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Head-to-head Updated

Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616 vs Kumho WinterCraft WP71 — 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 5 + 6 road tests and 37 + 17 owner reviews. How we score

Winter I cept iZ2 W616 is ahead, 65–60

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Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616
Tire AHankook

Winter I cept iZ2 W616

Winter

± 6

Tests 65 · 5 tests Owners 64 · 37 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 17 in 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 (exterior noise)

Kumho WinterCraft WP71
Tire BKumho

WinterCraft WP71

Winter

± 7

Tests 70 · 6 tests Owners 48 · 17 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 11 in 2019 19 Inch Performance 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.

  1. 67

    Dry

    Winter I cept iZ2 W616 +14
    53
    Why this score
    SourceWinter I cept iZ2 W616WinterCraft WP71
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 5 tests7162
    Reviews found online6039

    Winter I cept iZ2 W616: 60% × 71.3 + 40% × 60.2 = 67

    WinterCraft WP71: 60% × 62.2 + 40% × 38.9 = 53

  2. 63

    Wet

    WinterCraft WP71 +2
    65
    Why this score
    SourceWinter I cept iZ2 W616WinterCraft WP71
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 6 tests5976
    Reviews found online6748

    Winter I cept iZ2 W616: 60% × 59.5 + 40% × 67.1 = 63

    WinterCraft WP71: 60% × 75.7 + 40% × 47.9 = 65

  3. 67

    Snow

    WinterCraft WP71 +1
    68
    Why this score
    SourceWinter I cept iZ2 W616WinterCraft WP71
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 6 tests5873
    Reviews found online7961

    Winter I cept iZ2 W616: 60% × 58.1 + 40% × 79.1 = 67

    WinterCraft WP71: 60% × 73.1 + 40% × 61 = 68

  4. 66

    Comfort

    Winter I cept iZ2 W616 +20
    46
    Why this score
    SourceWinter I cept iZ2 W616WinterCraft WP71
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 68 (est.)≈ 63 (est.)
    Reviews found online6435

    Winter I cept iZ2 W616: 40% × 68.2 (est.) + 60% × 64.2 = 66

    WinterCraft WP71: 40% × 62.8 (est.) + 60% × 34.5 = 46

    No road tests of comfort for Winter I cept iZ2 W616 or WinterCraft WP71. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.

  5. 71

    Noise

    WinterCraft WP71 +3
    74
    Why this score
    SourceWinter I cept iZ2 W616WinterCraft WP71
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 5 tests8378
    Reviews found online53≈ 67 (est.)

    Winter I cept iZ2 W616: 60% × 82.8 + 40% × 52.8 = 71

    WinterCraft WP71: 60% × 78.1 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 74

    No owner ratings of noise for WinterCraft WP71. 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.

  6. 59

    Treadwear

    WinterCraft WP71 +3
    62
    Why this score
    SourceWinter I cept iZ2 W616WinterCraft WP71
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 2 tests≈ 62 (est.)69
    Reviews found online5453

    Winter I cept iZ2 W616: 60% × 61.9 (est.) + 40% × 54 = 59

    WinterCraft WP71: 60% × 68.7 + 40% × 52.5 = 62

    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).

  7. 67

    Handling (owners)

    Winter I cept iZ2 W616 +28
    39
    Why this score
    SourceWinter I cept iZ2 W616WinterCraft WP71
    Reviews found online6739
  8. 76

    Efficiency

    Winter I cept iZ2 W616 +23
    53
    Why this score
    SourceWinter I cept iZ2 W616WinterCraft WP71
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 5 tests7653
Scores at a glance
CategoryHankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616Kumho WinterCraft WP71
Relative Score 65 60
Dry 67 53
Wet 63 65
Snow 67 68
Comfort 66 46
Noise 71 74
Treadwear 59 62
Handling (owners) 67 39
Efficiency 76 53

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
Recomputed
Headline score
± 6

Winter I cept iZ2 W616

± 7

WinterCraft WP71

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.

DisciplineCategoryWinter I cept iZ2 W616WinterCraft WP71ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 68% #5/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 97% #11/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test – Different tests
Dry Handling Dry 90% #6/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 97% #20/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 73% #4/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 93% #8/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 80% #6/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 93% #7/44 · 2019 Winter Tyre Test Market Overview – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 90% #6/8 · 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test 97% #8/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Braking Snow 98% #5/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 97% #15/30 · 2019 Winter Tyre Test Market Overview – Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 98% #5/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 97% #17/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise Noise 100% #2/8 · 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test 98% #5/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 96% #5/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 74% #20/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 67% #6/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test 82% #5/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #6/7 2025 Moottori Studless Winter Tire Test R16 #12/10 2020 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tire Test R18 – Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A 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
All owner themes in the Winter I cept iZ2 W616 review

Tire B WinterCraft WP71

Pros

  • Strong traction and braking performance in deep snow and slush
  • Competitive price point compared to premium winter tire alternatives
  • Predictable handling in dry winter conditions

Cons

  • Excessive road noise, particularly at low to moderate speeds
  • Vague or 'spongy' steering feedback and handling characteristics
  • Inconsistent lateral grip and understeer issues on wet roads
All owner themes in the WinterCraft WP71 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616 B · Kumho WinterCraft WP71
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Tread depth10.5/32″—
Treadwear warranty40,000 mi—
SidewallBlackwall—
Max pressure50 psi—

Which one should you actually buy?

Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616

Kumho WinterCraft WP71

Winner: Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616 — better handling, efficiency and comfort. Pick the Kumho WinterCraft WP71 if noise and treadwear matter most to you.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616 scores 67 vs 39 on handling.

Pick tire A You want lower fuel or energy use

Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616 scores 76 vs 53 on efficiency.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616 scores 66 vs 46 on comfort.

Pick tire A You want the most grip on dry roads

Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616 scores 67 vs 53 on dry.

Tire A · Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616
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Tire B · Kumho WinterCraft WP71
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Winter I cept iZ2 W616 or WinterCraft WP71?

Which is better in the wet, Winter I cept iZ2 W616 or WinterCraft WP71?

Neither, by our numbers: 63 vs 65 on the wet score, within 3 points.

Which grips better on dry roads, Winter I cept iZ2 W616 or WinterCraft WP71?

Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616, 67 vs 53 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, Winter I cept iZ2 W616 or WinterCraft WP71?

Neither, by our numbers: 67 vs 68 on the snow score, within 3 points.

Which is quieter, Winter I cept iZ2 W616 or WinterCraft WP71?

Kumho WinterCraft WP71, 74 vs 71 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, Winter I cept iZ2 W616 or WinterCraft WP71?

Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616, 66 vs 46 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Winter I cept iZ2 W616 or WinterCraft WP71?

Kumho WinterCraft WP71, 62 vs 59 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, Winter I cept iZ2 W616 or WinterCraft WP71?

Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616, 76 vs 53 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