Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2 Review: Premium ultra-high performance summer tire

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The Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2 is a premium ultra-high performance summer tire designed for sports cars, high-end sedans, and coupes. It’s engineered to deliver exceptional dry and wet traction, precise handling, and a comfortable ride. Hankook developed this tire specifically for driving enthusiasts who demand the highest levels of performance from their vehicles.

With its advanced silica-based tread compound and asymmetric tread design, the Ventus S1 Noble2 excels in both dry and wet conditions. The tire’s outer shoulder blocks provide enhanced cornering grip, while the inner tread pattern optimizes straight-line stability and hydroplaning resistance. Additionally, the tire’s optimized footprint shape and rigid tread blocks contribute to its precise steering response and high-speed capability.

Hankook positions the Ventus S1 Noble2 as a flagship ultra-high performance summer tire, suitable for drivers of luxury sports cars, high-end sports sedans, and powerful coupes from manufacturers like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Lexus, and Infiniti. It’s designed to meet the demanding performance requirements of these vehicles while delivering a comfortable and refined driving experience.

Design and Construction

The Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2 features an advanced asymmetric tread pattern designed to provide exceptional grip and handling on dry and wet roads. The outer shoulder blocks are designed with a solid, rigid structure to enhance cornering stability and responsiveness, while the inner tread features a more open pattern with increased siping for improved wet traction.

The tire utilizes a dual-compound tread, with a stickier, more performance-oriented compound on the outer shoulders for enhanced dry grip and a more durable compound on the inner tread for increased treadwear and wet performance. This dual-compound design aims to strike a balance between dry and wet performance while maintaining longevity.

Internally, the Ventus S1 Noble2 features a twin-layer casing construction with reinforced belts and a high-density bead filler for improved strength and durability. The tire also incorporates Hankook’s Aqua Pit Technology, which consists of wide circumferential grooves and lateral notches designed to enhance hydroplaning resistance and water evacuation.

The tire’s construction utilizes advanced silica-based compounds and high-tensile steel belts, providing a balance of grip, responsiveness, and ride comfort. Hankook has also incorporated their Sound Absorber technology, which aims to reduce road noise and vibration for a more comfortable and refined driving experience.

Performance on Dry Roads

The Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2 shines when it comes to dry road performance. Its advanced silica-enriched tread compound provides exceptional grip and traction, allowing for confident acceleration and braking. The asymmetric tread pattern features a continuous center rib and stable outside shoulder blocks, promoting precise steering response and high-speed stability.

During dry cornering, the Noble2 exhibits minimal understeer, enabling drivers to attack turns with enthusiasm. The tire’s responsive handling characteristics make it feel planted and communicative, providing excellent feedback through the steering wheel. Transitions between corners feel smooth and predictable, inspiring confidence in spirited driving scenarios.

Straight-line stability is also a strong suit for the Ventus S1 Noble2. The rigid tread blocks and optimized construction help mitigate tramlining and wandering, ensuring a composed ride even at highway speeds. Overall, the dry grip and handling capabilities of this tire make it a fantastic choice for enthusiasts seeking a thrilling yet controlled driving experience on winding roads or during performance-oriented situations.

Performance in Wet Conditions

The Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2 delivers impressive wet weather performance, providing drivers with a reassuring level of grip and control on rain-soaked roads. The tire’s advanced tread compound and optimized siping design work together to evacuate water efficiently, enhancing traction and minimizing the risk of hydroplaning.

During wet braking tests, the Ventus S1 Noble2 demonstrated exceptional stopping power, consistently delivering shorter braking distances compared to its competitors. This attribute is particularly valuable in emergency situations, allowing drivers to react and bring their vehicles to a safe stop more effectively.

Lateral grip on wet surfaces is also a strong suit of this tire. The Ventus S1 Noble2 inspires confidence when navigating tight corners or sudden lane changes in rainy conditions. Its tread pattern and rubber compound work in harmony to maintain a firm grip, minimizing the risk of losing control or experiencing excessive understeer or oversteer.

Overall, the Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2 provides drivers with a high level of wet weather performance, ensuring a secure and predictable driving experience, even in challenging rain-soaked environments.

Winter and Snow Performance

The Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2 is not designed as a dedicated winter tire, but it can provide decent traction in light snow conditions. The specialized tread compound remains pliable at lower temperatures, allowing the tire to maintain grip on cold surfaces. However, once snow accumulation becomes significant or temperatures drop below freezing, the tire’s performance diminishes rapidly.

On packed snow, the directional tread pattern helps channel away slush and slush, providing reasonable traction for acceleration and braking. The tread blocks are siped to bite into the snow, improving grip. However, the tire struggles in deep or fresh snow, lacking the dedicated biting edges and soft compound of a true winter tire.

Ice traction is similarly limited. The Ventus S1 Noble2 has no special studdable design or ultra-soft compound to grip frozen surfaces effectively. On glare ice, the tire has very little traction, and drivers should exercise extreme caution or opt for dedicated winter tires.

While the Ventus S1 Noble2 can get you through light wintry conditions, its handling characteristics suffer compared to dry or wet performance. The reduced traction causes the tire to feel vague and imprecise, with longer braking distances required. For regions with frequent snow and ice, a dedicated winter tire is highly recommended over this high-performance summer tire.

Comfort and Noise Levels

The Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2 delivers a comfortable and refined ride quality, striking an excellent balance between responsiveness and compliance over various road surfaces. The tire’s advanced construction and optimized tread pattern contribute to its impressive noise reduction capabilities.

At lower city speeds, the Ventus S1 Noble2 remains remarkably quiet, allowing for a serene cabin experience. Even as you accelerate onto highways, the tire maintains a subdued noise level, minimizing intrusive road roar and vibrations. This level of quietness is particularly noteworthy, as it enhances the overall driving comfort and makes long journeys more enjoyable.

Hankook’s engineers have paid close attention to the tire’s ability to absorb road imperfections, resulting in a smooth and well-damped ride quality. The Ventus S1 Noble2 effectively filters out minor bumps and irregularities, providing a composed and controlled ride, even on less-than-perfect road surfaces.

Furthermore, the tire’s advanced tread compound and design contribute to excellent cabin insulation, effectively reducing the transmission of external noise into the vehicle’s interior. This not only enhances the overall comfort but also facilitates better communication among passengers and improved audio system clarity.

Overall, the Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2 offers a refined and comfortable driving experience, with impressive noise reduction and a well-damped ride quality that can be appreciated on both daily commutes and long-distance road trips.

Treadwear and Durability

The Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2 is designed to provide impressive treadwear and durability. With its advanced tread compound and optimized tread pattern, this tire offers extended tread life, ensuring you get the most out of your investment.

Expected tread life is a crucial factor when considering a new set of tires, and the Ventus S1 Noble2 does not disappoint. According to Hankook’s estimates, these tires can deliver up to 50,000 miles of tread life under normal driving conditions. However, the actual tread life may vary depending on your driving habits, vehicle weight, and road conditions.

To further instill confidence in their product, Hankook backs the Ventus S1 Noble2 with a generous treadwear warranty. This warranty covers the tires for a specified period or mileage, ensuring that you can replace them if the tread wears down prematurely.

In addition to impressive treadwear, the Ventus S1 Noble2 also boasts excellent resistance to cuts and punctures. The tire’s reinforced casing and robust shoulder design help protect against potential damage from road hazards, such as nails, glass, or debris. This added durability can save you from the hassle and expense of frequent tire replacements.

Overall, the Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2 is a tire that prioritizes longevity and durability without compromising performance. With its long-lasting tread life, treadwear warranty, and resistance to cuts and punctures, you can enjoy a smooth and reliable ride for many miles to come.

Fuel Efficiency

The Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2 is designed with a focus on low rolling resistance, which directly impacts fuel efficiency. The tire’s advanced tread compound and optimized construction help minimize energy loss as the tire rolls, resulting in reduced fuel consumption.

Rolling resistance is a crucial factor in determining a tire’s fuel efficiency. Lower rolling resistance means less energy is required to keep the tire moving, translating to better gas mileage. Hankook has employed cutting-edge technologies to minimize the Ventus S1 Noble2’s rolling resistance without compromising other performance aspects.

The tire’s tread compound is formulated with advanced silica compounds and specialized polymers, which help reduce internal heat buildup and friction. This not only enhances fuel efficiency but also contributes to improved treadwear and overall durability.

Additionally, the tire’s construction features a lightweight yet strong casing design, further reducing the overall weight and rolling resistance. The optimized shape and contours of the tread pattern also play a role in minimizing energy loss as the tire rolls.

In real-world driving conditions, the Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2 has demonstrated impressive fuel efficiency gains compared to its predecessors and some competitors. Depending on the vehicle and driving conditions, owners have reported fuel savings of up to 5% or more, translating to significant cost savings over the life of the tire.

Overall, the Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2’s focus on low rolling resistance makes it an excellent choice for drivers seeking improved fuel efficiency without sacrificing other performance aspects.

Vehicle Compatibility

The Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2 is designed as an ultra-high performance summer tire suitable for a wide range of vehicles, from sports cars and high-powered sedans to luxury SUVs and crossovers. This tire is available in a broad range of sizes to fit many popular makes and models.

Recommended vehicles for the Ventus S1 Noble2 include sports cars like the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger, and Nissan 370Z. It’s also an excellent choice for high-performance sedans such as the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Audi A4, and Lexus IS. Many luxury SUVs and crossovers can also be fitted with this tire, including the Porsche Cayenne, BMW X5, Audi Q7, and Lexus RX.

The Ventus S1 Noble2 is an OEM (Original Equipment) tire choice for several vehicles, meaning it comes as standard equipment from the factory. Some examples of OEM fitments include the Hyundai Genesis Coupe, Kia Stinger, and certain trims of the Volkswagen Golf GTI.

In terms of size availability, the Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2 is offered in a wide range of 17″ to 22″ rim diameters, with various section widths and aspect ratios to accommodate different vehicle specifications. This extensive size range ensures compatibility with a diverse array of vehicles, from compact sports cars to large luxury SUVs.

Pricing and Value

The Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2 offers excellent value for its performance and quality. While not the cheapest option on the market, its pricing is competitive with other premium ultra-high-performance tires. A set of four tires typically ranges from $600 to $800, depending on the size and retailer.

When compared to its direct competitors, such as the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S or the Continental ExtremeContact Sport, the Ventus S1 Noble2 is often slightly more affordable. This makes it an attractive choice for drivers seeking high-performance capabilities without breaking the bank.

Furthermore, the Ventus S1 Noble2’s impressive treadwear ratings and durability contribute to its long-term value. With proper maintenance and rotation, these tires can easily last 30,000 to 40,000 miles or more, resulting in a lower cost-per-mile compared to some rivals.

Hankook’s commitment to advanced tire technology and materials also adds to the value proposition. The Ventus S1 Noble2’s advanced compound and construction deliver exceptional grip, handling, and braking performance, ensuring a safe and enjoyable driving experience.

Overall, the Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2 strikes an excellent balance between performance, quality, and affordability, offering outstanding value for drivers seeking a premium ultra-high-performance tire without the premium price tag.

Professional Reviews and Ratings

The Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2 has received highly positive reviews from respected industry experts and organizations. In independent testing conducted by leading automotive publications and consumer advocacy groups, the tire consistently ranks among the top performers in its category.

Consumer Reports, known for its rigorous and unbiased testing procedures, awarded the Ventus S1 Noble2 an impressive overall score of 84 out of 100. This rating places it near the top of the ultra-high-performance all-season tire segment. The tire excelled in areas such as dry braking, handling, and treadwear, contributing to its strong overall performance.

Tire Rack, a renowned online retailer and authority on tire testing, gave the Ventus S1 Noble2 a coveted “Recommended” rating. Their team of experts praised the tire’s exceptional dry grip, responsive handling, and impressive treadwear characteristics. They noted that the tire provided a well-balanced blend of performance and durability, making it an excellent choice for enthusiastic drivers.

In independent tests conducted by Car and Driver magazine, the Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2 consistently outperformed many of its competitors in various performance categories. The tire’s ability to maintain composure and grip during high-speed maneuvers and emergency handling situations was particularly noteworthy, earning it high marks from the magazine’s seasoned test drivers.

Furthermore, the Ventus S1 Noble2 has received numerous accolades and awards from reputable organizations within the automotive industry. It has been recognized as a top performer by organizations such as the Tire Rack Tour Cup, where it consistently ranks among the best in its class for overall performance and value.

Owner Feedback and Experiences

Owners of the Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2 have reported generally positive experiences with these tires. Many praise their impressive dry grip and responsive handling, making them a popular choice for enthusiastic drivers. Several owners have noted their excellent hydroplaning resistance, providing reassuring wet weather performance.

On the flip side, some complaints have surfaced regarding treadwear. A few owners have reported faster-than-expected wear, especially with aggressive driving styles. There are also mixed reviews on winter traction, with some finding them adequate in light snow, while others caution against their use in harsh wintry conditions.

Overall, most owners seem satisfied with the Ventus S1 Noble2’s blend of sporting performance and all-season capabilities. Many appreciate the confidence and driving enjoyment these tires provide, though some note the trade-off in shorter treadlife compared to touring tires. Real-world feedback suggests they deliver on Hankook’s promises of refined handling and grip for the performance-minded driver.

Comparison to Competitors

The Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2 is a premium ultra-high performance summer tire designed to compete with some of the top names in the industry. When compared to rivals like the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, Continental ExtremeContact Sport, and Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole Position, the Ventus S1 Noble2 holds its own in many areas.

In dry grip and handling, the Ventus S1 Noble2 is on par with or slightly behind the class leaders. It provides excellent steering response, cornering stability, and braking performance on dry pavement. However, tires like the Pilot Sport 4S and ExtremeContact Sport may have a slight edge in ultimate dry grip at the limit.

Where the Hankook really shines is in wet traction and hydroplaning resistance. Independent tests have shown the Ventus S1 Noble2 to outperform many competitors when it comes to wet braking, cornering grip, and resistance to hydroplaning. This is likely due to the tire’s advanced silica-enhanced tread compound and optimized tread design.

In terms of comfort and noise, the Ventus S1 Noble2 strikes a good balance between performance and refinement. It offers a reasonably plush ride quality for a max performance summer tire, though it may not be quite as smooth as something like the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S. Road noise is also well-controlled, making it a pleasant tire for daily driving.

Treadwear and durability are also strengths for the Hankook. While no ultra-high performance summer tire will last as long as a touring tire, the Ventus S1 Noble2 has proven to have very respectable treadlife for its category. Owners can expect 20,000-30,000 miles of tread life in normal driving conditions.

Overall, the Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2 competes extremely well against premium tire models from Michelin, Continental, Bridgestone and others. It may not be the outright class leader in any one area, but it provides an excellent balance of dry/wet grip, handling, comfort, treadwear and value for the money.

Conclusion and Final Recommendation

The Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2 is an impressive ultra-high performance summer tire that delivers exceptional dry and wet traction, precise handling, and a comfortable ride. Its advanced silica-based tread compound and asymmetric tread pattern provide excellent grip and steering response, making it a great choice for spirited driving enthusiasts.

While it may not excel in winter conditions, the Noble2 shines on dry and wet roads, offering confident braking, cornering stability, and a responsive driving experience. Its comfortable ride quality and relatively low noise levels also make it a suitable option for daily driving.

In terms of treadwear and durability, the Noble2 performs admirably, with many owners reporting impressive tread life, especially when rotated regularly. Its fuel efficiency is also noteworthy, contributing to potential cost savings over time.

Overall, the Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2 is a well-rounded ultra-high performance summer tire that delivers a compelling combination of grip, handling, comfort, and value. If you’re in the market for a set of high-quality summer tires for your sports car, performance sedan, or sporty coupe, the Noble2 is definitely worth considering, especially given its competitive pricing compared to premium brand alternatives.