Ceat 4 SeasonDrive X5 vs Hankook Kinergy 4S2
- TR Score
- 9.5/10
- Owners say
- 87% · 1
- TR Score
- 8.9/10
- Owners say
- 75% · 72
In the 2 independent tests that ran both tires, the Hankook Kinergy 4S2 finished ahead 1 times and the 4 SeasonDrive X5 not once, with one level. The 4 SeasonDrive X5 stopped 4.7% shorter in the dry; the Kinergy 4S2 held 10.8% more grip in curved aquaplaning.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose the Ceat 4 SeasonDrive X5 for wet winters and a tighter budget, where its braking and running costs win; choose the Hankook Kinergy 4S2 if you meet real snow or standing water in corners, and if you keep a set long enough for its wear advantage to count.
Where the 4 SeasonDrive X5 is stronger
- Shorter dry braking in both tests, by 6.5 percent in the 225/40 R18 test
- Shorter wet braking in both tests, 60.4m against 62.4m on the SUV
- Lower rolling resistance in both tests and cheaper per 1000km, 6.24 against 6.88
Where the Kinergy 4S2 is stronger
- Won every snow measurement across both tests, including 23m against 25m snow braking
- Better curved aquaplaning both times, by 14.6 percent in the 225/40 R18 test
- Projected to last longer, 58,100km against 52,850km
The bullet points are analysis of the shared tests and of owner reviews; the measured wins in each discipline are in the tables below. Where the two disagree, the figures are right.
4 SeasonDrive X5 vs Kinergy 4S2 at a glance
| Category | 4 SeasonDrive X5 | Gap | Kinergy 4S2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won2 shared tests | 0 | 1 level | 1 |
| Dry4 measurements | 3 | The 4 SeasonDrive X5 stopped 4.7% shorter in the dry (2 tests) | 1 |
| Wet10 measurements | 5 | Level between the two. | 5 |
| Snow8 measurements | 0 | The Kinergy 4S2 stopped 5.4% shorter on snow (2 tests) | 7 |
| Comfort3 measurements | 1 | Level between the two. | 1 |
| Value4 measurements | 2 | Level between the two. | 2 |
| Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 9.5/10 | The 4 SeasonDrive X5 by 0.6 | 8.9/10 |
| Owner rating1 and 72 reviews | 87% | The 4 SeasonDrive X5 by 12 points | 75% |
| Pricein the 2 tests that listed prices | Cheaper | The Kinergy 4S2 was dearer in 2 of 2 | +24.1% |
Wins count every measurement the shared tests recorded for both tires; a tick marks the tire ahead on that line. Subjective driver scores count as wins but are never averaged, because each test uses its own scale.
Head to head in 2 tests in 2025
Each row is one published test in which both tires ran on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The line is the whole field, winner on the left.
| Test | 4 SeasonDrive X5 | Field | Kinergy 4S2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Autobild SUV All Season Tire Test | P3 of 11 | P3 of 11 | |
| 2025 AutoBild All Season Tire Test | P8 of 15 | P5 of 15 |
Performance profile
12 measurements from the 2 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
4 SeasonDrive X5
Kinergy 4S2
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
In each test the better of the two figures counts as 100% and the other as its share of it, so a 118 ft stop against 112 ft is 95%; each spoke averages the shared tests that recorded it. The scale stops at 95%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 5 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
4 SeasonDrive X5
Kinergy 4S2
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Category scores are percentiles among tires of the same season and class: 90 means this tire out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
Every measurement, side by side
Averages of the figures both tires posted in the same tests. The gap is the average of each test's own gap, so figures from different cars and years are never mixed. Open a discipline for its measurements, and a measurement for every test's figure.
| Measurement | 4 SeasonDrive X5 | Gap | Kinergy 4S2 | Wins | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 126 | 4.7% | 132 | 2-0 | |||||||||
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| 59.8 | 0.6% | 60.1 | 1-1 | |||||||||
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| 177 | 3.4% | 183 | 2-0 | |||||||||
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| 47.3 | = | 47.3 | 1-1 | |||||||||
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| 14.19 | 0.1% | 14.19 | 1-1 | |||||||||
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| 44.5 | 0.4% | 44.6 | 1-1 | |||||||||
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| 8 | 10.8% | 8.9 | 0-2 | |||||||||
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| 82 | 5.4% | 77 | 0-2 | |||||||||
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| 687 | 1.1% | 695 | 0-2 | |||||||||
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| 47.1 | 0.1% | 47.1 | 0-1 | |||||||||
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| 12 | 0.3% | 12 | 0-1 | |||||||||
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| 12.8 | 1.3% | 12.9 | 0-1 | |||||||||
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| scored | = | scored | 0-0 | |||||||||
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| 73.25 | 0.7 dB | 72.55 | 1-1 | |||||||||
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| 32,839 | 9.9% | 36,102 | 0-1 | |||||||||
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| 7.65 | 3.2% | 7.91 | 2-0 | |||||||||
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| 1,056 | 16.2% | 885 | 0-1 | |||||||||
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Braking distances and lap times are better when lower; speeds, wear and grip figures when higher. A test's figures are its own: sizes, cars, surfaces and temperatures differ from one to the next, which is why the averages here are only ever of tests the two tires shared. "Scored" rows are subjective driver ratings: each test uses its own scale, so only the wins are counted.
Scores beyond the shared tests
On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the 4 SeasonDrive X5 scores 9.5 and the Kinergy 4S2 8.9 out of 10.
| 4 SeasonDrive X5 | Category | Kinergy 4S2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 97 | Dry | 80 | ||
| 82 | Wet | 85 | ||
| 27 | Comfort | 43 | ||
| 68 | Value | 42 | ||
| 54 | Snow | 74 | ||
| - | Ice | 25 | ||
Category scores are percentiles among tires of the same season and class: 90 means this tire out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
What owners say
| 4 SeasonDrive X5 | Category | Kinergy 4S2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Dry Grip | 8.1 | ||
| 9 | Wet Grip | 8 | ||
| 8 | Road Feedback | 7.1 | ||
| 8 | Handling | 7.4 | ||
| - | Wear | 7.6 | ||
| 8 | Comfort | 7.3 | ||
| - | Snow Grip | 7.5 | ||
| - | Ice Grip | 6.5 | ||
Owners rate the 4 SeasonDrive X5 87% from 1 reviews and the Kinergy 4S2 75% from 72. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Ceat 4 SeasonDrive X5
- 87%from 1 reviews
- 1,000 milesdriven by reviewers
All 1 4 SeasonDrive X5 reviewsSo far, so good!To be honest, these Ceat tires have been a really pleasant surprise. I had no expectations, but they have given me absolutely zero nasty surprises. The performance is solid, and for this price, they are an absolute steal. Highly recommended!
Hankook Kinergy 4S2
- 75%from 72 reviews
- 74%would buy again
- 995,659 milesdriven by reviewers
Owners generally rate the Hankook Kinergy 4S2 as a strong all-weather all-rounder, with most praise focused on dependable wet and dry grip (mentioned by around half of reviewers) and reassuring snow traction. Longevity is often reported as good, and a notable minority also highlight the comfortable ride and strong value for money. The most consistent drawback is road noise, raised by over a third of owners, while a smaller group report higher fuel consumption/rolling resistance.
- Confident wet grip in cold and rain
- Strong dry grip for an all-season tire
- Good tread life for year-round use
- Surprisingly capable traction in snow
- Noticeable road noise or whining at certain speeds
- Higher rolling resistance or worse fuel economy
- Can feel less predictable at the limit (soft/squealy breakaway)
Summarised by AI from 65 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 72 Kinergy 4S2 reviewsExcellent tires for all seasons, this was my first test as I've always used summer/winter tires on all my cars for more safety and longevity. These tires perform very well on dry roads, in corners whether wet or not, but especially great on snow, whether it's recovery, acceleration, or grip (Summit of the Vosges for example or the Belgian Ardennes). I was very surprised despite all my extensive research on tires with a good price-quality ratio. After 46,000 km, I wouldn't try them again on snow as I've far exceeded the winter wear indicator, but there are still 2mm of tread left for summer.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
| Category | 4 SeasonDrive X5 | Kinergy 4S2 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | All Season | All Season |
| Replaced | - | Hankook Kinergy 4S (2021) |
| Price in the shared tests | The Kinergy 4S2 was the dearer tire in 2 of the 2 tests that listed prices, by 24.1% on average. Each test priced the tires in its own market at the time; only the gap is comparable. | |
Reading the results
Written from the test results and owner reviews above. It is analysis, not a measurement: where it and the tables disagree, the tables are right.
An Indian economy brand against a Korean premium one, and the test data refuses to line up the way the badges suggest. Auto Bild ran both of these all season tires twice in 2025, once on an SUV in 215/55 R17 and once in 225/40 R18, and the Ceat 4 SeasonDrive X5 came away with the shorter braking distances in both.
The Hankook Kinergy 4S2 answers where an all season tire is asked to be more than a summer tire in disguise. It won every snow measurement across the two tests, both curved aquaplaning runs, and it wore better, projected at 58,100km against the Ceat's 52,850km in the 225/40 R18 test.
The overall placings ended up level in the SUV test, both third of thirteen, and split in the second, where the Hankook took 5th of 17 and the Ceat 8th. That is a far tighter result than the price gap between them would suggest, and it makes this a question of which half of the year you are buying for.
Conclusion
The Ceat 4 SeasonDrive X5 is the surprise here, and its case is built on stopping. It braked shorter in the dry in both tests, by 2.8 percent in the SUV test and 6.5 percent in the 225/40 R18 test, where the gap was 38.6m against 41.3m. It braked shorter in the wet in both as well, 60.4m against 62.4m and 47.4m against 49.2m. It also rolls with less resistance in both tests and came out cheaper per 1000km, 6.24 against 6.88. Auto Bild's own summary called it the surprise candidate of the test with the best price to performance ratio.
The Hankook Kinergy 4S2 earns its premium in the conditions that make people buy an all season tire in the first place. It won every snow measurement across both tests, including a 2m advantage in snow braking in the SUV test, 23m against 25m. It resisted curved aquaplaning better both times, by 14.6 percent in the 225/40 R18 test, and it is projected to last around 10 percent longer. In the SUV test it was also the quieter tire by 1.9dB. Auto Bild described it as a dry road dynamicist that is also extremely confident on snow.
Take the Ceat if your winters are wet rather than white and the money matters; it gives away very little on the road and costs noticeably less to run. Take the Hankook if you actually meet snow, standing water in corners, or if you keep tires long enough for the wear difference to pay for itself. One caveat on the scores you see on this site: the Ceat carries a high rating from a single owner review, while the Hankook's sits on 64, so treat the Ceat's owner score as provisional.
4 SeasonDrive X5 vs Kinergy 4S2: your questions
Is the Ceat 4 SeasonDrive X5 or the Hankook Kinergy 4S2 the better tire?
In the 2 independent tests that ran both tires, the Hankook Kinergy 4S2 finished ahead 1 times and the 4 SeasonDrive X5 not once, with one level. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the 4 SeasonDrive X5 scores 9.5 and the Kinergy 4S2 8.9 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the 4 SeasonDrive X5 or the Kinergy 4S2?
Across the shared tests the wet measurements are split 5-5 between the 4 SeasonDrive X5 and the Kinergy 4S2.
Which is better in the dry?
The 4 SeasonDrive X5 led 3 of the 4 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 4.7% shorter in the dry across 2 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The Kinergy 4S2 led 7 of the 8 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 5.4% shorter on snow across 2 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The 4 SeasonDrive X5 had 3.2% lower rolling resistance (2 tests).
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 8/10 for the 4 SeasonDrive X5 and 7.3/10 for the Kinergy 4S2.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the 4 SeasonDrive X5 87% from 1 reviews and the Kinergy 4S2 75% from 72.
Which is more expensive?
In the 2 tests that listed prices, the Kinergy 4S2 was the dearer tire in 2 of them, by 24.1% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
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Run either of these?
Your review is the part of this page no test can supply: how the tire wore, how it aged, what it was like in the rain in year three. It takes about five minutes.
Where this data comes from
Finishing positions and measurements are transcribed from each published test. A test only counts here when both tires ran in it, so every figure was recorded on the same car, size and day as the one it is compared to.
About the TR Score
The Tire Reviews Score rates each tire out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tires can be compared even before a test has run them together.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tire Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tires independently since 2007.
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