Last Updated on May 25, 2021 by Stephen Tillman
I like taking a look at all-season touring tires since they seem to deliver the best balance of price, durability, and performance, but still, there are models that are definitely not worth the price and promise a lot while not delivering. One interesting model is the Hankook Kinergy GT, these tires seem pretty impressive as they promise to deliver comfort, quiet driving, and impressive traction and grip, which sounds too good to be true, but then again let’s take a look.
Main Features Of The Hankook Kinergy GT
Target audience
The manufacturer says that the Hankook Kinergy GT’s are premium grand touring all-season tires that are designed for drivers of sport coupes and luxury vehicles, so if you are looking for high-performance tires with the touring comfort, this should be it if the manufacturer is to be trusted. Most of the time manufacturers just put some promises that they can’t deliver, and my job is to put these tires to test and see whether or not they can deliver.
Specs and Features
The Hankook Kinergy GT’s come as a feature-rich package that has some great high-end features which should make them excellent at least in theory, but then again, we know better than to come into conclusions before testing them extensively, so let’s get on with its features. First off, I have to say that I am impressed with the optimized limited warranty for treadwear up to 70,000 miles and the road hazard warranty which should prove a little about its durability. It also comes in different sizes ranging from 15 to 19 inches in rim diameter, good enough for its target audience.
For the Hankook Kinergy GT, the company has utilized a high-grip silica tread compound that is rated M+S, which means that it should have better traction, on dry, snow and wet asphalt. It also is equipped with a wider than regular steel belt layer which has shown that it can deliver better stability at higher speeds, and cornering performance. For the wet performance, this tire is equipped with four wide enough circumferential grooves that can evacuate water from beneath the tire, giving it a better performance.
Moving on I should state that the center rib enhances braking and handling grip, so you can stay assured, all positives here. The lateral grooves combine pretty well with the circumferential grooves, giving the tire contact with the pavement in case of any hydroplaning. Inside this beast is equipped with two steel belts, that have a jointless full cover reinforced belt, which in my experience has been the perfect combination for durability and stability. Before moving on I should note that the super stiff bead filler should improve steering and response.
First Impression
The first impression that I got from these tires was pretty positive, not anything exceptional in terms of looks, and won’t suit the tuner circles, but for luxury sedans and sports coupes, it will look good enough.
I installed them on the BMW 330i which is should deliver a good testing experience overall, and I got to say that they look good in the car. The first spin around the block was pretty average, regular touring tires, silent and comfortable enough, nothing notable.
Testing
I have put on some 15,000 miles on these tires through different conditions so I can say that I feel pretty confident at delivering a good review about them, so let’s get going. Let’s start with the durability and treadwear, since these are all-season touring tires, and it is probably the main reason behind the purchase. As far as grand touring tires go, this is one of the most durable, if not the most durable one, as the tire wears pretty well and very evenly. Also, I have to be honest here, silence and comfort are its strongest points both in high and low speeds, definitely one of the strongest in this category as well.
Well let’s address the element in the room now, these tires are designed for sport coupes and luxury sedans, and if you own such a vehicle you probably like pushing it a little. If you fit in that category these tires may not be the best fit for you, they lack a bit of grip compared to performance tires, and even some other grand-touring tires are better than this one in this category. However, for a pair of touring tires at this price point, they deliver great braking and accelerating traction in the dry pavement.
In the wet, these tires performed exceptionally well in my experience. The braking distance was amazing, and you will be confident to take on emergency situations. While I wouldn’t go aggressively in corners with these, but overall if you are searching for a comfortable driving experience you should be well off in different scenarios. Winter was okay, it can get through light snow and such, but if things get messy I wouldn’t rely on these tires, well not just these but any all-season tire wouldn’t do.
All in all, these tires perform well in SUVs and can be considered as great tires for cars such as the BMW 328i.
Verdict
Let’s be honest here there are some faults and cons with these tires, but then again looking at the price and performance, I can say that the company has struck a good balance. Cornering, responsiveness and snow traction might not be its strongest suit, but if you are looking for durability, comfort, silence, and stability on the road, these tires are the right tires for your needs.