tirewheelguide
Head-to-head Updated

Firestone Winterforce 2 vs Hankook Winter i cept evo2 — 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 28 + 28 owner reviews. How we score

Winter i cept evo2 is ahead, 69–60

Check price on Amazon · Winter i cept evo2 or Winterforce 2 on Amazon
Add your size for an exact match
/R

Both Amazon links then search this exact size.

TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

Firestone Winterforce 2
Tire AFirestone

Winterforce 2

Winter Premium Touring tires

± 8

Tests – · none yet Owners 56 · 28 reviews

Hankook Winter i cept evo2
Tire BHankook

Winter i cept evo2

Winter

± 7

Tests 67 · 5 tests Owners 71 · 28 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 10 in 2017 Sport Auto Winter Tyre Test (snow braking)

Category by category

Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.

  1. 50

    Dry

    Winter i cept evo2 +17
    67
    Why this score
    SourceWinterforce 2Winter i cept evo2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 5 tests≈ 57 (est.)65
    Reviews found online4171

    Winterforce 2: 60% × 56.8 (est.) + 40% × 40.8 = 50

    Winter i cept evo2: 60% × 64.8 + 40% × 70.8 = 67

    No road tests of dry for Winterforce 2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.41).

  2. 65

    Wet

    Winter i cept evo2 +6
    71
    Why this score
    SourceWinterforce 2Winter i cept evo2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 5 tests≈ 66 (est.)70
    Reviews found online6373

    Winterforce 2: 60% × 66.3 (est.) + 40% × 62.7 = 65

    Winter i cept evo2: 60% × 70.2 + 40% × 73.4 = 71

    No road tests of wet for Winterforce 2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).

  3. 74

    Snow

    Winterforce 2 +4
    70
    Why this score
    SourceWinterforce 2Winter i cept evo2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 5 tests≈ 72 (est.)72
    Reviews found online7766

    Winterforce 2: 60% × 72.5 (est.) + 40% × 76.6 = 74

    Winter i cept evo2: 60% × 72 + 40% × 66.1 = 70

    No road tests of snow for Winterforce 2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.32).

  4. 51

    Comfort

    Winter i cept evo2 +19
    70
    Why this score
    SourceWinterforce 2Winter i cept evo2
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 64 (est.)≈ 69 (est.)
    Reviews found online4371

    Winterforce 2: 40% × 63.5 (est.) + 60% × 43.1 = 51

    Winter i cept evo2: 40% × 69 (est.) + 60% × 70.6 = 70

    No road tests of comfort for Winterforce 2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).

    No road tests of comfort for Winter i cept evo2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).

  5. 58

    Noise

    Winterforce 2 +3
    55
    Why this score
    SourceWinterforce 2Winter i cept evo2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 4 tests≈ 66 (est.)47
    Reviews found online46≈ 66 (est.)

    Winterforce 2: 60% × 66.4 (est.) + 40% × 46 = 58

    Winter i cept evo2: 60% × 47.4 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 55

    No road tests of noise for Winterforce 2. 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 cept evo2. 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.

  6. 59

    Treadwear

    Winter i cept evo2 +11
    70
    Why this score
    SourceWinterforce 2Winter i cept evo2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 62 (est.)67
    Reviews found online5473

    Winterforce 2: 60% × 62 (est.) + 40% × 54.1 = 59

    Winter i cept evo2: 60% × 67.3 + 40% × 72.8 = 70

    No road tests of treadwear for Winterforce 2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).

  7. 49

    Handling (owners)

    Winter i cept evo2 +24
    73
    Why this score
    SourceWinterforce 2Winter i cept evo2
    Reviews found online4973
  8. –

    Efficiency

    No comparison
    59
    Why this score
    SourceWinterforce 2Winter i cept evo2
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 4 tests–59
Scores at a glance
CategoryFirestone Winterforce 2Hankook Winter i cept evo2
Relative Score 60 69
Dry 50 67
Wet 65 71
Snow 74 70
Comfort 51 70
Noise 58 55
Treadwear 59 70
Handling (owners) 49 73
Efficiency – 59

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
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
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
± 8

Winterforce 2

± 7

Winter i cept evo2

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.

DisciplineCategoryWinterforce 2Winter i cept evo2ΔHead-to-head
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Overall Ranking Overall #16/15 2022 Consumer Reports Winter Tires #5/11 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test – Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A Winterforce 2

Pros

  • Exceptional traction and capability in deep snow
  • Highly competitive price point
  • Reliable performance for daily winter commuting

Cons

  • Increased road noise compared to all-season tires
  • Noticeable 'mushy' or soft handling feedback on dry pavement
  • Limited performance on ice without studs
All owner themes in the Winterforce 2 review

Tire B Winter i cept evo2

Pros

  • Impressive grip and traction on snow and ice
  • High level of ride comfort and low noise levels
  • Good value for money compared to higher-priced premium alternatives

Cons

  • Soft sidewalls or goofy feel on dry roads, particularly in warmer winter temperatures
  • Performance and grip degrade significantly as the tire ages over multiple seasons
  • Can struggle to put down high torque/power on rear-wheel-drive vehicles
All owner themes in the Winter i cept evo2 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Firestone Winterforce 2 B · Hankook Winter i cept evo2
CategoryWinter Premium Touring tiresWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available3179
Rim diameters14″ – 18″15″ – 22″
Tread depth12/32″—
SidewallBlackwall—
Max pressure44 psi—
Sizes in common2020

Which one should you actually buy?

Firestone Winterforce 2

Hankook Winter i cept evo2

Winner: Hankook Winter i cept evo2 — better handling, comfort and dry. Pick the Firestone Winterforce 2 if snow and noise matter most to you.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Hankook Winter i cept evo2 scores 73 vs 49 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Hankook Winter i cept evo2 scores 70 vs 51 on comfort.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Hankook Winter i cept evo2 scores 67 vs 50 on dry.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Hankook Winter i cept evo2 scores 70 vs 59 on treadwear.

Tire A · Firestone Winterforce 2
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Hankook Winter i cept evo2
Check price on Amazon

TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

Winterforce 2 or Winter i cept evo2?

Which is better in the wet, Winterforce 2 or Winter i cept evo2?

Hankook Winter i cept evo2, 71 vs 65 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Winterforce 2 or Winter i cept evo2?

Hankook Winter i cept evo2, 67 vs 50 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, Winterforce 2 or Winter i cept evo2?

Firestone Winterforce 2, 74 vs 70 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, Winterforce 2 or Winter i cept evo2?

Firestone Winterforce 2, 58 vs 55 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, Winterforce 2 or Winter i cept evo2?

Hankook Winter i cept evo2, 70 vs 51 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Winterforce 2 or Winter i cept evo2?

Hankook Winter i cept evo2, 70 vs 59 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