Hankook Tires Review
Hankook has been around since the late 1960s, but they’re not as well known as heavy hitters like Michelin and Goodyear. The South Korean company makes tires to fit all vehicles and driving styles, but they’re not as well reviewed or as long-lasting as rubber from top-tier brands. That said, there are plenty of great tire models from Hankook and plenty of reasons to like the company. Let’s dive in and take a look at why that is.
Pros and Cons
- Good variety for sedans and passenger vehicles
- Great treadlife warranties
- Widely available at retailers, both online and brick and mortar
- Well reviewed by users
- Many tire models don’t have great eco/fuel economy focus
- Not as affordable as some rivals
- Many models could do better with wet traction
Best Hankook tires by car type
Kinergy ST - Best for passenger cars
The Kinergy ST was developed specifically for family sedans, crossovers, and coupes, and are perfect for drivers that want a strong treadlife warranty to go along with excellent traction. The Kinergy ST provides solid traction in wet, dry, and even wintry conditions, and can handle a decent romp through the snow.
The tires feature a symmetrical tread pattern with a central rib that helps stabilize the tires and improve handling and traction. The Kinergy ST also features a design that is meant to reduce noise, and lateral notches to improve snow traction.
Specs:
- Brand: Hankook
- Model: Kinergy ST
- Weight: Varies
- Available Sizes: 13”, 14”, 15” ,16”, 17”, 18”
Ventus S1 Evo2 - Best performance tire
The Ventus S1 Evo2 is a high performance tire that is designed with stability and durability in mind. It features rubber compounds that improve performance while maintaining a solid treadlife and wet traction ratings. Because they are high-performance summer tires, the Ventus S1 Evo2 should not be used for driving in temperatures that are near freezing or below, as the rubber compounds can become brittle or crack in the cooler weather.
Specs:
- Brand: Hankook
- Model: Ventus S1 Evo2
- Weight: Varies
- Available Sizes: 17”, 18”, 19”, 20”
Ventus ST RH06 - Best SUV tire
As pickup trucks and SUVs have become more mainstream, they’ve become faster and more luxurious in the process. The Hankook Ventus ST RH06 is ready to handle the job with a design that features advanced tread compounds and a V-shaped tread shape to improve handling and stability. The tires also feature built-in rim protectors to help protect against scratches and dings, and the tires have a strong focus on wet conditions to provide year-round traction.
Specs:
- Brand: Hankook
- Model: Ventus ST RH06
- Weight: Varies
- Available Sizes: 17”, 18”, 20”, 22”
Dynapro AT-M - Best truck tire
The Dynapro AT-M was designed for light trucks and all-terrain performance. It has been the original equipment tires on the F-150, and is perfect for on-road confidence coupled with rugged capability. The symmetrical tread pattern and enlarged footprint help ensure solid traction, even in muddy and snowy conditions, and special grooves create a biting edge to enhance winter traction.
Specs:
- Brand: Hankook
- Model: Dynapro AT-M
- Weight: Varies
- Available Sizes: 16”, 17”, 18”, 20”
Kinergy PT - Best all season tire
The Kinergy PT was designed with an eye on comfort and quiet, but also have a sturdy design and long life. They were designed for solid, year-round traction in a variety of conditions, and have specially designed tread to reduce wear. The Kinergy PT also features wide steel belts for reinforcement and high-speed stability, and a strong focus on fuel efficiency.
Specs:
- Brand: Hankook
- Model: Kinergy PT
- Weight: Varies
- Available Sizes: 14”, 15”, 16”, 17”, 18”
Winter I Pike RS2 - Best winter tire
The I Pike RS2 is Hankook’s newest winter tire design formulated specially for northern climates. The tire features all of the most modern winter tire design attributes. These include a compound which incorporates silica for ice traction, ZigZag winter groove tread pattern, sipes across the entire tread width, a wide center block for snow traction, and what Hankook calls a claw edge in the outer tread block area. The tire is studdable if you expect your journeys to be mostly local and mostly icey.
Specs:
- Brand: Hankook
- Model: Winter I Pike RS2
- Weight: Varies
- Available Sizes: 15”, 16”, 17”, 18”, 19”, 20”
Dynapro AT2 - Best off road tire
The Dynapro AT2 is an on- and off-road tire that provides solid traction and performance in nearly any conditions, the tires were developed with special three-ply designs that help resist punctures and prolong treadwear. Wide grooves evacuate water and improve wet traction, while the tread design provides awesome winter weather traction.
Specs:
- Brand: Hankook
- Model: Dynapro AT2
- Weight: Varies
- Available Sizes: 15”, 16”, 17”, 18”, 20”, 22”
Why choose Hankook tires?
Hankook tires are widely available at most tire shops, both online and in-person. While they’re not the cheapest tires you can buy, they provide many of the same benefits that their more upscale competitors offer for less money. That said, Hankook tire reviews show a higher number of negative reies, especially regarding treadlife and coverage.
Top reasons to choose Hankook tires
Hankook’s tires feature focused designs and advanced rubber compounds that are specific to the purposes that the tires are built to perform. Summer tires and truck tires are both offered in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, each of which has a purpose in life. Shopping for Hankook tires side-by-side with tires from competitors shows a line of products with solid treadlife warranties and compelling features, but not as many positive reviews as there are for tires from Michelin and others.
It’s that recognition and respect that holds Hankook back from being a true top-tier tire brand like Michelin. The company can’t seem to avoid drawing bad reviews for treadlife, warranties, and customer service/support from the company. Your mileage may vary, but the general consensus is that Hankook could do better on those fronts.
Important considerations when choosing a tire brand
No matter the brand, the most important consideration when buying tires is fit. Do the tires fit your vehicle? Do the tires fit your driving style? No brand name or fancy tread patterns are going to change you, the most important person in the vehicle.
Car Talk Community's favorite tires
Car Talk's very active online Community has many interesting and thoughtful perspectives on the best tire brands in the industry, based on real life user experience and knowledge.
Read more on the Best Tires in the industry according to the Car Talk Community here.
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