Tests 77 · 6 tests Owners 58 · 3 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 16 in 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test (snow traction)
Head-to-head
Updated
Pirelli Ice Zero 2 vs Hankook Winter i*cept evo3 X — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Winter i*cept evo3 X leads, 69–67 Narrow edge
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 72 · 5 tests Owners 67 · 4 reviews
Best test result: #2 of 10 in 2024 AS SUV Winter Tyre Test (snow braking)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
72
Dry
Ice Zero 2 +468Why this score
Source Ice Zero 2 Winter i*cept evo3 X Professional tests (TWG score) 81 69 Reviews found online 58 65 Dry Braking (% of best) 97% 97% -
73
Wet
Winter i*cept evo3 X +376Why this score
Source Ice Zero 2 Winter i*cept evo3 X Professional tests (TWG score) 80 80 Reviews found online 61 71 Wet Braking (% of best) 100% 96% Wet Handling (% of best) 94% 93% -
71
Snow
Winter i*cept evo3 X +576Why this score
Source Ice Zero 2 Winter i*cept evo3 X Professional tests (TWG score) 75 81 Reviews found online 64 69 Snow Braking (% of best) 99% 100% Snow Handling (% of best) 98% 99% Snow Traction (% of best) 100% 98% -
63
Comfort
Level63Why this score
Source Ice Zero 2 Winter i*cept evo3 X Professional tests (TWG score) 72 – Reviews found online 50 56 -
66
Noise
Ice Zero 2 +2541Why this score
Source Ice Zero 2 Winter i*cept evo3 X Professional tests (TWG score) 65 25 -
58
Treadwear
Winter i*cept evo3 X +765Why this score
Source Ice Zero 2 Winter i*cept evo3 X Reviews found online 52 65 -
56
Handling
Winter i*cept evo3 X +1066Why this score
Source Ice Zero 2 Winter i*cept evo3 X Reviews found online 56 66
Scores at a glance
| Category | Pirelli Ice Zero 2 | Hankook Winter i*cept evo3 X |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 67 | 69 |
| Dry | 72 | 68 |
| Wet | 73 | 76 |
| Snow | 71 | 76 |
| Comfort | 63 | 63 |
| Noise | 66 | 41 |
| Treadwear | 58 | 65 |
| Handling | 56 | 66 |
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
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score
67
/ 100
Ice Zero 2
69
/ 100
Winter i*cept evo3 X
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 | Ice Zero 2 | Winter i*cept evo3 X | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 97% #9/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 97% #8/10 · 2024 AS SUV Winter Tyre Test | +0.8 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 98% #4/8 · 2026 Vi Bilagare Studded Tyre Test | 96% #10/10 · 2023 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | +1.6 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 55% #10/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 56% #4/10 · 2023 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | −1.0 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 80% #4/15 · 2021 Test World Large Winter Tire Test R16 | 20% #5/10 · 2024 AS SUV Winter Tyre Test | +60.0 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 99% #9/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 100% #2/10 · 2024 AS SUV Winter Tyre Test | −0.4 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 98% #4/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 99% #6/11 · 2025 Autobild SUV Winter Tyre Test | −0.3 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 100% #1/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 98% #2/10 · 2023 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | +1.6 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 100% #1/8 · 2020 Studded Winter Tyre Test | 90% #7/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | +10.2 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 100% #8/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 96% #2/10 · 2023 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | +4.2 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 94% #12/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 93% #10/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | +0.5 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Ice Zero 2
Pros
- Very good traction and performance on snow
- Reasonably quiet for a studded winter tire
- Adequate performance on wet and salty roads
Cons
- Dangerous slipping on ice at low speeds in cold climates
- Strong, intrusive howling noise at speeds above 95 km/h
- Poor overall handling compared to competing studded winter tires like the Nokian Hakkapeliitta
Tire B Winter i*cept evo3 X
Pros
- Outstanding traction and braking performance in various snow conditions (fresh, compact, and heavy wet snow)
- Superior wet and dry grip in low temperatures (below 4°C)
- Cost-effective alternative compared to other premium brand winter tires
Cons
- Significantly high levels of tire noise
- Stiff and uncomfortable ride quality
- Becomes overly soft and less composed on dry roads when temperatures exceed 13°C
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Pirelli Ice Zero 2 | B · Hankook Winter i*cept evo3 X |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | SUV and 4x4 |
| Sizes available | — | 72 |
| Rim diameters | — | 17″ – 22″ |
Which one should you actually buy?
67
/ 100
Pirelli Ice Zero 2
69
/ 100
Hankook Winter i*cept evo3 X
Winner: Hankook Winter i*cept evo3 X — better handling, treadwear and snow. Pick the Pirelli Ice Zero 2 if noise and dry matter most to you.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Pirelli Ice Zero 2 scores 66 vs 41 on noise.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Hankook Winter i*cept evo3 X scores 66 vs 56 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Hankook Winter i*cept evo3 X scores 65 vs 58 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Hankook Winter i*cept evo3 X scores 76 vs 71 on snow.
Tire A · Pirelli Ice Zero 2
Tire B · Hankook Winter i*cept evo3 X
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.