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Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 vs Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV — 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 7 + 2 road tests and 51 + 18 owner reviews. How we score

Too close to call: Winter i*cept RS2 and Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV are level at 76.

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Hankook Winter i*cept RS2
Tire AHankook

Winter i*cept RS2

Winter

± 5

Tests 78 · 7 tests Owners 74 · 51 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test (wet handling)

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV
Tire BNokian

Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV

Winter

± 6

Tests 72 · 2 tests Owners 80 · 18 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 8 in 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test (wet braking)

Category by category

Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.

  1. 74

    Dry

    Level
    74
    Why this score
    SourceWinter i*cept RS2Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 2 tests7574
    Reviews found online7274

    Winter i*cept RS2: 60% × 75.2 + 40% × 72 = 74

    Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV: 60% × 73.7 + 40% × 74.3 = 74

  2. 85

    Wet

    Winter i*cept RS2 +10
    75
    Why this score
    SourceWinter i*cept RS2Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / 2 tests8969
    Reviews found online7884

    Winter i*cept RS2: 60% × 89.4 + 40% × 78.4 = 85

    Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV: 60% × 68.6 + 40% × 83.5 = 75

  3. 77

    Snow

    Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV +2
    79
    Why this score
    SourceWinter i*cept RS2Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / 2 tests8175
    Reviews found online7285

    Winter i*cept RS2: 60% × 80.6 + 40% × 71.6 = 77

    Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV: 60% × 74.8 + 40% × 84.7 = 79

  4. 70

    Comfort

    Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV +6
    76
    Why this score
    SourceWinter i*cept RS2Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests74≈ 71 (est.)
    Reviews found online6779

    Winter i*cept RS2: 40% × 74.4 + 60% × 66.6 = 70

    Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV: 40% × 70.7 (est.) + 60% × 79.1 = 76

    No road tests of comfort for Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).

  5. 60

    Noise

    Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV +13
    73
    Why this score
    SourceWinter i*cept RS2Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 2 tests5666
    Reviews found online≈ 66 (est.)84

    Winter i*cept RS2: 60% × 56.2 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 60

    Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV: 60% × 65.7 + 40% × 83.5 = 73

    No owner ratings of noise for Winter i*cept RS2. 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.

  6. 75

    Treadwear

    Winter i*cept RS2 +1
    74
    Why this score
    SourceWinter i*cept RS2Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / – tests75≈ 71 (est.)
    Reviews found online7578

    Winter i*cept RS2: 60% × 74.6 + 40% × 74.9 = 75

    Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV: 60% × 70.7 (est.) + 40% × 78 = 74

    No road tests of treadwear for Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).

  7. 73

    Handling (owners)

    Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV +6
    79
    Why this score
    SourceWinter i*cept RS2Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV
    Reviews found online7379
  8. 42

    Efficiency

    Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV +30
    72
    Why this score
    SourceWinter i*cept RS2Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 2 tests4272
Scores at a glance
CategoryHankook Winter i*cept RS2Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV
Relative Score 76 76
Dry 74 74
Wet 85 75
Snow 77 79
Comfort 70 76
Noise 60 73
Treadwear 75 74
Handling (owners) 73 79
Efficiency 42 72

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
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Recomputed
Headline score
± 5

Winter i*cept RS2

± 6

Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV

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 RS2Hakkapeliitta R5 SUVΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 98% #3/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 96% #5/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Dry Handling (tester's mark) Dry 80% #3/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test 60% #6/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 100% #1/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 94% #4/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 96% #2/49 · 2021 Winter Tyre Market Overview 100% #1/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 100% #1/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 98% #3/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 100% #1/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 99% #4/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Traction Snow 97% #8/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 99% #6/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise Noise 100% #2/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 99% #5/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 77% #18/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 100% #1/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 84% #11/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test 65% #7/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #3/49 2021 Winter Tyre Market Overview #4/6 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 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
All owner themes in the Winter i*cept RS2 review

Tire B Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV

Pros

  • Exceptional grip and traction on snow and ice
  • Significantly quieter than previous models and studded alternatives
  • Stable and predictable handling with a firm, confident ride on dry and wet pavement

Cons

  • Higher price point compared to some other tire options
  • Slightly firmer ride compared to softer alternatives like Bridgestone Blizzaks
  • Some minor compromises in ultimate dry and wet grip typical of soft-compound winter tires
All owner themes in the Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 B · Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverSUV and 4x4
Sizes available3770
Rim diameters13″ – 17″16″ – 22″
Tread depth—12/32″
Sidewall—Black Side Wall
Max pressure—47 - 51 psi
Sizes in common11

Which one should you actually buy?

Hankook Winter i*cept RS2

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV

Too close to call: Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 and Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV are within 2 points overall. Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 is stronger on wet. Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV is stronger on efficiency, noise and comfort.

Pick tire B You want lower fuel or energy use

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV scores 72 vs 42 on efficiency.

Pick tire B You want a quieter cabin

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV scores 73 vs 60 on noise.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 scores 85 vs 75 on wet.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV scores 76 vs 70 on comfort.

Tire A · Hankook Winter i*cept RS2
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Tire B · Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV
Check price on Amazon

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Winter i*cept RS2 or Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV?

Which is better in the wet, Winter i*cept RS2 or Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV?

Hankook Winter i*cept RS2, 85 vs 75 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Winter i*cept RS2 or Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV?

Neither, by our numbers: 74 vs 74 on the dry score, within 3 points.

Which is better in snow, Winter i*cept RS2 or Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV?

Neither, by our numbers: 77 vs 79 on the snow score, within 3 points.

Which is quieter, Winter i*cept RS2 or Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV?

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV, 73 vs 60 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, Winter i*cept RS2 or Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV?

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV, 76 vs 70 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Winter i*cept RS2 or Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV?

Neither, by our numbers: 75 vs 74 on the treadwear score, within 3 points.

Which rolls more easily, Winter i*cept RS2 or Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV?

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV, 72 vs 42 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