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Head-to-head Updated

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ vs Hankook Kinergy 4S2 — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 5 + 27 road tests and 6 + 3,669 owner reviews. How we score

UltraGrip 9+ is ahead, 76–70

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Goodyear UltraGrip 9+
Tire AGoodyear

UltraGrip 9+

Winter

± 6

Tests 75 · 5 tests Owners 79 · 6 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 16 in 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test (ice braking)

Hankook Kinergy 4S2
Tire BHankook

Kinergy 4S2

All Season

± 4

Tests 78 · 27 tests Owners 60 · 3,669 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 16 in 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 (curved aquaplaning)

“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”

Category by category

Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.

  1. 67

    Dry

    Kinergy 4S2 +5
    72
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip 9+Kinergy 4S2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 26 tests6083
    Reviews found online7956

    UltraGrip 9+: 60% × 59.8 + 40% × 78.8 = 67

    Kinergy 4S2: 60% × 82.9 + 40% × 56 = 72

  2. 85

    Wet

    UltraGrip 9+ +7
    78
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip 9+Kinergy 4S2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 26 tests8687
    Reviews found online8365

    UltraGrip 9+: 60% × 86.3 + 40% × 83.1 = 85

    Kinergy 4S2: 60% × 86.8 + 40% × 64.8 = 78

  3. 80

    Snow

    UltraGrip 9+ +8
    72
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip 9+Kinergy 4S2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 21 tests8579
    Reviews found online7461

    UltraGrip 9+: 60% × 84.7 + 40% × 73.7 = 80

    Kinergy 4S2: 60% × 78.6 + 40% × 60.9 = 72

  4. 75

    Comfort

    UltraGrip 9+ +14
    61
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip 9+Kinergy 4S2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 7 tests7672
    Reviews found online7454

    UltraGrip 9+: 40% × 75.7 + 60% × 74 = 75

    Kinergy 4S2: 40% × 71.5 + 60% × 54.3 = 61

  5. 69

    Noise

    UltraGrip 9+ +6
    63
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip 9+Kinergy 4S2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 21 tests7162
    Reviews found online≈ 66 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)

    UltraGrip 9+: 60% × 70.5 + 40% × 66.3 (est.) = 69

    Kinergy 4S2: 60% × 61.6 + 40% × 66.3 (est.) = 63

    No owner ratings of noise for UltraGrip 9+ or Kinergy 4S2. The owner half is the owners’ average (66): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.

  6. 76

    Treadwear

    UltraGrip 9+ +9
    67
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip 9+Kinergy 4S2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 10 tests7272
    Reviews found online8260

    UltraGrip 9+: 60% × 71.5 + 40% × 81.6 = 76

    Kinergy 4S2: 60% × 72.5 + 40% × 59.6 = 67

  7. 74

    Handling (owners)

    UltraGrip 9+ +18
    56
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip 9+Kinergy 4S2
    Reviews found online7456
  8. 78

    Efficiency

    UltraGrip 9+ +27
    51
    Why this score
    SourceUltraGrip 9+Kinergy 4S2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 21 tests7851
Scores at a glance
CategoryGoodyear UltraGrip 9+Hankook Kinergy 4S2
Relative Score 76 70
Dry 67 72
Wet 85 78
Snow 80 72
Comfort 75 61
Noise 69 63
Treadwear 76 67
Handling (owners) 74 56
Efficiency 78 51

Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.

Weight the categories that matter to you

Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.

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Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score
± 6

UltraGrip 9+

± 4

Kinergy 4S2

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.

DisciplineCategoryUltraGrip 9+Kinergy 4S2ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 92% #13/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test 92% #6/9 · 2026 AMS All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 – Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 98% #9/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test 99% #3/9 · 2026 AMS All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 – Different tests
Dry Handling (tester's mark) Dry 80% #5/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test 90% #2/9 · 2026 AMS All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 – Different tests
Curved Aquaplaning Wet 97% #4/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test 82% #6/9 · 2026 AMS All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 98% #2/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test 94% #4/9 · 2026 AMS All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 95% #4/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test 93% #7/9 · 2026 AMS All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 – Different tests
Wet Braking (concrete) Wet 91% #9/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test 91% #12/16 · 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 99% #3/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test 97% #8/9 · 2026 AMS All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 – Different tests
Wet Handling (tester's mark) Wet 50% #7/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test 70% #6/9 · 2026 AMS All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 – Different tests
Ice Braking Snow 100% #1/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test 92% #11/16 · 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 – Different tests
Snow Braking Snow 100% #2/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test 100% #1/9 · 2026 AMS All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 – Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 97% #4/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test 96% #9/9 · 2026 AMS All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 – Different tests
Snow Handling (tester's mark) Snow 90% #3/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test 60% #9/9 · 2026 AMS All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 – Different tests
Snow Traction Snow 97% #7/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test 96% #4/9 · 2026 AMS All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 – Different tests
Comfort (tester's mark) Comfort 100% #2/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test 78% #5/9 · 2026 AMS All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 – Different tests
Noise Noise 99% #5/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test 98% #9/9 · 2026 AMS All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 – Different tests
Abrasion Treadwear 69% #11/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test 82% #6/10 · 2026 Auto Zeitung All Season Tyre Test – Different tests
Wear Treadwear 78% #6/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test 85% #6/10 · 2026 Auto Zeitung All Season Tyre Test – Different tests
Fuel Consumption Efficiency 98% #3/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test 96% #7/16 · 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 96% #2/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test 86% #9/9 · 2026 AMS All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 77% #4/10 · 2021 AMS Winter Tyre Test 74% #3/12 · 2024 Minivan / SUV All Season Tyre Test – Different tests
Total Cost of Ownership Cost #7/20 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test #7/15 2025 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test – Different tests
Value Cost 79% #10/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 89% #4/10 · 2026 Auto Zeitung All Season Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #3/16 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test #7/9 2026 AMS All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 – Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A UltraGrip 9+

Pros

  • Strong cold-weather and wet grip, with one owner describing wet grip at 0–10°C as feeling as sure-footed as in the dry
  • Capable snow and ice performance in the conditions reported, including hill climbs past stranded vehicles and handling of icy rural roads
  • Comfortable and quiet on the road, with some noise noted only on concrete surfaces; one reviewer found it quieter than a Nokian WRD4

Cons

  • Long-term durability is largely unproven, as reviewers had covered only about 1,000 to 8,000 km and several said it was too early to judge wear
  • Snow and ice performance was not tested extensively, since mild winters or limited exposure meant some owners could not comment on severe conditions
  • Snow traction was reported as not matching a Nokian WRD4 in one second-hand comparison
All owner themes in the UltraGrip 9+ review

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
All owner themes in the Kinergy 4S2 review

What real owners are saying

From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score

Tire A

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+

We haven't collected enough community discussion about this tire yet.

Tire B

Hankook Kinergy 4S2

Mixed

The Hankook Kinergy 4S2 is widely regarded as a good-value 3PMSF all-weather tire, often recommended as a cheaper alternative to the Michelin CrossClimate 2 thanks to strong wet performance and good independent test results. Complaints include a stiff ride, highway road noise, fast or uneven tread wear, and weaker snow and ice grip for some owners. Several users noted that ice performance wasn't tested and that it suits milder, wet climates best.

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”
subaruoutback.org ·3 upvotes ·2022-11-09

“I had the Kinergy 4s2 tires and they were not good. They wore unevenly, especially on the outsides of the fronts and handling was poor. When cornering the tire felt like the sidewall was folding under which would explain the increased wear on the outside tread block of the tires . The alignment was verified to be perfect. Go with the CC2 or anything Nokian . I ran some old Nokian WRG2s and was very impressed. Id imagine the latest versions are also very good.”
r/KiaNiroEV ·2 upvotes ·2026-01-20

“New Tyres - Kia dealership recommend Hankook Kinergy 4S 2 H750 215/55R17 98W Just had my 40,000 service at my local Kia dealership for my ‘22 E Niro. I am going to get my tyres changed elsewhere to save a few £££’s but am just wondering if the Hankooks are a good tyre? I am looking at around £140-160 per tyre and wondering if this is a good tyre for the price or if anyone has better suggestion for similar price or cheaper?”
Top themes
#Value vs CrossClimate 2#Wet traction#Snow and ice grip#Tread wear concerns#Ride comfort stiffness#Road noise#Tyre Reviews test results#EV and range use

Based on 34 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ B · Hankook Kinergy 4S2
CategoryWinterAll Season
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available1995
Rim diameters14″ – 16″14″ – 20″
UTQG—500 A A
Sizes in common1717

Which one should you actually buy?

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+

Hankook Kinergy 4S2

Winner: Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ — better efficiency, handling and comfort. Pick the Hankook Kinergy 4S2 if dry matters most to you.

Pick tire A You want lower fuel or energy use

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ scores 78 vs 51 on efficiency.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ scores 74 vs 56 on handling.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ scores 75 vs 61 on comfort.

Pick tire A You want the longest tread life

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ scores 76 vs 67 on treadwear.

Tire A · Goodyear UltraGrip 9+
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Hankook Kinergy 4S2
Check price on Amazon

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UltraGrip 9+ or Kinergy 4S2?

Which is better in the wet, UltraGrip 9+ or Kinergy 4S2?

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+, 85 vs 78 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, UltraGrip 9+ or Kinergy 4S2?

Hankook Kinergy 4S2, 72 vs 67 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, UltraGrip 9+ or Kinergy 4S2?

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+, 80 vs 72 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, UltraGrip 9+ or Kinergy 4S2?

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+, 69 vs 63 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, UltraGrip 9+ or Kinergy 4S2?

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+, 75 vs 61 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, UltraGrip 9+ or Kinergy 4S2?

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+, 76 vs 67 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, UltraGrip 9+ or Kinergy 4S2?

Goodyear UltraGrip 9+, 78 vs 51 on our efficiency 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