Hankook is a company that prides itself on innovation. The South Korean company’s current highway-oriented LT tire is the Dynapro HP2, and that innovation shows through in the advanced silica tread.
Quick Facts
- Type: All-Season LT
- Sizes: 16-22
- Uniform Tire Quality Grade (UTQG): 640 A A
- Speed Rating: H-V
- Warranty: 6 Years / 65,000 miles
- Price: $$
What Sets It Apart
Hankook calls the HP2 a touring tire, and if your idea of touring is driving long distances on the highway, then they are perfect. Overall, it’s a phenomenal highway tire. The road noise is nearly non-existent; they last forever, they don’t transfer much vibration to the driver. Plus, they are very economical. The symmetrical tread will allow you to rotate them and replace them in stages, and they are inexpensive compared to their competitors.
That value is really what sets the Dynapro HP2s apart. They aren’t expensive, and they last a long time. You usually trade one for the other. Tires are like shoes; you either buy cheap ones frequently or expensive ones once. With these Hankooks, you get both.
Comfort and Performance
We will start with the good. These are comfortable tires. The road noise is barely noticeable. That’s especially true if you compare them to the ATs normally found on trucks and SUVs. Those of you with a new Ford Escape who find it a little noisy on long trips, try a set of these DynaPros, and you’ll be a lot happier.
They are also great tires for getting maximum fuel economy. The silica compound tread combined with the tread shape gives these Hankooks a very low rolling resistance, and that translates to better fuel economy.
Unfortunately, that also translates to more vibration and bumps being transferred to the driver. The hard compound that lowers resistance and improves the tire’s longevity makes for a poor cushion to sit on. It also means that you sacrifice some dry grip. The DynaPro HP2s are not meant to be a sport tire, but it would be nice if they were a little bit better in the twisties. The Pirelli Scorpion Verdes are very similar touring tires that will keep you planted in the corners, so it can be done.
Safety and Durability
These tires will bring you to a stop comfortably on dry surfaces. You can feel confident driving around town, and you will feel good in light rain or snow. The HP2s have some of the best braking performance you can get out of a highway tire on most surfaces and seasons.
If it starts raining a lot, though, your confidence will falter. These tires do not eject water as well as some of their competitors. You will notice that your braking distances have to be a little longer and your cornering speeds have to be a little slower when the sky lets loose.
However, the durability might make up for any shortcomings. These tires will last a long time, and more importantly, continue to perform well for a long time. When you couple their durability with Hankook’s frankly ridiculous 5-year or 65,000-mile warranty, you know that you’re not going to be replacing these tires anytime soon.
Who It’s For
The Dynapro HP2s are a great tire for anyone who owns a light truck or SUV and spends a lot of time on the highway. They aren’t the cheapest tires to buy. However, the gas you save and the fact that they won’t need replacing anytime soon will make them cheaper in the long run than most economy tires that have poor performance and self-destruct after 40k miles.
You will want to look elsewhere if you live in a place like Seattle where it rains all the time. These tires are just not suited for wet pavement, and they are even less suited for mud. You’ll want to look for something a bit more towards the all-terrain side of the spectrum to tackle those conditions.
If you live in the middle of California and plan on taking trips between SF and LA, the HP2s are perfect.
