Hankook Ventus RS4 Tire Review and Rating

Written By Slavcho Andov
Last Updated June 22, 2021

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Dry

Wet

Snow

Comfort

Noise

Treadwear

Pros

Best in class dry performance
Responsive
Provides plenty of feedback
Surprisingly short braking distances

Cons

Wet performance is below average
Almost no aquaplaning resistance
A bit on the pricy side

What are the features of the Hankook Ventus RS4?

For decades, Hankook has been praised as a tire manufacturer that provides excellent-performing tires that don’t cost as much as the premium models.

Take the Ventus RS4 for example, an affordable model with excellent performance on paper.

The first feature I have to mention on the Ventus RS4 is the tread design, which is slightly different from most competitors. The directional design of the tread combined with the two grooves gives it a racing and sporty look.

When you take a close look at the tire, you will notice two things. The first one is that you should be getting excellent dry performance thanks to the wide center rib and shoulders. They also provide improved responsiveness of the tires. Add the carbon and silica-based rubber compound, and you have an excellent summer tire with a racing pedigree.

This brings me to the second noticeable thing – the lack of features for wet performance. As a summer tire, Hankook didn’t want to compromise the dry performance by tuning the Ventus RS4 for wet conditions. As a result, you don’t have as many grooves and not a lot of sipes to help channel the water outward. In other words, you shouldn’t expect miracles in the wet.

Hankook designed the Ventus RS4 with variable grooves, which help in terms of block stiffening. This should aid reduce vibrations and shaking while improving the stability and feel of the tire.

How does it behave on dry tarmac?

Everything that Hankook claimed that the Ventus RS4 could do in the dry is entirely accurate.

The Ventus RS4 is, in my opinion, among the top in terms of summer performance tires. Thanks to the shorter braking distances, you will find yourself braking much later before diving into a corner while keeping the car stable.

If you want to have some fun, you can. The Ventus RS4 has plenty of grip in the corners, but rear-wheel drive owners can induce a bit of oversteer if they want. The tires are quick to respond to any inputs, meaning that you can catch the oversteer and have a bit of fun.

When you push the car more than usual, you may find yourself needing to make minor adjustments mid-corner. The good news is the Ventus RS4 is a very responsive tire that can take in even the smallest steering changes. On top of that, you will get plenty of feel through the steering wheel—that way, you know what the tires are doing.

How does it behave over wet and slippery roads?

Not as good as I would want to, but on par with my expectations. As I mentioned in the features section, the Hankook made some sacrifices with the Ventus RS4. The biggest one is the wet performance.

The tire has plenty of similarities with semi-slick tires, and if you’ve ever driven one of those on the wet, you will know what I’m talking about. The lack of grooves and sipes results in a poor-ish performance on wet roads.

You may get away with some light rain or wet pavement as long as there are no puddles or deep patches. However, as a summer tire with performance in mind, I can safely say that the Ventus RS4 is not something you’d want to drive every day in these conditions.

The grip, traction, and stability are severely compromised, and the aquaplaning resistance is almost nonexistent. For regular use in places where the roads are often wet and slippery, there are much better options than the Ventus RS4.

How is it over snow?

Summer tires and snow don’t mix unless you want to get in trouble. The Ventus RS4 has a rubber compound designed to work optimally in hotter climates. Unfortunately, it means that the tire won’t have the necessary properties even if the road is clear of snow. A similar story is on ice, where the main problem is the low temperatures that prevent the tires from operating with full potential.

In snowy conditions, the performance is more or less the same. The slick-ish design means that the Ventus RS4 cannot bite down and find the grip to get you moving.

Is it comfortable and refined?

Well, I cannot compare the Ventus RS4 with a touring tire, that’s for sure, but I will say that I was a bit surprised by how refined it is.

I will never refer to this model as comfortable or quiet; instead, I can say that it’s decent enough if you lower your expectations. But, to be fair, people that want high-performance tires probably already know this.

The ride comfort is far from the worst I’ve experienced with the ultra-high-performance tires. You won’t feel every imperfection on the road, but you also won’t be completely isolated from it.

A similar comparison can be made in terms of the noise levels. I noticed that it depends mainly on the type of surface, as on some roads, the Ventus RS4 was louder, and on others, it was quieter. Either way, it’s not the loudest tire in the world, but it’s definitely noticeable.

Is it good for off-roading?

In most cases, I don’t recommend off-roading these kinds of tires, and the same applies to the Ventus RS4.

Going off-road is not a good idea because the tires are not designed for it, meaning that you may end up damaging them. However, a quick drive through a dirt road is doable every now and then, as long as you are careful and prepared for a significant drop in grip and traction.

Is the Hankook Ventus RS4 ideal for sporty driving?

The Ventus RS4 is made for it. Regardless if you’re driving on a twisty road or a track, this tire is designed to take everything like a champ.

Hankook put everything it had into making the Ventus RS4 an excellent option for people looking for a sportier driving experience. Any kind of paved surface is ideal for sporty driving as long as the temperature is warm and the surface is dry.

Should I buy the Hankook Ventus RS4?

While I was impressed by the Ventus RS4 on a dry surface, I cannot recommend the tire for everyone.

First of all, the Ventus RS4 is a summer tire, meaning that you can forget about using it in winter. Next up is the wet performance, which is not the best one even when compared with its rivals. Finally, drivers who want the performance should be prepared for a few compromises in the comfort and noise departments.

Overall, the Ventus RS4 is an excellent tire that should be driven in summer and on dry roads. If you’re okay with that, the harsh ride and higher noise levels, then my answer is: Yes, you should buy the Ventus RS4.

Hankook Ventus RS4Warranty

High-performance tires are not the type of tires that a company will advertise with an extended tread life. So while it does make a difference, a warranty is not something you’ll see every day.

Hankook took the same approach and sells the Ventus RS4 with no treadwear warranty.

Hankook Ventus RS4 Pricing: Is it worth the money?

I’m going to be honest and say that not everyone will find the Ventus RS4 worth the money. The tire starts at around $130, which is not cheap, but it is more affordable than the premium competitors.

In this case, it’s important to balance things out. The Ventus RS4 has excellent dry performance, and that’s its biggest limitation. You’ll need to have a second set of tires for colder weather, wet conditions, etc.

I’m not saying that it’s not worth it, but you should keep in mind that you will be limited quite a lot.

Conclusion

As with any other tire, my conclusion boils down to your needs, mostly. The Ventus RS4 is an excellent summer tire with plenty of performance in the dry and plenty of compromises in other areas.

You will be getting superb traction on dry surfaces and a very responsive tire that will provide tons of feedback, every enthusiast’s dream tire. While it cannot compete with the premium brands, the Ventus RS4 is the tire you need if you want to save a few dollars.

Then there are the sacrifices, and there are a few. The tread design means that the Ventus RS4 has very limited performance in wet conditions, even more, if there is a lot of rain.

The refinement and comfort also took a hit, as the ride is a bit harsh, and the noise is not as low as some of the touring tires.

What Vehicles Will the Hankook Ventus RS4 Fit?

Audi TT, A4
BMW 1, 3, 5 series
Chevrolet Malibu, Camaro
Ford Mustang, Fiesta, Focus
Honda Civic, Accord, S2000
Lexus IS
Mazda 2, 3, 6
Nissan 370Z
Toyota Yaris, Corolla, GT86
Volkswagen Golf, Passat

In general, if you can find the tire size in the list below, you can fit the Ventus RS4 and get a performance increase from the tires. Keep in mind that the handling of the car will play a role as well.