New tyres or just not bother?

[Supa Koopa]

So I bought my car new just over a year ago and it came fitted with Hankook Ventus S1 Evo2's and from day one I just didn't like them. I kept moaning that if I had a spare £400 I'd change them, but there's nothing really wrong with them so I'll just have to live with them. Fast forward to March this year and I had a accident where I lost all traction in the snow (driving slowly before anyone comments) and had a bit of a prang. I swore then that I wanted new tyres as the Hankook's were just crap. I got the car repaired and they fitted 1 new tyre which obviously had to be a Hankook. So I now have 3 tyres with 6mm and one on the rear that's done 600 miles.

I've squirreled away £400 to get a new set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres fitted but I'm having buyers remorse even before I've spent the money. The thing is there's nothing wrong with my current set of tyres and I don't drive like a loony but I just don't have any confidence in them and the snob in me is not happy about Hankook tyres on an S3. I'm sure they keep slipping in the current heat and I have noticed the traction control light flicker occasionally just pulling out of junctions at normal speeds as well as the odd squeal here and there. They never really feel like they have much grip and certainly appear worse than the conti 5's I had on the old S3. So I have the money and I'm willing to can spend it but I'm worried I'm not going to see any real benefit and think I shouldn't have bothered. I've read loads of reviews and they always do well so I'm sure they'll be good. But;

Do I get new tyres or keep the old ones.

 

[Jassyo06]

So I bought my car new just over a year ago and it came fitted with Hankook Ventus S1 Evo2's and from day one I just didn't like them. I kept moaning that if I had a spare £400 I'd change them, but there's nothing really wrong with them so I'll just have to live with them. Fast forward to March this year and I had a accident where I lost all traction in the snow (driving slowly before anyone comments) and had a bit of a prang. I swore then that I wanted new tyres as the Hankook's were just ****. I got the car repaired and they fitted 1 new tyre which obviously had to be a Hankook. So I now have 3 tyres with 6mm and one on the rear that's done 600 miles.

I've squirreled away £400 to get a new set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres fitted but I'm having buyers remorse even before I've spent the money. The thing is there's nothing wrong with my current set of tyres and I don't drive like a loony but I just don't have any confidence in them and the snob in me is not happy about Hankook tyres on an S3. I'm sure they keep slipping in the current heat and I have noticed the traction control light flicker occasionally just pulling out of junctions at normal speeds as well as the odd squeal here and there. They never really feel like they have much grip and certainly appear worse than the conti 5's I had on the old S3. So I have the money and I'm willing to can spend it but I'm worried I'm not going to see any real benefit and think I shouldn't have bothered. I've read loads of reviews and they always do well so I'm sure they'll be good. But;

Do I get new tyres or keep the old ones.

Take the hit mate Simples and treat them to a new tyre dressing lol
I wouldn't go Michelin ... Too noisy

 

[V6_Man]

So I bought my car new just over a year ago and it came fitted with Hankook Ventus S1 Evo2's and from day one I just didn't like them. I kept moaning that if I had a spare £400 I'd change them, but there's nothing really wrong with them so I'll just have to live with them. Fast forward to March this year and I had a accident where I lost all traction in the snow (driving slowly before anyone comments) and had a bit of a prang. I swore then that I wanted new tyres as the Hankook's were just ****. I got the car repaired and they fitted 1 new tyre which obviously had to be a Hankook. So I now have 3 tyres with 6mm and one on the rear that's done 600 miles.

I've squirreled away £400 to get a new set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres fitted but I'm having buyers remorse even before I've spent the money. The thing is there's nothing wrong with my current set of tyres and I don't drive like a loony but I just don't have any confidence in them and the snob in me is not happy about Hankook tyres on an S3. I'm sure they keep slipping in the current heat and I have noticed the traction control light flicker occasionally just pulling out of junctions at normal speeds as well as the odd squeal here and there. They never really feel like they have much grip and certainly appear worse than the conti 5's I had on the old S3. So I have the money and I'm willing to can spend it but I'm worried I'm not going to see any real benefit and think I shouldn't have bothered. I've read loads of reviews and they always do well so I'm sure they'll be good. But;

Do I get new tyres or keep the old ones.

I completely understand where you are coming from as I am like that too. It would irritate and annoy me too and I would end changing them. Like I did on my missus' A3 when I bought. It had the pathetic Continentals on with slightly uneven tread on one of them - looked liked it was replaced. I drove the car for a month and then I was like; sod it and switched over to PS4s and I am a happy man now.

Oh, and I sold mine on Gumtree and got some money back. I am sure you'll be able to sell your old ones on fleebay, Gumtree or Facebook market place and get some money back as well.

Having said that, although personally I have never had Hankooks on any of my cars the reviews have always been good. I have seen Mercs come stock with Hankooks so, I am sure they must be good.








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[Supa Koopa]

Thanks guys much appreciated, I know I need to for my own sanity. If they were short on tread or damaged it would be an easy decision, because they are in very good condition it makes it harder.

@jassyo06 - don't do that to me, it's taken me long enough to decide on the Michelin's...!

I'll have to try on gumtree or something then if I ever decide on a reasonable amount to ask.

 

[NevMan]

So I bought my car new just over a year ago and it came fitted with Hankook Ventus S1 Evo2's and from day one I just didn't like them. I kept moaning that if I had a spare £400 I'd change them, but there's nothing really wrong with them so I'll just have to live with them. Fast forward to March this year and I had a accident where I lost all traction in the snow (driving slowly before anyone comments) and had a bit of a prang. I swore then that I wanted new tyres as the Hankook's were just ****. I got the car repaired and they fitted 1 new tyre which obviously had to be a Hankook. So I now have 3 tyres with 6mm and one on the rear that's done 600 miles.

I've squirreled away £400 to get a new set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres fitted but I'm having buyers remorse even before I've spent the money. The thing is there's nothing wrong with my current set of tyres and I don't drive like a loony but I just don't have any confidence in them and the snob in me is not happy about Hankook tyres on an S3. I'm sure they keep slipping in the current heat and I have noticed the traction control light flicker occasionally just pulling out of junctions at normal speeds as well as the odd squeal here and there. They never really feel like they have much grip and certainly appear worse than the conti 5's I had on the old S3. So I have the money and I'm willing to can spend it but I'm worried I'm not going to see any real benefit and think I shouldn't have bothered. I've read loads of reviews and they always do well so I'm sure they'll be good. But;

Do I get new tyres or keep the old ones.

Go for it, you should be able to get a few quid back chucking the used Hankook's on Fleabay to ease the buyer's remorse...I love that, have had that myslef many times before buying

 

[NevMan]

I completely understand where you are coming from as I am like that too. It would irritate and annoy me too and I would end changing them. Like I did on my missus' A3 when I bought. It had the pathetic Continentals on with slightly uneven tread on one of them - looked liked it was replaced. I drove the car for a month and then I was like; sod it and switched over to PS4s and I am a happy man now.

Oh, and I sold mine on Gumtree and got some money back. I am sure you'll be able to sell your old ones on fleebay, Gumtree or Facebook market place and get some money back as well.

Having said that, although personally I have never had Hankooks on any of my cars the reviews have always been good. I have seen Mercs come stock with Hankooks so, I am sure they must be good.








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pretty sure you will get the most for them on fleabay. Search for those tyres and tick completed listings.

Looks like about £50 each: https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=hankook 245 35 19&LH_Complete=1&rt=nc&_trksid=p2045573.m1684

Obviously don't know your exact tyre spec

 

[Tictap]

Had hakooks on my previous mk7 golf gti PP and loved them.

 

[NevMan]

Thanks guys much appreciated, I know I need to for my own sanity. If they were short on tread or damaged it would be an easy decision, because they are in very good condition it makes it harder.

@jassyo06 - don't do that to me, it's taken me long enough to decide on the Michelin's...!

I'll have to try on gumtree or something then if I ever decide on a reasonable amount to ask.

I have only read good things about PS4's all over this site

 

[andywil13]

Check out reviews of the Michelin crossclimate tyres on youtube. not had them myself but thinking about it next time i need new tyres. Supposed to be a great tyre for the UK with our occasional snow as good all year round unlike summer only or winter only tyres

 

[NevMan]

Check out reviews of the Michelin crossclimate tyres on youtube. not had them myself but thinking about it next time i need new tyres. Supposed to be a great tyre for the UK with our occasional snow as good all year round unlike summer only or winter only tyres

that "could" be a fair shout, if this 9 month winter we just had is anything to go by.

 

[V6_Man]

Had hakooks on my previous mk7 golf gti PP and loved them?

You informing us or asking us for our opinion on whether you liked them or not?


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[V6_Man]

I have only read good things about PS4's all over this site

I have PS3s on the S4 and PS4s on the A3 (doesn't sound right, does it ) and I like both of them tbh. PS4s I have driven nearly 1200 miles since new so still early days but so far so good. I agree with @jassyo06 though (never thought I'd say that on PS4s though) they are slightly noisy compaeoto PS3s and Continentals.


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[Supa Koopa]

@andywil13 - I did look at those originally but as it's an S3 i was persuaded against them. Even Michelin said I would be better with the PS4's as the cross climates are not a performance tyre. If I had anything other than a S3 (bar RS's obviously) I'd probably have tried them as they do look very good and receive excellent reviews.

@Tashfeen - Thanks for your input it's really appreciated, especially as you've done exactly what I'm thinking in ditching perfectly usable tyres for new ones. I'm not overly concerned on the extra noise so long as everything else is better. I don't do regular miles and most of my journeys are urban so extra noise shouldn't affect me too much.

@q5man - Thanks for that. The ones you listed are the 19's so will go for considerably more than mine but it does give me a starting point and I hadn't thought of doing it that way.

 

[NevMan]

@andywil13 - I did look at those originally but as it's an S3 i was persuaded against them. Even Michelin said I would be better with the PS4's as the cross climates are not a performance tyre. If I had anything other than a S3 (bar RS's obviously) I'd probably have tried them as they do look very good and receive excellent reviews.

@Tashfeen - Thanks for your input it's really appreciated, especially as you've done exactly what I'm thinking in ditching perfectly usable tyres for new ones. I'm not overly concerned on the extra noise so long as everything else is better. I don't do regular miles and most of my journeys are urban so extra noise shouldn't affect me too much.

@q5man - Thanks for that. The ones you listed are the 19's so will go for considerably more than mine but it does give me a starting point and I hadn't thought of doing it that way.

18"s : https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?L...=nc&LH_ItemCondition=4&_trksid=p2045573.m1684

Could probably get £120-£160 for the 4

 

[Supa Koopa]

18"s : https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?LH_Complete=1&_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=4 x hankook 225 40 18&_dcat=179680&rt=nc&LH_ItemCondition=4&_trksid=p2045573.m1684

Could probably get £120-£160 for the 4

Now you're talking.

 

[mikemod]

I have Hankooks on mine and have no issues with them,
They grip well, wet or dry and are quiet.
They certainly seem to be able to handle launch control

 

[Ormesome]

Im all for CrossClimate tyres. I have Pirelli P7 All Season tyres myself. HOWEVER! I would advise against them on an S3 or performance car. Mine is a 1.6tdi and where I live it is currently 30 degrees and in winter its -20. The tires are great, best iv had in my life. In the snow they were insanely good. went up hills full of snow. Now it is getting hotter, I can feel that if I push the car to the limits (yes its a 1.6tdi hence my point!) it feels like its hanging on. The most I feel is when I go round a roundabout and the tarmac is hot, the grip is there, perfectly fine for my car, but I know these roads and I had more grip last summer from my Pirelli P7 summer tyres. Don't get me wrong, if anyone is reading his and getting scared because I mention lack on grip, im talking about an extreme occasion where i am blasting around a roundabout, but im trying to relate the forces to an S3 with 3x the power! For a normal car, All season or Crossclimate is the way to go. In an S3 you will be spinning everywhere. Not recommended, however they might be good for the other 3 seasons, just not summer.

Also, I don't want to rub you up the wrong way, but it seems that the only time you actually lost control of the car was when you were driving in the snow with summer tyres. No matter who you are, what kind of driver you are, anyone will tell you that the conditions are what caused it! For me, I would stick with tyres, wait until they are worn out and then get some you have more confidence in.

 

[S32B]

So I bought my car new just over a year ago and it came fitted with Hankook Ventus S1 Evo2's and from day one I just didn't like them. I kept moaning that if I had a spare £400 I'd change them, but there's nothing really wrong with them so I'll just have to live with them. Fast forward to March this year and I had a accident where I lost all traction in the snow (driving slowly before anyone comments) and had a bit of a prang. I swore then that I wanted new tyres as the Hankook's were just ****. I got the car repaired and they fitted 1 new tyre which obviously had to be a Hankook. So I now have 3 tyres with 6mm and one on the rear that's done 600 miles.

I've squirreled away £400 to get a new set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres fitted but I'm having buyers remorse even before I've spent the money. The thing is there's nothing wrong with my current set of tyres and I don't drive like a loony but I just don't have any confidence in them and the snob in me is not happy about Hankook tyres on an S3. I'm sure they keep slipping in the current heat and I have noticed the traction control light flicker occasionally just pulling out of junctions at normal speeds as well as the odd squeal here and there. They never really feel like they have much grip and certainly appear worse than the conti 5's I had on the old S3. So I have the money and I'm willing to can spend it but I'm worried I'm not going to see any real benefit and think I shouldn't have bothered. I've read loads of reviews and they always do well so I'm sure they'll be good. But;

Do I get new tyres or keep the old ones.

Or option 2 ! Buy a new set of alloys with good tyres on, then when you sell the car put the original alloys back on and sell the new alloys/tyres, or keep them for the next car!!! That way you also get a new/individual look

 

[Supa Koopa]

@Ormesome - No worries about rubbing me up the wrong way as it was completely my fault. I've had a S3 before that had conti 5's on it, and they performed much better in similar conditions. The thing is I never liked these from day one, I gave them a couple of months to bed in but they never got any better. They grip but you have no confidence in them doing so. It's hard to describe but they just feel like they are hanging on all the time. To me I'd say 100% they are a budget tyre and have no place on a performance car. My hope is that the Michelin's perform better. Now it may be that they don't grip, stop or last any better than the Hankook's which I don't mind so long as I have confidence in them. Also I'm dreading winter if I leave them on the car as I simply won't want to go out in the car.

@S32B - Thanks for the suggestion but to be honest I like the normal S3 wheels and I'm not in to the idea of changing to something else. I think I'm a bit too old for the carlos fandango look.

@mikemod - Just a query, is this your first S3 or have you had one previously or have you had different tyres on it. I'm just trying to gauge what you are comparing the Hankook's to. I've only got previous experience of Continental Sport Contact 5's but these Hankook's feel much worse than those. If I didn't have that previous experience I may well think these tyres are fine and that is how a S3 drives. It may well be in my head and all this is just biased against a budget brand tyre being fitted to a premium brand car due to cost saving exercises. Maybe I'm just a brand snob.

 

[NevMan]

@Supa Koopa you are clearly a brand snob...like me.

Now get those tyres swapped out, and the Hankooks on Fleabay.

If you are feeling really flush, why not get another set of alloys and shod them in proper winter tyres

 

[Supa Koopa]

@Supa Koopa you are clearly a brand snob...like me.

Now get those tyres swapped out, and the Hankooks on Fleabay.

If you are feeling really flush, why not get another set of alloys and shod them in proper winter tyres

At least we know where we stand buddy...! Winds me up every time I look at the wife's Mini that cost just over half mine and her's came with Michelin's and mine came with blooming Hankook's and boy does she rub it in.

I'd love to do the winter tyre thing, but I just don't use it that much especially in winter. But as the repair bill totaled £5,802 it probably would've been cheaper than the insurance increase over the next few years...!

 

[NevMan]

Tell me about it. Wife's JCW shod with Pirelli P Zero's, and I have Conti Sport Contacts.

I had winter tyres on my last FWD A6 Avant, and can honestly say car never slipped once. Considering the amount of snow we had, that is some achievement. I can caveat that with the fact I got stuck on a snow drift, but that was down to (lack of) ground clearance.
This was the nail in the coffin of A6, and meant a swift change to Q5...Should probably have kept it another year and gone SQ5.

Funny enough, still have the Michelin winter tyres from A6 in shed, but will Fleabay them nearer winter

 

[mikemod]

At least we know where we stand buddy...! Winds me up every time I look at the wife's Mini that cost just over half mine and her's came with Michelin's and mine came with blooming Hankook's and boy does she rub it in.

I'd love to do the winter tyre thing, but I just don't use it that much especially in winter. But as the repair bill totaled £5,802 it probably would've been cheaper than the insurance increase over the next few years...!

Depends where you look, HERE is Autobild's 2018 test and the Hankooks were rated higher than the Michelin PS4s, show your wife that

Theses are the only tyres I have had on the S3 and this is my first S3 so nothing to compare them with, always had two wheel drive performance cars before this but tended to stick with Michelin and Continental.

 

[Carefree69]

Hankook’s are good tyres, as are Michelin, Continental, Bridgestone etc. If you was driving a McLaren F1 then I’d say get the best tyres you can afford, but as you are driving a normal production car I’d say stick with the Hankooks.

I’ll put my house on it that you won’t notice much, if any, difference. It’s a placebo thing, all premium brand tyres give very similar results.

Youve already said that there’s nothing wrong with the Hankooks, so you’ve probably answered your own question.

Up to you, your money.

 

[Supa Koopa]

I realise it's more than likely a placebo effect and the Michelin may not be much better, but when the car does a 4 wheel slip then a bang as the traction control kicked in and cut the power and then apply it again (a bit hard to describe) when just setting off, and not even hard acceleration either, it really doesn't inspire confidence. It's like grip - slip - grip rather than wheelspin - grip if that makes sense. When I say there's nothing wrong with the Hankook's I mean structurally, so no damage and they still have tread. Personally I think they are the cheapest s***e I've ever experienced and I can safely say I would rather drive around on the rims than have to buy a set of them ever again.

I’ll put my house on it that you won’t notice much, if any, difference.

That's a very bold statement. Shall I come round later for the keys as I've only got to say it feels better? £400 for a new house sounds like a bargain to me....! lol

It’s a placebo thing, all premium brand tyres give very similar results.

I agree with this 100% , the problem is Hankook should be in the budget brand bracket rather than premium brand.

I guess I'll just have to try them and see if it was a waste of money. I was sort of hoping for some reports of people doing the switch and noticing the differences but I knew when posting there wouldn't be a definitive answer as its all subject to your own interpretation.

Cheers everyone.

 

[Flying Scotsman]

This is just my opinion......all high performance summer tyres will give you decent grip in the dry and the wet. Some will perform better than others in some categories, such as dry/wet. But, then the subjective issues arrive; noise, comfort and wear characteristics. This is where you have to weigh the pros and cons for your type of driving. As an aside no high performance summer tyre works well in snow or near freezing temperatures and that is where the OP stated he had issues. Again, base you decision on your driving needs and if you live in hilly, less travelled areas and not first on the list for gritting etc., snow tyres are the best option, if you wish to use your car in the winter time on those cold, frosty and snowy days