Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
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.
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made via links on this page.
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
Why this score
| Source | Ventus Prime 4 | Ecsta 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
Why this score
| Source | Ventus Prime 4 | Ecsta 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
Why this score
| Source | Ventus Prime 4 | Ecsta HS52 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 89 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 82 | 70 |
Noise
Why this score
| Source | Ventus Prime 4 | Ecsta HS52 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 85 | 80 |
Treadwear
Why this score
| Source | Ventus Prime 4 | Ecsta HS52 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 78 | 75 |
Handling
Why this score
| Source | Ventus Prime 4 | Ecsta HS52 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 83 | 83 |
| DriverReviews owners | 80 | 78 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Hankook Ventus Prime 4 | Kumho 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.
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Tire A
Tire B
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.
| Discipline | Category | Tire A | Tire B | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
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.
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.
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Hankook Ventus Prime 4
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.
“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”
“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”
“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.”
“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.”
Based on 13 community posts
Kumho Ecsta HS52
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.
“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.”
“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)”
“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”
“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.”
Based on 16 community posts
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Hankook Ventus Prime 4 | B · Kumho Ecsta HS52 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Summer Premium Touring tires | Summer Premium Touring tires |
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.
Hankook Ventus Prime 4 scores 86 vs 70 on comfort.
Hankook Ventus Prime 4 scores 85 vs 80 on noise.
Hankook Ventus Prime 4 scores 82 vs 78 on wet.
Hankook Ventus Prime 4 scores 78 vs 75 on treadwear.
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.