Winterise your workhorse: 3 hatchbacks transformed by Hankook all-season rubber

No SUV? No problem. Thanks to Hankook’s versatile Kinergy 4S2 all-season tyre, there’s no need to dread that snow-covered commute. But why does it make such a strong winter pairing for daily drivers?

Though British winters aren’t the most extreme in Europe when it comes to snowfall or lowest average temperature, they’re still a bleak prospect for many motorists. 

Once the daylight hours start to dwindle, British drivers must prepare for just about any weather conditions imaginable. From overcast freezing drizzle and gloomy fog to black ice and blizzard snow showers, you never know what to expect when you step out the front door. 

And that’s why high-riding SUVs are so popular on UK roads — they aren’t scared of a little slush. But do you really need one? What if your trusty hatchback could conquer the British winter, and reap the benefits of superior fuel economy and sharper handling over its crossover counterparts? 

Enter, Hankook’s winter-ready Kinergy 4S2. Designed to guarantee safe and secure traction regardless of the weather, this decorated all-season tyre fits most popular hatchbacks and daily drivers. That means despite a lack of all-wheel drive and rugged looks, your faithful hatch should still get you home safely when snow starts to fall.  

But how does the Kinergy do it? Let us explain, with the help of three staple British daily drivers. 

VW Golf

When it comes to safe, reliable transport for the masses, VW’s Golf has been a household name for over 50 years. However, since the advent of its higher-riding, SUV siblings — such as T-ROC and Tiguan — many buyers have swapped seats into VW’s crossover offerings thanks to their greater perceived versatility and all-weather ability. 

Did they really need to make the switch, though? Maybe not. When fitted with a true 3PMSF accredited all-season tyre, like Kinergy 4S2, a standard Golf is a capable companion on sub-zero roads. Thanks to Hankook’s special slush edge grooves which lock into the terrain and enhance cornering performance, the VW hatchback shouldn’t deliver any unsettling, understeer surprises on snowy routes. 

But why not just fit dedicated winter tyres instead? Well, despite boasting greatly improved cold-weather grip, the Kinergy 4S2 all-season also retains all the traits which make the Golf a great summer commuter. Most notably, Hankook’s pitch variation technology, which helps to eliminate irritating resonance when travelling at speed, thus preserving the Golf’s famous cabin refinement.

Ford Focus 

And from one people’s champion to another: the Ford Focus. Sure, it’s long-lived production run is set to end next month, when it will join its brother, the Fiesta, in the next life, but the dynamic Ford family car is still a common sight on nearly every street in the country. 

Why? Because it’s both affordable, and exceptionally good to drive. Much like the Golf though, it’s come under some friendly fire from the likes of Ford’s own crossovers: the Puma and Kuga. 

But fear not if you aren’t a fan of lofty ride heights and rugged styling, with the right tyres, Ford’s Focus can still cut it this winter. Shod in a fresh set of Kinergy 4S 2 rubber, the Focus benefits from 3D GripKontrol sipes which deliver outstanding grip on snow, slush, ice, and wet tarmac.  

Of course, that would all be in vain if it diluted the Focus’s engaging handling balance. Thankfully, due to Hankook’s concave tie-bar improving block stiffness by 4%, the Ford should still feel agile when the clouds part and the roads dry out.

Seat Leon

Looking for something which blends the Golf’s stalwart reliability with the Focus’s fun factor? Seat’s Golf-based Leon is your best bet when it comes to quirky daily drivers. However, it’s often overlooked for the firm’s larger Ateca and Arona SUVs by those fearful of bleak British winters. 

As always, though, it’s the tyres which make the biggest difference when it comes to sub-zero traction — two wheels gripping always beats four spinning hopelessly. And the Leon’s front-drive platform — with a weighty engine sitting over the front wheels pushing the tyres into the tarmac — should have little trouble finding traction when fitted with Kinergy 4S2.  

As well as the aforementioned tread and sipe optimisations, 4S2’s Weather Control compound has been developed to adapt to any driving conditions — from sun to snow and everything in between. So you’ll feel safe and in control, whatever your daily commute has to throw at you. 

Still think you need a dedicated off-roader this winter? Hankook’s Kinergy 4S2 might change your mind. Let us know if you’ll be fitting all-season tyres to your workhorse this winter.

Hero image credit:  Alexander Migl (edits made)