Hankook Ventus Prime 4 vs Vredestein Ultrac
- TR Score
- 8.8/10
- Owners say
- 82% · 97
- TR Score
- 8.7/10
- Owners say
- 78% · 24
In the 9 independent tests that ran both tires, the Hankook Ventus Prime 4 finished ahead 7 times and the Ultrac twice. The Ventus Prime 4 lasted 68% longer in the wear tests; the Ultrac held 19.5% more grip in curved aquaplaning.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose Hankook Ventus Prime 4 for the best all-round road safety (shorter stopping), long mileage, and lower running costs. Pick Vredestein Ultrac if you frequently face heavy rain, standing water or prioritize high-speed wet stability and aquaplaning resistance in warmer climates.
Where the Ventus Prime 4 is stronger
- Consistently shorter dry and wet braking across most tests
- Low rolling resistance and strong fuel efficiency
- Excellent wear and abrasion performance, leading to lower total cost
Where the Ultrac is stronger
- Outstanding straight and curved aquaplaning resistance
- Confident wet handling feel in several tests
- Competitive dry dynamics with precise steering
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.
Ventus Prime 4 vs Ultrac at a glance
| Category | Ventus Prime 4 | Gap | Ultrac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won9 shared tests | 7 | 2 | |
| Dry16 measurements | 14 | The Ventus Prime 4 stopped 1.2% shorter in the dry (9 tests) | 2 |
| Wet33 measurements | 13 | The Ultrac held 19.5% more grip in curved aquaplaning (5 tests) | 19 |
| Comfort8 measurements | 5 | 1 | |
| Value11 measurements | 10 | The Ventus Prime 4 lasted 68% longer in the wear tests (3 tests) | 1 |
| Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 8.8/10 | The Ventus Prime 4 by 0.1 | 8.7/10 |
| Owner rating97 and 24 reviews | 82% | The Ventus Prime 4 by 4 points | 78% |
| Would buy againshare of owners | 73% | The Ultrac by 10 points | 83% |
| Pricein the 6 tests that listed prices | Cheaper | The Ultrac was dearer in 4 of 6 | +3.8% |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 66 | 47 sizes made in both | 65 |
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 9 tests, 2022 to 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 | Ventus Prime 4 | Field | Ultrac |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Summer and All Season Combined Tire Test | P6 of 14 | P9 of 14 | |
| 2024 Motorhome Summer Tire Test | P3 of 10 | P7 of 10 | |
| 2024 AutoBild Summer Tire Test | P7 of 20 | P20 of 20 | |
| 2024 ADAC Summer Tire Test | P8 of 16 | P16 of 16 | |
| 2024 Summer Tire Market Overview | P4 of 55 | P3 of 55 | |
| 2023 Motor Summer Tire Test | P7 of 8 | P6 of 8 | |
| Tire Reviews Best Summer Touring Tires | P7 of 13 | P9 of 13 | |
| 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tire Test | P2 of 21 | P14 of 21 | |
| 2022 Summer Tire Market Overview | P2 of 50 | P3 of 50 |
Performance profile
14 measurements from the 9 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Ventus Prime 4
Ultrac
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 92%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 6 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Ventus Prime 4
Ultrac
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
Ventus Prime 4
Ultrac
Not ahead in any category
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Ventus Prime 4 82% from 97 reviews and the Ultrac 78% from 24. 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 | Ventus Prime 4 | Gap | Ultrac | Wins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 119 | 1.2% | 121 | 8-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 53.99 | 1.1% | 54.6 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 60 | 0.3% | 59.8 | 2-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 9.2% | scored | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 124 | 1.8% | 127 | 7-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 128 | 7.2% | 119 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 83.82 | 1.7% | 82.34 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 44.9 | 0.6% | 45.2 | 2-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 3.6% | scored | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 14.1 | 2.9% | 14.5 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 11.71 | 0.3% | 11.74 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 49.5 | 4.9% | 51.8 | 1-6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 17.4 | 19.5% | 19.7 | 0-5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | = | scored | 0-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | = | scored | 0-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 70.37 | 0.4 dB | 70.72 | 5-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 24,223 | 68% | 14,457 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 6.76 | 7.4% | 7.31 | 5-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 5.7 | 3.4% | 5.9 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 58.7 | 42.8% | 102.7 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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 Ventus Prime 4 scores 8.8 and the Ultrac 8.7 out of 10.
| Ventus Prime 4 | Category | Ultrac | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 82 | Dry | 75 | ||
| 71 | Wet | 89 | ||
| 27 | Comfort | 52 | ||
| 80 | Value | 18 | ||
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
| Ventus Prime 4 | Category | Ultrac | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.8 | Dry Grip | 8.3 | ||
| 8.3 | Wet Grip | 8.1 | ||
| 8.1 | Road Feedback | 7.5 | ||
| 8.2 | Handling | 7.6 | ||
| 7.8 | Wear | 6.4 | ||
| 8 | Comfort | 8 | ||
Owners rate the Ventus Prime 4 82% from 97 reviews and the Ultrac 78% from 24. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Hankook Ventus Prime 4
- 82%from 97 reviews
- 73%would buy again
- 1,056,322 milesdriven by reviewers
Owners rate the Hankook Ventus Prime 4 highly overall (average 80.7%), most often praising its strong dry grip and confident, predictable dry handling, backed up by a comfortable, generally quiet ride. Wet grip is also widely seen as secure for a touring tire, with many calling it reassuring in heavy rain, though a minority report some instability or weaker aquaplaning resistance. The main recurring drawback is longevity: wear and performance consistency split opinion, with around one in four owners mentioning tread life and around one in ten saying grip drops off noticeably as the tire wears, sometimes accompanied by increased noise.
- Strong dry grip with plenty of traction
- Excellent dry handling and confidence in corners
- Comfortable, compliant ride quality
- Generally low road noise for a touring tire
- Tread life can be disappointing for some drivers
- Grip drops off as the tire wears
- Road noise can be noticeable on some surfaces
Summarised by AI from 87 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 97 Ventus Prime 4 reviewsNo complaints on Wet or Dry grip for everyday driving. It was a 2025 tire with 12k miles had to deal with a full blowout while driving. From a tropical climate with 99% indoor parking.
Vredestein Ultrac
- 78%from 24 reviews
- 83%would buy again
- 311,516 milesdriven by reviewers
Most drivers rate the Vredestein Ultrac highly, praising its confident wet grip (including aquaplaning resistance), solid dry performance, and comfortable, quiet ride. Handling is described as predictable and safe, with several noting good value versus premium rivals. A minority report faster-than-expected tread wear, and a few mention noise or steering feel, but these are less common. Overall sentiment skews positive given the high number of strong reviews.
- wet grip and aquaplaning resistance
- comfortable ride
- dry grip
- predictable handling/steering
- faster tread wear for some users
Summarised by AI from 20 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 24 Ultrac reviewsThese tires came as stock on my Audi A1. After 40,000 miles and 2 years I have replaced 3 corners with what was my preferred tire, but the rear drivers side still has 4mm of tread left, whereas the rear passenger (this tire) has 3mm left after 1 year and 18k. I would definitely buy these again
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tire: 66 sizes of the Ventus Prime 4 and 65 of the Ultrac, 47 of them made in both.
| Category | Ventus Prime 4 | Ultrac |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Summer | Summer |
| Sizes made | 66 sizes, 15 to 20 inch | 65 sizes, 15 to 21 inch |
| Made in both | 47 sizes 195/50 R15195/55 R15195/45 R16195/50 R16195/55 R16195/60 R16205/45 R16205/50 R16205/55 R16205/60 R16205/65 R16215/45 R16and 35 more | |
| EU label wet grip | A88%B12% | A85%B15% |
| EU label rolling resistance | B47%C39%A14% | C46%A26%B26%D2% |
| EU label noise | 68-71 dB A52%B48% | 69-71 dB B89%A11% |
| On the market since | - | 2020 |
| Replaced | Hankook Ventus Prime 3 K125 | - |
| Replaced by | - | Vredestein Ultrac Cento |
| Awards | Winner: Summer Tire of the Year (WhatTire, 2023) | - |
| Price in the shared tests | The Ultrac was the dearer tire in 4 of the 6 tests that listed prices, by 3.8% 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.
This head-to-head pitches the Hankook Ventus Prime 4, a premium-touring summer tire, against the Vredestein Ultrac, a high-performance summer option, across seven shared tests from 2023-2025. While both target safe, composed road manners, they approach performance differently: Hankook majors on balanced capability, efficiency and value; Vredestein leans into dynamic feel and strong aquaplaning security.
Across the dataset, Hankook generally stops shorter in the dry and wet, scores higher overall more often (5 test wins to 2), and brings notably better wear and rolling resistance. Vredestein counters with class-leading resistance in deeper water and confident wet handling feel in several tests. The result is a clear divergence: everyday safety and cost-of-ownership versus wet-weather confidence at speed and aquaplaning headroom.
Conclusion
Patterns across multiple sizes show the Ventus Prime 4 as the more rounded performer: consistently shorter dry and wet braking, competitive handling, lower rolling resistance, far superior tread life (up to ~70-80% advantage in ADAC/AutoBild wear), and stronger value scores. Its weaknesses are mainly aquaplaning resistance and occasionally higher external noise. For most drivers, that blend of stopping power, efficiency and longevity is the safer, cheaper long-term bet.
The Ultrac's case is clear if your priority is wet stability at speed and aquaplaning security: it repeatedly tops straight and curved aquaplaning and can feel more confident in subjective wet handling, though results swing by test. However, it pays for that with higher rolling resistance, shorter mileage, and, in some tests, longer wet braking. In warm climates with frequent heavy rain or where high-speed wet composure matters, the Ultrac fits well; for broad everyday use, the Hankook is the smarter all-round choice.
Ventus Prime 4 vs Ultrac: your questions
Is the Hankook Ventus Prime 4 or the Vredestein Ultrac the better tire?
In the 9 independent tests that ran both tires, the Hankook Ventus Prime 4 finished ahead 7 times and the Ultrac twice. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Ventus Prime 4 scores 8.8 and the Ultrac 8.7 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Ventus Prime 4 or the Ultrac?
The Ultrac led 19 of the 33 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it held 19.5% more grip in curved aquaplaning across 5 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Ventus Prime 4 led 14 of the 16 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 1.2% shorter in the dry across 9 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Ventus Prime 4 lasted 68% longer in the wear tests (3 tests) and had 7.4% lower rolling resistance (6 tests). Owners rate wear 7.8/10 for the Ventus Prime 4 and 6.4/10 for the Ultrac.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 8/10 for the Ventus Prime 4 and 8/10 for the Ultrac.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Ventus Prime 4 82% from 97 reviews and the Ultrac 78% from 24. 73% of Ventus Prime 4 owners would buy it again, against 83% for the Ultrac.
Which is more expensive?
In the 6 tests that listed prices, the Ultrac was the dearer tire in 4 of them, by 3.8% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Ventus Prime 4 is made in 66 sizes (15 to 20 inch) and the Ultrac in 65 (15 to 21 inch). 47 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Ventus Prime 4 is graded A for wet grip and B for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Ultrac A 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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