12 tests, 2015 to 2025
- Test win
- Second
- Third
- Average 39%
Record by discipline
Where the Hankook Kinergy 4S finished in each measured discipline, across every test that measured it against at least two other tyres. Field beaten is the share of the other tyres it outranked in that measurement.
| Discipline | Tests | Avg finish | Field beaten | Firsts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | ||||
| Dry Braking | 4 | P9 of 15.8 | 44% | - |
| Dry Handling | 3 | P5 of 11 | 60% | - |
| Wet | ||||
| Wet Braking | 4 | P9.8 of 15.8 | 32% | - |
| Wet Handling | 3 | P8.7 of 11 | 24% | - |
| Straight Aqua | 3 | P5.7 of 11 | 53% | - |
| Snow | ||||
| Snow Braking | 3 | P7.7 of 11 | 34% | - |
| Snow Handling | 3 | P8.3 of 11 | 28% | - |
| Comfort | ||||
| Noise | 3 | P9 of 11 | 20% | - |
| Value | ||||
| Wear | 1 | P7 of 12 | 45% | - |
| Value | 1 | P7 of 12 | 45% | - |
| Rolling Resistance | 3 | P8 of 11 | 32% | - |
Head-to-head record
Overall finishing position against the tyres that have most often shared a test with the Hankook Kinergy 4S. Only tyres tested alongside it at least three times are listed.
| Rival | Shared tests | Ahead | Behind | Level | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 0 | 10 | - | 0% | |
| 9 | 5 | 4 | - | 56% | |
| 9 | 3 | 6 | - | 33% | |
| 8 | 1 | 7 | - | 13% | |
| 7 | 3 | 4 | - | 43% | |
| 5 | 3 | 2 | - | 60% | |
| 3 | 1 | 2 | - | 33% | |
| 3 | 0 | 3 | - | 0% |
Against its own line
The same record for the tyre it replaced and the tyre that replaced it.
| Tyre | Tests | Wins | Avg finish | Field beaten |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hankook Kinergy 4S This tyre | 12 | 0 | 6th | 39% |
| Hankook Kinergy 4S2 Successor | 36 | 2 | 5th | 64% |
Performance Analysis
Drawn from 12 tests. Updated October 15, 2025.
Hankook Kinergy 4S delivers broadly mid-pack results across 12 all-season tests, with occasional upper-mid finishes (several 4th-6th places) and one strong 12/30 braking shootout progression. Its consistent pattern is balanced, UK-relevant versatility rather than class-leading grip, with recurrent weaknesses in wet braking/handling and noise. Dry handling tends to be respectable, economy metrics (rolling resistance/value) are occasionally competitive, and aquaplaning resistance sits around average. Awards and editorial notes repeatedly position it as a sensible, good-value mid-range choice rather than a test winner.
Performance Strengths
-
Dry Performance
Moderate
Details
- 2016 Auto Express: noted 'strong in the dry'
- 2017 Auto Bild: 6/12 dry handling, +1.7% from best
- 2017 Auto Zeitung: 4/11 dry handling, +0.7% from best
-
Value and Efficiency
Moderate
Details
- 2016 AutoBild: 'best value (mileage/price)' mention
- 2018 Auto Bild SUV: Price 2/10 (+34.9% from best), RR 3/10 (+24.2% from best)
- 2017 Auto Bild: Wear mid-pack (7/12, +34.2% from best)
-
Aquaplaning Resistance
Minor
in 3 of 8 tests
Details
- 2017 Auto Bild: Straight Aquaplaning 6/12 (+4.1% from best)
- 2018 Auto Bild SUV: Straight Aqua 5/10 (+5% from best)
- 2017 Auto Zeitung: Straight Aqua 6/11 (+8.6% from best)
High resistance to aquaplaning
- 2018 Auto Bild SUV All Season Tyre Test (2018)Good traction and short braking distances on snow, high aquaplaning resistance
- 2017 All Season Tyre Test (2017)high resistance to aquaplaning
- 2016 GF All Season Tyre Test (2016)
-
Value for money
Strong
in 4 of 8 tests
Details
well priced
- 2018 Auto Bild SUV All Season Tyre Test (2018)Good value for money
- 2016 GF All Season Tyre Test (2016)good value for money
- 2016 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test (2016)good price-performance ratio
- 2015 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test (2015)
-
Snow traction
Strong
in 3 of 8 tests
Details
Good traction and short braking distances on snow, high aquaplaning resistance
- 2017 All Season Tyre Test (2017)high traction on snow
- 2016 GF All Season Tyre Test (2016)Good winter performance
- 2015 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test (2015)
-
Snow braking
Moderate
in 2 of 8 tests
Details
Good traction and short braking distances on snow, high aquaplaning resistance
- 2017 All Season Tyre Test (2017)short braking distances and high traction on snow
- 2016 GF All Season Tyre Test (2016)
-
Dry grip
Moderate
in 2 of 8 tests
Details
strong performance in the dry
- 2017 Auto Express All Season Tyre Test (2017)The dry performance increases as the tread wears
- New VS 4mm VS 2mm All Season Tyre Performance (2017)
Performance Weaknesses
-
Wet Weather Performance
Strong
Details
- 2016 Auto Express: 'struggled in the wet'
- 2017 Auto Bild: Wet braking 8/12 (+13.8%), Wet handling 12/12 (+6.2%)
- 2017 Auto Zeitung: Wet braking 11/11 (+20.7%)
- 2018 Auto Bild SUV: Wet braking 7/10 (+6.9%), Wet handling 7/10 (+4.9%)
- 2025 Autobild Braking: Wet braking 13/30 (+12.1%)
-
Noise/Comfort
Moderate
Details
- 2017 Auto Bild: Noise 12/12 (+3.7%)
- 2018 Auto Bild SUV: Noise 9/10 (+3.3%)
-
Winter (Snow) Traction
Moderate
Details
- 2017 Auto Bild: Snow braking 9/12 (+7.6%), Snow handling 9/12 (+4.8%)
- 2017 Auto Zeitung: Snow handling 11/11 (+6.9%), Snow braking 7/11 (+10.4%)
- 2018 Auto Bild SUV: Snow braking 7/10 (+16.9%)
-
Dry Braking
Moderate
in 2 of 8 tests
Details
- 2017 Auto Bild: Dry braking 9/12 (+13.7%)
- 2018 Auto Bild SUV: Dry braking 8/10 (+12.9%)
- 2025 Autobild Braking: Dry braking 16/30 (+8.7%)
long braking distances on snow and dry roads
- 2018 Auto Bild SUV All Season Tyre Test (2018)long braking in the dry
- 2016 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test (2016)
-
Rolling Resistance (variability)
Minor
Details
- 2017 Auto Bild: RR 10/12 (+25.6%)
- 2017 Auto Zeitung: RR 11/11 (+25.9%) vs. 2018 Auto Bild SUV: RR 3/10 (+24.2%)
-
Snow traction
Strong
in 3 of 8 tests
Details
Last in the snow tests
- 2017 Auto Express All Season Tyre Test (2017)only safe when new, with the snow and wet performance dropping with tyre wear
- New VS 4mm VS 2mm All Season Tyre Performance (2017)Wear in the snow
- 2016 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test (2016)
-
Snow handling
Moderate
in 2 of 8 tests
Details
Poor snow and wet handling, slow steering, average wear
- 2017 All Season Tyre Test (2017)Poor snow handling, longest wet braking, poor wet handling
- 2017 All Season VS Winter Tyre Test (2017)
-
Wet handling
Moderate
in 2 of 8 tests
Details
Poor snow and wet handling, slow steering, average wear
- 2017 All Season Tyre Test (2017)Poor snow handling, longest wet braking, poor wet handling
- 2017 All Season VS Winter Tyre Test (2017)
-
Rolling resistance
Moderate
in 2 of 8 tests
Details
high rolling resistance
- 2017 Auto Express All Season Tyre Test (2017)Relatively high rolling resistance
- 2016 GF All Season Tyre Test (2016)
Do owners agree with the tests?
Every tester write-up on the Hankook Kinergy 4S (8 tests) and 13 owner reviews were tagged for the aspects they judge. Where both have spoken, this is how they line up.
Where they disagree
- Wet grip weakness in 1 of 8 tests 6 praise, 1 criticise of 13 reviews · Read those reviews
Every test, newest first 12
Strong = top two of the field in that measurement. Weak = bottom two.
2018 Auto Bild SUV All Season Tyre Test
Recommended.
New VS 4mm VS 2mm All Season Tyre Performance
Like the Pirelli, the Hankook is only safe when new, with the snow and wet performance dropping with tyre wear. The dry performance increases as the tread wears. Poor wear. Conditionally recommended.
2016 Auto Express All Season Tyre Test
Works well in the dry, less at home in the wet.
2016 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test
Satisfactory
Back to the Hankook Kinergy 4S overview
Owner reviews, sizes and EU label data, comparisons and the Tyre Reviews score. All Hankook tyres

