Last Updated on May 12, 2021 by Stephen Tillman
There are some tires that don’t get enough attention because they are a little specific, for example, summer high-performance tires. However, one of the most interesting options in the market in this category, the Hankook Ventus V12 evo2 is making hay way with its offerings. This tire has become a fan favorite for many sports cars and sporty coupe drivers, and if it is anything like the reviews say it is, I think we have a gem in our hands.
Target Audience
The company has provided a brief but clear description for these, a tire designed for drivers who like to express their style, which delivers outstanding performance for sports driving. Sounds nice and to the point, this is not your passenger vehicle tire, not a touring one, and not an all-season one. This tire is manufactured for spirited drivers, those who want a bit more bite and edge, and that is the reason I want to test these so much. Now let’s see.
Specs and Features
Just taking a look at the manufacturer’s and sellers’ website you will see that this tire is a premium one, and the price reflects that as well. But then again if you want a high-performance it is a price you have to pay. For the Hankook Ventus V12 evo2, it has a limited tread warranty, which is nothing exceptional and pretty standard.s Also the materials and workmanship are warranted for 5-years with free replacement during the first year or first 2/32-inches of wear. It comes in a good range of sizes spanning from 16 to 21-inches in rim diameter size with various widths, but mostly with Y speed ratings and occasionally W in some cases.
The most important thing about these tires is the high-grip silica tread compound that is specifically designed for lower rolling resistance and improved fuel efficiency, but we can’t conclude that without testing, but the added styrene polymer sounds pretty promising. The directional tread design with notched shoulders and 3D intermediate ribs should provide great performance on the dry. On top of that, the continuous center rib should deliver a great deal of stability and responsiveness in cornering.
For delivering better performance in the wet the company has added circumferential and aqua jet lateral grooves that in theory should get the water out of the bottom of the tire. The reviews mentioned that it has a promising rain performance but I am a little concerned about that. It also has a 5 pitch tread sequence that is designed with computer technology to deliver a more silent driving experience, and comfort at the same time. Moving on it has a pair of steel belts installed which are reinforced with two plies of spirally-wrapped joint-less nylon to make the tire more durable overall.
First Impression
I have to say that these tires look good and high-performance with their thin sidewall and tread design, pretty impressed by my first look. I think that these tires will look excellent in any sports car without a doubt.
I installed these tires on the BMW 328i to test its full capabilities and see what it offers, and I have to say that it looks rather good on the car. The first spin around the block didn’t reveal much but nothing bad as well.
Testing
I tested these tires in various scenarios during the summer and I think that I can offer an extensive review about them, to give you better feedback about these tires. First and foremost the most important thing about these tires is that they don’t have a durable tread life. However, this should be expected when buying performance tires, and compared to other tires in its category it should last longer. Due to being not the stiffest in its category, the Hankook Ventus V12 evo2 delivers better comfort levels, much much better than its competitors, and noise is pretty mediocre overall, not anything notable.
To test these tires I went to backroads, highways, city driving and on the track. The first thing I have to note is that these tires are excellent for the highway even at super high speeds which is excellent. On the track though, you will see the full capabilities of this tire, as it delivers great qualities. For example, it is extremely outstanding in terms of handling, as it feels pretty responsive and accurate in cornering. Traction and grip are very good overall and I am pleased, however, there is a catch. These tires lack just a little bite and edge, they are not bad per se, but then again if you want the very best you will look for a bit more.
I had the same experience while driving on wet asphalt. The same excellent precision and responsiveness and it handled hydroplaning like a boss. The traction and grip are pretty good and overall I think you would not be looking for more when driving in the rain, however, not racing slicks in any way. I can say that these tires lack a bit of refinement, they had a chance to be the very best but they lack a small element that separates them from the very best.
Verdict
To conclude I will say again that these tires are a super capable high-performance summer tire, but for those that are looking for race track performance will be left hanging. Then again these tires are super impressive options for those that drive sports and muscle cars and want more traction for their daily driving and weekend adventures.