Review of Laufenn S Fit 2 Summer Tires

For the 2026 summer season, Hankook has released a new summer tire, Laufenn S Fit 2, which replaces the S Fit EQ+ model introduced in 2020. In the assortment of the second-line brand from the Korean manufacturer, it occupies a place between the sports Z Fit EQ and touring G Fit EQ+ - in the company, the novelty is denoted by the word Sporty, which can be translated as "sporty".

It is also reported that the S Fit 2 combines reliable traction on any type of surface with durability and economy, and "meets the high quality standards set by Hankook", and its special importance for the company lies in the fact that it brings the Laufenn brand into the primary equipment segment of the European market and will be installed on Dacia, Skoda and Seat cars, all of which belong to Volkswagen.

"By releasing Laufenn S Fit 2, we are strengthening the position of our brand in the summer segment, and the fact that the tires will be supplied to automotive companies for the first time is of great importance and confirms that Laufenn is gaining weight in the European market," said Chang Hyuk Moon, Vice President of Marketing at Hankook Tire Europe.

In tests, the S Fit EQ+ tires performed moderately on average, and once failed the ADAC tests, taking 38th place, but at the same time received "Satisfactory" ratings from Auto Bild and the same ADAC, and the new model significantly surpasses its predecessor in a number of key parameters, and, for example, the effectiveness of braking on wet roads has increased by 16%, which helped it receive an A rating on the Euro label for this indicator in almost 90% of sizes. In addition, the manageability on a wet road was improved by 10%, while the resource increased by 15%, and the noise level decreased by 4%.

To enhance traction on wet surfaces, several technical solutions were used, and, for example, a new rubber compound with a silica content has increased elasticity, which increases the reliability of contact with the road.

Four wide longitudinal grooves are responsible for quick water drainage, and one of the differences between the new product and the tires of the previous generation is that the blocks have been given a convex shape, which accelerates water drainage and reduces the risk of aquaplaning, as well as increases safety in difficult weather conditions.

Like the S Fit EQ+, the new Laufenn tires have an asymmetric tread pattern, and the reinforced blocks in the outer shoulder area - in combination with a special resin in the rubber compound - increase the contact patch, improving stability when cornering, including at high speeds.

Transverse bridges are located in the transverse grooves, which reduce block deformation and increase the rigidity of the tread, improving control, while the sloping edges of the blocks are designed to accelerate the response to steering wheel turns and improve lateral stability by stabilizing the contact area with the road.

Hankook adds that when creating the compound, a polymer of a new generation was used, and, in addition, an improved tire mixing technology is applied, thanks to which the strength of the bonds between the ingredients of the compound and their uniform distribution were improved, and the final result was an increase in service life. With the same goal, the uniformity of load distribution in the support zone was optimized.

To detect uneven wear at an early stage, special indicators (Alignment Indicator) are provided, located in both shoulder sections.

The sloping edges of the longitudinal ribs, as the manufacturer claims, reduce noise when hitting, while the ribbed walls of the main grooves narrow the space through which the air flow passes, which reduces resonance and vibrations, which also increases the level of acoustic comfort.

In addition to everything else, the tires also received a lightweight design that reduces energy losses, which is especially important given the growing popularity of electric vehicles, for which range is of paramount importance. According to the Euro marking system, the S Fit received B and C ratings for economy.

The fact that the tires are designed for use on both gasoline-powered vehicles and electric vehicles is indicated by the special EV marking on the sidewalls, which will be equipped with other Laufenn models in the future. According to Hankook representatives, this symbol indicates that the tires are not only characterized by reduced rolling resistance, but also by reduced noise and high load-carrying capacity, necessary given the heavy batteries of electric vehicles.

Laufenn S Fit 2 are produced in 94 sizes from 185/55R15 to 275/35ZR20, and compared to the tires of the previous generation, the number of sizes with a speed index of Y (up to 300 km/h) has increased from 27 to 37, and the proportion of sizes with a diameter of 18 inches or more has increased from 35% to 46%. A Laufenn S Fit 2 SUV version is also available for crossovers and SUVs, which is offered in 20 sizes from 215/70R16 to 275/40ZR20.