Head-to-head Updated

Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 vs Hankook Ventus Prime 4 — 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 19 + 14 road tests and 3,382 + 2,532 owner reviews. How we score

Ventus Prime 4 is ahead, 75–68

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Hankook Ventus S1 evo3
Tire AHankook

Ventus S1 evo3

Summer

± 6

Tests 77 · 19 tests Owners 57 · 3,382 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 45 in 2019 Summer 53 Tyre Braking Shootout (wet braking)

“Tire preferences? My MK8 has a little over 18,000 miles now and the stock tires look like they’ve already gone to sh*t? Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 aren’t as good as they advertise? What do you recommend for tires?”

Hankook Ventus Prime 4
Tire BHankook

Ventus Prime 4

Summer

± 4

Tests 77 · 14 tests Owners 71 · 2,532 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 21 in 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test (dry handling)

“Aim for rainy condition. Best are 1.Bridgestone Turanza 005 2.Hankook ventus prime 4.”

Category by category

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

  1. 75

    Dry

    Ventus Prime 4 +4
    79
    Why this score
    SourceVentus S1 evo3Ventus Prime 4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 18 / 12 tests8683
    Reviews found online6073

    Ventus S1 evo3: 60% × 85.6 + 40% × 59.9 = 75

    Ventus Prime 4: 60% × 82.7 + 40% × 73.2 = 79

  2. 81

    Wet

    Ventus S1 evo3 +4
    77
    Why this score
    SourceVentus S1 evo3Ventus Prime 4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 18 / 13 tests9079
    Reviews found online6875

    Ventus S1 evo3: 60% × 89.7 + 40% × 68.1 = 81

    Ventus Prime 4: 60% × 78.6 + 40% × 74.6 = 77

  3. 59

    Comfort

    Ventus Prime 4 +10
    69
    Why this score
    SourceVentus S1 evo3Ventus Prime 4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 1 tests6470
    Reviews found online5667

    Ventus S1 evo3: 40% × 64.3 + 60% × 55.8 = 59

    Ventus Prime 4: 40% × 70.3 + 60% × 67.4 = 69

  4. 73

    Noise

    Ventus S1 evo3 +12
    61
    Why this score
    SourceVentus S1 evo3Ventus Prime 4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 14 / 8 tests7758
    Reviews found online≈ 66 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)

    Ventus S1 evo3: 60% × 76.7 + 40% × 66.3 (est.) = 73

    Ventus Prime 4: 60% × 57.6 + 40% × 66.3 (est.) = 61

    No owner ratings of noise for Ventus S1 evo3 or Ventus Prime 4. 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.

  5. 53

    Treadwear

    Ventus Prime 4 +21
    74
    Why this score
    SourceVentus S1 evo3Ventus Prime 4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 6 tests6179
    Reviews found online4167

    Ventus S1 evo3: 60% × 60.8 + 40% × 41.4 = 53

    Ventus Prime 4: 60% × 78.5 + 40% × 66.9 = 74

  6. 59

    Handling (owners)

    Ventus Prime 4 +13
    72
    Why this score
    SourceVentus S1 evo3Ventus Prime 4
    Reviews found online5972
  7. 68

    Efficiency

    Ventus Prime 4 +16
    84
    Why this score
    SourceVentus S1 evo3Ventus Prime 4
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 15 / 9 tests6884
Scores at a glance
Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 vs Hankook Ventus Prime 4: scores by category (0–100)
CategoryHankook Ventus S1 evo3Hankook Ventus Prime 4
Relative Score 68 75
Dry 75 79
Wet 81 77
Comfort 59 69
Noise 73 61
Treadwear 53 74
Handling (owners) 59 72
Efficiency 68 84

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
± 6

Ventus S1 evo3

± 4

Ventus Prime 4

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.

DisciplineCategoryVentus S1 evo3Ventus Prime 4ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 96% #7/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test 92% #16/16 · 2026 ADAC Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 98% #7/9 · 2024 AZ Summer Tyre Test 99% #6/20 · 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Dry Handling (tester's mark) Dry 60% #8/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test 90% #4/14 · 2025 Summer and All Season Combined Tyre Test – Different tests
Curved Aquaplaning Wet 87% #6/7 · 2024 Auto Express Summer Tyre Test 93% #6/7 · 2025 Al Volante Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 98% #8/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test 91% #16/16 · 2026 ADAC Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 94% #6/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test 87% #14/16 · 2026 ADAC Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Circle Wet 98% #5/9 · 2024 AZ Summer Tyre Test 98% #4/21 · 2022 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 100% #2/9 · 2024 AZ Summer Tyre Test 99% #2/8 · 2025 Moottori Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling (tester's mark) Wet 80% #3/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test 90% #4/14 · 2025 Summer and All Season Combined Tyre Test – Different tests
Comfort (tester's mark) Comfort 100% #2/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test 95% #4/7 · 2025 Die ReifenTester Summer Touring Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise Noise 100% #1/9 · 2024 AZ Summer Tyre Test 99% #4/8 · 2025 Moottori Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise (tester's mark) Noise 100% #2/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test 80% #11/14 · 2025 Summer and All Season Combined Tyre Test – Different tests
Wear Treadwear 56% #13/20 · 2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tyre Test 77% #6/16 · 2026 ADAC Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 97% #3/8 · 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test 95% #10/14 · 2025 Summer and All Season Combined Tyre Test – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 74% #6/13 · 2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tyre Test 69% #9/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Total Cost of Ownership Cost #14/20 2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tyre Test #4/20 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Value Cost 58% #15/20 · 2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tyre Test 64% #5/16 · 2024 ADAC Summer Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #6/8 2025 Die Reifentester UHP Summer Tyre Test #11/16 2026 ADAC Summer Tyre Test – Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A Ventus S1 evo3

Pros

  • Exceptional grip and confidence in wet and dry conditions
  • Low road noise and high ride comfort
  • Competitive pricing compared to premium tier-one brands

Cons

  • Faster-than-expected tread wear, particularly on rear axles or heavy vehicles
  • Soft sidewalls leading to reduced steering feedback and precision
  • Vulnerability to sidewall damage or bubbling from potholes
All owner themes in the Ventus S1 evo3 review

Tire B Ventus Prime 4

Pros

  • Exceptional wet and dry grip providing high confidence
  • Significantly reduced road noise and smooth, quiet ride quality
  • Competitively priced offering great value compared to top-tier premium brands

Cons

  • Accelerated tread wear reported by some users, leading to shorter overall tire life
  • Noticeable decrease in wet traction and grip as the tread wears down past the halfway mark
  • Stiffer sidewalls can translate to a firmer ride or reduced comfort on rough surfaces
All owner themes in the Ventus Prime 4 review

What real owners are saying

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

Tire A

Hankook Ventus S1 evo3

Mixed

Community sentiment toward the Hankook Ventus S1 Evo 3 is mixed, with users frequently praising its strong dry and wet grip, comfort, and competitive pricing. However, notable drawbacks include relatively fast tread wear, reports of increasing road noise over time, and mixed experiences with OEM specs versus premium competitors like Michelin.

r/TyreReviews ·2 upvotes ·2026-01-04

“That would tally with what this person found with the 127 variant that preceded it “Hi just for information,I asked Hankook what tread depth when new was on their Ventus S1 Evo 3 K127 tyre, the reply was 6.6 mm””

teslamotorsclub.com ·2023-01-26

“You will love the Ventus S1 EVO3's, I purchased a set back in May 2020 for $473 delivered. In your climate driving at Texas speeds (75-85) efficiency is gonna be about 270-295 Wh/m. I just ordered a set of the iON EVO AS to try out as I have a need for snow use but not bad enough for snow tires.”

insideevsforum.com ·5 upvotes ·2022-12-20

“For BMW-approved run flat tires, you should see a symbol that has the letters "RSC" in a circle next to the star symbol. (The "RSC" stands for "Run-flat System Component".) I don't see that symbol on the tire pictured, so it isn't a run flat. Hankook's model number for non-run flat S1 evo 3 tires is K127 whereas the run flat variant is K127B, sometimes referred to as the "SUV version". I only know this because of my quest earlier this year for efficient (yet still sporty) 225/45 R17 summer tires for my aftermarket wheels. In this size, the run flat variant actually has a better rating (B) for rolling resistance than the non-run flat (C) per the Euro tyre labels. This is a rare exception, as run flats are usually less efficient. Note that the non-run flat 205/45 R17 S1 evo 3 has an A rating, which is the most efficient. I haven't seen Euro tyre labels for the run flat variant in that size, but it seems unlikely to me they would have an A rating. As such, I would be surprised if MINI installed them at the factory due to the impact to range--unless they had no other option available due to supply chain constraints.”

Top themes
#Wet and dry grip#Value for money#Road noise levels#Tread wear and longevity#OEM fitments and EV variants#Run-flat identification confusion#Ride comfort

Based on 33 community posts

Tire B

Hankook Ventus Prime 4

Positive

Community opinion on the Hankook Ventus Prime 4 is largely positive, with drivers viewing it as a comfortable, quiet, and capable touring tire. Users frequently praise its strong dry and wet performance alongside its compelling price-to-performance ratio compared to premium alternatives like Michelin. Some uncertainties exist regarding long-term tread wear and slight fuel economy impacts, but owners generally report satisfactory everyday reliability.

r/TireQuestions ·1 upvote ·2026-10-09

“Found a cut on one of my tires, is it 100% cooked? Three month old Hankook Ventus Prime 4 and I found a cut/split. It’s holding air fine but it is cooked?”

r/croautomobili ·1 upvote ·2026-09-23

“Top top top guma, stavio prosle godine kad sam kupio auto, odmah na Kupres isao, snijega i leda bilo dosta, ali izdale me nisu Imam i ljetne hankook ventus prime 4 isto odlicna guma”

r/TyreReviews ·4 upvotes ·2024-03-19

“Are there any Hankook Ventus Prime 4 longevity reviews (perhaps personal experience?) The only info I was able to find is Autobild 2022 and 2024, and ADAC 2024 reviews. In the first one they expect 39k km, in the second 26k and in ADAC - 50k. I'm not sure what to believe. I'm a fairly moderate user and will be replacing stock Primacy 3s which lasted around 45k km. I would like to have something that will last around 4-5 years, which at my current usage would be around 30-35k km. If they consistently fall short of it I would probably pay a premium for a more expensive brand, but reviews give very different figures. If ADAC figures is to be trusted I would surely get them, because I would probably replace the car before I have to put on new tires. But 26k km in the latest Autobild review falls short of my expectations a bit. Are those figures typically less than real life due to more extensive testing and usage? I'm driving a compact SUV with 50/50 city highway driving and no sporty aspirations, very default usage scenario. I could pay more and get goodyear efficientgrip performance 2, but at their longevity they will probably need to be replaced out of age before I wear them down realistically, so that's why I was initially settling in more midrange priced Hankook offering. Would love any help, and appreciate the help I received in my previous post! Read more”

Top themes
#value for money#comfort and low noise#wet and dry grip#comparison with premium brands#tread longevity questions#touring versus sports handling

Based on 41 community posts

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 B · Hankook Ventus Prime 4
CategorySummerSummer
Vehicle typePassenger Car / Crossover—
Sizes available11066
Rim diameters17″ – 22″15″ – 20″
UTQG200 - 420 A - AA A200 - 420 A A
Sizes in common2525

Which one should you actually buy?

Hankook Ventus S1 evo3

Hankook Ventus Prime 4

Winner: Hankook Ventus Prime 4 — better treadwear, efficiency and handling. Pick the Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 if noise and wet matter most to you.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Hankook Ventus Prime 4 scores 74 vs 53 on treadwear.

Pick tire B You want lower fuel or energy use

Hankook Ventus Prime 4 scores 84 vs 68 on efficiency.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Hankook Ventus Prime 4 scores 72 vs 59 on handling.

Pick tire A You want a quieter cabin

Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 scores 73 vs 61 on noise.

Tire A · Hankook Ventus S1 evo3
Tire B · Hankook Ventus Prime 4

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Ventus S1 evo3 or Ventus Prime 4?

Which is better in the wet, Ventus S1 evo3 or Ventus Prime 4?

Hankook Ventus S1 evo3, 81 vs 77 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Ventus S1 evo3 or Ventus Prime 4?

Hankook Ventus Prime 4, 79 vs 75 on our dry score.

Which is quieter, Ventus S1 evo3 or Ventus Prime 4?

Hankook Ventus S1 evo3, 73 vs 61 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, Ventus S1 evo3 or Ventus Prime 4?

Hankook Ventus Prime 4, 69 vs 59 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Ventus S1 evo3 or Ventus Prime 4?

Hankook Ventus Prime 4, 74 vs 53 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, Ventus S1 evo3 or Ventus Prime 4?

Hankook Ventus Prime 4, 84 vs 68 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