About Hankook
Hankook began in 1941 as the Chosun Tire Company in Seoul and took the Hankook name in 1968. It grew into one of the world's largest tyre makers, with factories in South Korea, China, Hungary, Indonesia and the United States. The operating company has been called Hankook Tire & Technology since 2019, under the Hankook & Company Group holding. Hankook has been the sole tyre supplier to the Formula E electric racing championship since 2023.
Strengths
- Near-premium wet and dry grip on Ventus models for much less money
- OE supplier to major European brands
- Good EV range with the iON family
- Dynapro HPX is a comfortable, popular SUV tyre in the Gulf
- Wide size range at most UAE dealers
Weaknesses
- Tread life is shorter than Michelin and Bridgestone
- Heat resistance on long hard summer runs is a step below the Japanese brands
- Resale and brand image below the premium names
Hankook ranges and prices
| Model | Type | Rims | Price per tyre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 | Ultra-high performance summer | 17–22 inch | AED 450 – AED 1,000 |
| Hankook Ventus Prime 4 | Comfort touring | 15–19 inch | AED 290 – AED 650 |
| Hankook Dynapro HPX | SUV highway touring | 16–22 inch | AED 380 – AED 850 |
| Hankook Dynapro AT2 | All-terrain 4x4 | 15–20 inch | AED 450 – AED 900 |
| Hankook iON evo | Electric vehicle summer | 18–22 inch | AED 550 – AED 1,200 |
Cars it suits
- Hyundai Tucson
- Kia Sportage
- Toyota Camry
- Nissan Altima
- Tesla Model Y
- BMW 3 Series
- MG ZS
- Hyundai Santa Fe
Our ratings out of 10
- Wet grip
- 8
- Dry grip
- 8
- Comfort
- 8
- Quietness
- 8
- Tread life
- 7
- Heat resistance
- 7
Performance
Hankook's Ventus S1 evo3 regularly finishes close to Michelin and Continental in independent European tests, with good wet braking and accurate steering. The Ventus Prime 4 is softer and quieter for family sedans. Grip drops off a little earlier than premium brands as the tyre wears, so it is worth replacing Hankook tyres at around 3 mm if you drive fast on the highway in rain. Noise levels are low on most ranges.
Durability and tread life
In UAE conditions a Ventus Prime 4 typically lasts 35,000–45,000 km, the Ventus S1 evo3 25,000–35,000 km and a Dynapro HPX on a mid-size SUV 40,000–50,000 km. Hankook compounds are slightly softer than Japanese rivals, so they suffer more from under-inflation in summer: check pressures every two weeks and avoid driving with a slow puncture, as the sidewall overheats quickly at 45°C.
Hankook in UAE conditions
Hankook tyres in the UAE mostly come from South Korea, Indonesia, Hungary and China. Korean-made stock is often preferred and is easy to identify on the sidewall. Check the DOT code: 0526 means week 5 of 2026. Hankook is a strong match for Korean and Chinese cars, many of which leave the factory on Hankook or Kumho, and for Teslas when you choose the iON range with an XL load rating.
