Head-to-head Updated

Hankook Kinergy 4S 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 3 + 24 road tests and 13 + 3,636 owner reviews. How we score

Kinergy 4S2 leads, 71–67 Narrow edge

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Hankook Kinergy 4S
Tire AHankook

Kinergy 4S

All Season

Tests 67 · 3 tests Owners 67 · 13 reviews

Best test result: #3 of 11 in 2017 All Season VS Winter Tyre Test (dry braking)

Hankook Kinergy 4S2
Tire BHankook

Kinergy 4S2

All Season

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.

  1. 68

    Dry

    Kinergy 4S2 +4
    72
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4SKinergy 4S2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 23 tests7082
    Reviews found online6658

    Kinergy 4S: 60% × 69.7 + 40% × 65.6 = 68

    Kinergy 4S2: 60% × 82.2 + 40% × 57.5 = 72

  2. 72

    Wet

    Kinergy 4S2 +6
    78
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4SKinergy 4S2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 23 tests7485
    Reviews found online6967

    Kinergy 4S: 60% × 73.8 + 40% × 68.7 = 72

    Kinergy 4S2: 60% × 85.5 + 40% × 66.7 = 78

  3. 69

    Snow

    Kinergy 4S2 +3
    72
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4SKinergy 4S2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 18 tests6679
    Reviews found online7363

    Kinergy 4S: 60% × 66.2 + 40% × 72.8 = 69

    Kinergy 4S2: 60% × 78.6 + 40% × 62.6 = 72

  4. 68

    Comfort

    Kinergy 4S2 +2
    70
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4SKinergy 4S2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 4 tests≈ 69 (est.)77
    Reviews found online6760

    Kinergy 4S: 60% × 68.7 (est.) + 40% × 66.7 = 68

    Kinergy 4S2: 60% × 76.5 + 40% × 60.2 = 70

    No road tests of comfort for Kinergy 4S. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.

  5. 61

    Noise

    Kinergy 4S2 +5
    66
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4SKinergy 4S2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 18 tests5666
    Reviews found online≈ 67 (est.)≈ 67 (est.)

    Kinergy 4S: 60% × 56.2 + 40% × 67.3 (est.) = 61

    Kinergy 4S2: 60% × 65.6 + 40% × 67.3 (est.) = 66

    No owner ratings of noise for Kinergy 4S or 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.

  6. 63

    Treadwear

    Kinergy 4S2 +4
    67
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4SKinergy 4S2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 9 tests6271
    Reviews found online6360

    Kinergy 4S: 60% × 62.4 + 40% × 63.2 = 63

    Kinergy 4S2: 60% × 71.2 + 40% × 60.4 = 67

  7. 63

    Handling (owners)

    Kinergy 4S +6
    57
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4SKinergy 4S2
    Reviews found online6357
Scores at a glance
Hankook Kinergy 4S vs Hankook Kinergy 4S2: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryHankook Kinergy 4SHankook Kinergy 4S2
Relative Score 67 71
Dry 68 72
Wet 72 78
Snow 69 72
Comfort 68 70
Noise 61 66
Treadwear 63 67
Handling (owners) 63 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 and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.

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Recomputed
Headline score

Kinergy 4S

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.

DisciplineCategoryKinergy 4SKinergy 4S2ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 92% #16/30 · 2025 All Season 30 Tyre Braking Test 94% #7/16 · 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 – Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 99% #4/8 · 2018 Auto Bild SUV All Season Tyre Test 100% #1/9 · 2025 Auto Bild All Season Camper Van Tyre Test – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 95% #4/8 · 2018 Auto Bild SUV All Season Tyre Test 97% #3/16 · 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 89% #13/30 · 2025 All Season 30 Tyre Braking Test 89% #12/16 · 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 95% #5/8 · 2018 Auto Bild SUV All Season Tyre Test 98% #7/9 · 2025 Auto Bild All Season Camper Van Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Braking Snow 88% #6/8 · 2018 Auto Bild SUV All Season Tyre Test 96% #6/16 · 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 – Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 98% #4/8 · 2018 Auto Bild SUV All Season Tyre Test 98% #4/9 · 2025 Auto Bild All Season Camper Van Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise Noise 97% #7/8 · 2018 Auto Bild SUV All Season Tyre Test 96% #14/16 · 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 – Different tests
Wear Treadwear 66% #7/10 · 2017 All Season Tyre Test 97% #2/16 · 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 74% #2/8 · 2018 Auto Bild SUV All Season Tyre Test 74% #3/12 · 2024 Minivan / SUV All Season Tyre Test – Different tests
Total Cost of Ownership Cost #9/10 2017 All Season Tyre Test #7/15 2025 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test – Different tests
Value Cost 65% #7/10 · 2017 All Season Tyre Test 81% #6/15 · 2025 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 89% #2/8 · 2018 Auto Bild SUV All Season Tyre Test 86% #8/9 · 2026 Die Reifentester All Season Tyre Test - 225/40 R18 – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #12/30 2025 All Season 30 Tyre Braking 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 Kinergy 4S

Pros

  • Exceptional grip and stability in wet and torrential rain conditions
  • Strong performance in snow and slush, often cited as a viable alternative to dedicated winter tires
  • High value-for-money proposition compared to premium competitors

Cons

  • Reports of premature tread wear and shorter-than-expected service life
  • Inconsistent dry-road handling and feedback compared to dedicated summer tires
  • Occasional reports of poor traction on greasy or specific wet road surfaces
All owner themes in the Kinergy 4S 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

Hankook Kinergy 4S

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

Tire B

Hankook Kinergy 4S2

Mixed

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 · Hankook Kinergy 4S B · Hankook Kinergy 4S2
CategoryAll SeasonAll Season
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available6795
Rim diameters13″ – 18″14″ – 20″
Sizes in common4848

Which one should you actually buy?

Hankook Kinergy 4S

Hankook Kinergy 4S2

Narrow edge: Hankook Kinergy 4S2 — better wet, noise and dry. Pick the Hankook Kinergy 4S if handling matters most to you.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Hankook Kinergy 4S scores 63 vs 57 on handling.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Hankook Kinergy 4S2 scores 78 vs 72 on wet.

Pick tire B You want a quieter cabin

Hankook Kinergy 4S2 scores 66 vs 61 on noise.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Hankook Kinergy 4S2 scores 72 vs 68 on dry.

Tire A · Hankook Kinergy 4S
Tire B · Hankook Kinergy 4S2

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Kinergy 4S or Kinergy 4S2?

Which is better in the wet, Kinergy 4S or Kinergy 4S2?

Hankook Kinergy 4S2, 78 vs 72 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Kinergy 4S or Kinergy 4S2?

Hankook Kinergy 4S2, 72 vs 68 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, Kinergy 4S or Kinergy 4S2?

Hankook Kinergy 4S2, 72 vs 69 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, Kinergy 4S or Kinergy 4S2?

Hankook Kinergy 4S2, 66 vs 61 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, Kinergy 4S or Kinergy 4S2?

Neither, by our numbers: 68 vs 70 on the comfort score, within 3 points.

Which lasts longer, Kinergy 4S or Kinergy 4S2?

Hankook Kinergy 4S2, 67 vs 63 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