Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 Tire Review: Premium Performance

• The new Ventus S1 evo3 tire, after a simple “adjustment”, has proven to be impressive.

• The tire’s abilities on wet surfaces make it stand out.

• Another highlight is steering response.

After about 2,500 km, the new Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 has demonstrated its mettle as an above-average high-performance tire. It also happens to be very handsome and there is a good reason for that.

Before I go on, here’s something your average “subject matter expert” would never admit: I made a rookie mistake. You see, I was fooled by tire pressures. Checking the air pressure in any tire is the most basic action any car owner can take. And I did not verify it until a few weeks into my review of these new Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 tires.

Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 Tire Review: Premium Tires for Premium Cars

I’d reported that my initial impressions were that the evo3 was noisy and somewhat hard, but the fact is that they are far more civilized than thought. After adjusting the pressures from 42 psi to the Volkswagen-recommended 36 psi, not only did my Golf’s ride quality improve dramatically but the tire/road noise dropped.

On the latter point, some road noise remains present however it’s the type of white background noise that the ear quickly becomes accustomed to. The Ventus S1 evo3 tires’ outside shoulders have a number of outer pitches that are designed to aiding in the reduction of tread pattern noise, the more annoying one between road and tire frequencies.

My Golf also drove smoother with the lower pressures. As we know, tire pressure increases as the tires get warmer, meaning that after a few minutes, the Hankooks felt unforgiving. But, once more, with lower pressures, the tires regained their built-in flexibility. Though to be fair, the Ventus S1 evo3 is not designed for all-out comfort, it is conceived to handle loads of power and lateral forces.

As it is now original equipment on vehicles such as the new Audi RS Q8, the Porsche Panamera, and the BMW 850i xDrive Coupé, the Ventus was conceived to handle massive amounts of power. Many portions of the tire’s structure feature technologies and components designed to stand up to big torque such as the aramid hybrid reinforcement belt position just below the tread compound. It increases the tire’s overall strength in order to counter the high levels of initial output and acceleration from these vehicles.

The new Ventus S1 evo3’s ability to manage the power doesn’t entirely compromise their smoothness. The high-strength belts, located beneath the aramid hybrid reinforcement belt can absorb various external shocks meaning that a decent level of riding comfort is ensured.

The tire’s best qualities are its responsiveness and wet handling abilities. The stiff wide outer shoulders and the many pitches are innately able to handle heavy loads, completely, or nearly, eliminating sloppy steering feel. The Ventus S1 evo3’s tread pattern not only looks premium but its interlocking grove design limits hydroplaning situations to a minimum. For all intents and purposes, a tire that behaves as well in the wet as does the Hankook is an excellent choice.

Barring any other mistake by the user, aka me, the new Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 tire is impressive overall. Finally, the Ventus is not a tire designed for longevity. Given its high levels of performance, this is the only compromise.