Got new tires!

Well, I'll be damned! Very nice new feature!!! I stand corrected on Consumer Reports...your point has been well taken and my original post modified to qualify the statement in question! You might have to correct me again, however, as I am seeing 9 of the 17 with equal or better snow traction and ice braking than the Hankook and 8 clearly worse.

 

I'm not sure if we're approaching or describing the counting the same way. Anyway, here's my counting method:

The Hankook Optimo H727 A/S tire got a "Very Good" rating for snow traction and a "Very Good" for ice braking.

When I looked at the snow and ice ratings of the 17 winter tires tested, if a winter tire got a "Very Good" rating for both snow traction and ice braking, then I considered the Hankook to be equal to the winter tire in snow and ice.

And if a winter tire got less than a "Very Good" rating for either or both snow traction and/or ice braking, then I considered the Hankook to be better than the winter tire in snow and ice.

Alternatively, you can assign points to Consumer Reports' descriptive ratings, e.g., 5 points for "Excellent", 4 points for "Very Good", 3 points for "Good", 2 points for "Fair" and 1 point for "Poor", and then total and compare the combined rating points in snow and ice for each tire. Using this method, the Hankook gets 8 total combined points for snow and ice. So if a winter tire also got 8 total snow and ice points, then I considered the Hankook to be its equal in snow and ice. And if a winter tire got fewer than 8 total snow and ice points, then I considered the Hankook to be better than the winter tire in snow and ice.

Either way, I count the Hankook Optimo H727 A/S tire as having equal or better snow and ice performance than 12 of the 17 winter tires tested.

Here's my list by Consumer Reports winter tire # of the 12 winter tires that the Hankook equaled (H =) or bettered (H +) in snow and ice performance:

#4 (H +)
#5 (H =)
#6 (H =)
#7 (H =)
#8 (H +)
#10 (H +)
#11 (H +)
#13 (H =)
#14 (H +)
#15 (H +)
#16 (H +)
#17 (H +)

Granted, the snow and ice performance of the Hankook Optimo H727 is a singular exception among A/S tires. No other A/S tire tested comes close or can make the claim that it performs as well or better in snow and ice than most of the winter tires tested.

 

You know, I wonder if the H727 is more of a winter tire than an A/S tire. Can someone find out more of the specs, e.g. tire life, silica compound, comfort/handling, etc.? If for example the tire has low life, is very cushy, has special silica compound for low-temperatures, it would suggest (in my mind anyways) that it is more of a winter tire than an all-season.

Just a thought fwiw.

 

I'm confused by your questions about the Hankook Optimo H727 because I think they have already been answered.

All you have to do is read the Consumer Reports November 2009 tire tests that I attached above, and that I'll re-attach here:

Consumer_Reports_Nov._2009_Tire_Tests-1.doc

The CR tests give absolute, cross-category ratings for the H727 and all the tested tires for Dry Braking, Wet Braking, Handling, Hydroplaning, Snow Traction, Ice Braking, Ride Comfort, Noise, Rolling Resistance and Tread Life.

 

Gotcha. And thanks again for the update on how they review...I've been a subscription and online member for so long I may have never noticed the changes!

 

Hi folks, thanks for the information and discussion about the Hankook OPTIMO H727 tires. As an enthusiastic new Prius owner I have read about 1,000 great PC posts about what people think about replacement tires. My GY Integreties are so deafening and stiff (with the boost in PSI) at 36K miles I just have to replace them before I get an alignment.

Great car! Great forum!