Hankook Kinergy 4S2 Reviews - Page 4

Incredibly surprised for being a four-season tire, which I was always kind of against, but since they were on the car when I got it and were still pretty good (4y/o but plenty of tread, the car wasn't driven much in that period) I decided to keep them and test them. I recently started working in the testing dept. of a big tire brand in Italy so that was a good chance to acknowledge me more to my job.
I 10 months of ownership I drove 15.000 km in my '99 BMW E39 528i on the Hankook's and the general feedback of the tire-car package is very positive. I already knew the E39, having had another one right before this one, so I knew the level of comfort this car can bring when driven in its favorite habitat: the highway. Well, the Kinergy 4S2 just enhanced this, it's like the cherry on top. I normally drive at 2.3 bar (33 psi - the highest pressure allowed) and my usage is 90% highway, 10% flowy, medium-fast road, so the perfect environment for the car. On the highway, the sound coming from the tire, if not completely absent, can be considered almost nonexistent when mixed with some wind noise and the good deadening equipment of the car (radio turned off). Rolling resistance is also pretty low, allowing me a 12km/l (yes, not crazy low but it's a 1500 kg car with a pretty big engine). Despite riding on the highest pressure allowed, the tire seems to absorb any imperfection of the road in a very gentle way, thanks to it's high, soft sidewall. At 33 psi you can still see a pronounced curvature on the wall. Cornering on mildly fast roads is happily taken by the tire, giving a very good balanced behavior, not oversteery, not understeery, just steady. Very fun.
In June I took the car to the Nurburgring and drove 4 laps, let's say as spirited as I could with traction controll off.
I lowered the pressure to 1.6 bar (23 psi). It was maybe a little too low for the weight of the car. Here is where you could really see and feel the softness of the sidewall: it bended lots on the tighter corners, the car was rolling.. but it stayed. Again, no oversteer if not asked, and no understeer at all. You felt the body rolling, but as soon as it reached the maximum, after that fraction of a second, it stayed there and let the tires do the job, clean and precise in turning the car. Always keep in mind we're talking 4-season tires, obviously.
I still never got to drive them on snow or ice, and very little in the rain, where I always stay cautious. Only once, it was raining and I was in a tunnel. Towards the end of a pretty long tunnel, to be precise, to both the asphalt and the tires were pretty dry already. On a medium right hander, one you can easily take in 5th gear with slight braking, the car just lost the back. I wasn't racing, but it was night and I was driving back home in the empty road. that's when you go a little over the speed limit, but not "fast", to give you an idea. Really, I was just going with the flow, enjoying some good driving but nothing crazy. If I did't have the controls on, I would've crashed. that was the only time these tires really let me down for a second.
Overall, the feedback is very positive for an all-around tire, I'm happy with it. It's something I wouldn't have personally chosen and I will later switch to 18's and more performance-oriented tires, but I will keep a good memory of the Hankook's. Will probably buy another set of them in 16" as a winter tire as we don't get any more snow here. Hope this was helpful for someone!

Got these for the winter season as I live in a country with mild winters. I was reluctant to get all seasons initially, but after some woeful experiences with the BMW-homologated Pirelli Snowcontrol 3 that came with the car, I figured it probably can't get any worse anyway.
These tires are some of the most decent, uncompromising I've ever had - they do exactly what you expect them to, regardless of conditions. I've driven them up to 210 km/h on the Autobahn and felt just as safe as with summer tires, drove them in snow and felt like I had more grip than the previous Pirelli winters and their performance in the wet is more than fine. They're a bit soft and squealy on the limit, but that's something to be expected of tires that bridge the gap between winter and summer tires. You can still have fun with them if you want to, but I haven't felt unsafe driving with them at any point.
The only other downside would be a certain humming at around 70-90 km/h, akin to what winter tires would do at around the same speed. They're quieter than winters overall, though. Would most likely buy them again, especially considering how good they are in terms of value for money.

For an idea of the climate they're operating in, I live in Dublin, Ireland so plenty of rain and mild temperatures for most of the year with some low temperatures and snow/ice around January/February.

I previously had 205/55R16 4S2s fitted to a mk2 1.4 Focus, and absolutely loved them in all weathers including ice and snow. When it came time to replace the front tires on my Mk3.5 1.5TDCi Focus, I decided to upsize from the 16s that also came on the car to 17x7J wheels all round, as I didn't like the sidewall flex on the 16s.
I went with 225/45R17s rather than Ford's recommended 215/50R17s, as the 215s were much harder to come by and were more expensive. They have absolutely transformed the car compared to the 16" Davanti DX390s that came with it. Even with the slightly wider than recommended fitment, the turn in is almost instant, with very little hesitation. When they begin to let go they do so gradually, without any judder, and they're exceptionally easy to reel back in, wet or dry. They inspire a lot of confidence that when things go wrong, it won't be catastrophic and will guide you back onto line once a bit of speed has bled off.
Compared to the Davantis they're replacing, road noise is much reduced, and even despite the much smaller sidewall, comfort hasn't been affected too negatively. I've noticed much less road noise at all speeds, and the car settles down much more quickly over bumps. There's certainly more road feel through the seat and wheel, but I wouldn't class it as less comfortable since it doesn't tend to wallow the way it did before.
I've also noticed that, due to the stiffer sidewall, it doesn't scrape the deflectors in front of the front wheels over speed ramps anywhere near as easily as it did previously, but this might be more to do with the size change than the tire change.
If things carry on as they are, I fully intend to keep these tires and based off previous experience, I would recommend them to anyone who wants their run-of-the-mill car to perform well in all weathers!

Second review of the tires now into 2 years of ownership.

Just driven back from West Wales during the start of storm Ciaran. Tires are down to 5mm on the fronts and 6mm on the rear. That's on about 18k mileage.

Still inspire so much confidence in these wet UK weather conditions dealing with standing water, spray and the deluge of rain. So much so that I could concentrate on driving, safe in the knowledge of the tires just working.

As JB has said in his first and second review of all season tires they are an ideal pick for the UK autumn winter climate. I never fret coming into autumn and winter with these on my car.

And on top of that great comfort and perform well in dry and summer conditions.

Not driven them in much snow but I'd be happy to drive on them to Scotland or any other European ski resort.

Car is a Seat Leon 1.4 Act so not high performance, but these tires make this a great all rounder for my family.