Hankook Kinergy 4S2 vs Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3
- TR Score
- 8.9/10
- Owners say
- 75% · 72
- TR Score
- 9.6/10
- Owners say
- 84% · 73
In the 10 independent tests that ran both tires, the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 finished ahead 9 times and the Kinergy 4S2 once. The Kinergy 4S2 lasted 11.1% longer in the wear tests; the Cinturato All Season SF3 stopped 7% shorter in the dry.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 if you want the most consistently high-performing all-season for wet/dry safety, strong aquaplaning resistance, and better efficiency (fuel/EV range). Choose the Hankook Kinergy 4S2 if you're prioritising purchase-value and snow braking in particular, and you're willing to accept more compromises in rolling resistance, noise, and (in some tests) dynamic snow handling.
Where the Kinergy 4S2 is stronger
- Strong snow braking consistency (wins 7 shared snow-braking comparisons; e.g., 23.9 m vs 25.2 m in Auto Bild Sports Car 2025)
- Often competitive/pleasant dry handling balance and steering feel (multiple dry-handling wins; strong subjective dry scores in AMS 2026)
- Can be strong in certain wet cornering metrics (frequent wet-circle wins across tests)
Where the Cinturato All Season SF3 is stronger
- Best-in-class dry braking across the dataset (wins 9/9 dry-braking comparisons; typically ~5-8% shorter stops)
- Wet-safety edge through braking plus strong hydroplaning resistance (often higher straight/curved aquaplaning speeds; multiple test reports call it outstanding in standing water)
- Broad, balanced performance that converts into overall wins (9/10 shared tests, including several outright victories)
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.
Kinergy 4S2 vs Cinturato All Season SF3 at a glance
| Category | Kinergy 4S2 | Gap | Cinturato All Season SF3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won10 shared tests | 1 | 9 | |
| Dry21 measurements | 6 | The Cinturato All Season SF3 stopped 7% shorter in the dry (9 tests) | 15 |
| Wet45 measurements | 13 | The Cinturato All Season SF3 stopped 2.9% shorter in the wet (9 tests) | 31 |
| Snow35 measurements | 14 | The Cinturato All Season SF3 averaged a 1.4% higher speed on the snow handling course (5 tests) | 19 |
| Ice1 measurement | 0 | 1 | |
| Comfort14 measurements | 3 | The Cinturato All Season SF3 was 0.5 dB quieter (8 tests) | 9 |
| Value15 measurements | 3 | The Cinturato All Season SF3 had 8.2% lower rolling resistance (8 tests) | 12 |
| Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 8.9/10 | The Cinturato All Season SF3 by 0.7 | 9.6/10 |
| Owner rating72 and 73 reviews | 75% | The Cinturato All Season SF3 by 9 points | 84% |
| Would buy againshare of owners | 74% | The Cinturato All Season SF3 by 6 points | 80% |
| Pricein the 10 tests that listed prices | Cheaper | The Cinturato All Season SF3 was dearer in 10 of 10 | +10.7% |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 96 | 50 sizes made in both | 70 |
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 10 tests, 2024 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 | Kinergy 4S2 | Field | Cinturato All Season SF3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 AMS All Season Tire Test - 195/55 R16 | P7 of 9 | P3 of 9 | |
| 2026 Auto Zeitung All Season Tire Test | P6 of 10 | P1 of 10 | |
| The BEST All Season Tires For 2026/27 | P7 of 10 | P3 of 10 | |
| 2026 Die Reifentester All Season Tire Test - 225/40 R18 | P5 of 9 | P1 of 9 | |
| 2026 ADAC All Season Tire Test - 185/65 R15 | P5 of 16 | P3 of 16 | |
| 2025 Auto Bild Sports Car All Season Tire Test | P2 of 10 | P1 of 10 | |
| 2025 AutoBild All Season Tire Test | P5 of 15 | P1 of 15 | |
| 2025 Auto Bild All Season Camper Van Tire Test | P6 of 9 | P1 of 9 | |
| 2024 Auto Express All Season Tire Test | P4 of 7 | P1 of 7 | |
| 2024 Auto Bild SUV All Season Tire Test | P2 of 10 | P3 of 10 |
Performance profile
22 measurements from the 10 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Kinergy 4S2
Cinturato All Season SF3
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. 10 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Kinergy 4S2
Not ahead in any category
Cinturato All Season SF3
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
Kinergy 4S2
Not ahead in any category
Cinturato All Season SF3
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Kinergy 4S2 75% from 72 reviews and the Cinturato All Season SF3 84% from 73. 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 | Kinergy 4S2 | Gap | Cinturato All Season SF3 | Wins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 134 | 7% | 124 | 0-9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 82.11 | 0.8% | 81.69 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 62.7 | 0.4% | 62.5 | 3-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 5.3% | scored | 1-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 12.5% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 138 | 2.9% | 134 | 2-7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 140 | 1.6% | 138 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 72.37 | = | 72.29 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 47.8 | 0.7% | 48 | 1-4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 16.1% | scored | 1-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 17.1 | 1% | 17.3 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 13.53 | 0.6% | 13.6 | 5-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 50.6 | 5% | 53.1 | 2-7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 9.1 | 10.6% | 10 | 1-6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 83 | 3.3% | 86 | 7-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 4.23 | 4% | 4.06 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 621 | 3.8% | 643 | 1-7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 73.34 | 0.6% | 73.82 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 37.5 | 1.4% | 38.2 | 1-4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 10.2% | scored | 2-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 12.3 | 1% | 12.4 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 12.6 | 1% | 12.7 | 1-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 73 | 5% | 69 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 5.8% | scored | 0-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 6.8% | scored | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 72.42 | 0.5 dB | 71.92 | 3-5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 30,157 | 11.1% | 27,092 | 2-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 8.65 | 8.2% | 7.94 | 0-8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 5.6 | 1.8% | 5.5 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 59 | 3.4% | 57 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 885 | 19.8% | 1,104 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 0.11 | 2.9% | 0.1 | 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 Kinergy 4S2 scores 8.9 and the Cinturato All Season SF3 9.6 out of 10.
| Kinergy 4S2 | Category | Cinturato All Season SF3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80 | Dry | 98 | ||
| 85 | Wet | 99 | ||
| 43 | Comfort | 77 | ||
| 42 | Value | 51 | ||
| 74 | Snow | 82 | ||
| 25 | Ice | 60 | ||
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
| Kinergy 4S2 | Category | Cinturato All Season SF3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.1 | Dry Grip | 8.9 | ||
| 8 | Wet Grip | 9.1 | ||
| 7.1 | Road Feedback | 8.4 | ||
| 7.4 | Handling | 8.4 | ||
| 7.6 | Wear | 7.8 | ||
| 7.3 | Comfort | 7.9 | ||
| 7.5 | Snow Grip | 8.6 | ||
| 6.5 | Ice Grip | 7.8 | ||
Owners rate the Kinergy 4S2 75% from 72 reviews and the Cinturato All Season SF3 84% from 73. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
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.
Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3
- 84%from 73 reviews
- 80%would buy again
- 578,592 milesdriven by reviewers
Most owners rate the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 highly, with the bulk of feedback praising its dependable wet and dry grip (mentioned by over half of reviewers) and an easy, confidence-inspiring feel for year-round use. Around a third of owners also highlight strong snow traction for an all-season tire, alongside generally low road noise and good ride comfort. A small minority report vibration/balancing issues, while roughly one in six mention steering feel is a bit soft or less direct than sportier or summer-focused alternatives; aquaplaning feedback is more mixed.
- Strong wet grip and reassuring confidence in the rain
- High dry grip for an all-season tire
- Impressive snow traction for winter days
- Generally low road noise, especially at cruising speeds
- Vibration or balancing/run-out problems reported by some owners
- Steering feel can be a bit soft or less direct than alternatives
- Aquaplaning resistance gets mixed reports in standing water
Summarised by AI from 70 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 73 Cinturato All Season SF3 reviewsGreat tires! In autumn and winter conditions, I found them better than the Continental TS860 in mud and snow, but worse on ice.
In summer, compared with the Continental PremiumContact 6, they offered better aquaplaning resistance, but slightly worse wet grip and overall handling. Lateral stability was by far their weakest point compared with my old Conti.
These were my first all-season tires, a bit of a gamble for me, but overall, I would recommend them. After 40,000 km over two years, they are showing some wear, so I plan to replace them by 50,000 km to stay on the safe side. My original plan was to use them for 40,000–60,000 km and less than four years.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tire: 96 sizes of the Kinergy 4S2 and 70 of the Cinturato All Season SF3, 50 of them made in both.
| Category | Kinergy 4S2 | Cinturato All Season SF3 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | All Season | All Season |
| Sizes made | 96 sizes, 14 to 20 inch | 70 sizes, 15 to 20 inch |
| Made in both | 50 sizes 185/65 R15185/55 R16195/45 R16195/50 R16195/55 R16195/60 R16205/45 R16205/55 R16205/60 R16215/45 R16215/55 R16215/60 R16and 38 more | |
| EU label wet grip | B96%C4% | A95%B5% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C78%D22%B1% | B64%C36% |
| EU label noise | 70-73 dB B100% | 69-72 dB B95%A5% |
| Severe snow (3PMSF) sizes | 194 of 194 | 73 of 73 |
| Replaced | Hankook Kinergy 4S (2021) | Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF2 (2020) |
| Awards | - | Recommended: Best All Season Tires (DriverReviews, 2026/27) |
| Price in the shared tests | The Cinturato All Season SF3 was the dearer tire in 10 of the 10 tests that listed prices, by 10.7% 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.
Previous generation: Hankook Kinergy 4S2 vs Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF2 (8 shared tests)
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.
This is a straight premium-touring all-season face-off between two tires that often appeal to the same buyer: the Hankook Kinergy 4S2 (an established, older design) and the newer Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3. Across 10 shared professional tests in multiple sizes (from 185/65 R15 up to 245/45 R18), the story isn't about a single standout result-it's about how consistently each tire delivers the “all-season compromise” in the real world.
The data shows a clear pattern: the Pirelli tends to win on core tarmac safety metrics (especially dry braking, wet braking, and aquaplaning resistance) and also dominates efficiency (rolling resistance). The Hankook's counterpunch is winter stopping power and value-often posting the shorter snow braking distances and frequently offering a cheaper cost-per-distance picture-while sometimes matching or beating the Pirelli on subjective dry feel and certain wet cornering/circle metrics.
Conclusion
Across the shared tests, the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 is the more complete all-rounder and the more consistently “top-table” performer. It wins 9 of the 10 shared overall rankings, including decisive victories such as Auto Zeitung 2026 (1st vs 6th) and multiple Auto Bild group tests (often 1st vs mid-pack). The performance reasons repeat: shorter dry stops (e.g., 36.2 m vs 39.4 m in Auto Zeitung 2026; 39.2 m vs 42.6 m in AMS 2026), usually shorter wet braking, and markedly stronger aquaplaning resistance in many tests (e.g., AMS 2026 straight aquaplaning 85.8 vs 80.8 km/h; Camper Van 2025 100.4 vs 88.0 km/h). It also almost always carries lower rolling resistance (often ~5-11% better, and as much as ~18% in the 2024 SUV test), which is a tangible day-to-day ownership benefit.
The Hankook Kinergy 4S2 remains a credible choice, but it's more situational. Its most consistent objective advantage is snow braking (7 category wins), and it can feel satisfyingly stable and engaging in dry handling in some formats-yet the same tire can become contradictory in dynamic snow driving depending on the test (AMS 2026 is the prime example: best snow braking, but slowest snow handling with heavy understeer reported). Add its frequent penalties in noise and rolling resistance, and the Hankook is harder to justify unless price, mileage/value, and snow stopping performance matter more to you than wet/dry braking margins and efficiency. The practical takeaway: if you want the “least compromise” all-season for mixed climates and lots of wet motorway/rain exposure, the SF3 is the safer bet; if your budget is tighter and your winter priority is short snow stops (not necessarily sporty snow handling), the 4S2 can still make sense.
Kinergy 4S2 vs Cinturato All Season SF3: your questions
Is the Hankook Kinergy 4S2 or the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 the better tire?
In the 10 independent tests that ran both tires, the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 finished ahead 9 times and the Kinergy 4S2 once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Kinergy 4S2 scores 8.9 and the Cinturato All Season SF3 9.6 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Kinergy 4S2 or the Cinturato All Season SF3?
The Cinturato All Season SF3 led 31 of the 45 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 2.9% shorter in the wet across 9 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Cinturato All Season SF3 led 15 of the 21 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 7% shorter in the dry across 9 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The Cinturato All Season SF3 led 19 of the 35 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it averaged a 1.4% higher speed on the snow handling course across 5 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Kinergy 4S2 lasted 11.1% longer in the wear tests (3 tests); the Cinturato All Season SF3 had 8.2% lower rolling resistance (8 tests). Owners rate wear 7.6/10 for the Kinergy 4S2 and 7.8/10 for the Cinturato All Season SF3.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
The Cinturato All Season SF3 was 0.5 dB quieter (8 tests). Owners rate comfort 7.3/10 for the Kinergy 4S2 and 7.9/10 for the Cinturato All Season SF3.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Kinergy 4S2 75% from 72 reviews and the Cinturato All Season SF3 84% from 73. 74% of Kinergy 4S2 owners would buy it again, against 80% for the Cinturato All Season SF3.
Which is more expensive?
In the 10 tests that listed prices, the Cinturato All Season SF3 was the dearer tire in 10 of them, by 10.7% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Kinergy 4S2 is made in 96 sizes (14 to 20 inch) and the Cinturato All Season SF3 in 70 (15 to 20 inch). 50 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Kinergy 4S2 is graded B for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Cinturato All Season SF3 A and B.
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Every Hankook vs Pirelli test → All comparisons → Compare three or more tires →
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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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