Tests 74 · 8 tests Owners 79 · 10 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test (snow handling (tester's mark))
Head-to-head
Updated
Continental VikingContact 8 vs Hankook iON FlexClimate — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 8 + 3 road tests and 10 + 11 owner reviews. How we score
iON FlexClimate is ahead, 87–75
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Tests 88 · 3 tests Owners 84 · 11 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 8 in 2026 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test for EVs (215/55 R18) (dry handling)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
75
Dry
iON FlexClimate +1893Why this score
Source VikingContact 8 iON FlexClimate Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 3 tests 75 100 Reviews found online 75 82 VikingContact 8: 60% × 74.6 + 40% × 75.1 = 75
iON FlexClimate: 60% × 99.6 + 40% × 81.9 = 93
-
71
Wet
iON FlexClimate +2192Why this score
Source VikingContact 8 iON FlexClimate Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / 3 tests 63 94 Reviews found online 84 87 VikingContact 8: 60% × 62.9 + 40% × 84 = 71
iON FlexClimate: 60% × 94.4 + 40% × 87.2 = 92
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78
Snow
iON FlexClimate +381Why this score
Source VikingContact 8 iON FlexClimate Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 3 tests 77 82 Reviews found online 78 79 VikingContact 8: 60% × 77.3 + 40% × 77.8 = 78
iON FlexClimate: 60% × 82 + 40% × 79 = 81
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86
Comfort
VikingContact 8 +878Why this score
Source VikingContact 8 iON FlexClimate Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 1 tests 92 72 Reviews found online 82 82 VikingContact 8: 40% × 92.3 + 60% × 81.5 = 86
iON FlexClimate: 40% × 72.1 + 60% × 81.9 = 78
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79
Noise
VikingContact 8 +772Why this score
Source VikingContact 8 iON FlexClimate Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 1 tests 79 76 Reviews found online 79 ≈ 67 (est.) VikingContact 8: 60% × 78.9 + 40% × 79.1 = 79
iON FlexClimate: 60% × 76.3 + 40% × 66.5 (est.) = 72
No owner ratings of noise for iON FlexClimate. The owner half is the owners’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.
-
73
Treadwear
iON FlexClimate +1184Why this score
Source VikingContact 8 iON FlexClimate Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests ≈ 70 (est.) 81 Reviews found online 77 88 VikingContact 8: 60% × 70.2 (est.) + 40% × 77 = 73
iON FlexClimate: 60% × 81.3 + 40% × 87.5 = 84
No road tests of treadwear for VikingContact 8. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.35).
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76
Handling (owners)
iON FlexClimate +884Why this score
Source VikingContact 8 iON FlexClimate Reviews found online 76 84 -
78
Efficiency
VikingContact 8 +771Why this score
Source VikingContact 8 iON FlexClimate Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 2 tests 78 71
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental VikingContact 8 | Hankook iON FlexClimate |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 75 | 87 |
| Dry | 75 | 93 |
| Wet | 71 | 92 |
| Snow | 78 | 81 |
| Comfort | 86 | 78 |
| Noise | 79 | 72 |
| Treadwear | 73 | 84 |
| Handling (owners) | 76 | 84 |
| Efficiency | 78 | 71 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip starts at “Important”. Treadwear starts at “Neutral” here: road tests measured it for at most one of the two tires, so it rests on owner reviews. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
75
/ 100
VikingContact 8
87
/ 100
iON FlexClimate
The professional test results behind the scores
Per discipline: the average % of the best tire over every test both tires were in, and how many of those tests each one won. “Different tests” rows compare results from separate tests.
| Discipline | Category | VikingContact 8 | iON FlexClimate | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 95% #2/3 · 2026 Tire Rack New Winter Tyre Test | 99% #2/8 · 2026 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test for EVs (215/55 R18) | – | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 93% #3/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | 100% #1/8 · 2026 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test for EVs (215/55 R18) | – | Different tests |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 73% #10/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test | 99% #2/8 · 2026 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test for EVs (215/55 R18) | – | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 99% #2/3 · 2026 Tire Rack New Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/8 · 2026 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test for EVs (215/55 R18) | – | Different tests |
| Wet Circle | Wet | 99% #2/3 · 2026 Tire Rack New Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/8 · 2026 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test for EVs (215/55 R18) | – | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 99% #3/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/8 · 2026 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test for EVs (215/55 R18) | – | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 91% #3/3 · 2026 Tire Rack New Winter Tyre Test | 99% #4/8 · 2026 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test for EVs (215/55 R18) | – | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 98% #2/3 · 2026 Tire Rack New Winter Tyre Test | 96% #5/8 · 2026 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test for EVs (215/55 R18) | – | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 96% #2/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | 95% #6/8 · 2026 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test for EVs (215/55 R18) | – | Different tests |
| Comfort (tester's mark) | Comfort | 100% #1/3 · 2026 Tire Rack New Winter Tyre Test | 91% #3/8 · 2026 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test for EVs (215/55 R18) | – | Different tests |
| Noise | Noise | 99% #3/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test | 100% #3/8 · 2026 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test for EVs (215/55 R18) | – | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 95% #6/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | 90% #5/8 · 2026 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test for EVs (215/55 R18) | – | Different tests |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #1/6 2027 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | #1/8 2026 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test for EVs (215/55 R18) | – | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A VikingContact 8
Pros
- Exceptional ice and snow traction that rivals studded tires
- High level of ride comfort and ability to soak up potholes
- Very low noise levels and quiet operation
Cons
- Slightly loose grip or slipping behavior on completely dry roads
- Lack of steering feel and a noticeable gap in response on straightaways
- Occasional underperformance reports regarding rear-end stability at low speeds on specific SUVs
Tire B iON FlexClimate
Pros
- Exceptionally low road noise and quiet cabin experience
- Superior ride comfort over bumpy roads
- Excellent grip and braking performance in wet and snowy winter conditions
Cons
- Slightly reduced dry grip compared to dedicated summer tires
- Some EV drivers reported a noticeable negative impact on driving range and efficiency
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental VikingContact 8 | B · Hankook iON FlexClimate |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | All Season |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 123 | 15 |
| Rim diameters | 15″ – 22″ | 18″ – 20″ |
| Tread depth | 10 - 11/32″ | — |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall | — |
| Max pressure | 50 - 51 psi | — |
| Sizes in common | 11 | 11 |
Which one should you actually buy?
75
/ 100
Continental VikingContact 8
87
/ 100
Hankook iON FlexClimate
Winner: Hankook iON FlexClimate — better wet, dry and treadwear. Pick the Continental VikingContact 8 if comfort, noise and efficiency matter most to you.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Hankook iON FlexClimate scores 92 vs 71 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Hankook iON FlexClimate scores 93 vs 75 on dry.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Hankook iON FlexClimate scores 84 vs 73 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Continental VikingContact 8 scores 86 vs 78 on comfort.
Tire A · Continental VikingContact 8
Tire B · Hankook iON FlexClimate
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VikingContact 8 or iON FlexClimate?
Which is better in the wet, VikingContact 8 or iON FlexClimate?
Hankook iON FlexClimate, 92 vs 71 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, VikingContact 8 or iON FlexClimate?
Hankook iON FlexClimate, 93 vs 75 on our dry score.
Which is better in snow, VikingContact 8 or iON FlexClimate?
Hankook iON FlexClimate, 81 vs 78 on our snow score.
Which is quieter, VikingContact 8 or iON FlexClimate?
Continental VikingContact 8, 79 vs 72 on our noise score.
Which is more comfortable, VikingContact 8 or iON FlexClimate?
Continental VikingContact 8, 86 vs 78 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, VikingContact 8 or iON FlexClimate?
Hankook iON FlexClimate, 84 vs 73 on our treadwear score.
Which rolls more easily, VikingContact 8 or iON FlexClimate?
Continental VikingContact 8, 78 vs 71 on our efficiency score.
How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements), each result compared with every other tire in the same test and newer tests counting more. 40% comes from owner reviews found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates. Both use one scale: the average tested tire gets 70, the best 100. When a tire has only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from the other and the score stays closer to average; with no road test and fewer than five owner reviews it gets no score yet.
Handling is the exception: road tests measure it inside the dry and wet scores, so its own row comes from owner ratings only and starts as less important.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score. Full methodology