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Hankook Kinergy 4S2 vs Kumho Solus HA31 — 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 27 + 2 road tests and 3,659 + 18 owner reviews. How we score

Solus HA31 leads, 73–70 Narrow edge

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Hankook Kinergy 4S2
Tire AHankook

Kinergy 4S2

All Season

± 4

Tests 78 · 27 tests Owners 60 · 3,659 reviews

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

“Zimske gume - premium ili neka srednja klasa? Nakon 2 proklizavanja u skretanju ovaj vikend (po kiši) zaključila sam da je vrijeme da kupim nove gume. Otkako sam uzela auto (prosinac 2022.) imam jedne te iste cjelogodišnje gume, Hankook Kinergy 4S2, 225/45/R17. Prošlu zimu kad je bilo snijega jedva sam kući s posla išla koliko sam se klizala po ulici, kiša još nekako ali snijeg i led katastrofa. Ove godine je i na kiši počeo proklizavati. Auto je zadnji pogon, 115ks ništa specijalno. Ono što me zanima je koliko ima smisla uzeti neke premium gume obzirom da godišnje radim oko 15k kilometara, većinski po gradu (Slavonija), tu i tamo autoput do Zg, možda 2 puta godišnje Mađarska/Austrija/Slovenija. Vidim da svi hvale Continental Wintercontact TS870 ali poprilično su skupe pa imate li možda preporuku za nešto jeftinije, a kvalitetno? Više me zanima da su dobre za kišu jer snijega nema nešto specijalno i sve će biti bolje nego ove koje sad imam. Što se dimenzije tiče imam jedne alu felge pa bih onda uzela istu dimenziju čisto da se ne moram izut iz cipela zbog troškova s kupovanjem još i felgi. TLDR: Zimska guma, 225/45/R17, zadnji pogon, što kupiti? Read more”

Kumho Solus HA31
Tire BKumho

Solus HA31

All Season

± 7

Tests 70 · 2 tests Owners 77 · 18 reviews

Best test result: #3 of 10 in 2019 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test (noise)

Category by category

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

  1. 72

    Dry

    Kinergy 4S2 +3
    69
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4S2Solus HA31
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 26 / 2 tests8364
    Reviews found online5677
    Dry Braking (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 2–094%90%
    Dry Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–099%97%

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

    Solus HA31: 60% × 63.6 + 40% × 77.4 = 69

  2. 78

    Wet

    Solus HA31 +1
    79
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4S2Solus HA31
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 26 / 2 tests8776
    Reviews found online6583
    Straight Aquaplaning (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–097%95%
    Wet Braking (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 0–291%94%
    Wet Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–097%96%

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

    Solus HA31: 60% × 75.8 + 40% × 83.3 = 79

  3. 72

    Snow

    Kinergy 4S2 +1
    71
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4S2Solus HA31
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 21 / 1 tests7966
    Reviews found online6180
    Snow Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–095%92%
    Snow Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0100%97%

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

    Solus HA31: 60% × 65.7 + 40% × 79.9 = 71

  4. 61

    Comfort

    Solus HA31 +12
    73
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4S2Solus HA31
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / – tests72≈ 70 (est.)
    Reviews found online5475

    Kinergy 4S2: 40% × 71.6 + 60% × 54.4 = 61

    Solus HA31: 40% × 69.9 (est.) + 60% × 75.1 = 73

    No road tests of comfort for Solus HA31. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).

  5. 64

    Noise

    Solus HA31 +8
    72
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4S2Solus HA31
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 21 / 1 tests6272
    Reviews found online≈ 66 (est.)73
    Noise (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–198%99%

    Kinergy 4S2: 60% × 61.6 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 64

    Solus HA31: 60% × 72.3 + 40% × 72.7 = 72

    No owner ratings of noise for 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. 67

    Treadwear

    Solus HA31 +5
    72
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4S2Solus HA31
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 10 / 1 tests7272
    Reviews found online6072
    Wear (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–171%84%

    Kinergy 4S2: 60% × 72.5 + 40% × 59.7 = 67

    Solus HA31: 60% × 71.8 + 40% × 71.8 = 72

  7. 56

    Handling (owners)

    Solus HA31 +22
    78
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4S2Solus HA31
    Reviews found online5678
  8. 51

    Efficiency

    Solus HA31 +12
    63
    Why this score
    SourceKinergy 4S2Solus HA31
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 21 / 1 tests5163
    Rolling Resistance (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–089%84%
Scores at a glance
CategoryHankook Kinergy 4S2Kumho Solus HA31
Relative Score 70 73
Dry 72 69
Wet 78 79
Snow 72 71
Comfort 61 73
Noise 64 72
Treadwear 67 72
Handling (owners) 56 78
Efficiency 51 63

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
± 4

Kinergy 4S2

± 7

Solus HA31

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.

In the overall rankings of 2 tests that ran both, Hankook Kinergy 4S2 finished ahead 2 times and Kumho Solus HA31 0 times.

DisciplineCategoryKinergy 4S2Solus HA31ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 94% 90% +3.8 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2019 All Season Tyre Performance Overview · 225/45 R17
Dry Handling Dry 99% 97% +1.7 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2019 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 97% 95% +2.3 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2019 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Wet Braking Wet 91% 94% −2.4 0–2 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2019 All Season Tyre Performance Overview · 225/45 R17
Wet Handling Wet 97% 96% +1.7 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2019 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Snow Braking Snow 95% 92% +3.0 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2019 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Snow Handling Snow 100% 97% +2.7 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2019 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Noise Noise 98% 99% −1.3 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2019 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Wear Treadwear 71% 84% −12.9 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2019 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 89% 84% +5.2 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2019 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 91% 90% +1.3 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2019 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Total Cost of Ownership Cost #4/10 #6/10 – 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2019 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Value Cost 77% 90% −12.5 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2019 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Overall Ranking Overall #8/31 #9/31 – 2–0 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2019 All Season Tyre Performance Overview · 225/45 R17

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A 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

Tire B Solus HA31

Pros

  • Excellent snow and winter weather traction
  • Strong grip and stability on wet and dry roads
  • High value and competitive pricing compared to premium brands

Cons

  • Higher than average road noise, particularly at highway speeds
  • Tires can feel slightly soft in warmer weather conditions
  • Mixed feedback regarding dry performance compared to dedicated summer options
All owner themes in the Solus HA31 review

What real owners are saying

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

Tire A

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/tires ·2 upvotes ·2024-11-16

“We're able to get the Kinergy 4S2 from Discount Tires (America's Tires) for less than half the price of. the Cross Climate 2's. We plan to give them a try on a Nissan LEAF and Prius Prime. Hot take: Hit the "found a lower price" feature on the Discount Tire site and see what they offer you! We were very pleasantly surprised!”
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/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
#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

Tire B

Kumho Solus HA31

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

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Hankook Kinergy 4S2 B · Kumho Solus HA31
CategoryAll SeasonAll Season
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available9529
Rim diameters14″ – 20″13″ – 18″
Tread depth—10/32″
UTQG500 A A420 A A
Sidewall—Blackwall
Max pressure—50 psi
Sizes in common1919

Which one should you actually buy?

Hankook Kinergy 4S2

Kumho Solus HA31

Narrow edge: Kumho Solus HA31 — better handling, comfort and efficiency. Pick the Hankook Kinergy 4S2 if dry matters most to you.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Kumho Solus HA31 scores 78 vs 56 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Kumho Solus HA31 scores 73 vs 61 on comfort.

Pick tire B You want lower fuel or energy use

Kumho Solus HA31 scores 63 vs 51 on efficiency.

Pick tire B You want a quieter cabin

Kumho Solus HA31 scores 72 vs 64 on noise.

Pick tire A Your priority is dry braking

Hankook Kinergy 4S2 won 2 of 2 shared dry braking tests.

Tire A · Hankook Kinergy 4S2
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Tire B · Kumho Solus HA31
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Kinergy 4S2 or Solus HA31?

Which is better in the wet, Kinergy 4S2 or Solus HA31?

Neither, by our numbers: 78 vs 79 on the wet score, within 3 points.

Which grips better on dry roads, Kinergy 4S2 or Solus HA31?

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

Which is better in snow, Kinergy 4S2 or Solus HA31?

Neither, by our numbers: 72 vs 71 on the snow score, within 3 points.

Which is quieter, Kinergy 4S2 or Solus HA31?

Kumho Solus HA31, 72 vs 64 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, Kinergy 4S2 or Solus HA31?

Kumho Solus HA31, 73 vs 61 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Kinergy 4S2 or Solus HA31?

Kumho Solus HA31, 72 vs 67 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, Kinergy 4S2 or Solus HA31?

Kumho Solus HA31, 63 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