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)
Head-to-head
Updated
Hankook iON FlexClimate vs Continental VikingContact 8 — 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 3 + 8 road tests and 11 + 10 owner reviews. How we score
iON FlexClimate is ahead, 87–75
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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))
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
93
Dry
iON FlexClimate +1875Why this score
Source iON FlexClimate VikingContact 8 Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 6 tests 100 75 Reviews found online 82 75 iON FlexClimate: 60% × 99.6 + 40% × 81.9 = 93
VikingContact 8: 60% × 74.6 + 40% × 75.1 = 75
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92
Wet
iON FlexClimate +2171Why this score
Source iON FlexClimate VikingContact 8 Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 7 tests 94 63 Reviews found online 87 84 iON FlexClimate: 60% × 94.4 + 40% × 87.2 = 92
VikingContact 8: 60% × 62.9 + 40% × 84 = 71
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81
Snow
iON FlexClimate +378Why this score
Source iON FlexClimate VikingContact 8 Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 6 tests 82 77 Reviews found online 79 78 iON FlexClimate: 60% × 82 + 40% × 79 = 81
VikingContact 8: 60% × 77.3 + 40% × 77.8 = 78
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78
Comfort
VikingContact 8 +886Why this score
Source iON FlexClimate VikingContact 8 Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 4 tests 72 92 Reviews found online 82 82 iON FlexClimate: 40% × 72.1 + 60% × 81.9 = 78
VikingContact 8: 40% × 92.3 + 60% × 81.5 = 86
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72
Noise
VikingContact 8 +779Why this score
Source iON FlexClimate VikingContact 8 Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 5 tests 76 79 Reviews found online ≈ 67 (est.) 79 iON FlexClimate: 60% × 76.3 + 40% × 66.5 (est.) = 72
VikingContact 8: 60% × 78.9 + 40% × 79.1 = 79
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.
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84
Treadwear
iON FlexClimate +1173Why this score
Source iON FlexClimate VikingContact 8 Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests 81 ≈ 70 (est.) Reviews found online 88 77 iON FlexClimate: 60% × 81.3 + 40% × 87.5 = 84
VikingContact 8: 60% × 70.2 (est.) + 40% × 77 = 73
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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84
Handling (owners)
iON FlexClimate +876Why this score
Source iON FlexClimate VikingContact 8 Reviews found online 84 76 -
71
Efficiency
VikingContact 8 +778Why this score
Source iON FlexClimate VikingContact 8 Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 4 tests 71 78
Scores at a glance
| Category | Hankook iON FlexClimate | Continental VikingContact 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 87 | 75 |
| Dry | 93 | 75 |
| Wet | 92 | 71 |
| Snow | 81 | 78 |
| Comfort | 78 | 86 |
| Noise | 72 | 79 |
| Treadwear | 84 | 73 |
| Handling (owners) | 84 | 76 |
| Efficiency | 71 | 78 |
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
87
/ 100
iON FlexClimate
75
/ 100
VikingContact 8
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 | iON FlexClimate | VikingContact 8 | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 99% #2/8 · 2026 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test for EVs (215/55 R18) | 95% #2/3 · 2026 Tire Rack New Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 100% #1/8 · 2026 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test for EVs (215/55 R18) | 93% #3/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | – | Different tests |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 99% #2/8 · 2026 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test for EVs (215/55 R18) | 73% #10/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 100% #1/8 · 2026 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test for EVs (215/55 R18) | 99% #2/3 · 2026 Tire Rack New Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Circle | Wet | 100% #1/8 · 2026 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test for EVs (215/55 R18) | 99% #2/3 · 2026 Tire Rack New Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 100% #1/8 · 2026 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test for EVs (215/55 R18) | 99% #3/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 99% #4/8 · 2026 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test for EVs (215/55 R18) | 91% #3/3 · 2026 Tire Rack New Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 96% #5/8 · 2026 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test for EVs (215/55 R18) | 98% #2/3 · 2026 Tire Rack New Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 95% #6/8 · 2026 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test for EVs (215/55 R18) | 96% #2/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | – | Different tests |
| Comfort (tester's mark) | Comfort | 91% #3/8 · 2026 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test for EVs (215/55 R18) | 100% #1/3 · 2026 Tire Rack New Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Noise | Noise | 100% #3/8 · 2026 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test for EVs (215/55 R18) | 99% #3/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 90% #5/8 · 2026 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test for EVs (215/55 R18) | 95% #6/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | – | Different tests |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #1/8 2026 AutoBild All Season Tyre Test for EVs (215/55 R18) | #1/6 2027 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | – | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A 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
Tire B 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
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Hankook iON FlexClimate | B · Continental VikingContact 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | All Season | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 15 | 123 |
| Rim diameters | 18″ – 20″ | 15″ – 22″ |
| 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?
87
/ 100
Hankook iON FlexClimate
75
/ 100
Continental VikingContact 8
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 A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Hankook iON FlexClimate scores 92 vs 71 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Hankook iON FlexClimate scores 93 vs 75 on dry.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Hankook iON FlexClimate scores 84 vs 73 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Hankook iON FlexClimate scores 84 vs 76 on handling.
Tire A · Hankook iON FlexClimate
Tire B · Continental VikingContact 8
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iON FlexClimate or VikingContact 8?
Which is better in the wet, iON FlexClimate or VikingContact 8?
Hankook iON FlexClimate, 92 vs 71 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, iON FlexClimate or VikingContact 8?
Hankook iON FlexClimate, 93 vs 75 on our dry score.
Which is better in snow, iON FlexClimate or VikingContact 8?
Hankook iON FlexClimate, 81 vs 78 on our snow score.
Which is quieter, iON FlexClimate or VikingContact 8?
Continental VikingContact 8, 79 vs 72 on our noise score.
Which is more comfortable, iON FlexClimate or VikingContact 8?
Continental VikingContact 8, 86 vs 78 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, iON FlexClimate or VikingContact 8?
Hankook iON FlexClimate, 84 vs 73 on our treadwear score.
Which rolls more easily, iON FlexClimate or VikingContact 8?
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