Hankook Ventus Prime2 Reviews - Page 4

Given 10% while driving a Alfa Romeo 147 (205/55 R16 V) on mostly country roads for 1,000 spirited miles
Scarily bad tyres. They offer less grip than the bald Pirellis they replaced. I have had this car for seven years in which time it has gone through Continental Premium, Conti Sport Contact, Dunlop Fast Response, Toyo T1R and latterly Pirelli P7. All of these tyres would rank 6 or above in all categories, these Hankooks score 1 across the board: chronic push in the dry in my FWD Alfa 147, which becomes ludicrous in the wet; they span up on the way off the forecourt at the fitting place which should have been a sign (remember I have owned this car for seven years and have kind of got the biting point down by now); you cannot deviate from any line: a manoeuvre that might result in slight squeal from a normal tyre will just result in a silent and terrifying slide on these (the electronic stability control has never kicked in so much as it now does); you get no warning that they're letting go, they just go; they are insanely noisy; they only seem to come to the car at ludicrous speed in a motorway environment, but waay in excess of the UK limit. They were cheap but NOT worth it. Have only done a thousand miles on them so can't comment on wear: I will replace them long before they are due though. It is not an overstatement to say that they scare me, and I am a reasonably experienced race driver. Buy them at your peril!
Helpful 11 - tyre reviewed on November 1, 2013
Given 91% while driving a Ford Focus (200/50 R17 W) on mostly motorways for 0 average miles
just bought 2 for front and what a difference worth every penny will buy again nothing else to say there that good
Helpful 16 - tyre reviewed on September 4, 2013
Given 67% while driving a Ford (225/45 R17 W) on a combination of roads for 10,000 average miles
Bought these for my S-Max based on reviews. They have been an excellent tyre in terms of comfort and driving, but surprisingly have worn to the legal limit in 10,000 miles which, considering I paid over £600 for 4, makes them a terribly expensive purchase. Going to look at Goodyear Efficient Grip Performance or Dunlop BluResponse instead this time.
Helpful 13 - tyre reviewed on August 31, 2013
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Given 60% while driving a Mazda 5 (205/50 R17 W) on a combination of roads for 7,000 average miles
When these tyres were new, dry grip was decent as was wet grip. Nothing amazing but worthy of touring tyres, which is what I consider them to be.

Now, they are just over half life, dry cornering is poor, dry braking is good but the handling in the wet is bad. They slide about and squirm under moderate cornering. Tyre life is also poor, will struggle to get them to go 10k miles on the front.

Best thing about them is they are quiet and relatively comfortable ride quality.

In summary, buy something else! There are many options in their price range.
Helpful 12 - tyre reviewed on August 16, 2013
Given 96% while driving a Skoda MK1 Octavia VRS (205/50 R17 W) on a combination of roads for 2,000 spirited miles
Had 4 of these fitted to my Skoda Octavia VRS to replace the Uniroyal RainSport 2s. Straight away, what a difference, they are so much quieter, and much firmer around the twisty's. The comfort is also notice and there is much less road noise transfered through the cabin. I would also say these are as good if not better in the wet. The biggest difference I have found is fuel economy...with the Uniroyal's I could only get about 26mpg around town and at most 38mpg on the motorways at 70mph. With these I am seeing 30mpg+ around town and 42/43mpg on the motorway driving in the same fashion. At 1st I couldn't believe the figures but you can actually feel the difference.

Very, very impressed. So much so, I have just ordered a set of 4 for my Mk2 Golf. Will update once I have covered some miles.
Helpful 14 - tyre reviewed on July 22, 2013
Given 76% while driving a Volkswagen golf mk4 gti 1.8T (205/55 R16 W) on mostly town for 4,000 average miles
Had a pair of these fitted to the front of our golf, replacing several assorted worn out budget tyres that came on the car.

Dry cornering grip is good with no sudden breakaway. Plenty enough straight ahead grip to cope with the golfs turbo block on acceleration, likewise braking is excellent. I haven't driven enough in the wet to comment much on performance at any sort of limit.

Generally, they seems a pretty good match to a mostly round town car that occasionally gets a spot of spirited driving out in the wilds. Good balance of grip and life. Fuel economy - no idea TBH as haven't had another set of tyres on the car to compare with, but that's not the prime concern with the car they're fitted to, we have a diesel bus for that kind of motoring.

I'd buy again for a hot hatch, they're an ideal marriage.
Helpful 12 - tyre reviewed on June 24, 2013
Given 33% while driving a Peugeot 308 HDi 90 Sport (205/55 R16) on a combination of roads for 200 average miles
After having these 4 of these tyres fitted I felt unsafe driving my car. Initially I thought it was a problem with the tracking or balancing with the wheels on my car but after 2 attempts of fixing it things haven't changed. On the motorway the steering would start to shake violently at 65/70 MPH, going around corners it felt like the rear end was steering/ sliding when you turned the wheel and on the road the car is pulling to the right. The car never done this before I had the Hankook's fitted and quit doing it when I took them off. I have now had them replaced with Semperit tyres and the car feels so much safer. DON'T BUY!!
Helpful 13 - tyre reviewed on May 6, 2013
Given 37% while driving a Ford Kuga (235/55 R17 V) on a combination of roads for 10,000 average miles
Bought these tyres last year to replace the original continental contacts 4*4. Immediately i was not happy with steering but was advised to "let them run in". Returned to the tyre centre after 100 miles as the steering was terrible. The steering wheel was shimmying and the car would pull badly to one side depending on the road camber. The wheel alignment was redone as was the balancing. They checked the wheels /tyres but could not get rid of the steering problems. The solution was to fit the rear Conti,s on the front and put the Hankbooks on the back, problem solved. The downside is that in the wet the now the back end tends to break on corners or on roundabouts.
Helpful 15 - tyre reviewed on March 20, 2013
Given 90% while driving a Ford Fiesta (195/50 R15 V) on a combination of roads for 3,000 average miles
replaced Bridgestone Turanza ER300's with these which have always been brilliant, initially on the back and then the front as well. Noticeably quieter on a Mk6 Fiesta, otherwise can't feel any difference.
Helpful 13 - tyre reviewed on March 10, 2013
Given 77% while driving a MG ZR (205/55 R16) on a combination of roads for 12 spirited miles
Got four of these tyres put on the car when it got put back on the road a year ago and they have been pretty solid up until now as the nearside front is starting to get a bit low, but still well within the legal limit. The wear on the front is a tad uneven but that I would put down to my liking of dumping the clutch outside the house, but even with that as said above the tread is still well within the limit, they have done a large combination of roads everything from motorways to single track without complaint. The grip in the dry is good and they have never broken free of their own accord, in the wet until recently they where great in the wet too but due to wear standing water is starting to freak me a wee bit with under steer starting to pop up right handers from time to time (standing water on roundabouts is great fun now....) The comfort is pretty good since they are 55's but due to this they look like they are soft all the time. I will probably buy them again in a lower profile, decent tyres.
Helpful 11 - tyre reviewed on August 27, 2012
Given 90% while driving a Volvo S40 2.0d (205/50 R17 W) on a combination of roads for 1,500 spirited miles
Great tyre, commensurate with the price. Very impressive in wet which is when a good tyre proves itself most. Very good level of comfort and noise. I guess there's a reason why they're getting OE contracts with major european manufacturers such as BMW now.
Helpful 13 - tyre reviewed on April 14, 2012
Given 87% while driving a Audi A4 B5 1,8T Sport (205/55 R16 V) on mostly town for 2,000 spirited miles
These are fantastic tyres, on my car I had 2 fairly new Pirelli P7 and 2 worn out no brand ditch finders, I tried the Pirellis on the front with 6mm of tread and was unimpressed, as with most Pirelli tyres it felt vague and bumpy. I was happy to try these as they are OEM on VW Golf, Mini Cooper S etc so I felt they would work well on my Audi, I wasnt let down. Huge wet weather grip, standing water is shrugged off and the sheer grip is very impressive. They are also pretty quiet and smooth too, although my car isnt the softest riding in the world anyway. It refuses to understeer even when driving far too fast (!). It really is time all the tyre snobs realised that big European names are being put to shame in performance and price by the Koreans, much like the cars they are fitted too!
Helpful 12 - tyre reviewed on October 16, 2011