Looking for a reliable tire that won’t break the bank? You’re in the right place. This Hankook Optimo H724 review will give you the straight facts on this popular budget all-season tire. We’ll look at where it performs well, where it falls short, and help you decide if it’s the right fit for your car and driving needs.
Choosing tires can be confusing. With so many options, it’s hard to know what’s truly good value. The Hankook Optimo H724 aims to balance cost, comfort, and all-season capability. Let’s see how it holds up in the real world.
Hankook Optimo H724 Review: A Budget-Friendly All-Season Tire
This section is the core of our Hankook Optimo H724 review. We’ll break down everything you need to know, from tread design to real-world driving impressions.
The Optimo H724 is Hankook’s value-oriented all-season tire for passenger cars, minivans, and smaller crossovers. It’s designed to provide a quiet, comfortable ride with dependable year-round traction. It’s a common original equipment (OE) tire on many new cars and a frequent choice for replacements at tire shops.
Key Features and Tread Design
The H724’s design focuses on stability and wear. It uses a symmetric tread pattern, which is common for touring tires. This design helps with even wear and predictable handling.
The tread has five ribs. The outer ribs have larger blocks for better cornering grip. The inner ribs and continuous center rib focus on straight-line stability and water evacuation. You’ll find lots of sipes (small cuts in the tread blocks) that help with wet and light winter traction.
- Symmetric Tread Pattern: Promotes even wear and is often easier to balance.
- Five-Rib Design: Balances dry handling with wet weather performance.
- Multi-Wave Sipes: These interlocking sipes help the tread blocks stay rigid for stability while still providing biting edges for traction.
- All-Season Compound: Formulated to remain flexible in cooler temperatures without wearing out too quickly in the heat.
Performance in Dry Conditions
For daily driving, the H724 is perfectly adequate in dry weather. It offers decent grip for normal acceleration, braking, and cornering. The steering response is a bit soft and not super sharp, but that’s typical for a comfort-focused tire.
You won’t get sport-tire levels of feedback or grip. But for commuting and highway cruising, it feels secure and stable. The ride comfort is where this tire starts to shine for its price point.
Performance in Wet Conditions
Wet traction is a critical safety factor. The H724 performs okay here, but it’s not a class leader. The tread design does a fair job of channeling water away to prevent hydroplaning at moderate speeds.
Braking distances on wet roads are acceptable. However, the grip limit in heavy rain or during aggressive maneuvers is lower than more premium tires. The tread compound can feel a bit less confident on soaked roads.
It’s important to monitor tread depth as these tires wear. Like most budget tires, wet performance can diminish more noticeably as the tread gets low.
Performance in Snow and Ice
This is a major consideration for an “all-season” tire. The Hankook Optimo H724 is not a severe snow service rated tire. It lacks the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol.
That means it’s intended for light snow and occasional winter weather only. It can handle a dusting or a couple inches of fresh snow reasonably well, thanks to its siping. But on packed snow or ice, traction is very limited.
- Light Snow: Manageable for slow, careful driving.
- Packed Snow/Ice: Not recommended. Braking and cornering grip are poor.
- Recommendation: If you experience more than a few significant snowfalls each winter, a dedicated set of winter tires is a much safer investment.
Comfort and Noise Levels
Comfort is one of the H724’s stronger points. The ride is noticeably soft and absorbs bumps and road imperfections well. This makes it a good match for older cars or drivers who prioritize a smooth ride.
Noise levels are generally low at lower speeds. On some road surfaces, however, you might hear a mild humming sound at highway speeds. It’s not excessive, but it’s there. Overall, for the price, it’s a quiet and comfortable tire.
Treadwear and Longevity
Hankook offers a 75,000-mile treadwear warranty on the H724 in most sizes. This is a strong warranty for the budget category and suggests confidence in its longevity.
In practice, achieving that full mileage depends heavily on your driving habits, alignment, and rotations. With proper care, getting 50,000-65,000 miles is a realistic expectation for many drivers. The wear does tend to be even thanks to the symmetric design.
How to Maximize Your H724’s Tire Life
- Check your tire pressure monthly. Underinflation is a major cause of premature wear.
- Rotate your tires every 5,000 to 7,000 miles. This is crucial for even wear.
- Get a wheel alignment at least once a year, or if you hit a big pothole.
- Avoid aggressive driving. Hard acceleration and braking wear tires faster.
Vehicle Compatibility and Sizing
The Hankook Optimo H724 comes in a very wide range of sizes. It fits many common passenger cars from compacts to full-size sedans. It also fits many minivans and smaller crossover SUVs.
Always check your vehicle’s placard (usually inside the driver’s door jamb) for the correct size, load index, and speed rating. Common sizes include 205/55R16, 215/60R16, 225/65R17, and many more.
Price and Value Proposition
This is the H724’s biggest selling point. It is consistently one of the most affordable all-season touring tires on the market. You can often find it for a significant discount compared to tires from Michelin, Goodyear, or Bridgestone.
The value question comes down to your priorities. If your main goals are low cost, a comfortable ride, and decent longevity for dry and fair-weather commuting, the H724 presents a strong case. You are compromising on ultimate wet and winter performance.
Who Should Buy the Hankook Optimo H724?
- Drivers on a strict budget who need a full set of reliable tires.
- Those who live in mild climates with mostly dry weather and rare, light snow.
- Owners of older vehicles where a premium tire investment doesn’t make sense.
- Drivers who prioritize ride comfort and low road noise.
- Anyone who does mostly city and highway driving at moderate speeds.
Who Should Look Elsewhere?
- Drivers in regions with heavy rain, frequent snow, or icy winters.
- Those who want sporty handling and sharp steering response.
- If you regularly drive long distances on high-speed highways in varied weather.
- If you’re willing to spend a bit more for significantly better wet/snow safety margins.
How It Compares to Other Tires
It’s helpful to see how the H724 stacks up against competitors.
Vs. Michelin Defender T+H
The Michelin is in a higher tier. It offers superior wet and winter traction, better steering feel, and often even longer treadlife. However, it costs quite a bit more. The H724 is a budget alternative that focuses on comfort.
Vs. Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady
The Goodyear is a true all-weather tire with the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake rating. It’s far more capable in snow for year-round use. Again, it comes at a higher price point. The H724 isn’t in the same league for winter performance.
Vs. Kumho Solus TA31
This is a more direct competitor. The Kumho TA31 is similarly priced and positioned. The H724 might have a slight edge in ride comfort, while the TA31 can feel a bit more responsive. Both are solid budget choices with similar limitations in severe weather.
Final Verdict
The Hankook Optimo H724 is exactly what it claims to be: a budget-friendly all-season tire. It excels in providing a soft, quiet ride and a long treadwear warranty at a very attractive price. It handles dry conditions well enough for daily use.
Its weaknesses are in challenging conditions. Wet weather performance is just okay, and it’s not suitable for real winter conditions. For drivers in sunbelt states or those with light seasonal needs, it’s a compelling value. For drivers facing harsh winters or frequent heavy rain, investing in a more capable tire is a smarter safety decision.
In summary, you get what you pay for. The H724 delivers solid value for money in its comfort and longevity, but makes clear compromises on advanced traction.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is the Hankook Optimo H724 a good tire?
Yes, for its specific purpose. It’s a good budget tire for dry weather comfort and longevity. It’s not a top performer in wet or snowy conditions.
How long do Hankook Optimo H724 tires last?
With proper maintenance, many drivers report getting 50,000 to 65,000 miles. Hankook backs them with a 75,000-mile warranty, which is excellent for this price range.
Can I use the H724 in the snow?
Only in light, occasional snow. It is not a winter tire. For frequent snow or icy roads, it lacks sufficient traction and is not recommended.
Are Hankook Optimo tires noisy?
They are generally quiet, especially around town. Some highway road noise is possible on certain pavements, but it’s not usually a major complaint.
What vehicles is the Optimo H724 for?
It fits many passenger cars, minivans, and smaller crossover SUVs. Check your vehicle’s specific size requirements.
Is there a better alternative to the H724?
If your budget allows, tires like the Michelin Defender or Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack offer better all-around performance. In the same budget range, the Kumho Solus TA31 or General Altimax RT43 are similar alternatives to compare.