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Summer tire Summer Premium Touring tires Updated September 2026

Hankook Kinergy Eco 2 review

The Hankook Kinergy Eco 2 is widely regarded as a budget-friendly, value-oriented tire that offers competent dry-weather performance and respectable longevity for daily commuting. While many users appreciate its affordability and fuel efficiency, the consensus is polarized regarding its noise levels and wet-weather confidence, with several reports of premature road noise and inconsistent grip in adverse conditions.

Relative score
71/100
tests + owners
Owner reviews
65/100
20 reviews
Road tests
75/100
4 published tests

Owners rate it 10.3 points lower than the instrumented road tests do — see the two score breakdowns below for where they disagree.

Hankook Kinergy Eco 2
Scores

Two scoring systems, side by side

Owner scores come from reviews on retailer and review sites; road-test scores come from instrumented tests. Where they disagree, it is usually a discipline owners rarely push to the limit.

By owner reviews

65%
Would buy again 59%
Dry
Overall dry
77%
Corner stability
82%
Dry traction
82%
Steering response
72%
Wet
Overall wet
65%
Wet traction
83%
Comfort
Overall comfort
64%
Treadwear
Overall treadwear
68%
Handling
Overall handling
65%
By source
DriverReviews90%1,560 reviews Tyre Reviews65%20 reviews

By road tests

75.3%
Dry
79.3%
Wet
84.7%
Noise
72.3%
By discipline (% of best in test)
Dry Braking
69.7%
Dry Handling
69.7%
Subj. Dry Handling
68.8%
Wet Braking
69.3%
Wet Handling
69.3%
Straight Aquaplaning
56.3%
Curved Aquaplaning
56.3%
Side G-Force on Wet surface
56.3%
Inside Noise level
93.9%
Rolling Resistance
93.8%
Wear
81.3%
From owners

What owners like and dislike

Themes extracted from 20 owner reviews across retailers and review sites.

The Hankook Kinergy Eco 2 is widely regarded as a budget-friendly, value-oriented tire that offers competent dry-weather performance and respectable longevity for daily commuting. While many users appreciate its affordability and fuel efficiency, the consensus is polarized regarding its noise levels and wet-weather confidence, with several reports of premature road noise and inconsistent grip in adverse conditions.

Pros

  • Excellent value for money
  • Good dry-weather traction and handling
  • High fuel efficiency due to low rolling resistance
  • Impressive tread life and durability for many users

Cons

  • High levels of road noise
  • Inconsistent wet-weather grip and braking performance
  • Stiff ride quality and lack of comfort
  • Potential for premature dry rot or accelerated wear in specific conditions

Worth knowing

  • Users transitioning from larger wheels (17-inch) to smaller diameters (15-inch) reported a significant reduction in road noise.
  • Drivers of light city vehicles reported better-than-average tread longevity compared to heavier or more powerful vehicle applications.
Test results

4 published test appearances

Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.

2021 Sport Auto Summer tire Test · 195/55 R16

8th of 11
Best: Rolling Resistance · 3rd Weakest: Straight Aqua · 10th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking7th of 11
Wet Handling8th of 11
Dry Braking9th of 11
Dry Handling5th of 11
Rolling Resistance3rd of 11
Straight Aqua10th of 11
Noise4th of 11
Price4th of 11

2019 Summer and All Season tire Test · 205/55 R16

4th of 15
Best: Noise · 2nd Weakest: Dry Braking · 8th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking5th of 15
Wet Handling5th of 15
Dry Braking8th of 15
Dry Handling4th of 15
Noise2nd of 15

2019 ADAC Summer tire Test - 185/65 R15 · 185/65 R15

14th of 16
DisciplinePlacementField position

2018 New and Worn Summer tire Test · 205/55 R16

5th of 14
Best: Wet Braking · 2nd Weakest: Dry Braking · 11th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking2nd of 14
Wet Handling8th of 14
Dry Braking11th of 14
Dry Handling6th of 14
Noise5th of 14
Head-to-head

Hankook Kinergy Eco 2 compared

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