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Last updated 5/27/2025 - Originally published 5/27/2025
Written by SimpleTire, Expertly reviewed by Brett Antosh
Founded in 1915 in Akron, Ohio, General is a part of Continental and makes high-quality tires for use known for its quality tires use on passenger cars, coupes, sedans, CUVs, SUVs, light trucks, commercial vehicles, and industrial applications. Its portfolio includes a variety of tires, including all-season, all-terrain, UHP all-season, UHP summer, winter, all-weather, highway, and mud-terrain tires.
Hankook, on the other hand, was introduced in the 1940s and is headquartered in South Korea. This tire manufacturer has many popular lines in the US market, like the Dynapro, Ventus, Winter i*cept, and so on. The company specializes in making tires for use on passenger cars, CUVs, SUVs, light trucks, commercial vehicles, trailers, and EVs, and its range includes all-season, winter, all-terrain, UHP summer, UHP all-season, all-weather, highway, mud-terrain, performance, commercial van, and touring tires.
The G-Max RS from General and the Ventus V4 ES from Hankook are the two impressive UHP tires on the market that offer sharper handling response and high-speed performance. However, there is a basic difference between the two tires. While the G-Max RS is an ultra-high-performance (UHP) summer tire suitable for use in warmer weather conditions, the Ventus V4 ES (H105) falls in the UHP all-season tire category, which means this tire is specialized to offer solid performance year-round.
Technically, the G-Max RS tires get rubber compound that delivers solid performance in summer conditions on dry and wet roads (when the temperature is above 45 degrees Fahrenheit), while the Ventus V4 ES (H105) tires are suitable for use in dry, wet, and light snow conditions.
Choosing one of the best tires as per your driving style and needs could be a challenge and therefore, we will help you with overall, traction, handling, and longevity analysis of these tires in this G-Max RS vs Ventus V4 ES tires comparison using our advance tire rating system, SimpleScore.
General G-Max RS tires
Let’s talk about the General G-Max RS first, which was launched in 2018 and can be used on sports cars, performance cars, sedans, and sporty coupes. It is a great choice for driving in warmer weather conditions, in temperatures above 45 degrees, and is optimized for long-lasting treadwear, solid dry and wet handling, wet braking, confident cornering, and high-speed stability.
Overall, the G-Max RS achieves an 8.2 SimpleScore rating because of its responsive handling, strong traction, and extended tread life.
Get G-Max RS tires at the best deals for your vehicle here
Hankook Ventus V4 ES (H105) tires
The Hankook Ventus V4 ES (H105) is slightly different from the G-Max RS because of its year-round serving ability. This tire is suitable for use on sports cars, coupes, and performance sedans and can be used on dry, wet, and light snow conditions. It is optimized for optimum hydroplaning resistance, strong traction and grip, smooth and quieter rides, high-speed stability, and quicker steering response.
Overall, the Ventus V4 ES (H105) scores a great 8.4 rating, thanks to its superior traction, longer tread life, and responsive handling.
Get Hankook Ventus V4 ES (H105) tires at the best deals for your vehicle here
General G-Max RS vs Hankook Ventus V4 ES (H105) tires on traction
Now, let’s talk about the traction performance of both tires and find out which one is better when it comes to surefootedness. When both tires were compared, one of them performed better in traction with a higher rating.
Starting with the G-Max RS, the tire scores an 8.2 SimpleScore in traction, assuring a reliable grip in dry and wet conditions. The tread pattern of this tire is designed to boost traction in warmer weather conditions, and the solid shoulders improve traction in dry conditions. The four wide grooves allow the tire to evacuate water from the tread and reduce the chances of hydroplaning in rainy conditions. Likewise, the rubber compound is adaptive to warmer conditions to offer a solid grip.
Contrarily, the Ventus V4 ES (H105) scores an 8.5 SimpleScore in traction, which is better than the peer and also comes with the advantage of providing traction performance in dry, wet, and light snow weather. The directional tread pattern and wider grooves ensure increased water channelling in wet conditions, while the sipes in each tread block increase surface biting ability for a commanding grip in wet and slick conditions. Additionally, the rubber compound of the tire is engineered to boost surefootedness year-round.
While the G-Max RS is a great choice for summer use and provides traction on dry and wet roads, it is the Ventus V4 ES (H105) that excels with a higher score and offers year-round traction.
ADVANTAGE: Hankook Ventus V4 ES (H105)
General G-Max RS vs Hankook Ventus V4 ES (H105) tires on handling
Now, let’s discuss the handling performance of these tires and learn about their abilities to steer, corner, change lanes, stay in control, brake whenever required, and maintain high-speed stability.
The G-Max RS earns an 8.6 SimpleScore for its great steering response and overall controllability. The tread pattern of this UHP summer tire ensures enhanced wet and dry handling, while the tread with sharper edges and subtle sipes improves braking performance in wet conditions. The wide and flat footprint lets more area come in contact with the road and improve stability, while the solid shoulders and stiffer sidewalls improve steering response and cornering performance.
On the contrary, the Ventus V4 ES (H105) comes with an 8.3 SimpleScore rating in handling and gets features that assure great controllability and handling response. Its wider contact patch and directional tread design are engineered to offer predictable high-speed handling and stability, while the center rib and shoulders promote cornering performance and improve lane-changing ability. Additionally, the sipes and edges of this tire are optimized to boost braking performance in wet and light snow conditions for an overall confident handling year-round.
In handling, it is the G-Max RS that’s better than the Ventus V4 ES (H105) and assures an outstanding performance and handling response.
ADVANTAGE: General G-Max RS
General G-Max RS vs Hankook Ventus V4 ES (H105) tires on longevity
Now, let’s talk about the longevity part and find out which of the two tires has better control over wear rate and offers an extended service. To give you a precap, one tire excelled the other and secured a 2-1 lead! Which one is that? Find out below.
Let’s discuss the G-Max RS that scores an 8.0 SimpleScore rating in longevity and confirms an extended tread life. The wide and flat footprint of this tire distributes driving pressures evenly at high speeds to prevent uneven wear, while the tread pattern arrangement is such that the chances of irregular wear are further reduced to promote longevity. There’s a Replacement Tire Monitor that allows you to keep a check on the tread wear levels. The sidewalls are optimized to resist the driving pressures, especially while cornering, and the inner casing is also reinforced for long-lasting use.
On the other hand, the Ventus V4 ES achieves an 8.4 SimpleScore in longevity, indicating that the tire is not only suitable for year-round use, but it can also serve longer than its rival. The tire’s controlled footprint shape brings advancements in technology related to longevity and prevents uneven wear. The footprint is also increased to ensure longer and even wear and offer an extended service. Thanks to the robust inner construction and sturdy rubber compound, the Ventus V4 ES is further tuned to cover a good number of miles without compromising performance.
It is the Hankook UHP all-season that beats the General UHP summer tire in longevity and leads by a 2-1 margin.
ADVANTAGE: Hankook Ventus V4 ES (H105)
When to use each
The utility of both tires is slightly different because of their season-based compatibility, but one common attribute about them is their ability to perform to the best of their capacities and offer punchy accelerations, responsive braking, and overall great steering response. If you are more into the performance side and are ready to give up the benefit of driving in light wintry conditions, then the G-Max RS UHP summer has a better ability to deliver a throttling performance. However, its utility is limited only to the summer season, on dry and wet roads. On the contrary, the Hankook UHP all-season tire is reliable in the performance part and comes with the benefit of being used year-round. It is to be noted that these tires are not Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified and can’t be used in moderate to severe winter conditions. Please make sure that you buy them for on-road use as they are not suitable for driving on rough roads.
Which one should you choose?
Looking at an overall SimpleScore, the Ventus V4 ES (H105) is better than the G-Max RS (8.4 vs 8.2). Both of these tires are good in their own ways, and your decision to buy one of them should be based on your seasonal utility, budget, and inclination towards performance areas like traction, handling, and longevity.
Talking about price, the G-Max RS is available at a starting price of at least $123 per tire, while the Ventus V4 ES (H105) is offered at a starting price of at least $130 per tire. This means, a set of four General UHP summer tires will cost you at least $492, whereas a set of four Hankook UHP all-season tires will cost you at least $520.
Based on SimpleScore, you should consider the G-Max RS if you:
- Drive a vehicle like the BMW X6, Volvo XC90, or Cadillac CT6.
- Need a UHP summer tire that’s better in handling (8.6 vs 8.3).
- Want a tire that’s better in performance and good for use in warmer weather conditions, on dry and wet roads.
- Need a slightly more affordable tire with great performance abilities.
- Prefer a UHP summer tire that’s offered in the rim size range of 16- to 20-inch.
On the other hand, you should prefer the Ventus V4 ES (H105) if you:
- Drive a vehicle like the Maserati Ghibli, Nissan 370Z, or Subaru BRZ.
- Need a UHP all-season tire that’s better in longevity (8.4 vs 8.0).
- Want a UHP all-season tire that’s better in traction (8.5 vs 8.2).
- Are comfortable paying slightly more to get a UHP tire that’s year-round compatible.
- Want a UHP all-season tire that’s available in 15- and 17-inch rim sizes.
Still not sure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help as our helpful agents are more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.