Winter tire test by AutoView (2024)

The Korean portal AutoView has been conducting tire tests since 2007, and in 2024, the results of the winter tire test from three local brands were announced, including Hankook, Kumho, and Nexen.

The test vehicle was a rear-wheel drive Genesis G80 sedan, which was used to test the Hankook Winter i*cept evo3, Kumho WinterCraft WP72, and Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 tires in the sizes 245/45 R19 on the front and 275/40 R19 on the rear axle. The tests were conducted on snow, dry, and wet asphalt, and factors such as noise and comfort were also taken into account.

Before the tests, the weight of the tires was measured, and AV notes that a 1 kg reduction in unsprung mass is considered to be 10 times more effective in improving fuel efficiency and dynamic characteristics than a reduction in body mass. Overall, all the tested tires weighed almost the same, with the lightest being the Hankook (12.2 kg front and 13.1 kg rear), followed by the Nexen (12.8 kg and 13.5 kg) and the Kumho (12.8 kg and 13.8 kg). The hardness of the tires was also measured, and the Kumho were found to be the softest (63 units), while the Hankook were slightly harder (66 units), and the Nexen were closest to all-season tires (68 units).

Since the effectiveness of winter tires on snow is crucial, this part of the test could score up to 15 points, while the other surfaces could only score up to 10. The braking and acceleration efficiency, as well as handling, were evaluated, and the Hankook tires won in all three disciplines, with the Kumho taking second place and the Nexen taking third. However, all the tires showed good results, and, for example, in the traction test (measuring the distance required to accelerate from 0 to 40 km/h), the Kumho were only 1.4% behind the Hankook, which means that the difference in points is not significant. The experts also noted that in the handling tests, the Hankook tires were the fastest to regain traction after the start of skidding, while the Kumho took longer, but the difference was not significant.

On wet surfaces, the Hankook tires were unable to maintain their lead, and the Kumho tires were the best. The braking distance of the Kumho tires was 25.72 meters, while the Hankook tires were 1.09 meters worse, and the Nexen tires were 4.87 meters longer, which is a significant difference.

The Kumho tires also took first place in the tests for braking efficiency and lateral stability on dry asphalt. The braking distance of the Nexen tires was almost the same as that of the Kumho tires, while the Hankook tires showed a relatively weak result (although they did not pose a safety hazard). On the circular track, the Kumho tires performed more confidently than their competitors, although AV noted that after use under high loads, significant wear on the tread was noticeable, which is likely due to the soft compound. For handling on dry surfaces, the Hankook tires received the highest rating, while the Kumho tires also showed good results, although their lap time began to deteriorate over time due to the increased softness.

Noise was measured both inside and outside the vehicle, and in the first case, the Nexen tires were the leaders, followed by the Hankook and Kumho tires. In the second case, the Nexen tires were again the quietest, and the other two tires swapped places.

The comfort of the ride was evaluated by experienced drivers, who placed the Hankook tires in first place, as they effectively absorbed vibrations both when driving over strong bumps and when moving over small road irregularities.

In contrast to many other publications, AV also takes into account the price of the tires, and this aspect is given such importance that participants can receive up to 20 points for it. The average cost of tires in several regions of Korea was taken into account (in the provinces, they are cheaper than in the prestigious Seoul district of Gangnam), and the Hankook and Kumho tires received the same ratings, while the Nexen tires were slightly cheaper.

Verdict

The best tires in the 2024 test were the Hankook tires, which provide good handling in any weather conditions and took first place in all disciplines on snow. The Kumho tires took second place, showing excellent results on wet and dry asphalt, while the Nexen tires slightly lagged behind the leaders in terms of overall grip, but showed very good acoustic comfort. It remains to be added that all three tires belong to the "European" category, and in the northern climate, it is better to use winter tires of the Scandinavian type.