Winter tire handling Updated September 2026

Hankook Icebear W440 review

Name: Hankook Icebear W440
Brand: Hankook

This tire appears to be discontinued and may no longer be available.

± 8

Relative score from owner reviews only Provisional

Owners 73 · 5 reviews analysed

How scores work

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Hankook Icebear W440 has a Relative Score of 71 out of 100 among winter tires. 5 owner reviews rate it 73 out of 100. 88% would buy it again.

What owners say

No road-test results yet, so every score here comes from owner reviews found online.

How scores work

Relative score: 0–100. Blends road tests (60%) and owner reviews (40%) category by category, the same way on every TireWheelGuide page. With only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from it, so the score stays closer to average. It needs at least one road test or five owner reviews.
Road tests: 0–100 per score, from published tests, newer tests counting more. Each result is compared with every other tire in the same test, so a win against a strong field counts for more. The average tested tire gets 70, the best 100; with only one or two tests a tire stays nearer 70. The discipline rows show % of the best tire in that test.
Owner reviews: 0–100 from the owner reviews we found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates and scaled like the road tests: the average tested tire gets 70. With only a few reviews a tire stays near the average.

Full methodology

By owner reviews

73/100

From 5 owner reviews analysed, scaled like the road tests: the average tested tire gets 70.

Would buy again 88%

Dry

Overall dry

Wet

Overall wet

Comfort

Overall comfort

Treadwear

Overall treadwear

Handling

Overall handling

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What owners like and dislike

Themes extracted from 5 owner reviews found online.

The Hankook Icebear W440 is widely regarded as a high-value winter tire that offers impressive performance in snow and ice at a competitive price point. While some users note a necessary break-in period where the tires feel initially slippery, the consensus highlights a significant improvement in traction for rear-wheel-drive vehicles in challenging winter conditions.

Pros

Excellent traction and confidence on snow and ice
High value-for-money proposition compared to premium brands
Noticeable performance improvement for rear-wheel-drive vehicles
Reliable grip on ungritted and steep winter roads

Cons

Noticeable 'slippery' sensation during the initial 100-mile break-in period
Performance is strictly categorized as a budget-friendly option rather than a top-tier premium performer
Mixed feedback on overall refinement compared to more expensive alternatives

Worth knowing

Users driving rear-wheel-drive platforms, such as the BMW 5 Series and Mazda Eunos, reported a transformative improvement in winter handling.
The tire is noted for providing sufficient dry and wet grip once the initial break-in phase is complete.