Tests 73 · 9 tests Owners 71 · 61 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test (noise)
Head-to-head
Updated
Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 vs Hankook Winter i cept evo3 — 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 9 + 18 road tests and 61 + 23 owner reviews. How we score
Winter i cept evo3 is ahead, 78–72
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Tests 76 · 18 tests Owners 82 · 23 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test (straight aquaplaning)
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, WinGuard Sport 2 won 0 and Winter i cept evo3 won 3 (average 84% vs 94% of the best).
- In 3 tests that measured snow braking for both, WinGuard Sport 2 won 0 and Winter i cept evo3 won 3 (average 94% vs 97% of the best).
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70
Dry
Winter i cept evo3 +878Why this score
Source WinGuard Sport 2 Winter i cept evo3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 13 tests 71 75 Reviews found online 69 83 Dry Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 94% 94% Dry Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 99% 98% WinGuard Sport 2: 60% × 70.8 + 40% × 69.4 = 70
Winter i cept evo3: 60% × 75.3 + 40% × 82.6 = 78
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75
Wet
Winter i cept evo3 +1590Why this score
Source WinGuard Sport 2 Winter i cept evo3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 9 / 18 tests 73 92 Reviews found online 77 86 Straight Aquaplaning (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 97% 100% Wet Braking (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 0–3 84% 94% Wet Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 97% 99% WinGuard Sport 2: 60% × 73.5 + 40% × 77.3 = 75
Winter i cept evo3: 60% × 91.8 + 40% × 86.3 = 90
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70
Snow
Winter i cept evo3 +1080Why this score
Source WinGuard Sport 2 Winter i cept evo3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 9 / 18 tests 70 81 Reviews found online 70 80 Snow Braking (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 0–3 94% 97% Snow Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 92% 100% Snow Traction (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 87% 94% WinGuard Sport 2: 60% × 70.4 + 40% × 69.6 = 70
Winter i cept evo3: 60% × 80.5 + 40% × 80.3 = 80
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68
Comfort
Winter i cept evo3 +573Why this score
Source WinGuard Sport 2 Winter i cept evo3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 2 tests 64 72 Reviews found online 70 74 WinGuard Sport 2: 40% × 64.4 + 60% × 70.4 = 68
Winter i cept evo3: 40% × 71.7 + 60% × 73.9 = 73
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80
Noise
WinGuard Sport 2 +4733Why this score
Source WinGuard Sport 2 Winter i cept evo3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 13 tests 93 10 Reviews found online 61 ≈ 66 (est.) Noise (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 100% 97% WinGuard Sport 2: 60% × 93.3 + 40% × 61.1 = 80
Winter i cept evo3: 60% × 10 + 40% × 66.3 (est.) = 33
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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73
Treadwear
Winter i cept evo3 +679Why this score
Source WinGuard Sport 2 Winter i cept evo3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 4 tests 75 77 Reviews found online 71 81 WinGuard Sport 2: 60% × 74.8 + 40% × 71.3 = 73
Winter i cept evo3: 60% × 77 + 40% × 81 = 79
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70
Handling (owners)
Winter i cept evo3 +1181Why this score
Source WinGuard Sport 2 Winter i cept evo3 Reviews found online 70 81 -
34
Efficiency
Winter i cept evo3 +2761Why this score
Source WinGuard Sport 2 Winter i cept evo3 Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 13 tests 34 61 Rolling Resistance (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 90% 91%
Scores at a glance
| Category | Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 | Hankook Winter i cept evo3 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 72 | 78 |
| Dry | 70 | 78 |
| Wet | 75 | 90 |
| Snow | 70 | 80 |
| Comfort | 68 | 73 |
| Noise | 80 | 33 |
| Treadwear | 73 | 79 |
| Handling (owners) | 70 | 81 |
| Efficiency | 34 | 61 |
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
72
/ 100
WinGuard Sport 2
78
/ 100
Winter i cept evo3
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, Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 finished ahead 0 times and Hankook Winter i cept evo3 3 times.
| Discipline | Category | WinGuard Sport 2 | Winter i cept evo3 | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 94% | 94% | −0.6 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test · 245/40 R18 |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% | 98% | +0.3 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test · 245/40 R18 |
| Curved Aquaplaning | Wet | 68% #8/8 · 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17 | 100% #1/12 · 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 97% | 100% | −2.8 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test · 245/40 R18 |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 84% | 94% | −9.8 | 0–3 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2023 Winter Tyre Test 54 Set Braking Test · 225/45 R18 |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 97% | 99% | −1.9 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test · 245/40 R18 |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 94% | 97% | −2.6 | 0–3 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2023 Winter Tyre Test 54 Set Braking Test · 225/45 R18 |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 92% | 100% | −7.4 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test · 245/40 R18 |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 87% | 94% | −7.5 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test · 245/40 R18 |
| Comfort (tester's mark) | Comfort | 93% #6/8 · 2023 Autozurnal Winter Tire Test R17 | 94% #4/12 · 2026 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Noise | Noise | 100% | 97% | +3.0 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test · 245/40 R18 |
| Wear | Treadwear | 79% #10/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | 89% #3/31 · 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 90% | 91% | −1.0 | 0–1 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 | 100% | 87% | +13.1 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test · 245/40 R18 |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Cost | #17/20 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | #9/20 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Value | Cost | 97% #3/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | 79% #4/20 · 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #27/54 | #8/54 | – | 0–3 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 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
Tire B 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
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 | B · Hankook Winter i cept evo3 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 80 | 86 |
| Rim diameters | 15″ – 20″ | 17″ – 22″ |
| Tread depth | 11/32″ | — |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | — |
| Max pressure | 51 psi | — |
| Sizes in common | 41 | 41 |
Which one should you actually buy?
72
/ 100
Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
78
/ 100
Hankook Winter i cept evo3
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 A
You want a quieter cabin
Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 scores 80 vs 33 on noise.
Pick tire B
You want lower fuel or energy use
Hankook Winter i cept evo3 scores 61 vs 34 on efficiency.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Hankook Winter i cept evo3 scores 90 vs 75 on wet.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Hankook Winter i cept evo3 scores 81 vs 70 on handling.
Tire A · Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
Tire B · Hankook Winter i cept evo3
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WinGuard Sport 2 or Winter i cept evo3?
Which is better in the wet, WinGuard Sport 2 or Winter i cept evo3?
Hankook Winter i cept evo3, 90 vs 75 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, WinGuard Sport 2 or Winter i cept evo3?
Hankook Winter i cept evo3, 78 vs 70 on our dry score.
Which is better in snow, WinGuard Sport 2 or Winter i cept evo3?
Hankook Winter i cept evo3, 80 vs 70 on our snow score.
Which is quieter, WinGuard Sport 2 or Winter i cept evo3?
Nexen WinGuard Sport 2, 80 vs 33 on our noise score.
Which is more comfortable, WinGuard Sport 2 or Winter i cept evo3?
Hankook Winter i cept evo3, 73 vs 68 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, WinGuard Sport 2 or Winter i cept evo3?
Hankook Winter i cept evo3, 79 vs 73 on our treadwear score.
Which rolls more easily, WinGuard Sport 2 or Winter i cept evo3?
Hankook Winter i cept evo3, 61 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