Best test result: #1 of 16 in 2023 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test (curved aquaplaning)
“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”
Best test result: #1 of 10 in 2025 AZ Summer Tyre Test (abrasion)
“PS5 is a very good allround, comfortable but grippy tire. PS4S has a stiffer sidewall and is way sportier but harsher. There is to date no successor for the PS4S. I switched from PS4S to PS5 on my mustang and its a way better fit for a daily tire. I would remommend to get PS5 for the rear aswell.”
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
72
Dry
Pilot Sport 5 +16
88
Why this score
Source
Kinergy 4S2
Pilot Sport 5
Professional tests (TWG score)
82
90
Reviews found online
57
84
Dry Braking (% of best)
94%
92%
Dry Handling (% of best)
99%
99%
78
Wet
Pilot Sport 5 +12
90
Why this score
Source
Kinergy 4S2
Pilot Sport 5
Professional tests (TWG score)
85
92
Reviews found online
67
87
Wet Braking (% of best)
98%
100%
Wet Braking - Concrete (% of best)
91%
97%
Wet Circle (% of best)
100%
99%
Wet Handling (% of best)
98%
98%
72
Snow
No comparison
–
Why this score
Source
Kinergy 4S2
Pilot Sport 5
Professional tests (TWG score)
79
–
Reviews found online
63
–
70
Comfort
Pilot Sport 5 +5
75
Why this score
Source
Kinergy 4S2
Pilot Sport 5
Professional tests (TWG score)
77
71
Reviews found online
60
80
66
Noise
Kinergy 4S2 +20
46
Why this score
Source
Kinergy 4S2
Pilot Sport 5
Professional tests (TWG score)
66
32
67
Treadwear
Pilot Sport 5 +15
82
Why this score
Source
Kinergy 4S2
Pilot Sport 5
Professional tests (TWG score)
71
87
Reviews found online
60
75
57
Handling
Pilot Sport 5 +26
83
Why this score
Source
Kinergy 4S2
Pilot Sport 5
Reviews found online
57
83
Scores at a glance
Hankook Kinergy 4S2 vs Michelin Pilot Sport 5: scores by category (0–100)
Category
Hankook Kinergy 4S2
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
Relative Score
70
83
Dry
72
88
Wet
78
90
Snow
72
–
Comfort
70
75
Noise
66
46
Treadwear
67
82
Handling
57
83
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
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score
70
/ 100
Kinergy 4S2
83
/ 100
Pilot Sport 5
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
The professional test results behind the scores
Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.
Discipline
Category
Kinergy 4S2
Pilot Sport 5
Δ
Both?
Curved Aquaplaning
Curved
100%#1/16 · 2023 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test
92%#5/6 · 2024 Sport Auto Summer Tyre Test
+8.0
Different tests
Dry Braking
Dry
94%#7/16 · 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15
92%#7/9 · 2025 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test
+1.4
Different tests
Dry Handling
Dry
99%#3/10 · 2025 Auto Bild Sports Car All Season Tyre Test
99%#3/8 · 2024 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test
+0.6
Different tests
Rolling Resistance
Efficiency
79%#9/10 · 2024 Auto Bild SUV All Season Tyre Test
95%#2/9 · 2023 ACE/ARBÖ/GTÜ 2023 Summer Tire Test R18
−15.8
Different tests
Fuel Consumption
Fuel
96%#7/16 · 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15
95%#8/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test
+1.8
Different tests
Abrasion
Other
81%#4/16 · 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15
100%#1/10 · 2025 AZ Summer Tyre Test
−18.6
Different tests
Noise
Other
100%#2/15 · 2022 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test
97%#12/13 · 2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tyre Test
+2.5
Different tests
Price
Other
88%#2/10 · 2018 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test
56%#13/13 · 2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tyre Test
+31.8
Different tests
Value
Other
71%#3/16 · 2023 Auto Bild All Season Tyre Test
70%#10/20 · 2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tyre Test
+1.5
Different tests
Wear
Other
97%#2/16 · 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15
76%#2/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test
+20.9
Different tests
Overall Ranking
Overall
100%#1/11 · 2020 Auto Bild SUV All Season Tyre Test
20%#5/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test
+80.0
Different tests
Straight Aqua
Straight
98%#3/10 · 2024 Auto Bild SUV All Season Tyre Test
97%#10/20 · 2026 Autobild Summer Tyre Test
+1.2
Different tests
Subj. Comfort
Subj
91%#2/11 · 2025 Autobild SUV All Season Tyre Test
99%#2/7 · 2026 AutoView Sport Tyre Test
−7.3
Different tests
Subj. Dry Handling
Subj
95%#3/9 · 2026 Die Reifentester All Season Tyre Test - 225/40 R18
96%#3/7 · 2026 AutoView Sport Tyre Test
−0.8
Different tests
Subj. Noise
Subj
91%#7/9 · 2026 Die Reifentester All Season Tyre Test - 225/40 R18
80%#5/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test
+11.4
Different tests
Subj. Wet Handling
Subj
91%#6/9 · 2026 Die Reifentester All Season Tyre Test - 225/40 R18
70%#5/7 · 2026 Sport Auto Summer Tyre Test
+20.6
Different tests
Total Cost of Ownership
Total
0%#7/15 · 2025 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test
0%#8/20 · 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tyre Test
0.0
Different tests
Wet Braking
Wet
98%#2/12 · 2024 Minivan / SUV All Season Tyre Test
100%#1/7 · Top Tire Review 2026 UHP Tyre Test: Big Brands vs Challengers
−2.4
Different tests
Wet Braking - Concrete
Wet
91%#12/16 · 2026 ADAC All Season Tyre Test - 185/65 R15
97%#3/18 · 2025 ADAC Summer Tyre Test
−6.3
Different tests
Wet Circle
Wet
100%#1/10 · 2025 Auto Bild Sports Car All Season Tyre Test
99%#3/9 · 2025 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test
+0.7
Different tests
Wet Handling
Wet
98%#5/9 · 2021 AZ All Season Tyre Test
98%#5/13 · 2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tyre Test
+0.9
Different tests
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
From Reddit, forums and review threads. Not part of our score
Tire A
Hankook Kinergy 4S2
Positive
The Hankook Kinergy 4S2 is widely regarded by the community as an excellent, value-oriented all-weather (3PMSF) tire that punches above its weight, often compared favorably to premium alternatives like the Michelin CrossClimate 2 at a significantly lower price point. Users frequently praise its strong wet traction, balanced performance in mild-to-moderate winter conditions, and top ratings in independent tests, though some drivers report concerns regarding highway noise, a stiffer ride quality, or shorter-than-expected tread life depending on the vehicle and driving habits.
#Price and Value#Wet and Winter Traction#Noise Levels#Ride Comfort and Stiffness#Tread Wear and Longevity#Comparison to Michelin CrossClimate 2
Based on 26 community posts
Tire B
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
Positive
The Michelin Pilot Sport 5 is widely praised as an exceptional daily-driver tire, offering impressive wet grip, low road noise, and remarkable longevity compared to predecessors and rivals. While some enthusiast drivers find the sidewalls a bit soft or note less extreme track performance compared to dedicated track or 4S tires, community consensus highlights it as a top-tier, well-balanced choice for spirited street driving and commuting.
#Wet grip and safety#Road noise and comfort#Tread life and durability#Daily driving vs track performance#Comparison with PS4 and PS4S#Value and pricing
Based on 134 community posts
Specs side by side
Attribute
A · Hankook Kinergy 4S2
B · Michelin Pilot Sport 5
Category
All Season
Summer
Vehicle type
Passenger Car / Crossover
Passenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available
95
66
Rim diameters
14″ – 20″
16″ – 22″
Which one should you actually buy?
70
/ 100
Hankook Kinergy 4S2
83
/ 100
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
Winner: Michelin Pilot Sport 5 — better handling, dry and treadwear. Pick the Hankook Kinergy 4S2 if noise matters most to you.
Pick tire BYou enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Michelin Pilot Sport 5 scores 83 vs 57 on handling.
Pick tire AYou want a quieter cabin
Hankook Kinergy 4S2 scores 66 vs 46 on noise.
Pick tire BYou want the most grip on dry roads
Michelin Pilot Sport 5 scores 88 vs 72 on dry.
Pick tire BYou want the longest tread life
Michelin Pilot Sport 5 scores 82 vs 67 on treadwear.
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.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.