Hankook Kinergy 4S2 vs Royal-Black Royal AS II: the full picture
This comparison is built only from published independent tests — no manufacturer claims and no sponsored reviews. Between them, the Hankook Kinergy 4S2 and Royal-Black Royal AS II appear in 26 tests, though they have not yet met head-to-head in the same test. Head-to-head results carry the most weight here, because surface, weather and test car all change between events and make raw numbers from different tests hard to compare directly.
How the Hankook Kinergy 4S2 performs. It takes the win in wet, dry, snow, ice, noise / comfort, mileage, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 89/100, based on 25 tests.
How the Royal-Black Royal AS II performs. It does not lead any single category outright in this matchup. It has limited comparative test data, so treat its results as indicative.
What this means for you. Category wins matter more than the overall score when your driving is weighted toward one condition — a wet-climate commuter should follow the wet braking column, while a high-mileage driver should follow wear and rolling resistance. Also check that both tires are actually offered in your size and load rating: performance can shift between sizes, and availability differs between the European and North American markets.
Verdict
The Hankook Kinergy 4S2 and Royal-Black Royal AS II are closely matched. Pick based on the category that matters most to your driving — wet, dry, comfort, mileage, or price.
Which one should you buy?
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise snow
- You prefer the Royal-Black Royal AS II's brand, sizing or price
Test profile
| Metric | Hankook Kinergy 4S2 | Royal-Black Royal AS II |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Touring | Touring |
| Type | All Season | All Season |
| Tests used | 25 | 1 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 6.1 | 29.7 |
| Latest test | 2025 | 2024 |
| Tire Lab Score | 88.8 | — |
Tire Lab Score
Hankook Kinergy 4S2
Royal-Black Royal AS II
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Hankook Kinergy 4S2 | Royal-Black Royal AS II | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 5.7 6106 | Avg rank 37.0 | Hankook Kinergy 4S2 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 5.2 364 | Avg rank 33.0 | Hankook Kinergy 4S2 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 5.5 53 | No data | Hankook Kinergy 4S2 |
| 🧊Ice | Avg rank 13.0 | No data | Hankook Kinergy 4S2 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 5.9 48 | No data | Hankook Kinergy 4S2 |
| 📏Mileage | Avg rank 8.4 3 | No data | Hankook Kinergy 4S2 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 4.6 143 | No data | Hankook Kinergy 4S2 |
💧 Wet: Hankook Kinergy 4S2 vs Royal-Black Royal AS II
The Hankook Kinergy 4S2 wins this category with an average rank of 5.7, compared to 37.0 for the Royal-Black Royal AS II.
☀️ Dry: Hankook Kinergy 4S2 vs Royal-Black Royal AS II
The Hankook Kinergy 4S2 wins this category with an average rank of 5.2, compared to 33.0 for the Royal-Black Royal AS II.
❄️ Snow: Hankook Kinergy 4S2 vs Royal-Black Royal AS II
The Hankook Kinergy 4S2 wins this category with an average rank of 5.5, compared to no data for the Royal-Black Royal AS II.
🧊 Ice: Hankook Kinergy 4S2 vs Royal-Black Royal AS II
The Hankook Kinergy 4S2 wins this category with an average rank of 13.0, compared to no data for the Royal-Black Royal AS II.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Hankook Kinergy 4S2 vs Royal-Black Royal AS II
The Hankook Kinergy 4S2 wins this category with an average rank of 5.9, compared to no data for the Royal-Black Royal AS II.
📏 Mileage: Hankook Kinergy 4S2 vs Royal-Black Royal AS II
The Hankook Kinergy 4S2 wins this category with an average rank of 8.4, compared to no data for the Royal-Black Royal AS II.
🔋 Efficiency: Hankook Kinergy 4S2 vs Royal-Black Royal AS II
The Hankook Kinergy 4S2 wins this category with an average rank of 4.6, compared to no data for the Royal-Black Royal AS II.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Hankook Kinergy 4S2 or Royal-Black Royal AS II?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Hankook Kinergy 4S2 ranks higher on average than the Royal-Black Royal AS II.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Hankook Kinergy 4S2 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Royal-Black Royal AS II across the tests where both appeared.
Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?
On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Hankook Kinergy 4S2 ranks better than the Royal-Black Royal AS II.
Which tire lasts longer?
Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Hankook Kinergy 4S2 shows better mileage performance than the Royal-Black Royal AS II.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Hankook Kinergy 4S2 appears in 25 independent tests, Royal-Black Royal AS II in 1.
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Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →
