Tests – · none yet Owners 63 · 6 reviews
Best test result: #34 of 42 in 2012 Auto Bild 42 Winter Tyre Braking Test (overall ranking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Nexen WinGuard vs Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Winter i*pike RS2 is ahead, 72–65
Add your size for an exact match
/R
Both Amazon links then search this exact size.
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
Tests 66 · 5 tests Owners 76 · 5 reviews
Best test result: #5 of 8 in 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test (overall ranking)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
59
Dry
Level59Why this score
Source WinGuard Winter i*pike RS2 Professional tests (TWG score) – 49 Reviews found online 54 74 -
64
Wet
Winter i*pike RS2 +1074Why this score
Source WinGuard Winter i*pike RS2 Professional tests (TWG score) – 71 Reviews found online 62 78 -
75
Snow
Winter i*pike RS2 +176Why this score
Source WinGuard Winter i*pike RS2 Professional tests (TWG score) – 76 Reviews found online 78 77 -
65
Comfort
Winter i*pike RS2 +1378Why this score
Source WinGuard Winter i*pike RS2 Professional tests (TWG score) – 81 Reviews found online 61 75 -
–
Noise
No comparison60Why this score
Source WinGuard Winter i*pike RS2 Professional tests (TWG score) – 55 -
65
Treadwear
Winter i*pike RS2 +671Why this score
Source WinGuard Winter i*pike RS2 Reviews found online 65 75 -
57
Handling
Winter i*pike RS2 +2279Why this score
Source WinGuard Winter i*pike RS2 Reviews found online 57 79
Scores at a glance
| Category | Nexen WinGuard | Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 65 | 72 |
| Dry | 59 | 59 |
| Wet | 64 | 74 |
| Snow | 75 | 76 |
| Comfort | 65 | 78 |
| Noise | – | 60 |
| Treadwear | 65 | 71 |
| Handling | 57 | 79 |
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.
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score
65
/ 100
WinGuard
72
/ 100
Winter i*pike RS2
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
The professional test results behind the scores
Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.
| Discipline | Category | WinGuard | Winter i*pike RS2 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 3% #34/42 · 2012 Auto Bild 42 Winter Tyre Braking Test | 20% #5/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | −17.1 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A WinGuard
Pros
- Strong traction and handling in snow-covered conditions
- Noticeable improvement in grip over summer tires in cold weather
- Confidence-inspiring braking performance on mountain passes
Cons
- Mediocre performance on ice
- Poor dry-weather handling when temperatures exceed 10°C
- Occasional difficulty with uphill starts in deep snow
Tire B 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
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Nexen WinGuard | B · Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Which one should you actually buy?
65
/ 100
Nexen WinGuard
72
/ 100
Hankook Winter i*pike RS2
Winner: Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 — better handling, comfort and wet. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 scores 79 vs 57 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 scores 78 vs 65 on comfort.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 scores 74 vs 64 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 scores 71 vs 65 on treadwear.
Tire A · Nexen WinGuard
Tire B · Hankook Winter i*pike RS2
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
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.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.