I am not particularly fond of sport-utility vehicles. I’m not saying these vehicles are not great to drive, but I find them too big and too cumbersome as a daily driver. But of all the SUVs in the market, the Kia Sorento is one that deserves a lot of attention.
In this review of the Hankook Dynapro HP2 RA33, I got my hands on a 2017 Kia Sorento LX. My test car was equipped with all-wheel drive and the 2.4-liter naturally-aspirated motor paired with a 6-speed automatic.
The tires fitted to my test vehicle were the Hankook Dynapro HP2 RA33 which were wrapped in stock 17-inch wheels. The Dynapro HP2 were specifically designed to meet the demands of premium SUVs and are equipped to deliver the best possible all-season performance on all types of driving conditions.
What many people fail to realize is the Sorento offers terrific value for money. My test vehicle came with a lot of standard features and an unbeatable warranty. It was my first time to get behind the wheels of the Sorento so I was itching to find out how this vehicle drives.
Of course, I’m also here to report about the performance and value proposition of the Hankook Dynapro HP2 RA33. Hankook is proud to say the Dynapro HP2 is a high-performance all-season tire despite the rather conservative tread design. Let’s see how the tires perform in both wet and dry roads.
Features
The Hankook Dynapro HP2 RA33 is designed with straight 4-channel waterways to improve traction and grip on slippery wet roads. The channels will help to quickly dissipate water to avoid hydroplaning and aquaplaning at any speed.
The tire was manufactured using a high-loading silica compound that improves dry and wet traction and lowering the rolling resistance of the tire. It is also constructed with a jointless full-cover reinforced belt to further improve the high-speed stability of the tire.
It is also equipped with a high-density polyester carcass and single-strand bead wire that will allow the tire to deliver better handling and improved steering response. Hankook made sure to construct this tire with the best features possible to make it one of the best all-season SUV tires you can buy.
In terms of price, I consider the Hankook Dynapro HP2 to be above average. It is not the cheapest SUV tire you can buy, nor is it the most expensive compared to other brands. But at approximately $105 per piece (235/65R17), you can buy a set of four tires for less than $450.
Test Drive
The first thing I noticed about the Sorento is the smooth ride. It feels like you are inside a more expensive European or American luxury SUV. But unlike other behemoths, the Sorento handles better and has more responsive steering. This probably has a lot to do with the Hankook Dynapro HP2 tires.
Dry Traction
It was raining the whole afternoon and I only got the chance to test the dry traction of the tires in the evening. The roads were still a bit damp but the tires still had admirable levels of dry traction and grip. The steering also felt positively good as the SUV responded immediately to my fiddly steering inputs. I never felt the tires were hunting for traction as I pushed the pedal to the floor to accelerate from a full stop. Credit also goes to the marvelous all-wheel-drive system of my test vehicle, although I felt the system is a bit of an overkill for a vehicle that will mostly be used on paved roads.
Wet Traction
I was expecting an all-season tire to perform well on wet roads, but I didn’t expect it to be overly good. The Hankook Dynapro HP2 RA33 tires performed magnificently on wet roads. There were numerous water puddles on the freeway but my test vehicle simply soldiered on with nary a complaint. I didn’t feel the tires were breaking traction as I forged my way over the wet highways.
Snow Traction
I didn’t get the chance to test the tires in the snow. However, the owner of the Sorento made a short trip to Colorado during the holiday season. He told me the tires were more than able to cope with low levels of ice and snow. This is due to the number of biting edges or sipes on the tread surface. Don’t expect the tires to acquit themselves on roads covered with thick ice or more than 2 or 3 inches of snow. You’ll need proper snow tires for your SUV if you live in cold climates.
Comfort
I also like the comfort levels of the Hankook Dynapro HP2 RA33. The tires gave the Sorento a well-sorted and comfortable ride. It’s sort of a mixed bag since the tires will make some thumping noises when going over deep potholes or ruts on the road, but it’s nothing too serious to give it a low score.
Noise
All in all, the Hankook Dynapro HP2 RA33 tires were pretty silent during my test drive. I only noticed a bit of road noise as I pushed the SUV to higher speeds. Tire roar was also present as I drove over rough patches of concrete roads but it wasn’t enough to upset the composure of my test vehicle.
Treadwear
The tires fitted to my test vehicle were in mint condition. The Sorento only had 7,000 miles on the odometer. I saw no signs of accelerated wear on the tires. So far, so good.
Conclusion
If you happen to be looking for high-performance all-season SUV tires that are friendly on the pocket, look no further than the Hankook Dynapro HP2 RA33. Don’t let the conservative tread design fool you. These tires are capable of offering advanced levels of dry and wet traction compared to other all-season tires.
Adam Thompson, I was skeptical about the Hankook Dynapro HP2 RA33 tires because of the conservative tread design. Great handling in wet weather. Infiniti just installed these on my 2015 QX70, which means they were factory rated, also. Bridgestone Dueler H/P 92a is equivalent to these Hankook\’s, but the Dynapro HP2\’s have 65,000 mile warranty (H/P 92a only had 45,000), 620 tread grade versus 260, equivalent speed rating, two pounds lighter and approximately $140 cheaper. Very happy with these tires here in the Pacific Northwest.
VirgoSuite71. Thank you for your feedback. I have a 2017 Explorer with Hankook Ventus/Noble that are literally coming apart at 24k. I went back to Ford and Hankook is basically replacing them for free so there must have been an issue. They are offering the Dynapro HP2. Many reviews I read stated wet weather problems. I\’m also in the PNW so that would obviously be concerning. I was glad to see your review was positive. I\’m hoping these perform better!