Being a diehard Michelin fan, I'm quite surprised at the ride and handling so far. I'm coming from Michelin Pilot Sport AS Plus. The handling and response of those tires were absolutely staggering in wet and dry, but they wore in about 25,000 miles and were quite noisy on many road surfaces. They were moderately priced at just over $1,000 installed, balanced, and aligned.
These Hankook Ventus S-1 Noble2 are rated as 'ultra high performance - all season' just like the Michelins, but are priced considerably less at around $850 installed, balanced, and aligned. Size: 255/45ZR/18. Rated: 500/AA/A 99W (168mph) and 769 revs per mile, max 51psi. Warranty: 5yrs / 50k miles - free replacement 1st year or 2/32 wear, then prorated after, free road hazzard 1st year up to 2/32 wear.
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Tramling: After crossing the 17th St Causeway bridge, the road turns to the north and becomes A1A running along the beach. As a beach dweller, I have to drive this road every day. The Michelins did it on that turn north nearly 100% of the time and that's the ONLY time I ever experienced tramling in any state I drove, on any road. These Hankooks won't do it. I've adjusted the speed, the sharpness of the turn, and even applied brakes at this very spot - no tramling.
Handling: The Michelins seem to have a mind reader built in them because it was almost as though they knew what you were going to do before you did it. Response was really that quick. The Hankooks also respond instantaneously, but just a hair less intuitive than the Michelins. The Hankooks grab and stick extremely well in spirited driving, sharp turns, and brisk lane changes - not better or worse than Michelins - just 'slightly different'. They provide the same confidence as the Michelins did in both wet and dry driving and that is quite impressive. Even at 100mph (shhh!) the car seems to be doing about 30mph and handles brilliantly. More on motorway driving after my upcoming road trip through 5 states.
Road Noise: Simply stated ... there is pratically none. On the motorway (I-95) and the turnpike, the noise levels are extremely low. On particular road surfaces, you may hear some tread noise, but very slight and it isn't a droaning that invades the cabin like most tires in this class. The bumps and roadway joints are just barely noticeable if you're listening for them, and you can feel them in the steering wheel, but very little noise enters the cabin. Larger road joints are audible, but even those are delt with quietly and there is no sharp jolt sent to the sterring wheel or the cabin. Bridges produce audible noise, but again it's not a loud droaning and it doesn't over take the music or convo in the cabin. Driving at 30mph on a good road surface with the windows and roof open, all you hear is wind.
Impression: Although it's been only 500 miles, I have to admit I am much more impressed with these Hankooks than I expected. I was convinced that stepping down from Michelins would be noticeable and I hoped not to be disappointed enough to return them and go back to Michelins. However, I have to say, although at an early stage of wear, I don't miss my Michelins in the least and these Hankooks are not really a step down after all, just a slight difference if any.
It's much too early to say I highly recommend these tires. After my trip (another 3k miles or so) I will report back. Meanwhile, here is the official video of the feaures of the Ventus S1 Noble2:
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http://youtu.be/t-4U3OcbS_s
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and let's see what those babies can really do..!