Tests – · none yet Owners 72 · 6 reviews
Dunlop SP Sport 01 AS looks discontinued: no new owner reviews or road tests in five years and no current EU tyre label.
Head-to-head
Updated
Dunlop SP Sport 01 AS vs Hankook Kinergy 4S2 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews. Based on 0 + 24 road tests and 6 + 3,636 owner reviews. How we score
Too close to call: SP Sport 01 AS 71, Kinergy 4S2 72.
Add your size for an exact match
/R
Both Amazon links then search this exact size.
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
Tests 78 · 24 tests Owners 61 · 3,636 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 16 in 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 (curved aquaplaning)
“Hankook's 3-peak all-season tire, also called all-weather, is finally available from TR, though it had been out awhile now, when it replaced the 4S (4s1?) that was sold in Canada, but not the US. Like all the other 3-peak all-seasons that they carry, TR classifies the 4S2 as grand touring all-season”
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
73
Dry
SP Sport 01 AS +172Why this score
Source SP Sport 01 AS Kinergy 4S2 Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 23 tests ≈ 71 (est.) 82 Reviews found online 76 58 SP Sport 01 AS: 60% × 71.1 (est.) + 40% × 76.2 = 73
Kinergy 4S2: 60% × 82.2 + 40% × 57.5 = 72
No road tests of dry for SP Sport 01 AS. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.40).
-
72
Wet
Kinergy 4S2 +678Why this score
Source SP Sport 01 AS Kinergy 4S2 Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 23 tests ≈ 72 (est.) 85 Reviews found online 73 67 SP Sport 01 AS: 60% × 71.8 (est.) + 40% × 73.3 = 72
Kinergy 4S2: 60% × 85.5 + 40% × 66.7 = 78
No road tests of wet for SP Sport 01 AS. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.56).
-
58
Snow
Kinergy 4S2 +1472Why this score
Source SP Sport 01 AS Kinergy 4S2 Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 18 tests ≈ 63 (est.) 79 Reviews found online 50 63 SP Sport 01 AS: 60% × 63.3 (est.) + 40% × 50.1 = 58
Kinergy 4S2: 60% × 78.6 + 40% × 62.6 = 72
No road tests of snow for SP Sport 01 AS. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.33).
-
73
Comfort
SP Sport 01 AS +370Why this score
Source SP Sport 01 AS Kinergy 4S2 Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 4 tests ≈ 70 (est.) 77 Reviews found online 77 60 SP Sport 01 AS: 60% × 70.4 (est.) + 40% × 76.5 = 73
Kinergy 4S2: 60% × 76.5 + 40% × 60.2 = 70
No road tests of comfort for SP Sport 01 AS. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.
-
–
Noise
No comparison66Why this score
Source SP Sport 01 AS Kinergy 4S2 Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 18 tests – 66 Reviews found online – ≈ 67 (est.) Kinergy 4S2: 60% × 65.6 + 40% × 67.3 (est.) = 66
No owner ratings of noise for Kinergy 4S2. The owner half is the owners’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.
-
72
Treadwear
SP Sport 01 AS +567Why this score
Source SP Sport 01 AS Kinergy 4S2 Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 9 tests ≈ 69 (est.) 71 Reviews found online 77 60 SP Sport 01 AS: 60% × 69 (est.) + 40% × 76.5 = 72
Kinergy 4S2: 60% × 71.2 + 40% × 60.4 = 67
No road tests of treadwear for SP Sport 01 AS. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.31).
-
78
Handling (owners)
SP Sport 01 AS +2157Why this score
Source SP Sport 01 AS Kinergy 4S2 Reviews found online 78 57
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop SP Sport 01 AS | Hankook Kinergy 4S2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 71 | 72 |
| Dry | 73 | 72 |
| Wet | 72 | 78 |
| Snow | 58 | 72 |
| Comfort | 73 | 70 |
| Noise | – | 66 |
| Treadwear | 72 | 67 |
| Handling (owners) | 78 | 57 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip starts at “Important”. Treadwear starts at “Neutral” here: road tests measured it for at most one of the two tires, so it rests on owner reviews. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
71
/ 100
SP Sport 01 AS
72
/ 100
Kinergy 4S2
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
The professional test results behind the scores
Per discipline: the average % of the best tire over every test both tires were in, and how many of those tests each one won. “Different tests” rows compare results from separate tests.
| Discipline | Category | SP Sport 01 AS | Kinergy 4S2 | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #5/10 2014 All Season Tyre Test | #5/16 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | – | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A SP Sport 01 AS
Pros
- Exceptionally quiet, smooth, and comfortable ride quality
- Surprising and reliable traction and handling in deep snow
- Good overall braking and grip performance compared to previous tires
Cons
- Reports of weak sidewalls leading to premature damage
- High cost relative to longevity when durability issues arise
Tire B Kinergy 4S2
Pros
- Exceptional wet weather grip, braking, and aquaplaning resistance
- Strong performance and confidence in cold temperatures, light snow, and slush
- High overall value for money compared to premium tier alternatives
Cons
- Increased road noise and occasional highway 'whining' or howling between 120-140 km/h
- Some reports of faster-than-expected tread wear or uneven inner tread deformation
- Softer sidewalls can induce initial steering delay or a slight floating feel during aggressive cornering
What real owners are saying
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Dunlop SP Sport 01 AS
We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.
Tire B
Mixed
Hankook Kinergy 4S2
Community members frequently view the Hankook Kinergy 4S 2 as a solid, budget-friendly alternative to premium all-weather tires like the Michelin CrossClimate 2, highlighting its strong wet traction and good snow performance for the price. However, users report mixed experiences regarding tread longevity, with some noting rapid or uneven wear, as well as drawbacks such as highway humming noise, a stiff ride, and twitchy handling on ice.
teslamotorsclub.com
·3 upvotes ·2023-12-30
“I've been running the Hankook Kinergy 4S2 all seasons on my M3 for just over a year - great tyres, esp in the wet, although they take a few hundred miles to scrub in (a touch "slippery" until then, so care is needed pulling out of junctions, etc). They placed 2nd behing the CrossClimate 2s in the 2022 all-season tyre test on Tyre Reviews, and were considered better overall in milder, wet conditions (bulk of UK basically!), which is why I chose them over the CC2s. Only had the recent spell of wintry weather to check the snow/ice performance - no issues with snow, but felt twitchy on ice. Supply seems limited this year - only place I've seen them listed in M3 18" size is ATS Euromaster, whereas I could have also got them from Halfords & Kwikfit last year.”
r/TyreReviews
·3 upvotes ·2025-10-15
“Hankook Kinergy 4S2 vs Continental AllSeasonContact 2 For the past 3 years I have been using the Hankook Kinergy 4S2 195/55R15 and I am super happy with them, but a little over 50,000km in it is time to get new shoes this winter. I have driven in snow and they felt quite ok. Now I am looking to either get them again since I enjoyed them, or try the Continental AllSeasonContact 2 - but they only come in 185/55R15. I have read that narrower tires are better in the snow - most of the driving I do is on maintained roads but we do go into the mountains for a few weekends through winter usuallly. First of all, are the Continental a big step up from the Hankooks, like-for-like? Secondly, would the width difference be a significant factor in snow performance gain or dry/wet performance loss? And if it is better to have the narrower tire, would the Hankook in 185/55R15 be still a reasonable move from my current 195/55? Price-wise: Continental AllSeasonContact 2 185/55 R15 - 100Eur Hankook Kinergy 4S2 185/55 R15 - 79Eur Hankook Kinergy 4S2 195/55 R15 - 84Eur Cheers :) Read more”
r/mercedes_benz
·8 upvotes ·2026-09-06
“Tire recommendations E-class Hi all, I've been enjoying my first E-class for a couple months now. The only thing that has been bothering me is the loud noise the tires make at about 130 kph. I've ruled everything out so I'm really certain it is just the tires. They are hankook kinergy 4s2 h750 all seasons, so a bit of noise is to be expected but these really make a loud humming noise at highway speeds. Does anyone have recommendation for quiet all season tires? They do need to have the 3pmsf certifaction. My sizes are front: 245/40 R19 & back: 275/35 R19. Read more”
Top themes
#Affordable CrossClimate alternative#Wet weather traction#Snow and winter performance#Tread wear longevity#Cabin road noise#Ride stiffness and comfort
Based on 33 community posts
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Dunlop SP Sport 01 AS | B · Hankook Kinergy 4S2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All Season | All Season |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | — | 95 |
| Rim diameters | — | 14″ – 20″ |
Which one should you actually buy?
71
/ 100
Dunlop SP Sport 01 AS
72
/ 100
Hankook Kinergy 4S2
Too close to call: Dunlop SP Sport 01 AS and Hankook Kinergy 4S2 are within 2 points overall. Dunlop SP Sport 01 AS is stronger on handling, treadwear and comfort. Hankook Kinergy 4S2 is stronger on snow and wet. Dunlop SP Sport 01 AS rests on little evidence so far (0 tests, 6 reviews), so read this result as provisional.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Dunlop SP Sport 01 AS scores 78 vs 57 on handling.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Hankook Kinergy 4S2 scores 72 vs 58 on snow.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Hankook Kinergy 4S2 scores 78 vs 72 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Dunlop SP Sport 01 AS scores 72 vs 67 on treadwear.
Tire A · Dunlop SP Sport 01 AS
Tire B · Hankook Kinergy 4S2
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
SP Sport 01 AS or Kinergy 4S2?
Which is better in the wet, SP Sport 01 AS or Kinergy 4S2?
Hankook Kinergy 4S2, 78 vs 72 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, SP Sport 01 AS or Kinergy 4S2?
Neither, by our numbers: 73 vs 72 on the dry score, within 3 points.
Which is better in snow, SP Sport 01 AS or Kinergy 4S2?
Hankook Kinergy 4S2, 72 vs 58 on our snow score.
Which is more comfortable, SP Sport 01 AS or Kinergy 4S2?
Dunlop SP Sport 01 AS, 73 vs 70 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, SP Sport 01 AS or Kinergy 4S2?
Dunlop SP Sport 01 AS, 72 vs 67 on our treadwear score.
How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements), each result compared with every other tire in the same test and newer tests counting more. 40% comes from owner reviews found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates. Both use one scale: the average tested tire gets 70, the best 100. When a tire has only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from the other and the score stays closer to average; with no road test and fewer than five owner reviews it gets no score yet.
Handling is the exception: road tests measure it inside the dry and wet scores, so its own row comes from owner ratings only and starts as less important.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score. Full methodology