Hankook Kinergy ST AS

The Hankook Kinergy ST AS posts the best subjective handling score in the test (7.5). AutoView describes the steering as the most consistent and predictable at the limit. It is third on subjective comfort (7.70) and third on both dry (43.13 m) and wet (32.96 m) braking, so the safety fundamentals are all in the upper half.

The Hankook Kinergy ST AS is the heaviest tyre on test at 10.56 kg, which works against rolling resistance and unsprung mass. Cabin noise is the loudest of the five at 61.5 dBA, and the ride is choppy at lower speeds even though it settles down nicely above 100 km/h.

AutoView overall score: 84.5 points. The Hankook Kinergy ST AS is the driver's pick of this comfort tyre group — the best steering feel, solid braking — but it loses ground on the things comfort buyers actually care about: it is the noisiest and the heaviest, and the ride is fidgety in town.