The Hankook name has been in place since 1953, but the company was originally founded in 1941 as the Chosun Tire Company, making it Korea’s first. Hankook was an early adopter of radial tires and grew to the point where it constructed the first large-scale tire production facility in Daejeon, Korea, ahead of Hankook’s arrival in the United States in the early 1980s.
Fresh off its 80th anniversary, Hankook remains a leader in radial tire production with an emphasis on providing quality at value pricing. The bulk of the Hankook line-up is in all-season, performance and track day tires for cars but its selection for pickups, crossovers and SUVs has grown impressively. As with all tires, check your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations for sizes and load ratings before buying.
- Kinergy-ST : Best Hankook Standard Touring All-Season
- Dynapro HP2 : Best Hankook Pickup/CUV/SUV Touring All-Season
- Ventus V2 concept2 : Best Hankook High Performance All-Season
- Dynapro AT2 : Best Hankook On/Off-Road All-Terrain
- Ventus R-S4 : Best Hankook Extreme Performance Summer
The Kinergy-ST is a balanced all-season tire optimized for daily driving in nearly all conditions. Tread patterns prolong tire life and enhance stability while open shoulder slots aid hydroplaning resistance. The Kinergy-ST can even handle some light snowy conditions if called upon. The Kinergy-ST is offered with a six-year/70,000-mile warranty, along with a one-year warranty against road hazards.
- Comfortable ride
- Great long-term treadwear performance
- Good in wet conditions
- Not as good in wintery conditions as wet
- Some buyers report efficiency loss
- Expect lifespan closer to 40,000 miles
The Dynapro HP2 is a versatile tire for pickups, CUVs and SUVs. Whether the application is as a simple replacement for a daily driver or a plus-size option for something with a lift, the Dynapro HP2 provides smooth, reliable all-season performance at multiple inflation pressures and under a variety of loads, including in light snow. The Dynapro HP2 is offered with a six-year/65,000-mile workmanship and materials warranty, with a one-year warranty if there are uniformity issues.
- Versatile in applications
- Good daily performance
- Good in wet conditions
- Not as good in wintry conditions
- Drivers report high noise levels
- Reported shoulder wear around 20,000-30,000 miles
The Ventus V2 concept2 is for drivers of sports cars and performance sedans, offering a blend of capability, styling and all-season traction. The concept2’s silica-enhanced tread compound combines all-season grip with lower rolling resistance to aid in fuel economy. This is an ideal tire for drivers who want greater dry traction than a standard all-season tire but still want the flexibility to drive safely throughout the winter. The Ventus V2 concept2 has a six-year/45,000-mile treadlife warranty, six-year workmanship and materials warranty and one-year uniformity and road hazard warranties.
- Comfortable in dry conditions
- Good treadwear
- Buyers praise handling feel
- Not as good in wet
- Some noise complaints
- Wear evenly, but can wear quickly
The Dynapro AT2 is made for drivers of pickups and SUVs who do some off-roading but also need a competent tire for daily driving. While elements of the AT2 improve fuel economy, this tire is meant to resist cuts and chips on rough surfaces. The edges of the AT2’s independent tread blocks find extra grip off-road and in the snow. The AT2’s three-ply casing resists puncture and damage. While not a purebred off-road or winter tire, the AT2 gives you enough to get off the beaten path and provide more comfort when you’re back on the road. Warranties for the Dynapro AT2 include a six-year/60,000-mile treadlife, six-year workmanship and materials, and one-year uniformity and road hazard.
- Good steering feel
- Decent snow traction
- Overall value
- Could be better in the wet
- Traction issues in mud, wet grass
- Some drivers report noise
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The Ventus R-S4 is ideal for performance vehicles and drivers who autocross, drift, or participate in track events. Developed with steering input, lateral grip and durability in mind, the Ventus R-S4 can go from the highway to the track and back in comfort and style. The Ventus R-S4 is offered with a six-year workmanship and materials warranty along with a one-year uniformity warranty. Keep in mind the warranties may not apply if damage results from competition racing or track usage.
- Fast even among high-dollar competitors
- Impressive wear
- Great value
- Noisy
- A bit vague at highway speeds
- Can be a bit eager to rotate
METHODOLOGY
In order to determine the best Hankook tires, we considered the products most accessible to the widest swath of consumers in the U.S., which also includes performance, price and value. We also considered a broad range of end-user ratings and evaluations by multiple testers.