Tests – · none yet Owners 57 · 28 reviews
Head-to-head
Updated
Firestone Winterforce 2 vs Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616 — 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 + 37 owner reviews. How we score
Winter I cept iZ2 W616 leads, 65–61 Narrow edge
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Tests 65 · 5 tests Owners 64 · 37 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 17 in 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 (exterior noise)
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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51
Dry
Winter I cept iZ2 W616 +1667Why this score
Source Winterforce 2 Winter I cept iZ2 W616 Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 5 tests ≈ 57 (est.) 71 Reviews found online 42 60 Winterforce 2: 60% × 57.1 (est.) + 40% × 42 = 51
Winter I cept iZ2 W616: 60% × 71.3 + 40% × 60.2 = 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 0.42).
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65
Wet
Winterforce 2 +263Why this score
Source Winterforce 2 Winter I cept iZ2 W616 Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 5 tests ≈ 67 (est.) 59 Reviews found online 63 67 Winterforce 2: 60% × 66.6 (est.) + 40% × 63.2 = 65
Winter I cept iZ2 W616: 60% × 59.5 + 40% × 67.1 = 63
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).
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75
Snow
Winterforce 2 +867Why this score
Source Winterforce 2 Winter I cept iZ2 W616 Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 5 tests ≈ 73 (est.) 58 Reviews found online 77 79 Winterforce 2: 60% × 73.2 (est.) + 40% × 77.3 = 75
Winter I cept iZ2 W616: 60% × 58.1 + 40% × 79.1 = 67
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 0.37).
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52
Comfort
Winter I cept iZ2 W616 +1466Why this score
Source Winterforce 2 Winter I cept iZ2 W616 Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 65 (est.) ≈ 68 (est.) Reviews found online 44 64 Winterforce 2: 40% × 64.6 (est.) + 60% × 44.1 = 52
Winter I cept iZ2 W616: 40% × 68.2 (est.) + 60% × 64.2 = 66
No road tests of comfort for Winterforce 2 or Winter I cept iZ2 W616. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.
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59
Noise
Winter I cept iZ2 W616 +1271Why this score
Source Winterforce 2 Winter I cept iZ2 W616 Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 4 tests ≈ 67 (est.) 83 Reviews found online 47 53 Winterforce 2: 60% × 66.6 (est.) + 40% × 46.6 = 59
Winter I cept iZ2 W616: 60% × 82.8 + 40% × 52.8 = 71
No road tests of noise for Winterforce 2. The test half is the tested tires’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests.
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59
Treadwear
Level59Why this score
Source Winterforce 2 Winter I cept iZ2 W616 Professional tests (TWG score) ≈ 62 (est.) ≈ 62 (est.) Reviews found online 54 54 Winterforce 2: 60% × 61.9 (est.) + 40% × 54 = 59
Winter I cept iZ2 W616: 60% × 61.9 (est.) + 40% × 54 = 59
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 0.35).
No road tests of treadwear for Winter I cept iZ2 W616. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.35).
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50
Handling (owners)
Winter I cept iZ2 W616 +1767Why this score
Source Winterforce 2 Winter I cept iZ2 W616 Reviews found online 50 67 -
–
Efficiency
No comparison76Why this score
Source Winterforce 2 Winter I cept iZ2 W616 Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 3 tests – 76
Scores at a glance
| Category | Firestone Winterforce 2 | Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 61 | 65 |
| Dry | 51 | 67 |
| Wet | 65 | 63 |
| Snow | 75 | 67 |
| Comfort | 52 | 66 |
| Noise | 59 | 71 |
| Treadwear | 59 | 59 |
| Handling (owners) | 50 | 67 |
| Efficiency | – | 76 |
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
61
/ 100
Winterforce 2
65
/ 100
Winter I cept iZ2 W616
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.
In the overall rankings of 2 tests that ran both, Firestone Winterforce 2 finished ahead 0 times and Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616 2 times.
| Discipline | Category | Winterforce 2 | Winter I cept iZ2 W616 | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #16/15 | #4/15 | – | 0–2 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2022 Consumer Reports Winter Tires · 215/60R16 |
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
Tire B Winter I cept iZ2 W616
Pros
- Exceptional grip and traction in deep snow, slush, and severe winter conditions
- Low road noise, offering a much quieter ride than typical winter tires
- High comfort levels and stable, predictable handling on cold dry or wet roads
Cons
- Subpar performance or reduced traction on wet roads and heavy rain
- Faster tread wear, particularly during aggressive driving or when used in warmer weather
- Softer sidewalls can feel slightly edgy or less precise when pushed to the limit
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Firestone Winterforce 2 | B · Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 31 | 2 |
| Rim diameters | 14″ – 18″ | 16″ – 18″ |
| Tread depth | 12/32″ | 10.5/32″ |
| Treadwear warranty | — | 40,000 mi |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | 44 psi | 50 psi |
Which one should you actually buy?
61
/ 100
Firestone Winterforce 2
65
/ 100
Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616
Narrow edge: Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616 — better handling, dry and comfort. Pick the Firestone Winterforce 2 if snow matters most to you.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616 scores 67 vs 50 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616 scores 67 vs 51 on dry.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616 scores 66 vs 52 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616 scores 71 vs 59 on noise.
Tire A · Firestone Winterforce 2
Tire B · Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616
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Winterforce 2 or Winter I cept iZ2 W616?
Which is better in the wet, Winterforce 2 or Winter I cept iZ2 W616?
Neither, by our numbers: 65 vs 63 on the wet score, within 3 points.
Which grips better on dry roads, Winterforce 2 or Winter I cept iZ2 W616?
Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616, 67 vs 51 on our dry score.
Which is better in snow, Winterforce 2 or Winter I cept iZ2 W616?
Firestone Winterforce 2, 75 vs 67 on our snow score.
Which is quieter, Winterforce 2 or Winter I cept iZ2 W616?
Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616, 71 vs 59 on our noise score.
Which is more comfortable, Winterforce 2 or Winter I cept iZ2 W616?
Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616, 66 vs 52 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, Winterforce 2 or Winter I cept iZ2 W616?
Neither, by our numbers: 59 vs 59 on the treadwear score, within 3 points.
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