Hankook are not budget tyres. They are actually classed as Premium by most places now. And the name doesn't mean everything. And you are actually incorrect about putting new tyres on a car. If you have to only have 2 tyres, always put the new ones on the back. They do the handling, keeping the car from going sideways. I have used the V12s front and rear and can honestly say they are better than the Continentals.
If you were buying some budget tyres mate they would say Nankang on the side, or something like Accelera. I mean these Hankooks are being sold everywhere and even the likes of BMW are fitting them as STANDARD to their cars.
Ford have used them for ages, as the quality is better or as good as more well known brands, but the price is lower. Although I will say that manufacturer's do tend to chop and change what tyres they fit to cars. We have a load of Transit Connects that are the same age, when they were new there were about 5 different tyre brands and models fitted, from Hankook to Pirreli!