Hankook Optimo H426 Review

Billed as a premium all-season tire, the Hankook Optimo H426 is trusted by numerous automakers as factory equipment to deliver a sporty and engaging ride.

PROS

  • Dry performance
  • Comfortable
  • Quiet

CONS

  • Wet weather grip


Making use of a particularly grippy tread compound, these tires come with a UTQG rating of anywhere from 380 to 440, depending on the specific fitment. A lower number indicates higher grip, and that’s exactly what you get here. And considering the tire’s performance, we’re pleasantly surprised that it comes with a 60,000 mile tread life warranty.

That’s by no means a large number, but it does show Hankook has found a nice balance between grip and tire life.

A large, stiff center tread section makes for excellent highway stability and immediate responsiveness to steering inputs, while shoulder tread blocks hold up their end of the bargain to ensure your car or crossover stays on its intended track.

In the wet, however, the tire does leave something to be desired. The tread design does feature four circumferential grooves for evacuating water, as well as lateral channels on the shoulder blocks. Build to prevent hydroplaning, that’s not the issue here. Instead, the tire just doesn’t have great grip on wet roads.

What makes this tire more of a premium offering, despite the wet weather drawbacks, is its comfort and low noise characteristics. This is no doubt why many automakers prefer it. As such, it is extremely quiet while an internal construction of steel belts reinforced by nylon with a polyester casing to cushion the ride make for high levels of comfort.

In addition to all of this, some sizes come with Hankook’s low rolling resistance technology, designed to help improve your vehicle’s fuel economy.

Overall, we recommend this tire only if you live in a mostly-dry climate.

Hankook Optimo H426 Price

Pricing for the Hankook Optimo H426 starts from as low as $70 per tire for a 15-inch sizes and goes up to triple that price for some 20-inch sizes.

Hankook Optimo H426 Warranty

Hankook backs the Optimo H426 tire with a 60,000 mile tread life warranty.

Hankook Optimo H426 Sizes

15-inch sizes
175/65/R15
195/65/R15
185/60/R15

16-inch sizes
205/65/R16
205/55/R16
195/50/R16
195/55/R16
215/60/R16

17-inch sizes
205/45/R17
215/45/R17
245/50/R17

18-inch sizes
225/60/R18
225/45/R18
235/55/R18
245/50/R18
245/45/R18
225/40/R18

19-inch sizes
245/45/R19
225/55/R19
275/40/R19
245/40/R19

20-inch sizes
255/45/R20
255/50/R20

Is the Hankook Optimo H426 a Run-Flat Tire?

Hankook does offer a version of the Optimo H426 as a run-flat tire. It is technically marketed as the Optimo H426B HRS. This tire is, however, only available in two sizes. Thanks to an innovative reinforced sidewall it can drive up to 50 miles (at speeds of up to 50 mph) so you can continue to your destination, even with a flat tire.