Tests 75 · 16 tests Owners 74 · 22 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test (straight aqua)
Head-to-head
Updated
Hankook Winter i cept evo3 vs Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Too close to call: Winter i cept evo3 and Winter i*cept RS2 are level at 74.
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Tests 78 · 7 tests Owners 71 · 50 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test (snow handling)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
75
Dry
Winter i cept evo3 +273Why this score
Source Winter i cept evo3 Winter i*cept RS2 Professional tests (TWG score) 75 75 Reviews found online 73 70 Dry Braking (% of best) 95% 96% Dry Handling (% of best) 98% 98% -
86
Wet
Winter i cept evo3 +383Why this score
Source Winter i cept evo3 Winter i*cept RS2 Professional tests (TWG score) 91 88 Reviews found online 78 76 Wet Braking (% of best) 100% 96% Wet Handling (% of best) 100% 100% -
78
Snow
Winter i cept evo3 +375Why this score
Source Winter i cept evo3 Winter i*cept RS2 Professional tests (TWG score) 80 80 Reviews found online 75 68 Snow Braking (% of best) 96% 97% Snow Handling (% of best) 98% 100% Snow Traction (% of best) 98% 97% -
68
Comfort
Winter i*cept RS2 +472Why this score
Source Winter i cept evo3 Winter i*cept RS2 Professional tests (TWG score) 70 75 Reviews found online 64 67 -
33
Noise
Winter i*cept RS2 +2861Why this score
Source Winter i cept evo3 Winter i*cept RS2 Professional tests (TWG score) 10 57 -
74
Treadwear
Winter i cept evo3 +173Why this score
Source Winter i cept evo3 Winter i*cept RS2 Professional tests (TWG score) 75 74 Reviews found online 73 71 -
72
Handling
Winter i cept evo3 +171Why this score
Source Winter i cept evo3 Winter i*cept RS2 Reviews found online 72 71
Scores at a glance
| Category | Hankook Winter i cept evo3 | Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 74 | 74 |
| Dry | 75 | 73 |
| Wet | 86 | 83 |
| Snow | 78 | 75 |
| Comfort | 68 | 72 |
| Noise | 33 | 61 |
| Treadwear | 74 | 73 |
| Handling | 72 | 71 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Recomputed
Headline score
74
/ 100
Winter i cept evo3
74
/ 100
Winter i*cept RS2
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 | Winter i*cept RS2 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 95% #4/6 · 2025 High Performance Winter Tyre Test | 96% #12/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −0.6 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 98% #9/20 · 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test | 98% #15/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +0.1 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 85% #18/20 · 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 77% #18/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +8.2 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 93% #10/10 · 2022 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 99% #4/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | −6.2 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 63% #4/10 · 2022 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 73% #5/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | −10.3 | Different tests |
| Value | Other | 78% #11/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 82% #6/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | −3.6 | Different tests |
| Wear | Other | 83% #14/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 72% #14/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +10.4 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 20% #5/48 · 2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test | 13% #8/14 · 2016 AZ Winter Tyre Test - 205/55 R16 | +7.5 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 96% #9/31 · 2025 Winter Tyre Braking Test - 52 Sets! | 97% #7/35 · 2021 Winter Tyre Market Overview | −0.4 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 98% #9/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −2.1 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 98% #4/11 · 2023 Sports Cars Winter Tyre Test | 97% #8/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +0.3 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 100% #1/20 · 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 92% #9/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +8.3 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 91% #13/20 · 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test | 90% #4/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | +1.3 | Different tests |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Total | 0% #14/20 · 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 0% #19/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 0.0 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 100% #1/10 · 2022 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 96% #2/49 · 2021 Winter Tyre Market Overview | +3.9 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 100% #3/9 · 2022 Sports Car UHP Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/20 · 2021 Auto Bild 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
Pros
- Exceptional wet grip and outstanding aquaplaning resistance
- Outstanding snow and ice traction providing high confidence in winter storms
- Great value for money compared to Tier-1 brands like Michelin or Goodyear
Cons
- Slightly increased noise levels or humming compared to summer tires
- Mixed feedback on ride comfort, with some finding them stiffer
- Longer braking distances reported by a few users in specific conditions
Tire B Winter i*cept RS2
Pros
- Exceptional grip and handling on wet and dry roads
- Impressive resistance to aquaplaning in heavy rain or standing water
- Strong value for money with a competitive price point
Cons
- Higher than average road noise, especially at highway speeds
- Firm, stiff sidewalls leading to a less comfortable or harsh ride
- Subpar performance and unpredictable grip on ice and black ice
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Hankook Winter i cept evo3 | B · Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 86 | 37 |
| Rim diameters | 17″ – 22″ | 13″ – 17″ |
Which one should you actually buy?
74
/ 100
Hankook Winter i cept evo3
74
/ 100
Hankook Winter i*cept RS2
Too close to call: Hankook Winter i cept evo3 and Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 are within 2 points overall. Hankook Winter i cept evo3 is stronger on wet and snow. Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 is stronger on noise and comfort.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 scores 61 vs 33 on noise.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 scores 72 vs 68 on comfort.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Hankook Winter i cept evo3 scores 86 vs 83 on wet.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Hankook Winter i cept evo3 scores 78 vs 75 on snow.
Tire A · Hankook Winter i cept evo3
Tire B · Hankook Winter i*cept RS2
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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.