Tests 72 · 5 tests Owners 67 · 4 reviews
Best test result: #2 of 10 in 2024 AS SUV Winter Tyre Test (snow braking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Hankook Winter i*cept evo3 X vs Pirelli Ice Zero 2 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Winter i*cept evo3 X leads, 69–67 Narrow edge
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Tests 77 · 6 tests Owners 58 · 3 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 16 in 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test (snow traction)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
68
Dry
Ice Zero 2 +472Why this score
Source Winter i*cept evo3 X Ice Zero 2 Professional tests (TWG score) 69 81 Reviews found online 65 58 Dry Braking (% of best) 97% 97% -
76
Wet
Winter i*cept evo3 X +373Why this score
Source Winter i*cept evo3 X Ice Zero 2 Professional tests (TWG score) 80 80 Reviews found online 71 61 Wet Braking (% of best) 96% 100% Wet Handling (% of best) 93% 94% -
76
Snow
Winter i*cept evo3 X +571Why this score
Source Winter i*cept evo3 X Ice Zero 2 Professional tests (TWG score) 81 75 Reviews found online 69 64 Snow Braking (% of best) 100% 99% Snow Handling (% of best) 99% 98% Snow Traction (% of best) 98% 100% -
63
Comfort
Level63Why this score
Source Winter i*cept evo3 X Ice Zero 2 Professional tests (TWG score) – 72 Reviews found online 56 50 -
41
Noise
Ice Zero 2 +2566Why this score
Source Winter i*cept evo3 X Ice Zero 2 Professional tests (TWG score) 25 65 -
65
Treadwear
Winter i*cept evo3 X +758Why this score
Source Winter i*cept evo3 X Ice Zero 2 Reviews found online 65 52 -
66
Handling
Winter i*cept evo3 X +1056Why this score
Source Winter i*cept evo3 X Ice Zero 2 Reviews found online 66 56
Scores at a glance
| Category | Hankook Winter i*cept evo3 X | Pirelli Ice Zero 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 69 | 67 |
| Dry | 68 | 72 |
| Wet | 76 | 73 |
| Snow | 76 | 71 |
| Comfort | 63 | 63 |
| Noise | 41 | 66 |
| Treadwear | 65 | 58 |
| Handling | 66 | 56 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
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Recomputed
Headline score
69
/ 100
Winter i*cept evo3 X
67
/ 100
Ice Zero 2
The professional test results behind the scores
Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.
| Discipline | Category | Winter i*cept evo3 X | Ice Zero 2 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 97% #8/10 · 2024 AS SUV Winter Tyre Test | 97% #9/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | −0.8 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 96% #10/10 · 2023 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 98% #4/8 · 2026 Vi Bilagare Studded Tyre Test | −1.6 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 56% #4/10 · 2023 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 55% #10/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +1.0 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 20% #5/10 · 2024 AS SUV Winter Tyre Test | 80% #4/15 · 2021 Test World Large Winter Tire Test R16 | −60.0 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 100% #2/10 · 2024 AS SUV Winter Tyre Test | 99% #9/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +0.4 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 99% #6/11 · 2025 Autobild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 98% #4/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +0.3 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 98% #2/10 · 2023 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | −1.6 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 90% #7/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/8 · 2020 Studded Winter Tyre Test | −10.2 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 96% #2/10 · 2023 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 100% #8/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | −4.2 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 93% #10/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | 94% #12/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | −0.5 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Winter i*cept evo3 X
Pros
- Outstanding traction and braking performance in various snow conditions (fresh, compact, and heavy wet snow)
- Superior wet and dry grip in low temperatures (below 4°C)
- Cost-effective alternative compared to other premium brand winter tires
Cons
- Significantly high levels of tire noise
- Stiff and uncomfortable ride quality
- Becomes overly soft and less composed on dry roads when temperatures exceed 13°C
Tire B Ice Zero 2
Pros
- Very good traction and performance on snow
- Reasonably quiet for a studded winter tire
- Adequate performance on wet and salty roads
Cons
- Dangerous slipping on ice at low speeds in cold climates
- Strong, intrusive howling noise at speeds above 95 km/h
- Poor overall handling compared to competing studded winter tires like the Nokian Hakkapeliitta
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Hankook Winter i*cept evo3 X | B · Pirelli Ice Zero 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | SUV and 4x4 | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 72 | — |
| Rim diameters | 17″ – 22″ | — |
Which one should you actually buy?
69
/ 100
Hankook Winter i*cept evo3 X
67
/ 100
Pirelli Ice Zero 2
Winner: Hankook Winter i*cept evo3 X — better handling, treadwear and snow. Pick the Pirelli Ice Zero 2 if noise and dry matter most to you.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Pirelli Ice Zero 2 scores 66 vs 41 on noise.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Hankook Winter i*cept evo3 X scores 66 vs 56 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Hankook Winter i*cept evo3 X scores 65 vs 58 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Hankook Winter i*cept evo3 X scores 76 vs 71 on snow.
Tire A · Hankook Winter i*cept evo3 X
Tire B · Pirelli Ice Zero 2
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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.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.