Hankook Kinergy 4S2 Review

Editor’s Note: AutoGuide arranged for Colum Wood to test out the Hankook Kinergy 4S2 four season tire over several months. Colum was not directly compensated for his review.

It’s not often you replace a perfectly good set of tires. And especially not when they are perfectly good, good tires. By that I mean, premium tires.

When Hankook reached out and asked if I’d be interested in testing their new Kinergy 4S2, I’ll admit that I was intrigued, but also skeptical as my all-season Michelins have been doing a fantastic job and are definitely not worn out yet. But rather than conventional all-seasons these Hankooks are what are known as all-weather or four-season tires. And it’s a rapidly growing segment.

Before I get too far into how they perform, it’s worth clarifying exactly what this segment of tire really is. And perhaps the best way to describe it is this: all-season tires that are actually good in all seasons.

For decades brands have been selling all-season tires that are not designed for all seasons. Well, not unless you live somewhere that’s missing a little season we call winter.

All-weather tires are designed to actually provide real grip in the cold and, yes, in snow. In fact, they come certified with the same three-peak mountain snowflake logo on their sidewall that winter tires do.

To be fair, this does not mean they will perform at the same level as a winter tire, but rather that they meet a certain minimum grip level in the cold and on snow and ice.

Exactly how Hankook makes this tire perform the way it does is a result of a lot of R&D, and plenty of unique features built into the tread compound and design.

Most obvious is the design, which really looks like almost no other tire on the market, with a big v-shaped tread pattern rather than a more conventional arrangement of tread blocks running in rows around the length of the tire.

Look closely, however, and you will still see that there are actually external tread blocks and internal ones.

The v-shaped pattern is unique in its ability to evacuate water extremely efficiently. It also helps to force slush away from the contact patch in the winter.

Further accentuating its effectiveness, Hankook designed the tread blocks in a stepped fashion. This allows for a wider area at the top of the tread, to push a higher volume of water away. At the same time, it makes the tread more stable down low at the base of the tread, to maintain a higher level of handling capability.

Perhaps more importantly, the tread blocks feature siping that runs the length of the tire. This allows for winter grip and traction on snow, while in the dry, the siping closes up when the tread pushes against itself, making for a more rigid tread block.

In a word: absolutely!

I was eager to get a first snowfall this year and test them out. I’ve had four season tires before and they left me wanting in both summer and winter performance, just mediocre in the winter, and extremely soft and mushy in the summer.

Grip in the snow was immediately impressive with these tires. They grab on in a few inches of snow with excellent traction and give loads of confidence.

Stopping in the snow was equally good. Even repeated hard braking tests brought about minimal ABS interference.

It’s important to point out here that just because a tire has the three-peak mountain snowflake logo on it, that doesn’t mean they are “winter tires.” Having the logo just means the tires meet a minimum threshold for winter grip. So amongst tires with the three peak mountain snowflake logo there’s a wide gap in terms of true winter capability. All that said, the Kinergy 4S2 performed just as well as most actual winter tires I’ve tested.

There are two drawbacks to these tires. The first is road noise. They are slightly noisier than conventional all seasons. I think most drivers won’t notice, and most modern cars are so well insulated that you’ll never hear anything. On my older Mazda, a car that’s known for poor sound deadening, the noise level was noticeable at highway speeds.

About the only other critique is tread life. It’s by no means bad and comes with a 60,000 mile warranty. That sounds good but is a bit lower than conventional all-seasons that are rated closer to 65,000 or 70,000 miles. Overall, it’s a small tradeoff for the impressive four season capability and the fact that you don’t need to think about swapping tires when the seasons change.

Older four-season or all-weather tires never really lived up to the promise, but the new Hankook Kinergy 4S2 most certainly does. And perhaps most impressively, it does so without the cost of a Michelin or Goodyear.

It’s an ideal option for those who don’t want to swap tires seasonally and is particularly impressive if you live in a milder winter climate, but still get occasional snow, like the Pacific Northwest.

Here you have a tire that delivers the performance handling you want, plus the all-year safety you need.