79
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
77/100
84 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated May 2026
Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 vs Hankook Ventus V12 evo2 — 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.
VS
82
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
83/100
152 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Hankook Ventus V12 evo2 — better noise, treadwear and dry. Pick the Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 if snow 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)
Ventus V12 evo2 leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | Ventus S1 evo3 | Ventus V12 evo2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 86 | 87 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 87 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Ventus V12 evo2 leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | Ventus S1 evo3 | Ventus V12 evo2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 81 | 81 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 83 | 81 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Ventus S1 evo3 leads by 13
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Ventus V12 evo2 leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | Ventus S1 evo3 | Ventus V12 evo2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 78 | 82 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 77 | 77 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Ventus V12 evo2 leads by 12
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Ventus V12 evo2 leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | Ventus S1 evo3 | Ventus V12 evo2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 57 | 72 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 69 | 73 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Ventus V12 evo2 leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | Ventus S1 evo3 | Ventus V12 evo2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 74 | 79 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 | Hankook Ventus V12 evo2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 79 | 82 |
| Dry | 86 | 91 |
| Wet | 84 | 85 |
| Snow | 80 | 67 |
| Comfort | 79 | 84 |
| Noise | 80 | 92 |
| Treadwear | 71 | 78 |
| Handling | 74 | 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
79
/ 100
Tire A
82
/ 100
Tire B
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
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.
The Hankook Ventus V12 evo2 is widely regarded as a high-value, performance-oriented summer tire that offers a compelling balance of dry grip, wet weather confidence, and comfort at a competitive price point. While it excels in daily driving and spirited road use, some enthusiasts note limitations in steering precision and sidewall stiffness when pushed to the absolute limit on track or in aggressive cornering.
Pros
- Excellent value-for-money proposition compared to premium tier brands.
- Strong traction and handling in both dry and wet road conditions.
- Low road noise levels and high comfort for a performance tire.
- Predictable and progressive breakaway characteristics at the limit.
Cons
- Soft sidewalls can lead to a 'floaty' feel or lack of steering feedback during aggressive maneuvers.
- Tread life is generally considered average to short, particularly for spirited drivers.
- Performance can degrade noticeably as the tire wears down, specifically regarding noise and wet grip.
- Not suitable for cold weather or near-freezing temperatures.
Observations
- Users with high-torque, rear-wheel-drive vehicles (e.g., Mustang GT, C5/C6 Corvette) report excellent straight-line hook but note that aggressive driving significantly accelerates rear tread wear.
- Drivers of European sedans (BMW, Audi) appreciate the comfort and noise reduction compared to OEM run-flat tires, though some note the soft sidewall is less ideal for track-focused setups.
- Some users on 17-inch or smaller wheels report a firmer ride than expected, while those on larger diameters generally praise the balance of comfort and performance.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 | B · Hankook Ventus V12 evo2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Max Performance Summer tire | Summer Ultra High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
79
/ 100
Hankook
82
/ 100
Hankook
Winner: Hankook Ventus V12 evo2 — better noise, treadwear and dry. Pick the Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 if snow matters most to you.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 scores 80 vs 67 on snow.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Hankook Ventus V12 evo2 scores 92 vs 80 on noise.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Hankook Ventus V12 evo2 scores 78 vs 71 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Hankook Ventus V12 evo2 scores 91 vs 86 on dry.
Tire A · Hankook Ventus S1 evo3
Tire B · Hankook Ventus V12 evo2
More comparisons
Also compared with
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Hankook Ventus V12 evo2 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.