GT Radial ClimateActive vs Hankook Kinergy 4S2
- TR Score
- 9.1/10
- Owners say
- 87% · 4
- TR Score
- 8.9/10
- Owners say
- 75% · 72
In the 2 independent tests that ran both tires, the Hankook Kinergy 4S2 finished ahead 2 times and the ClimateActive not once. The ClimateActive stopped 1.7% shorter in the wet; the Kinergy 4S2 stopped 1.4% shorter in the dry.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose the Hankook Kinergy 4S2 if you want the more complete all-season tire for mixed driving-especially if you care about dry precision, predictable handling, and getting more kilometers per set. Choose the GT-Radial ClimateActive if your priority is wet braking performance on a tighter budget and your use is mainly mild-climate, lower-mileage driving where ultimate winter capability and long tread life are less critical.
Where the ClimateActive is stronger
- Stronger wet braking in both shared tests (ADAC: 35.4 m vs 36.5 m; AutoBild: 62.2 m vs 62.4 m)
- Better wet braking on concrete in ADAC (40.9 m vs 42.7 m)
- Better ice braking in ADAC (20.9 m vs 22.1 m), adding extra cold-surface stop confidence
Where the Kinergy 4S2 is stronger
- Consistently stronger dry performance (wins dry braking in both tests; also higher dry handling speed in AutoBild: 93.3 vs 92.2 km/h)
- Better snow performance across most objective metrics in both tests (snow braking/traction/handling all favor Hankook in AutoBild; snow braking/traction favor Hankook in ADAC)
- Much better longevity/efficiency of wear (ADAC: 44,500 km vs 35,300 km; lower abrasion: 59 vs 75 mg/km/t)
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.
ClimateActive vs Kinergy 4S2 at a glance
| Category | ClimateActive | Gap | Kinergy 4S2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won2 shared tests | 0 | 2 | |
| Dry3 measurements | 0 | The Kinergy 4S2 stopped 1.4% shorter in the dry (2 tests) | 3 |
| Wet9 measurements | 5 | The ClimateActive stopped 1.7% shorter in the wet (2 tests) | 4 |
| Snow6 measurements | 1 | The Kinergy 4S2 stopped 1.7% shorter on snow (2 tests) | 5 |
| Ice1 measurement | 1 | 0 | |
| Comfort3 measurements | 1 | 2 | |
| Value4 measurements | 0 | 3 | |
| Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 9.1/10 | The ClimateActive by 0.2 | 8.9/10 |
| Owner rating4 and 72 reviews | 87% | The ClimateActive by 12 points | 75% |
| Pricein the 2 tests that listed prices | Cheaper | The Kinergy 4S2 was dearer in 2 of 2 | +20.9% |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 88 | 52 sizes made in both | 96 |
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, 2025 to 2026
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 | ClimateActive | Field | Kinergy 4S2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 ADAC All Season Tire Test - 185/65 R15 | P8 of 16 | P5 of 16 | |
| 2025 Autobild SUV All Season Tire Test | P6 of 11 | P3 of 11 |
Performance profile
7 measurements from the 2 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
ClimateActive
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. 12 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
ClimateActive
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.
Where owners rate each higher
ClimateActive
Kinergy 4S2
Not ahead in any category
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the ClimateActive 87% from 4 reviews and the Kinergy 4S2 75% from 72. Each spoke is one question owners answer out of 10; reviews are vetted by hand before publication.
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 | ClimateActive | Gap | Kinergy 4S2 | Wins | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 135 | 1.4% | 134 | 0-2 | |||||||||
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| 57.3 | 1.2% | 58 | 0-1 | |||||||||
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| 160 | 1.7% | 162 | 2-0 | |||||||||
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| 134 | 4.2% | 140 | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| 49.6 | 0.1% | 49.6 | 0-1 | |||||||||
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| 16.36 | 0.1% | 16.34 | 0-1 | |||||||||
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| 50.3 | 0.5% | 50.6 | 1-1 | |||||||||
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| 10.5 | 0.9% | 10.6 | 1-1 | |||||||||
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| 58 | 1.7% | 57 | 0-2 | |||||||||
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| 644 | 0.6% | 648 | 0-2 | |||||||||
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| 61.2 | 1.5% | 62.1 | 0-1 | |||||||||
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| 13.3 | 2.8% | 12.9 | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| 69 | 5.4% | 73 | 1-0 | |||||||||
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| scored | 4.3% | scored | 0-1 | |||||||||
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| 72.05 | 0.3 dB | 72.3 | 1-1 | |||||||||
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| 21,934 | 26.1% | 27,651 | 0-1 | |||||||||
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| 7.59 | 1.1% | 7.51 | 0-1 | |||||||||
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| 5.6 | = | 5.6 | 0-0 | |||||||||
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| 75 | 21.3% | 59 | 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 ClimateActive scores 9.1 and the Kinergy 4S2 8.9 out of 10.
| ClimateActive | Category | Kinergy 4S2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 72 | Dry | 80 | ||
| 81 | Wet | 85 | ||
| 46 | Comfort | 43 | ||
| 30 | Value | 42 | ||
| 72 | Snow | 74 | ||
| 76 | 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
| ClimateActive | Category | Kinergy 4S2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.3 | Dry Grip | 8.1 | ||
| 9 | Wet Grip | 8 | ||
| 7.3 | Road Feedback | 7.1 | ||
| 7.8 | Handling | 7.4 | ||
| 9 | Wear | 7.6 | ||
| 9.8 | Comfort | 7.3 | ||
| 7.5 | Snow Grip | 7.5 | ||
| 7 | Ice Grip | 6.5 | ||
Owners rate the ClimateActive 87% from 4 reviews and the Kinergy 4S2 75% from 72. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
GT Radial ClimateActive
- 87%from 4 reviews
- 25,500 milesdriven by reviewers
Drivers report the GT Radial ClimateActive delivers strong all-season performance, with confident grip in dry and heavy rain and notably good traction in mud and gravel. Comfort and refinement are frequently praised, and multiple users highlight strong value versus premium alternatives like the Michelin CrossClimate 2. Wear so far appears competitive based on early mileage reports, with only a minority noting slightly vague steering/less road feedback.
- Strong wet and dry grip with confident all-year performance
- Good traction on mud/gravel (useful for fields and rougher surfaces)
- Comfortable ride and generally quiet/refined driving
- Good value for money versus premium competitors
- Steering/handling can feel a bit vague or have reduced road feedback
Summarised by AI from 4 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 4 ClimateActive reviewsI fitted this tire on a new Fiat 600 hybrid, straight at car delivery, replacing the OE summer Goodyear's. I therefore have no benchmark compared to the summer OE's.
Fitted in early December, i had the chance to drive them on dry, wet and also some snow due to latest weather conditions.
the tire was superb in all levels of grip. it is also very quiet and comfortable, despite the 18 inch and (relative) low aspect ratio.
Handling is soft and with delayed response, but i attribute this more to the car overall soft suspensions and chassis settings, rather than the tire itself.
A very good tire at a fantastic price point. And apparently the press agrees with me.
Well done GT!
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
From the EU label registrations for each tire: 88 sizes of the ClimateActive and 96 of the Kinergy 4S2, 52 of them made in both.
| Category | ClimateActive | Kinergy 4S2 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | All Season | All Season |
| Sizes made | 88 sizes, 15 to 22 inch | 96 sizes, 14 to 20 inch |
| Made in both | 52 sizes 165/65 R15175/55 R15175/65 R15185/55 R15185/65 R15195/50 R15195/55 R15195/60 R15195/65 R15195/45 R16195/50 R16195/55 R16and 40 more | |
| EU label wet grip | A84%B16% | B96%C4% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C53%B41%D5% | C78%D22%B1% |
| EU label noise | 69-73 dB B96%A4% | 70-73 dB B100% |
| Severe snow (3PMSF) sizes | 187 of 187 | 194 of 194 |
| On the market since | 2024 | - |
| Replaced | - | Hankook Kinergy 4S (2021) |
| Awards | Winner: All-Season Value Performer of the Year (WhatTire, 2026/27) | - |
| Price in the shared tests | The Kinergy 4S2 was the dearer tire in 2 of the 2 tests that listed prices, by 20.9% on average. Each test priced the tires in its own market at the time; only the gap is comparable. | |
Label grades are shown as the share of registered sizes carrying each grade, so "B (88%), C (12%)" means most sizes are B. Grades vary by size; check the label for yours.
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.
GT Radial's ClimateActive and Hankook's Kinergy 4S2 sit in the same “premium-touring” all-season space on paper, but the shared test evidence paints two quite different personalities. Across the 2026 ADAC all-season test (185/65 R15) and the 2025 AutoBild all-season SUV test (215/55 R17), the Hankook repeatedly ranks higher overall (5/16 vs 8/16 in ADAC; 3/13 vs 6/13 in AutoBild), driven mainly by stronger dry-road dynamics and markedly better projected longevity.
The GT Radial, however, consistently finds its way onto the scoreboard in the safety-critical wet-braking metrics-winning wet braking in both tests (35.4 m vs 36.5 m in ADAC; 62.2 m vs 62.4 m in AutoBild) and also edging ice braking in ADAC (20.9 m vs 22.1 m). So this comparison is less about “good vs bad” and more about what you value: Hankook's sharper, longer-wearing all-rounder versus GT Radial's budget-leaning option with particular strengths in braking on wet surfaces but more compromises elsewhere.
Conclusion
Taken as a whole, Hankook's Kinergy 4S2 is the more convincing and better-rounded choice for most drivers because its advantages show up in the fundamentals you live with every day: it's consistently better in the dry (dry braking wins in both tests, e.g., 39.3 m vs 40.1 m in AutoBild; plus slightly higher dry handling speed), and it's dramatically stronger on ownership costs thanks to wear (44,500 km vs 35,300 km predicted in ADAC, roughly a 26% advantage) and lower abrasion (59 vs 75 mg/km/t). Professional notes back this up: secure and precise at the limit in dry conditions, good aquaplaning resistance, and a “confident figure” on snow-though not a class leader in the wet.
GT Radial's ClimateActive earns its place by delivering tangible wet-braking confidence (two test wins) and some extra reassurance on ice braking in ADAC, and it can be a sensible value pick for mild climates and lower annual mileage. The trade-offs are hard to ignore, though: it trails in dry performance, its winter performance is described as struggling (even if the raw snow numbers are often only small gaps), and the tread-life penalty is meaningful. The practical takeaway: if you want the tire you'll enjoy and trust most across mixed driving while also getting more kilometers per set, choose the Hankook; if your priority is wet-stop security on a tighter budget and you can accept shorter life and less all-conditions breadth, the GT Radial can make sense.
ClimateActive vs Kinergy 4S2: your questions
Is the GT Radial ClimateActive or the Hankook Kinergy 4S2 the better tire?
In the 2 independent tests that ran both tires, the Hankook Kinergy 4S2 finished ahead 2 times and the ClimateActive not once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the ClimateActive scores 9.1 and the Kinergy 4S2 8.9 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the ClimateActive or the Kinergy 4S2?
The ClimateActive led 5 of the 9 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 1.7% shorter in the wet across 2 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Kinergy 4S2 led 3 of the 3 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 1.4% shorter in the dry across 2 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The Kinergy 4S2 led 5 of the 6 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 1.7% shorter on snow across 2 tests.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 9.8/10 for the ClimateActive and 7.3/10 for the Kinergy 4S2.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the ClimateActive 87% from 4 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 20.9% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The ClimateActive is made in 88 sizes (15 to 22 inch) and the Kinergy 4S2 in 96 (14 to 20 inch). 52 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the ClimateActive is graded A for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Kinergy 4S2 B and C.
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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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