Hankook Ventus S1 evo

When tyre labelling was first mooted, it tackled only fuel economy and drive by noise – areas in which it’s easy for makers to do well by sacrificing performance elsewhere.

Wet grip was eventually included in the ratings, yet the Hankook delivers on efficiency at the expense of grip elsewhere. While the margins are small, the critical wet braking result is a worry; the S1 evo needed five metres more to stop from 50mph than the winning Pirelli – that’s a car’s length. Aquaplaning wasn’t what we’ve seen from Hankook in the past.

This lack of wet grip was also evident on the handling track, where it broke traction easily and started to slide earlier than rivals. It’s not a white knuckle ride, but you could feel it struggling to cope with our Golf’s power.

The gaps to the leaders were smaller in the dry, but there was a lack of precision, with the tyre feeling softer and less sporty than rivals. As on the wet track, it was progressive.

Hankook finishes last, paying the price for a tyre that excels in only one area.

Our verdict

Manufacturer needs to work on a better balance between fuel economy and grip.

Contact

Hankook: http://www.hankooktire-eu.com/