Are Hankook Tyres Worth the Money? What Tests and Prices Show

Who makes Hankook tyres

Hankook began in 1941 as the Chosun Tire Company and took its current name in 1968; "Hankook" means Korea. The company, today Hankook Tire & Technology, is part of the Hankook & Company group and is based in Seoul. It ranks seventh among the world's tyre makers and also sells batteries, alloy wheels and brake pads.

The Hungarian plant supplies much of the European market, and the German technical centre in Hannover develops tyres for European roads and carmakers. A fire badly damaged the Daejeon plant in Korea in 2023.

Original equipment and motorsport

Carmakers test tyres for months before approving them for a new model, so original-equipment (OE) supply is a useful sign of quality. Hankook tyres are fitted at the factory to models such as the Volkswagen ID. Buzz, MINI cars and the Citroën C3 Aircross. If your car came with a specific approved tyre, the sidewall carries the carmaker's code, and replacing like for like keeps the handling the car was tuned for.

In motorsport, Hankook was the single tyre supplier of the German DTM touring car series from 2011 to 2020. It replaced Michelin in Formula E for the third-generation electric race car from the 2022–23 season and became the World Rally Championship's tyre supplier in 2025. Racing does not prove that a road tyre is good, but it shows that the company invests in development.

Hankook ranges for cars

The Laufenn brand covers a lower price level with simpler technology. When comparing prices, make sure you compare Hankook with Hankook and Laufenn with Laufenn.

What independent tests say: the Ventus Prime4

German and Austrian automobile clubs test tyres against direct rivals in one size each year. Grades run from 1 (very good) to 5 (poor). The same Hankook model has been tested twice in recent years:

In 2023 the club called the Ventus Prime4 well balanced on dry and wet roads, with a slight weakness in aquaplaning and below-average efficiency because of its weight. In 2026, in a larger size and against newer rivals, it handled well at the limit on dry roads and promised high mileage and very low fuel use. Weaknesses on wet roads limited it to a conditional recommendation.

The lesson is general, not specific to Hankook: a tyre model is not equally good in every size, and rivals improve every year. Both labels show an "A" for wet grip, yet the 2026 wet result was only satisfactory. Use the label to shortlist and a recent test in your own size to decide.

Price or safety: how to weigh the cost

Comparing tyres on price alone is misleading. A fairer method is to look at cost and safety together:

1. Compare price per kilometre, not per tyre. A tyre with a high mileage grade may cost less over its life than a cheaper one that wears faster.
2. Check wet braking first. Wet roads are where tyres differ most, and a few metres of extra stopping distance matter more than a small saving.
3. Mind the brand groups. Many "unknown" brands belong to large groups: Barum, for example, is a Czech brand of the Continental group, so a cheaper tyre can still come from a major manufacturer.
4. Do not judge budget tyres as a group. Some cheap tyres test well in the dry but poorly in the wet; read the individual test.

By our calculation, in the 2026 ADAC test the Hankook cost about 12 per cent less than the Bridgestone Turanza 6 of the same size (€136 against €155), while the Bridgestone scored better overall (2.7 against 3.1). Our article on Bridgestone summer tyres explains that range, and the ranking of tyre manufacturers shows where Hankook stands among the large groups. The cost of ownership calculator helps to put tyre costs into the total running cost of a car.

Two sets or all-season tyres?

In climates with real winters, most drivers need two sets: summer tyres and winter tyres, eight tyres in total. That doubles the outlay, but each set lasts longer because it is used only half the year. All-season tyres, such as Hankook's Kinergy 4S2, cost less up front and avoid seasonal changes. They are a compromise, though: weaker than summer tyres in summer heat and weaker than winter tyres on snow and ice. They suit drivers with low mileage in mild climates. For winter choices, see our guides to choosing winter tyres and to the winter tyre tests of 2018–2019.

Who should buy Hankook tyres

• A good choice for drivers who want a well-known brand with OE approvals at a lower price than Michelin, Continental or Bridgestone, provided the model scores well in a recent test in their size.
• Worth comparing carefully for buyers who put wet braking first: in the 2026 ADAC test, the dearer Bridgestone earned a better wet grade (2.8 against 3.3).
• Check the fitment: use the size, load index and speed symbol from the vehicle documents. Our tyre size calculator shows the effect of a size change.

Tyre terms are explained in our glossary.