventus Prime 4
Tire B · Kumho Ecsta HS52

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.