The Hankook Optimo H724 is one of my favorite all-season tires. I had the chance to test drive a 1968 Cadillac DeVille at a vintage car show a couple of months ago. The car was fitted with a set of white-walled Hankook Optimo H724 tires. As expected from a Cadillac, the ride was pretty good. But the tires gave the Cadillac competent handling and an eerily silent ride.
My test car for this Hankook Optimo H724 review is not a pimp-mobile like the vintage Caddy. It is a humble and mundane 2014 Hyundai Accent fitted with stock 14-inch wheels and Hankook Optimo H724 tires. These are the OEM tires of the Accent and the owner decided to purchase the same set when the tires needed replacement.
He told me the Hankook tires were virtually problem-free. The old tires lasted 47,000 trouble-free miles so it was only natural for him to stick with the Hankook’s. He praised the tires for their long treadwear, low price, and driving comfort. But I wanted to know more. I got the keys to the Hyundai Accent and I drove to the nearest highway.
Features
The Hankook Optimo H724 is an all-season touring tire designed for subcompact and compact cars, midsize sedans, and small crossovers. It remains to be a favorite simply because it offers elevated levels of comfort and dry performance at a lower price.
This Hankook tire is not as cheap as Chinese-made tires, but it is a bit less expensive than comparable all-season tires from Bridgestone or Goodyear. Want proof? The 14-inch Hankook Optimo H724 tires fitted to my test car were only around $55 per piece, while the Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Plus (which is a comparable all-season touring tire) costs almost twice as that.
The tire is equipped with a tread design that was designed using advanced pitch design technology. It has something to do with the arrangements of the sipes on the tread to minimize the fluctuations of tire roar on a variety of road surfaces. The tire was constructed using single strand bead wire and a high hardness bead filler to enhance the ride and durability.
Test Drive
It’s been a while since I last drove a manual-equipped modern car. The Hyundai Accent is one of the popular choices in the subcompact category not only because it is cheaper than other variants, it actually drives like a more expensive car. It has the composure and ride of a midsize sedan, and it handles better than other small cars. However, the engine is a bit of a letdown and the manual stick is a bit finicky to slot in gear.
Dry Traction
In terms of dry traction, I have nothing bad to report about the Hankook Optimo H724. The tires were more than adequate for the size and weight of the Accent. I never felt the tires were hunting for grip as I sped aggressively on a tight and winding right-hand corner.
The tires also felt good as I drove at high speed on the freeway. If the Accent was fitted with bigger wheels and wider tires, I think the handling will be many times better, but that’s just me. Who needs bigger and sportier wheels if you don’t care about high-speed stability and handling?
Wet Traction
The Hankook Optimo H724 tires were also impressive on wet patches of road. I felt the traction went down by just a tiny bit as I drove a bit aggressively on the wet highway, but nothing too grave to give it a low score. Given the narrow 175/65/R14 configuration of the tires in my test car, I would have to say that the tires felt impressive even when the roads turned slippery.
Snow Traction
There was no time for me to test the Hankook Optimo H724 tires in the snow. However, the owner told me had no problems with the tires on light snow. Traction and grip were present even on snow-covered roads, but don’t expect the tires to acquit themselves when the road turns to an icy slush. The new Hankook tires were installed a month before the start of the snow season so the owner had plenty of time to play with these tires in winter conditions.
Comfort
Despite the lackluster motor and the clunky gear changes, the Hyundai Accent is a comfortable car to drive around town. I guess the ride comfort had a lot to do with the Hankook Optimo H724. The tires remained unperturbed even when rolling over coarse road surfaces. On the highway, the tires were in their element as the car simply wafted over road undulations.
Noise
I find it rare for cheap tires to deliver a perfect balance of handling, comfort, and road noise. It seems the Hankook Optimo H724 managed to deliver in all aspects.
The tires were silent on city roads and they were whisper-quiet on the highway as well. However, you will hear a bit of tire roar at higher than average speeds, but it is not enough to distract you from the driving experience.
If you drive your car like a true law-abiding citizen, you will be impressed with both the comfort and ride silence of the Hankook Optimo H724 tires.
Treadwear
Like I previously mentioned above, the old Hankook tires on my test car lasted approximately 47,000 miles. That’s not bad considering the price and performance of the tires.
The Hankook Optimo H724 tires fitted to my test car were relatively new and fresh as a daisy with almost no signs of visible treadwear during my test.
It is nice to know that an affordable set of all-season tires can have impressive wear characteristics since most cheap tires will ultimately fail in this regard.
Conclusion
Now you know the reason why the Hankook Optimo H724 is one of my favorite all-season touring tires. It is hard to ignore the entry-level price, but it is easy to overlook the multifaceted capabilities of this tire. If your needs a basic all-season tire, you can’t go wrong with the Hankook Optimo H724.
Just bought 4 for my CR-V. Great tires for the price!