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Hankook Kinergy 4S2 - Test Results

Test Statistics

31

Tests Completed

4th

Average Position

1st

Best Result

13th

Worst Result

Performance Analysis

Hankook Kinergy 4S2 - Official Image

Across 32 tests the Hankook Kinergy 4S2 is a consistently strong all-season performer with an average finish of 4.7, regularly placing on the podium and winning in difficult, competitive fields. Its standout trait is balanced grip with excellent dry and wet handling, frequently near the top, and dependable snow ability that's usually upper-mid pack to strong. It also shows very competitive wear in several major tests, supporting good value over time. However, it often lags in dry and wet braking relative to its handling prowess and is regularly weak in aquaplaning and rolling resistance, with occasional high noise, limiting efficiency and deep-water safety margins.

Pattern-wise, the tire excels in dynamic control (handling, subjective feel) across sizes and vehicle types, but braking and efficiency trade-offs recur. Multiple recommendations and a test win indicate a high overall standard, but buyers prioritizing short braking distances, aquaplaning reserves, or low fuel use may prefer alternatives.

Performance Strengths
  • Dry Handling Performance Strong
    • 1st place dry handling in 2023 Tire Reviews test (195/65 R15)
    • Highest average speed among all-season tires in 2024 and 2025 Auto Bild SUV/Camper tests (e.g., 114.2 km/h, 2/12 in 2024; 82.7 km/h, 2/11 in 2025)
  • Wet Handling and Wet Braking (overall wet grip) Strong
    • 1st place wet braking and joint 1st wet handling in 2020 Auto Bild SUV (215/60 R16)
    • Top-3 cluster in multiple wet categories: 2022/23 Tire Reviews (2nd wet braking, 2nd wet handling), 2024 Minivan/SUV (3rd wet braking/handling/circle)
  • Snow Performance (balanced) Moderate
    • Strong across all snow tests in 2024 Sport Auto (2nd in snow braking/traction/handling)
    • Upper-mid results in large All Season tests (e.g., 2024 Auto Bild SUV: P3 snow braking, P4 snow handling; 2025 Auto Bild Sports Car: P5 snow braking, P6 snow handling)
  • Wear/Value Longevity Strong
    • 2nd best wear (60,289 km) and strong value (P3) in 2023 Auto Bild (225/45 R17)
    • 2nd wear and abrasion in 2024 ADAC (51,500 km; abrasion P2)
  • Overall Awards/Placings Strong
    • 1st overall in 2022/23 Tire Reviews (225/45 R17)
    • Frequent podiums: 2025 AB Sportscars P2/12, 2024 AB SUV P2/12, 2024 Sport Auto P2/8, 2020 AB SUV P1/13
Performance Weaknesses
  • Dry and Wet Braking Distances Strong
    • Bottom-half dry braking: 2025 AB Sportscars P7/12 (+20.7%); 2025 AB All Season P13/17 (+18.7%)
    • Mid-to-lower wet braking: 2025 AB All Season P13/17 (+16.9%); 2023 AB P15/18 (+15.4%)
  • Aquaplaning Resistance Moderate
    • Straight aquaplaning mid/low: 2025 AB Sportscars P8/12 (+5.5%); 2025 AB All Season P14/17 (+10.8%); 2024 Minivan/SUV P13/14 (+15.6%)
    • Curved aquaplaning often mid/low: 2025 Camper P9/11 (+20.2%); 2024 AB SUV P5/12 (+15.1%)
  • Rolling Resistance / Efficiency Strong
    • High RR: 2025 AB Sportscars P11/12 (+23.9%); 2025 Camper P11/11 (+19.2%); 2024 AB SUV P11/12 (+26.6%)
    • Recurring mid/low RR in historical tests (e.g., 2020 Auto Bild P14/16; 2022/23 TR P7/10)
  • Noise/Comfort Variability Minor
    • Noisy outliers: 2025 AB Sportscars last (69.4 dB, 12/12); 2023 AB 12/18 (73.1 dB)
    • Mixed but sometimes good comfort (e.g., 2025 AB SUV comfort P2/11) indicating inconsistency
Performance Over Time

Test History

2
of 12
2025 Auto Bild Sports Car All Season Tire Test

2025
Winner: Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3

The Hankook Kinergy 4S² proves to be another strong all-rounder with a particular affinity for snow conditions. It offers very good price-performance value, making it an attractive option for budg...
Strong:
Wet Circle
Weak:
Noise, Rolling Resistance
View Test
3
of 13
2025 Autobild SUV All Season Tire Test

2025
Winner: Vredestein Quatrac

The Hankook Kinergy 4S² stands out as a dry-road dynamicist that also cuts an extremely confident figure across snow-covered surfaces. This tire particularly impresses with its sharp, responsive h...
Strong:
Subj. Comfort, Dry Handling
View Test
5
of 17
2025 AutoBild All Season Tire Test

2025
Winner: Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3

The Hankook Kinergy 4S2 presents itself as an all-round talent that consistently hits the sweet spot on every surface type. This tire offers an attractive price-performance ratio, making it an exce...
View Test
6
of 11
2025 Auto Bild All Season Camper Van Tire Test

2025
Winner: Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3

Hankook Kinergy 4S² earns a "good" rating and nearly matches summer tire performance levels in dry handling. It demonstrates good winter characteristics and provides short braking distances on sno...
Strong:
Dry Handling
Weak:
Rolling Resistance
View Test
2
of 8
2024 Sport Auto All Season Tire Test

2024
Winner: Continental AllSeasonContact 2

Very Good.
Strong:
Noise, Snow Braking, Snow Handling, Snow Traction, Wet Braking, Wet Handling
Weak:
Dry Braking
View Test
4
of 7
2024 Auto Express All Season Tire Test

2024
Winner: Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3

The Hankook finished fourth, showing performance better suited to UK conditions with emphasis on wet and dry grip. Snow results were mixed - third in braking, fifth in traction, and fourth in handl...
View Test
2
of 12
2024 Auto Bild SUV All Season Tire Test

2024
Winner: Continental AllSeasonContact 2

Exemplary.
Strong:
Dry Handling, Wet Circle
Weak:
Rolling Resistance
View Test
8
of 14
2024 Minivan / SUV All Season Tire Test

2024
Winner: Michelin CrossClimate 2

Strong:
Dry Handling
Weak:
Rolling Resistance, Straight Aqua
View Test
3
of 16
2024 ADAC All Season Tire Test

2024
Winner: Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen 3

The Hankook Kinergy 4S² tire receives a satisfactory overall safety rating, primarily due to its performance on wet and winter roads. On dry surfaces, it offers good steering feedback, precision, ...
Strong:
Abrasion, Wear
View Test
3
of 9
2023 Auto Zeitung All Season Tire Test

2023
Winner: Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen 3

Older model but performs well on wet and dry roads. Cost-effective, securing a strong third place.
Strong:
Dry Handling, Wet Braking
Weak:
Rolling Resistance
View Test
8
of 18
2023 Auto Bild All Season Tire Test

2023
Winner: Michelin CrossClimate 2

Strong:
Wear, Curved Aquaplaning
Weak:
Fuel Consumption
View Test
13
of 35
2023 All Season Tire 35 Set Shootout

2023
Winner: Bridgestone Turanza All Season 6

View Test
3
of 12
2023 Tire Reviews All Season Tire Test Highly Rec.

2023
Winner: Michelin CrossClimate 2

The Hankook Kinergy 4S2 was the best in dry handling, the best in wet braking, good around the wet handling lap, good in dry braking, and was comfortable. It did lose out in the snow compared to th...
Strong:
Dry Handling, Subj. Dry Handling, Wet Braking
Weak:
Straight Aqua
View Test
3
of 17
2022 Auto Bild All Season Tire Test

2022
Winner: Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen 3

Good.
Strong:
Noise
Weak:
Abrasion
View Test
5
of 37
2022 All Season Tire Market Overview

2022
Winner: Bridgestone Weather Control A005 EVO

View Test
1
of 10
2022/23 Tire Reviews All Season Tire Test Winner

2022

The Hankook Kinergy 4S2 H750 finishes an impressive second in the balanced results, but even more impressively it wins with the mild climate score weighting! The Hankook was just incredibly consist...
Strong:
Dry Braking, Curved Aquaplaning, Straight Aqua, Wet Braking, Wet Handling
View Test
3
of 18
2021 Auto Bild All Season Tire Test

2021
Winner: Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen 3

View Test
4
of 34
2021 All Season Tire Market Overview

2021
Winner: Michelin CrossClimate 2

View Test
5
of 9
2021 AZ All Season Tire Test

2021
Winner: Continental AllSeasonContact

Very safe on snow and dry roads, when it's warm, and even when wet and cold.
Strong:
Dry Braking - Cool, Snow Handling, Price, Straight Aqua
Weak:
Dry Handling, Wet Handling - Cool
View Test
3
of 6
2020 Auto Express All Season Tire Test

2020
Winner: Continental AllSeasonContact

View Test
1
of 13
2020 Auto Bild SUV All Season Tire Test

2020

Strong:
Wet Braking, Wet Handling
View Test
7
of 16
2020 Auto Bild All Season Tire Test

2020
Winner: Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen 3

Strong:
Straight Aqua, Wet Handling
Weak:
Wear
View Test
3
of 33
2020 All Season Tire Market Overview - 32 Tire Braking Test

2020
Winner: Bridgestone Weather Control A005 EVO

View Test
2
of 11
2020 Tire Reviews All Season Tire Test Highly Rec.

2020
Winner: Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Gen 3

The Kinergy 4S2 is a hugely impressive tire with no real weakness.
Strong:
Subj. Comfort, Straight Aqua, Subj. Wet Handling, Wet Braking
View Test
5
of 12
2019 Auto Bild All Season Tire Test

2019
Winner: Michelin CrossClimate Plus

Good.
View Test
5
of 8
2019 ACE GTU All Season Tire Test

2019
Winner: Continental AllSeasonContact

View Test
7
of 11
2019 Auto Express All Season Tire Test

2019
Winner: Goodyear Vector 4 Seasons Gen 2

View Test
8
of 31
2019 All Season Tire Performance Overview

2019
Winner: Bridgestone Weather Control A005

View Test
5
of 12
2018 Auto Bild All Season Tire Test

2018
Winner: Goodyear Vector 4 Seasons Gen 2

Strong:
Noise, Price
Weak:
Wear
View Test
4
of 27
2018 27 All Season Tire Shootout

2018
Winner: Bridgestone Weather Control A005

View Test
5
of 10
7 of the best all season tires

2018
Winner: Michelin CrossClimate Plus

View Test