First Impressions - Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2 Tires With Kontrol Technology

Being a vehicle tester means that one is also a tire tester. Each week, we are blessed to test a new vehicle, and, often, a new tire. One we had not previously tried was the Ventus S1 Noble2 Tires With Kontrol Technology from Hankook. This is a performance all-season tire. It was applied to the 2025 Hyundai Palisade we were testing, and almost crashed this week. We credit the tires with playing a role in preventing that crash. 

Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2 Tires With Kontrol Technology - What Makes It Special?
The Ventus S1 Noble2 has some interesting design features. Here’s a quick rundown on some of the highlights of what this tire has to offer:

• A triple-radius profile that maintains maximum grip under ultra-high-performance driving conditions.
• An outer block semi-rib design to provide greater stability and handling performance.
• 3D vibration analysis technology delivers uniform contact pressure on the center and shoulder blocks for secure braking performance, while a straight rib block applied to the outside of the tire reduces road noise.
• A 5-Pitch tread block design offers optimal noise dispersion for a quiet, comfortable ride.
• Side filling tape between 1st and 2nd belts help to prevent seperation in the tire's belt edge and increase durability.
• Stiffness Control Contour Theory Technology controls the dispersion of internal force for better durability.
• 3-Dimensional Sipes, which maintain a stable shape during acceleration, braking, and cornering.
• A positive aqua hydro block design developed through 3D Hydroplaning simulation to provide highly efficient wet braking.

What Is “Kontrol Technology”
Hankook says this of its Kontyol technology: “Kontrol Technology represents our technological commitment towards a perfect driving experience. With our belief that the constant interplay among a vehicle, driver, and road surface can be controlled with unfailing precision, we will be the first to mount a challenge for innovative technology to offer a more pleasant driving experience.”

Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2 Tires With Kontrol Technology - Our Driving Impressions
During a week of testing with the outstanding 2025 Hyundai Palisade, the Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2 Tires With Kontrol Technology impressed us quite a bit. First, these tires helped to save my life when an unusual emergency occurred at highway speeds. During some abrupt high-speed maneuvers the tires never squealed, never slipped, and provided outstanding grip. You can read the whole story at our story titled, I Thought I Was Safe In the 2025 Hyundai Palisade - Then This Confirmed It.

In addition to the emergency situation, the Ventus S1 Noble2 Tires impressed us on the road in heavy rain at temps near freezing. This is a particularly challenging set of circumstances for tires. Winter compounds and treads are not optimized for wet roads, and all-season treads and compounds are not optimized for temperatures below 40F. As a few wet flakes fell on rain-soaked streets, the Ventus S1 Noble2 Tires offered outstanding grip. They never lost contact even when they were under full power and turning into traffic. We also did not experience any hydroplaning.

On the highway, in both wet and dry conditions, the tires were exceptionally smooth and quiet. So much so that we assumed they may have acoustic foam inserts, but they do not. Somehow, Hankook was able to create a tire without this troublesome addition that match the quietest tires we’ve tested.

We even had a chance to try the tires on muddy dirt roads. Due to their low profile sizing, we expected some harshness, but they were brilliant. Smooth and secure up and down steep, muddy hills. 

On twisty mountain roads, the Ventus S1 Noble2 Tires were a great pairing with the Palisade, which is quite fun to drive, given its size. These tires definitely live up to the marketing hype words like “High Performance.”

Ventus S1 Noble2 Tires - Our Conclusion
Those looking for a great all-season tire that offers outstanding low noise, a high level of comfort, and life-saving handling capability in rain or snow will find it in the Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2 Tires With Kontrol Technology.

Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2 Tires With Kontrol Technology - Test Notes
Size Tested - 245/50 R20 
Tread Depth as Tested - 7.76 mm
Test Pressure Cold - 35 PSI
Miles Driven - 3,100 (Total)
Testing Miles - Approximately 425
Serv. Desc: 102V
UTQG: 500 A A
Load Range: SL
Manufacturer's Warranty - 50K Mile 
Retail Price - Approximately $273 each (Courtesy of Simple Tire)

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John Goreham is a credentialed New England Motor Press Association member and expert vehicle tester. John completed an engineering program with a focus on electric vehicles, followed by two decades of work in high-tech, biopharma, and the automotive supply chain before becoming a news contributor. He is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE int). In addition to his eleven years of work at Torque News, John has published thousands of articles and reviews at American news outlets. He is known for offering unfiltered opinions on vehicle topics. You can connect with John on Linkedin and follow his work on our X channel. Please note that stories carrying John's by-line are never AI-generated, but he does employ Grammarly grammar and punctuation software when proofreading. 

Image of Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2 Tires With Kontrol Technology by John Goreham.