Tests – · none yet Owners 65 · 17 reviews
Head-to-head
Updated
Firestone Winterforce 2 UV vs Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 — 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 0 + 5 road tests and 17 + 5 owner reviews. How we score
Too close to call: Winterforce 2 UV 67, Winter i*pike RS2 68.
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Tests 66 · 5 tests Owners 73 · 5 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 8 in 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test (straight aquaplaning)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
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65
Dry
Winterforce 2 UV +956Why this score
Source Winterforce 2 UV Winter i*pike RS2 Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 5 tests ≈ 66 (est.) 49 Reviews found online 64 66 Winterforce 2 UV: 60% × 66.2 (est.) + 40% × 63.7 = 65
Winter i*pike RS2: 60% × 49.2 + 40% × 66 = 56
No road tests of dry for Winterforce 2 UV. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.42).
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70
Wet
Winter i*pike RS2 +373Why this score
Source Winterforce 2 UV Winter i*pike RS2 Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 5 tests ≈ 70 (est.) 71 Reviews found online 70 76 Winterforce 2 UV: 60% × 70.4 (est.) + 40% × 70.1 = 70
Winter i*pike RS2: 60% × 71 + 40% × 75.7 = 73
No road tests of wet for Winterforce 2 UV. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).
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72
Snow
Winter i*pike RS2 +476Why this score
Source Winterforce 2 UV Winter i*pike RS2 Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 5 tests ≈ 71 (est.) 76 Reviews found online 73 77 Winterforce 2 UV: 60% × 71.3 (est.) + 40% × 73 = 72
Winter i*pike RS2: 60% × 75.9 + 40% × 76.5 = 76
No road tests of snow for Winterforce 2 UV. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.32).
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61
Comfort
Winter i*pike RS2 +1172Why this score
Source Winterforce 2 UV Winter i*pike RS2 Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests ≈ 66 (est.) 79 Reviews found online 57 68 Winterforce 2 UV: 40% × 66.4 (est.) + 60% × 57.1 = 61
Winter i*pike RS2: 40% × 79 + 60% × 67.6 = 72
No road tests of comfort for Winterforce 2 UV. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).
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61
Noise
Winterforce 2 UV +259Why this score
Source Winterforce 2 UV Winter i*pike RS2 Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 4 tests ≈ 66 (est.) 55 Reviews found online 54 ≈ 66 (est.) Winterforce 2 UV: 60% × 66.3 (est.) + 40% × 53.9 = 61
Winter i*pike RS2: 60% × 54.6 + 40% × 66.3 (est.) = 59
No road tests of noise for Winterforce 2 UV. The test half is the tested tires’ average (66): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests.
No owner ratings of noise for Winter i*pike RS2. The owner half is the owners’ average (66): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.
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62
Treadwear
Winter i*pike RS2 +1072Why this score
Source Winterforce 2 UV Winter i*pike RS2 Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 64 (est.) ≈ 69 (est.) Reviews found online 59 75 Winterforce 2 UV: 60% × 63.7 (est.) + 40% × 58.7 = 62
Winter i*pike RS2: 60% × 69.5 (est.) + 40% × 74.8 = 72
No road tests of treadwear for Winterforce 2 UV. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).
No road tests of treadwear for Winter i*pike RS2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).
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–
Handling (owners)
No comparison72Why this score
Source Winterforce 2 UV Winter i*pike RS2 Reviews found online – 72 -
–
Efficiency
No comparison73Why this score
Source Winterforce 2 UV Winter i*pike RS2 Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 2 tests – 73
Scores at a glance
| Category | Firestone Winterforce 2 UV | Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 67 | 68 |
| Dry | 65 | 56 |
| Wet | 70 | 73 |
| Snow | 72 | 76 |
| Comfort | 61 | 72 |
| Noise | 61 | 59 |
| Treadwear | 62 | 72 |
| Handling (owners) | – | 72 |
| Efficiency | – | 73 |
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
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Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.
Recomputed
Headline score
67
/ 100
Winterforce 2 UV
68
/ 100
Winter i*pike RS2
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
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 | Winterforce 2 UV | Winter i*pike RS2 | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #8/8 2022 Consumer Reports Winter/Snow Truck/SUV Tires | #6/8 2023 Studded Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Winterforce 2 UV
Pros
- Strong snow traction: one 4WD owner reported no slipping in 8 inches of snow, and an Explorer owner said it never needed 4x4 after 47 inches of snow in a week
- Good value for the money: reviewers repeatedly describe it as a great winter tire for the price, and one calls it the best balance of price and longevity
- Good wet-weather performance reported by some, including no hydroplaning on puddles and 'great all around' traction
Cons
- Increased road noise is mentioned by some reviewers, attributed to the aggressive winter tread, though others describe noise as very low
- Reduced wet-weather starting traction: one reviewer reports wheelspin when pulling away from a red light in the rain
- Fast wear if used in warm weather: one reviewer who ran them in summer notes this is not recommended and that they wear quickly
Tire B Winter i*pike RS2
Pros
- Exceptional traction and braking on snow and ice
- Strong side grip and predictable cornering limits
- High durability with secure stud retention over multiple years
Cons
- Poor steering feedback on dry tarmac
- Noticeable understeer in dry road conditions
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Firestone Winterforce 2 UV | B · Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | SUV and 4x4 | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 30 | — |
| Rim diameters | 15″ – 18″ | — |
| Tread depth | 12/32″ | — |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | — |
| Max pressure | 44 psi | — |
Which one should you actually buy?
67
/ 100
Firestone Winterforce 2 UV
68
/ 100
Hankook Winter i*pike RS2
Too close to call: Firestone Winterforce 2 UV and Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 are within 2 points overall. Firestone Winterforce 2 UV is stronger on dry. Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 is stronger on comfort, treadwear and snow. Firestone Winterforce 2 UV rests on little evidence so far (0 tests, 17 reviews), so read this result as provisional.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 scores 72 vs 61 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 scores 72 vs 62 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Firestone Winterforce 2 UV scores 65 vs 56 on dry.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 scores 76 vs 72 on snow.
Tire A · Firestone Winterforce 2 UV
Tire B · Hankook Winter i*pike RS2
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Winterforce 2 UV or Winter i*pike RS2?
Which is better in the wet, Winterforce 2 UV or Winter i*pike RS2?
Hankook Winter i*pike RS2, 73 vs 70 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, Winterforce 2 UV or Winter i*pike RS2?
Firestone Winterforce 2 UV, 65 vs 56 on our dry score.
Which is better in snow, Winterforce 2 UV or Winter i*pike RS2?
Hankook Winter i*pike RS2, 76 vs 72 on our snow score.
Which is quieter, Winterforce 2 UV or Winter i*pike RS2?
Neither, by our numbers: 61 vs 59 on the noise score, within 3 points.
Which is more comfortable, Winterforce 2 UV or Winter i*pike RS2?
Hankook Winter i*pike RS2, 72 vs 61 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, Winterforce 2 UV or Winter i*pike RS2?
Hankook Winter i*pike RS2, 72 vs 62 on our treadwear 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