Hankook joined the tire manufacturing space in 1941. The company blends solid construction with the latest technology to provide premium comfort and long tread life without sacrificing the reliability, stability, and affordability of its tires. In its commitment to provide durable all-season touring tires, Hankook released the Kinergy ST model. Since then, the model has received accolades for its handling and up to 70,000-mile tread wear warranty. In this Hankook Kinergy ST review, we look at the features, pros, and cons of these tires.
Kinergy ST Overview
The Kinergy ST model is designed for passenger vehicles ranging from minivans, sedans, coupes, hatchbacks, and station wagons to subcompact SUVs. It comes in different sizes, making it suitable for a variety of wheelbases. So far, Hankook has only one model for this tire: the Kinergy ST H735.
With a dual-filler system and circumferential wide grooves, the Kinergy ST provides balanced performance in wet and dry conditions. This all-season tire gives you confidence when driving through puddles and unpaved roads, thanks to its unique stiff tread block design that enhances grip. Kinergy ST tires also feature a robust center rib, which is in constant contact with the road surface to provide maximum stability and longitudinal traction.
The Hankook Kinergy has a Uniform Tire Grading Quality (UTQG) rating of 680/A/A. This is the grading system for determining the quality and uniformity of tires based on tread wear, traction, and temperature. A 680/A/A rating implies that the Kinergy ST has a rating higher than average in all three categories. Hankook’s confidence in this state-of-art tire is visible in its 70,000-mile tread wear warranty.
Features of the Hankook Kinergy ST
With robust engineering and design, the Kinergy ST is a combination of high-performance and long-lasting tires. It rivals other all-season touring tires by combining the use of steel belts, silica, and quality rubber to provide maximum traction as drivers steer through bends and turns, wet surfaces, and dry roads. Here are the features of the Hankook Kinergy ST model that makes it stand out from the rest in the tire market:
Dual-Filler System
When shopping around for an all-season tire, your attention should be on tires that offer long tread life and great handling on dry and wet surfaces. The Kinergy ST features a dual-filler system that fuses high dispersible silica and rubber to provide low rolling resistance, superior handling, and improved wear.
Rigid Center Rib
Safety remains a priority for Hankook. That is why the Kinergy ST model features a rigid center rib that maintains constant contact with the road. The rib provides unrivaled traction in emergency braking, bringing the car to a stop without veering off the road. Hankook maximizes traction by optimizing the center rib with block stiffness that facilitates uniform braking, thus preventing irregular wear of the tire treads.
The Kinergy ST produces amazing performance and stability on dry and wet roads. Both the center rib and the stiff tread blocks work together to enhance steering responsiveness on dry surfaces. For wet surfaces, Hankook uses a wide lateral groove tread structure that supports constant evacuation of water for first-rate handling and braking.
Robust Sidewall Stiffness
Kinergy ST is reinforced with steel belts, folded belt edge tape design, and stiff sidewalls to boost tread life and enhance steering responsiveness. Through its sidewall design, Hankook ensures that the Kinergy ST increases the tire’s contact area to provide stability when driving at highway speeds under extreme weather conditions.
Hydroplaning Resistance
It’s difficult to find an all-season tire that’s optimized for daily driving across the four seasons like the Kinergy ST is. It is engineered with open shoulder slots and circumferential grooves that boost hydroplaning resistance. With improved hydroplaning resistance comes better traction and braking on wet surfaces.
Optimized Sipe Design
For drivers who want to enjoy quiet and comfortable rides, the Kinergy ST’s sipe design effectively cancels noise and vibration on all road surfaces. This design optimizes the pitch sequence, enabling the tires to absorb vibrations and tire growls. When you add the Hankook’s double-layer polyester structure to the sipe design, you get gentle and quiet rides even when driving at high speeds.
What’s the Difference Between Kinergy ST, PT & GT?
When you head out to shop for high-performance all-season touring Hankook Kinergy tires, you’ll see the Kinergy ST, PT, and GT. Many people confuse these three tires because they’re extremely similar in all aspects, except for the price and engineering.
Kinergy GT is the premium version of the Kinergy ST because it combines all the touring aspects of the Kinergy ST with those of a high-performance sports tire. The GT has a thicker center rib, wider grooves, and firmer tread compounds. While the Kinergy ST is quieter, the Kinergy GT offers better handling and steering responsiveness, thanks to its overall sportier design.
The Kinergy PT comes with a 90,000-mile warranty instead of the ST’s and GT’s 70,000-mile warranty. It blends high-performance carbon black compound and silica for longer tread life and superior performance, instead of the ST’s dual-filler silica compound. The Kinergy ST is the standard all-season touring tire, while the Kinergy PT offers premium quality and durability for a higher price.
Should I Buy Hankook Kinergy ST?
Anyone who has a tight budget but still wants to benefit from the reliability and durability of an all-season touring tire should consider the Hankook Kinergy ST. This tire is affordable compared to others in its category that come with safety features. Also, if you’re an individual who drives long distances, the Kinergy ST guarantees comfortable and quiet rides while maintaining traction and handling. If you’re an aggressive driver, the Kinergy ST gives you the confidence to drive on wet surfaces and negotiate bends at high speeds.
With the Kinergy ST, you’ll feel and experience Hankook’s solid construction and engineering. Hankook uses strong tire compounds and high-tech tread design to produce tires with low rolling resistance, high hydroplaning resistance, and outstanding abrasion resistance. While the Kinergy ST doesn’t offer the best performance in heavy snow and extremely scorching conditions, it provides a well-balanced performance all year round. Next time you want to buy tires, consider this all-season tire, which we included in our recommendations of the best car tires.
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