Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 vs Leao Winter Defender UHP: the full picture
This comparison is built only from published independent tests — no manufacturer claims and no sponsored reviews. Between them, the Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 and Leao Winter Defender UHP appear in 23 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 Ventus S1 evo 3 performs. It takes the win in wet, dry, noise / comfort, mileage. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 88/100, based on 21 tests.
How the Leao Winter Defender UHP performs. It takes the win in snow. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 81/100, based on 2 tests.
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 Ventus S1 evo 3 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in wet and Tire Lab Score. The Leao Winter Defender UHP still wins on snow, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.
Which one should you buy?
Choose Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 if
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise noise / comfort
- You prioritise snow
Test profile
| Metric | Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 | Leao Winter Defender UHP |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | UHP | UHP |
| Type | Summer | Summer |
| Tests used | 21 | 2 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 6.6 | 7.3 |
| Latest test | 2025 | 2023 |
| Tire Lab Score | 88.2 | 80.8 |
Tire Lab Score
Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3
Leao Winter Defender UHP
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 | Leao Winter Defender UHP | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 5.4 845 | Avg rank 7.1 2 | Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 5.4 157 | Avg rank 6.5 21 | Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 |
| ❄️Snow | No data | Avg rank 6.6 12 | Leao Winter Defender UHP |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 6.6 444 | Avg rank 7.3 1 | Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 |
| 📏Mileage | Avg rank 8.7 1 | No data | Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 7.5 3 | Avg rank 7.5 | Tie |
💧 Wet: Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 vs Leao Winter Defender UHP
The Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 wins this category with an average rank of 5.4, compared to 7.1 for the Leao Winter Defender UHP.
☀️ Dry: Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 vs Leao Winter Defender UHP
The Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 wins this category with an average rank of 5.4, compared to 6.5 for the Leao Winter Defender UHP.
❄️ Snow: Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 vs Leao Winter Defender UHP
The Leao Winter Defender UHP wins this category with an average rank of 6.6, compared to no data for the Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 vs Leao Winter Defender UHP
The Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 wins this category with an average rank of 6.6, compared to 7.3 for the Leao Winter Defender UHP.
📏 Mileage: Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 vs Leao Winter Defender UHP
The Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 wins this category with an average rank of 8.7, compared to no data for the Leao Winter Defender UHP.
🔋 Efficiency: Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 vs Leao Winter Defender UHP
Both tires perform similarly in efficiency, with average ranks of 7.5 and 7.5.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 or Leao Winter Defender UHP?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 ranks higher on average than the Leao Winter Defender UHP.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Leao Winter Defender UHP across the tests where both appeared.
Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?
On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 ranks better than the Leao Winter Defender UHP.
Which tire lasts longer?
Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 shows better mileage performance than the Leao Winter Defender UHP.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 appears in 21 independent tests, Leao Winter Defender UHP in 2.
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Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →