Hankook Ventus S1 Evo3 vs Evo2: There comes more heat with the summer which means more burden on your tires. Here, both the Evo3 and the Evo2 are summer tires designed for excellent dry and wet grip along with impeccable handling. However, when we compared 235/40R19 size of both the tires, we found some major differences between the two of them.
The dry and wet grip of the Evo3 is exceptional due to its higher contact patch which reduces the braking distance. On the other hand, the Evo2 offers a better hydroplaning resistance with the help of wider grooves. Certain other features are responsible for the difference in the performance of both the tires which we will discuss in this article. So, without any further ado, let’s start.
Examine the treads on these tires closely. They hold the key to knowing which to choose. In fact if you visit my "tread design" page, picking the right tire would never bother you.
Table of Contents
Side By Side Comparison
Hankook Ventus S1 Evo 3
Hankook S1 Evo 2
The Hankook S1 Evo3 features interlocking outside grooves with three tread columns between its shoulders to improve the performance on slick surfaces.
The outer blocks and shoulders of the tire focus on heavy load and contact pressure. The maximum steering grip force is secured by the Aramid hybrid reinforcement belt.
There are numerous sipes present on the inside and outside of the tire which secures the gaps for enhanced drainage.
The Evo2 possesses an asymmetrical tread design with three columns and two shoulder rows.
The blocks in the columns of this tire are separated by diagonal sipes running through them. Moreover, the shoulders are separated by circumferential grooves.
However, unlike its counterpart, the sipes on the central part and shoulders are very less in number.
Grip Comparison
The grip of a tire is directly related to the contact patch between its tread and the road and it is determined by the braking distance of the tire. A tire that has a better grip will stop sooner as compared to the other tire. Here, the Evo3 has a greater contact patch in comparison. That’s because it has a compact tread pattern and closely positioned tread blocks. This reduces the dry braking distance of these tires and as a result, their performance on dry surfaces improves. Apart from this, the performance of these tires on wet roads is also excellent. The numerous sipes present on the shoulder and the central part shorten the braking distance on wet roads.
On the other hand, the Evo2 has a relatively lower contact patch with the ground. In addition to this, the number of sipes present on the tread is also lesser. As a result, its grip on dry and wet surfaces is compromised. So, when it comes to the grip, the Evo3 is the clear winner here.
Handling Comparison
During handling comparison, both Evo3 and Evo2 exhibited precise handling for their value. However, we found the Evo3’s dry handling performance a bit lower as compared to its counterpart. The shoulder blocks of these tires are not closely packed and as a result, the time taken for it to complete a lap will increase. However, the same cannot be said for the wet handling of these tires. The numerous sipes present on the shoulder will increase its wet handling performance by reducing the time required by the vehicle to complete a lap.
In comparison, we found the Evo2 to have better handling features due to its closely positioned tread blocks. The compact shoulders of the tire offer more handling stability to the vehicle and the time required to finish a lap will also reduce. However, the wet handling of these tires is compromised to some extent because of the lesser number of sipes. Due to fewer sipes, the vehicle loses stability on wet roads and as a result, will require more time to finish a lap as compared to its counterpart.
Comparison of Hydroplaning Resistance
Hydroplaning is a condition where the tires are not in contact with the road due to the considerable amount of water present on the road surface. The tires featuring wider grooves can easily pass through the water while maintaining a firm grip. In this case, the grooves of Evo3 are unfortunately narrower. So, the ability of the tire to evacuate water from its tread is reduced to a great extent. As a result, the tire might face trouble during extreme weather conditions.
Whereas, in the case of the Evo2, the tire grooves are wider in comparison. This results in a better void ratio and a greater volume of water can pass through its grooves. Due to this, the users get a much better hydroplaning resistance.
Comparison of Rolling Resistance
The force that a tire requires to keep rolling on the surface of the road is known as rolling resistance. The higher the rolling resistance, the more fuel the tire will require. Here, the Evo2 mainly focuses on ensuring incredible grip on dry and wet roads. Due to the higher contact patch, the rolling resistance of these tires will increase and fuel efficiency will decrease.
However, when it comes to Evo2, the tire has a lower rolling resistance due to its higher void ratio. That’s because the lesser area of tread comes in contact with the road and as a result, the friction of the tire decreases. Due to the lower rolling resistance, there will be an increase in the fuel efficiency of these tires as well.
Comfort Comparison
While testing for the noise level, we found the Evo3’s performance slightly better than the Evo2 due to its narrower grooves. Since it features relatively narrower grooves, there is not much space for the air particles to get stuck inside. So, these tires will not produce much noise either and this is what makes them one of the favourite options for the users.
Conversely, the Evo2 features wider grooves in comparison. As a result, there is a lot of space for the air particles to get stuck inside and strike back and forth. This is what causes the tires to produce a lot of noise while driving the vehicle at a high speed.
Durability & Treadwear
When it comes to treadwear, the tread of Evo3 wears out faster than its counterpart. That’s because its contact patch is higher which increases the rolling resistance. In addition to this, the built is also not as strong as the Evo2 which lowers the durability of these tires. The mileage will also decrease due to the rapid wear of its tread.
On the other hand, the Evo2 is a highly durable tire and its treadwear is also slower due to its lower rolling resistance. It is manufactured using high-quality materials such as carbon black tread compound. As a result, these tires become highly flexible even in rough weather conditions and high temperatures.
Price
Upon comparing the price of both the tires, we found the Evo3 a higher-priced tire due to its wet handling capabilities, excellent grip, and comfort. However, its hydroplaning and rolling resistance is not as efficient as its competitor. So, if you are in search of an affordable tire that offers excellent hydroplaning resistance along with durability and fuel efficiency, then the Evo2 is definitely worth considering.
Summary
- Both are summer tires.
- The dry and wet grip of Evo3 is better.
- Even though dry handling of Evo2 is more efficient it lags a bit behind in wet handling.
- Hydroplaning resistance of Evo2 is remarkable.
- The rolling resistance of Evo3 is higher which lowers its fuel efficiency.
- Evo2 produces more noise due to its wider grooves.
- The tread of Evo2 wears out slower as compared to its counterpart.
- Evo3 costs more than its rival.
