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 (comfort 40/60). Based on 3 + 27 road tests and 14 + 3,669 owner reviews. How we score

Kinergy 4S2 leads, 70–68 Narrow edge

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.

Hankook Kinergy 4S
Tire AHankook

Kinergy 4S

All Season

± 8

Tests 68 · 3 tests Owners 68 · 14 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

± 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)

“Softer alternative to HANKOOK KINERGY 4S2? Searching for alternarive to HANKOOK KINERGY 4S2 Good day to you! I recently decided to move to all-season tires. After checking reviews, costs and availability I went for HANKOOK 4S2. But i find them VERY stiff and not comfortable at all. (245 40 18). Would you please recommend an alternative with a softer ride? I am in Europe. Cheers and thank you!”

Category by category

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

  1. 69

    Dry

    Kinergy 4S2 +3
    72
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4SKinergy 4S2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 26 tests7083
    Reviews found online6756

    Kinergy 4S: 60% × 69.7 + 40% × 67.2 = 69

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

  2. 73

    Wet

    Kinergy 4S2 +5
    78
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4SKinergy 4S2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 26 tests7487
    Reviews found online7165

    Kinergy 4S: 60% × 74.1 + 40% × 71 = 73

    Kinergy 4S2: 60% × 86.8 + 40% × 64.9 = 78

  3. 70

    Snow

    Kinergy 4S2 +1
    71
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4SKinergy 4S2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 21 tests6679
    Reviews found online7761

    Kinergy 4S: 60% × 66.1 + 40% × 76.5 = 70

    Kinergy 4S2: 60% × 78.6 + 40% × 60.8 = 71

  4. 67

    Comfort

    Kinergy 4S +6
    61
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4SKinergy 4S2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 7 tests≈ 68 (est.)72
    Reviews found online6654

    Kinergy 4S: 40% × 68.2 (est.) + 60% × 66 = 67

    Kinergy 4S2: 40% × 71.5 + 60% × 54.4 = 61

    No road tests of comfort for Kinergy 4S. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).

  5. 60

    Noise

    Kinergy 4S2 +3
    63
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4SKinergy 4S2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 21 tests5662
    Reviews found online≈ 66 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)

    Kinergy 4S: 60% × 56.3 + 40% × 66.3 (est.) = 60

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

    No owner ratings of noise for Kinergy 4S 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. 63

    Treadwear

    Kinergy 4S2 +4
    67
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4SKinergy 4S2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 10 tests6372
    Reviews found online6360

    Kinergy 4S: 60% × 62.8 + 40% × 62.9 = 63

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

  7. 64

    Handling (owners)

    Kinergy 4S +8
    56
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4SKinergy 4S2
    Reviews found online6456
  8. 67

    Efficiency

    Kinergy 4S +16
    51
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4SKinergy 4S2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 21 tests6751
Scores at a glance
Hankook Kinergy 4S vs Hankook Kinergy 4S2: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryHankook Kinergy 4SHankook Kinergy 4S2
Relative Score 68 70
Dry 69 72
Wet 73 78
Snow 70 71
Comfort 67 61
Noise 60 63
Treadwear 63 67
Handling (owners) 64 56
Efficiency 67 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.

Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
± 8

Kinergy 4S

± 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.

DisciplineCategoryKinergy 4SKinergy 4S2ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 92% #16/30 · 2025 All Season 30 Tyre Braking Test 92% #6/9 · 2026 AMS All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 – Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 99% #4/8 · 2018 Auto Bild SUV All Season Tyre Test 99% #3/9 · 2026 AMS All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 95% #4/8 · 2018 Auto Bild SUV All Season Tyre Test 94% #4/9 · 2026 AMS All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 89% #13/30 · 2025 All Season 30 Tyre Braking Test 93% #7/9 · 2026 AMS All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 95% #5/8 · 2018 Auto Bild SUV All Season Tyre Test 97% #8/9 · 2026 AMS All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 – Different tests
Snow Braking Snow 88% #6/8 · 2018 Auto Bild SUV All Season Tyre Test 100% #1/9 · 2026 AMS All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 – Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 98% #4/8 · 2018 Auto Bild SUV All Season Tyre Test 96% #9/9 · 2026 AMS All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 – Different tests
Noise Noise 97% #7/8 · 2018 Auto Bild SUV All Season Tyre Test 98% #9/9 · 2026 AMS All Season Tyre Test - 195/55 R16 – Different tests
Wear Treadwear 66% #7/10 · 2017 All Season Tyre Test 85% #6/10 · 2026 Auto Zeitung All Season Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 89% #2/8 · 2018 Auto Bild SUV All Season 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 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 89% #4/10 · 2026 Auto Zeitung All Season Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #12/30 2025 All Season 30 Tyre Braking 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 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

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.

bobistheoilguy.com ·2021-03-02

“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”

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/tires ·4 upvotes ·2025-03-18

“Hankook Worn out after 15k miles Took my car in for a standard tire rotation and was informed all 4 tires only had 4/32 of tread remaining left. I was shocked. I've only put about 15k miles on in the 2.5 years I've had the tires. I don't drive aggressively at all. Mix of city and highway. Anyways, I got about a 75% credit on the Hankook Kinergy 4s2 all weather tires and only paid about $70 out of pocket towards my new tires (plus $90 balancing and mounting fee)! I went with the Falken Aklimate that were about $150 a tire. Just wanted to share my story. Can the softer rubber in all weather tires cause them to wear out faster in the summer? Only other thing I can think of is my car was parked outside for 2 summers in a south facing parking lot so maybe the sun just baked them and cause the tread to wear faster? But I would think that would be more dry rot related than tread wear. Read more”

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 · Hankook Kinergy 4S B · Hankook Kinergy 4S2
CategoryAll SeasonAll Season
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available6795
Rim diameters13″ – 18″14″ – 20″
UTQG500 - 600 A A500 A A
Sizes in common4848

Which one should you actually buy?

Hankook Kinergy 4S

Hankook Kinergy 4S2

Narrow edge: Hankook Kinergy 4S2 — better wet, treadwear and dry. Pick the Hankook Kinergy 4S if efficiency, handling and comfort matter most to you.

Pick tire A You want lower fuel or energy use

Hankook Kinergy 4S scores 67 vs 51 on efficiency.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Hankook Kinergy 4S scores 64 vs 56 on handling.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Hankook Kinergy 4S scores 67 vs 61 on comfort.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Hankook Kinergy 4S2 scores 78 vs 73 on wet.

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

TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

Kinergy 4S or Kinergy 4S2?

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

Hankook Kinergy 4S2, 78 vs 73 on our wet score.

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

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

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

Neither, by our numbers: 70 vs 71 on the snow score, within 3 points.

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

Hankook Kinergy 4S2, 63 vs 60 on our noise score.

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

Hankook Kinergy 4S, 67 vs 61 on our comfort score.

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

Hankook Kinergy 4S2, 67 vs 63 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, Kinergy 4S or Kinergy 4S2?

Hankook Kinergy 4S, 67 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