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Head-to-head Updated

Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 vs Michelin Alpin 6 — 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 + 19 road tests and 5 + 35 owner reviews. How we score

Alpin 6 is ahead, 80–69

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Hankook Winter i*pike RS2
Tire AHankook

Winter i*pike RS2

Winter

± 6

Tests 66 · 5 tests Owners 73 · 5 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 8 in 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test (straight aquaplaning)

Michelin Alpin 6
Tire BMichelin

Alpin 6

Winter

± 4

Tests 81 · 19 tests Owners 81 · 35 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2024 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test (wear)

Category by category

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

  1. 56

    Dry

    Alpin 6 +21
    77
    Why this score
    SourceWinter i*pike RS2Alpin 6
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 15 tests4974
    Reviews found online6782

    Winter i*pike RS2: 60% × 49.4 + 40% × 66.5 = 56

    Alpin 6: 60% × 74.2 + 40% × 82 = 77

  2. 73

    Wet

    Alpin 6 +16
    89
    Why this score
    SourceWinter i*pike RS2Alpin 6
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 19 tests7190
    Reviews found online7687

    Winter i*pike RS2: 60% × 70.9 + 40% × 75.9 = 73

    Alpin 6: 60% × 90.4 + 40% × 87 = 89

  3. 76

    Snow

    Winter i*pike RS2 +1
    75
    Why this score
    SourceWinter i*pike RS2Alpin 6
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 19 tests7677
    Reviews found online7774

    Winter i*pike RS2: 60% × 76 + 40% × 76.9 = 76

    Alpin 6: 60% × 76.7 + 40% × 73.6 = 75

  4. 73

    Comfort

    Alpin 6 +11
    84
    Why this score
    SourceWinter i*pike RS2Alpin 6
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 4 tests8186
    Reviews found online6882

    Winter i*pike RS2: 40% × 80.7 + 60% × 68.2 = 73

    Alpin 6: 40% × 86.4 + 60% × 82 = 84

  5. 59

    Noise

    Alpin 6 +1
    60
    Why this score
    SourceWinter i*pike RS2Alpin 6
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 13 tests5556
    Reviews found online≈ 67 (est.)≈ 67 (est.)

    Winter i*pike RS2: 60% × 54.8 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 59

    Alpin 6: 60% × 56 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 60

    No owner ratings of noise for Winter i*pike RS2 or Alpin 6. 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. 71

    Treadwear

    Alpin 6 +14
    85
    Why this score
    SourceWinter i*pike RS2Alpin 6
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 7 tests≈ 69 (est.)89
    Reviews found online7580

    Winter i*pike RS2: 60% × 69.1 (est.) + 40% × 74.7 = 71

    Alpin 6: 60% × 88.6 + 40% × 80.1 = 85

    No road tests of treadwear for Winter i*pike RS2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.35).

  7. 73

    Handling (owners)

    Alpin 6 +9
    82
    Why this score
    SourceWinter i*pike RS2Alpin 6
    Reviews found online7382
  8. 73

    Efficiency

    Winter i*pike RS2 +10
    63
    Why this score
    SourceWinter i*pike RS2Alpin 6
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 15 tests7363
Scores at a glance
CategoryHankook Winter i*pike RS2Michelin Alpin 6
Relative Score 69 80
Dry 56 77
Wet 73 89
Snow 76 75
Comfort 73 84
Noise 59 60
Treadwear 71 85
Handling (owners) 73 82
Efficiency 73 63

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
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Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
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Recomputed
Headline score
± 6

Winter i*pike RS2

± 4

Alpin 6

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*pike RS2Alpin 6ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 88% #16/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test 95% #7/12 · 2024 ADAC 16 Inch Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Dry Handling (tester's mark) Dry 40% #6/8 · 2023 Studded Tyre Test 87% #4/8 · 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 96% #3/8 · 2023 Studded Tyre Test 91% #8/12 · 2024 ADAC 16 Inch Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 82% #11/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test 96% #7/55 · 2024 Winter 55 Tyre Braking Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 99% #5/8 · 2023 Studded Tyre Test 97% #10/10 · 2024 All Season and Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Ice Braking Snow 91% #5/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test 88% #10/12 · 2024 ADAC 16 Inch Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Ice Traction Snow 87% #4/8 · 2023 Studded Tyre Test 91% #5/10 · 2019 Auto Center Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Braking Snow 100% #2/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test 97% #15/33 · 2024 Winter 55 Tyre Braking Test – Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 98% #6/8 · 2023 Studded Tyre Test 99% #3/10 · 2024 All Season and Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Traction Snow 98% #8/8 · 2023 Studded Tyre Test 100% #1/12 · 2024 ADAC 16 Inch Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Comfort (tester's mark) Comfort 80% #2/8 · 2023 Studded Tyre Test 100% #1/8 · 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17 – Different tests
Noise Noise 99% #3/8 · 2023 Studded Tyre Test 98% #9/12 · 2024 ADAC 16 Inch Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Fuel Consumption Efficiency 100% #2/8 · 2020 Studded Winter Tyre Test 98% #7/12 · 2024 ADAC 16 Inch Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 98% #2/8 · 2023 Studded Tyre Test 81% #7/10 · 2024 All Season and Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 67% #5/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test 57% #8/8 · 2022 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #6/8 2023 Studded Tyre Test #9/15 2025 Teknikens Värld 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*pike RS2

Pros

  • Exceptional traction and braking on snow and ice
  • Strong side grip and predictable cornering limits
  • High durability with secure stud retention over multiple years

Cons

  • Poor steering feedback on dry tarmac
  • Noticeable understeer in dry road conditions
All owner themes in the Winter i*pike RS2 review

Tire B Alpin 6

Pros

  • Exceptional wet and dry road grip in cold temperatures
  • High levels of ride comfort and low cabin noise
  • Impressive tread life and long-term durability

Cons

  • Inconsistent performance in deep snow and on ice
  • Some reports of sluggish steering feedback or 'soft' sidewall feel
  • Higher price point compared to some performance-oriented winter alternatives
All owner themes in the Alpin 6 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 B · Michelin Alpin 6
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available—42
Rim diameters—15″ – 20″

Which one should you actually buy?

Hankook Winter i*pike RS2

Michelin Alpin 6

Winner: Michelin Alpin 6 — better dry, wet and treadwear. Pick the Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 if efficiency matters most to you.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Michelin Alpin 6 scores 77 vs 56 on dry.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Michelin Alpin 6 scores 89 vs 73 on wet.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Michelin Alpin 6 scores 85 vs 71 on treadwear.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Michelin Alpin 6 scores 84 vs 73 on comfort.

Tire A · Hankook Winter i*pike RS2
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Tire B · Michelin Alpin 6
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Winter i*pike RS2 or Alpin 6?

Which is better in the wet, Winter i*pike RS2 or Alpin 6?

Michelin Alpin 6, 89 vs 73 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Winter i*pike RS2 or Alpin 6?

Michelin Alpin 6, 77 vs 56 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, Winter i*pike RS2 or Alpin 6?

Neither, by our numbers: 76 vs 75 on the snow score, within 3 points.

Which is quieter, Winter i*pike RS2 or Alpin 6?

Neither, by our numbers: 59 vs 60 on the noise score, within 3 points.

Which is more comfortable, Winter i*pike RS2 or Alpin 6?

Michelin Alpin 6, 84 vs 73 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Winter i*pike RS2 or Alpin 6?

Michelin Alpin 6, 85 vs 71 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, Winter i*pike RS2 or Alpin 6?

Hankook Winter i*pike RS2, 73 vs 63 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