Tests 76 · 18 tests Owners 82 · 23 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test (straight aquaplaning)
Head-to-head
Updated
Hankook Winter i cept evo3 vs Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 — 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 18 + 9 road tests and 23 + 61 owner reviews. How we score
Winter i cept evo3 is ahead, 78–72
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Tests 73 · 9 tests Owners 71 · 61 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test (noise)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
Key facts
- In 3 tests that measured wet braking for both, Winter i cept evo3 won 3 and WinGuard Sport 2 won 0 (average 94% vs 84% of the best).
- In 3 tests that measured snow braking for both, Winter i cept evo3 won 3 and WinGuard Sport 2 won 0 (average 97% vs 94% of the best).
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78
Dry
Winter i cept evo3 +870Why this score
Source Winter i cept evo3 WinGuard Sport 2 Professional tests (TWG score) · 13 / 6 tests 75 71 Reviews found online 83 69 Dry Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 94% 94% Dry Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 98% 99% Winter i cept evo3: 60% × 75.2 + 40% × 82.7 = 78
WinGuard Sport 2: 60% × 70.8 + 40% × 69.4 = 70
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90
Wet
Winter i cept evo3 +1575Why this score
Source Winter i cept evo3 WinGuard Sport 2 Professional tests (TWG score) · 18 / 9 tests 92 73 Reviews found online 86 77 Straight Aquaplaning (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 100% 97% Wet Braking (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 3–0 94% 84% Wet Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 99% 97% Winter i cept evo3: 60% × 91.9 + 40% × 86.3 = 90
WinGuard Sport 2: 60% × 73.5 + 40% × 77.4 = 75
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80
Snow
Winter i cept evo3 +1070Why this score
Source Winter i cept evo3 WinGuard Sport 2 Professional tests (TWG score) · 18 / 9 tests 81 70 Reviews found online 80 70 Snow Braking (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 3–0 97% 94% Snow Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 100% 92% Snow Traction (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 94% 87% Winter i cept evo3: 60% × 80.6 + 40% × 80.2 = 80
WinGuard Sport 2: 60% × 70.5 + 40% × 69.6 = 70
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73
Comfort
Winter i cept evo3 +568Why this score
Source Winter i cept evo3 WinGuard Sport 2 Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 1 tests 72 64 Reviews found online 74 71 Winter i cept evo3: 40% × 71.8 + 60% × 74 = 73
WinGuard Sport 2: 40% × 64.4 + 60% × 70.6 = 68
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33
Noise
WinGuard Sport 2 +4881Why this score
Source Winter i cept evo3 WinGuard Sport 2 Professional tests (TWG score) · 13 / 6 tests 10 94 Reviews found online ≈ 66 (est.) 61 Noise (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 97% 100% Winter i cept evo3: 60% × 10 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 33
WinGuard Sport 2: 60% × 94.3 + 40% × 61.3 = 81
No owner ratings of noise for Winter i cept evo3. 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.
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79
Treadwear
Winter i cept evo3 +673Why this score
Source Winter i cept evo3 WinGuard Sport 2 Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 2 tests 77 75 Reviews found online 81 71 Winter i cept evo3: 60% × 77 + 40% × 81 = 79
WinGuard Sport 2: 60% × 74.8 + 40% × 71.3 = 73
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82
Handling (owners)
Winter i cept evo3 +1270Why this score
Source Winter i cept evo3 WinGuard Sport 2 Reviews found online 82 70 -
62
Efficiency
Winter i cept evo3 +2834Why this score
Source Winter i cept evo3 WinGuard Sport 2 Professional tests (TWG score) · 13 / 6 tests 62 34 Rolling Resistance (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 91% 90%
Scores at a glance
| Category | Hankook Winter i cept evo3 | Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 78 | 72 |
| Dry | 78 | 70 |
| Wet | 90 | 75 |
| Snow | 80 | 70 |
| Comfort | 73 | 68 |
| Noise | 33 | 81 |
| Treadwear | 79 | 73 |
| Handling (owners) | 82 | 70 |
| Efficiency | 62 | 34 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Weight the categories that matter to you
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
78
/ 100
Winter i cept evo3
72
/ 100
WinGuard Sport 2
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 3 tests that ran both, Hankook Winter i cept evo3 finished ahead 3 times and Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 0 times.
| Discipline | Category | Winter i cept evo3 | WinGuard Sport 2 | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 94% | 94% | +0.6 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test · 245/40 R18 |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 98% | 99% | −0.3 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test · 245/40 R18 |
| Curved Aquaplaning | Wet | 100% #1/12 · 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test | 68% #8/8 · 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17 | – | Different tests |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 100% | 97% | +2.8 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test · 245/40 R18 |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 94% | 84% | +9.8 | 3–0 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2023 Winter Tyre Test 54 Set Braking Test · 225/45 R18 |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 99% | 97% | +1.9 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test · 245/40 R18 |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 97% | 94% | +2.6 | 3–0 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2023 Winter Tyre Test 54 Set Braking Test · 225/45 R18 |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 100% | 92% | +7.4 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test · 245/40 R18 |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 94% | 87% | +7.5 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test · 245/40 R18 |
| Comfort (tester's mark) | Comfort | 94% #4/12 · 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test | 93% #6/8 · 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17 | – | Different tests |
| Noise | Noise | 97% | 100% | −3.0 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test · 245/40 R18 |
| Wear | Treadwear | 89% #3/31 · 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test | 79% #10/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 91% | 90% | +1.0 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test · 245/40 R18 |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Price | Cost | 87% | 100% | −13.1 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test · 245/40 R18 |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Cost | #9/20 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test | #17/20 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Value | Cost | 79% #4/20 · 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test | 97% #3/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #8/54 | #27/54 | – | 3–0 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2023 Winter Tyre Test 54 Set Braking Test · 225/45 R18 |
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 WinGuard Sport 2
Pros
- Excellent value and affordable price point compared to premium winter tires
- Low noise levels and high comfort, often rivaling all-season or summer tires
- Strong grip and stability on cold dry and wet pavement
Cons
- Subpar performance on hard-packed ice and deep snow compared to dedicated heavy-duty winter tires
- Soft sidewalls can lead to slightly vague handling or a 'rolly' feeling in hard cornering
- Reports of higher rolling resistance resulting in a minor drop in fuel economy
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Hankook Winter i cept evo3 | B · Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 86 | 80 |
| Rim diameters | 17″ – 22″ | 15″ – 20″ |
| Tread depth | — | 11/32″ |
| Sidewall | — | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | — | 51 psi |
| Sizes in common | 41 | 41 |
Which one should you actually buy?
78
/ 100
Hankook Winter i cept evo3
72
/ 100
Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
Winner: Hankook Winter i cept evo3 — better efficiency, wet and handling. Pick the Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 if noise matters most to you.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 scores 81 vs 33 on noise.
Pick tire A
You want lower fuel or energy use
Hankook Winter i cept evo3 scores 62 vs 34 on efficiency.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Hankook Winter i cept evo3 scores 90 vs 75 on wet.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Hankook Winter i cept evo3 scores 82 vs 70 on handling.
Tire A · Hankook Winter i cept evo3
Tire B · Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
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Winter i cept evo3 or WinGuard Sport 2?
Which is better in the wet, Winter i cept evo3 or WinGuard Sport 2?
Hankook Winter i cept evo3, 90 vs 75 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, Winter i cept evo3 or WinGuard Sport 2?
Hankook Winter i cept evo3, 78 vs 70 on our dry score.
Which is better in snow, Winter i cept evo3 or WinGuard Sport 2?
Hankook Winter i cept evo3, 80 vs 70 on our snow score.
Which is quieter, Winter i cept evo3 or WinGuard Sport 2?
Nexen WinGuard Sport 2, 81 vs 33 on our noise score.
Which is more comfortable, Winter i cept evo3 or WinGuard Sport 2?
Hankook Winter i cept evo3, 73 vs 68 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, Winter i cept evo3 or WinGuard Sport 2?
Hankook Winter i cept evo3, 79 vs 73 on our treadwear score.
Which rolls more easily, Winter i cept evo3 or WinGuard Sport 2?
Hankook Winter i cept evo3, 62 vs 34 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