Falken EUROWINTER HS02 vs Hankook Winter I cept RS3
- TR Score
- 8.2/10
- Owners say
- 82% · 3
- TR Score
- 8.8/10
- Owners say
- 77% · 28
In the 7 independent tests that ran both tires, the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 finished ahead 7 times and the EUROWINTER HS02 not once. The EUROWINTER HS02 stopped 4.2% shorter in the dry; the Winter I cept RS3 stopped 8.8% shorter on snow.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose the Hankook Winter i*cept RS3 if you drive in real winter conditions (regular snow/ice, hilly areas, or frequent slush and standing water) and want the most consistent safety margins across tests. Choose the Falken EUROWINTER HS02 if your winters are mild (mostly cold, wet, and dry roads with only occasional light snow) and you prioritize strong dry braking and lower noise over maximum snow grip.
Where the EUROWINTER HS02 is stronger
- Class-leading dry braking across multiple tests (e.g., 41.4 m vs 44.8 m in ADAC 2023; 43.3 m vs 45.7 m in ADAC 2024)
- Generally quieter cabin noise than Hankook in shared tests (wins noise 4-0; e.g., 67.5 dB vs 68.2 dB Auto Express 2026)
- Stable, predictable on dry/wet asphalt when driven within its grip envelope; good “road tire” manners for a winter pattern
Where the Winter I cept RS3 is stronger
- Best-in-class snow performance in the shared results (wins snow braking 5-0, traction 3-0, snow handling 2-0; described as the pick if snow matters)
- Stronger aquaplaning safety margins (wins straight and curved aquaplaning 4-0; notable gaps up to ~10.9% in AMS 2025 curved)
- Consistently higher overall test placements (wins overall 6-0), indicating a more complete winter balance
The bullet points are analysis of the shared tests and of owner reviews; the measured wins in each discipline are in the tables below. Where the two disagree, the figures are right.
EUROWINTER HS02 vs Winter I cept RS3 at a glance
| Category | EUROWINTER HS02 | Gap | Winter I cept RS3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won7 shared tests | 0 | 7 | |
| Dry10 measurements | 5 | Level between the two. | 5 |
| Wet26 measurements | 5 | The Winter I cept RS3 resisted straight aquaplaning at a 5.4% higher speed (5 tests) | 21 |
| Snow17 measurements | 1 | The Winter I cept RS3 stopped 8.8% shorter on snow (6 tests) | 15 |
| Ice2 measurements | 1 | Level between the two. | 1 |
| Comfort7 measurements | 5 | The EUROWINTER HS02 was 0.6 dB quieter (5 tests) | 1 |
| Value9 measurements | 3 | The Winter I cept RS3 shed 20.1% less rubber in the abrasion test (2 tests) | 5 |
| Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 8.2/10 | The Winter I cept RS3 by 0.6 | 8.8/10 |
| Owner rating3 and 28 reviews | 82% | The EUROWINTER HS02 by 5 points | 77% |
| Pricein the 4 tests that listed prices | Cheaper | The Winter I cept RS3 was dearer in 2 of 4 | +4.6% |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 72 | 38 sizes made in both | 46 |
Wins count every measurement the shared tests recorded for both tires; a tick marks the tire ahead on that line. Subjective driver scores count as wins but are never averaged, because each test uses its own scale.
Head to head in 7 tests, 2023 to 2026
Each row is one published test in which both tires ran on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The line is the whole field, winner on the left.
| Test | EUROWINTER HS02 | Field | Winter I cept RS3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Sport Auto Winter Tire Test | P7 of 9 | P6 of 9 | |
| 2026 Auto Express Winter Tire Test | P7 of 11 | P3 of 11 | |
| 2025 AMS Winter Tire Test | P9 of 10 | P4 of 10 | |
| 2024 Auto Express Winter Tire Test | P6 of 7 | P3 of 7 | |
| 2024 ADAC 16 Inch Winter Tire Test | P7 of 12 | P4 of 12 | |
| 2024 Winter 55 Tire Braking Test | P22 of 55 | P14 of 55 | |
| 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tire Test | P11 of 16 | P5 of 16 |
Performance profile
21 measurements from the 7 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
EUROWINTER HS02
Winter I cept RS3
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
In each test the better of the two figures counts as 100% and the other as its share of it, so a 118 ft stop against 112 ft is 95%; each spoke averages the shared tests that recorded it. 7 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
EUROWINTER HS02
Winter I cept RS3
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Category scores are percentiles among tires of the same season and class: 90 means this tire out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
Where owners rate each higher
EUROWINTER HS02
Winter I cept RS3
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the EUROWINTER HS02 82% from 3 reviews and the Winter I cept RS3 77% from 28. Each spoke is one question owners answer out of 10; reviews are vetted by hand before publication.
Every measurement, side by side
Averages of the figures both tires posted in the same tests. The gap is the average of each test's own gap, so figures from different cars and years are never mixed. Open a discipline for its measurements, and a measurement for every test's figure.
| Measurement | EUROWINTER HS02 | Gap | Winter I cept RS3 | Wins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 143 | 4.2% | 149 | 5-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 57.59 | 0.3% | 57.41 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 70.3 | 0.5% | 70.6 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 19.1% | scored | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 117 | 1.4% | 116 | 1-5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 129 | 2.4% | 133 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 88.21 | 1.1% | 89.19 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 42.2 | 3.6% | 43.7 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 25% | scored | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 16.7 | 2.6% | 17.1 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 12.44 | 0.2% | 12.46 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 49.2 | 5.4% | 51.8 | 0-5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 9.9 | 10% | 10.9 | 0-5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 72 | 8.8% | 66 | 0-6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 6.55 | 7.9% | 6.03 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 33 | 1.3% | 37 | 1-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 88.93 | 2.8% | 86.43 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 55 | 3% | 56.7 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 8.3% | scored | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 11.6 | 5.6% | 12.3 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 12.3 | 1.9% | 12.5 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 65 | 0.5% | 65 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 14.3% | scored | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 70.12 | 0.6 dB | 70.76 | 5-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 26,222 | 8% | 28,428 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 8.48 | 1.5% | 8.33 | 2-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 5.45 | 1% | 5.4 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 73.5 | 20.1% | 59 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Braking distances and lap times are better when lower; speeds, wear and grip figures when higher. A test's figures are its own: sizes, cars, surfaces and temperatures differ from one to the next, which is why the averages here are only ever of tests the two tires shared. "Scored" rows are subjective driver ratings: each test uses its own scale, so only the wins are counted.
Scores beyond the shared tests
On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the EUROWINTER HS02 scores 8.2 and the Winter I cept RS3 8.8 out of 10.
| EUROWINTER HS02 | Category | Winter I cept RS3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 87 | Dry | 60 | ||
| 74 | Wet | 93 | ||
| 59 | Comfort | 36 | ||
| 39 | Value | 52 | ||
| 18 | Snow | 75 | ||
| 50 | Ice | 33 | ||
Category scores are percentiles among tires of the same season and class: 90 means this tire out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
What owners say
| EUROWINTER HS02 | Category | Winter I cept RS3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.3 | Dry Grip | 8.5 | ||
| 8 | Wet Grip | 8.3 | ||
| 8 | Road Feedback | 7.6 | ||
| 8.3 | Handling | 8 | ||
| 9 | Wear | 7.6 | ||
| 9 | Comfort | 6.7 | ||
| 8 | Snow Grip | 9 | ||
| 6.7 | Ice Grip | 7.7 | ||
Owners rate the EUROWINTER HS02 82% from 3 reviews and the Winter I cept RS3 77% from 28. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Falken EUROWINTER HS02
- 82%from 3 reviews
- 59,000 milesdriven by reviewers
All 3 EUROWINTER HS02 reviewsVery good value. Highly recommended.
I use a Honda Civic Rs and this tire has a good handling including very good comfort.
Hankook Winter I cept RS3
- 77%from 28 reviews
- 74%would buy again
- 156,320 milesdriven by reviewers
Owners generally rate the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 as a capable winter tire with strong real-world grip, particularly in snow and wet conditions, backed up by solid dry grip and handling for a winter pattern. Around two in five owners specifically praise snow traction and wet grip, and a smaller but meaningful group also mention confident aquaplaning resistance and wet handling. The standout drawback is road noise: nearly two thirds of owners mention it and most of those are unhappy, often describing it as noticeably loud at speed. A smaller group also report softer, less responsive steering feel, with mixed feedback on tread life.
- Strong snow traction and confidence in winter conditions
- Reassuring wet grip
- Very good dry grip for a winter tire
- Secure wet handling
- Noticeably loud road noise, especially at speed
- Steering feels soft / less responsive
- Mixed or disappointing tread life
Summarised by AI from 25 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 28 Winter I cept RS3 reviewsI drove some 13000 km with them, once they got 3 years old dry rot cracks were already visible in the tread area around the tread blocks, my winter tires before them were Continental TS850 replaced at 10 years old, gave them away to my father, they were made in 2012, still no dry rot cracks in them at 14 years old, but they aren't as grippy as my new Hankooks. However, Continental is a premium class, Hankooks are middle and now I can see why.
What I misjudged about Hankooks is noise above some 95 km/h, it's more the engine getting more noisy similar noise to the tires humming excessively, once I distinguished that, I can say these Hankooks aren't noisy at all. However, dry rot at just 3 years old is not what I like, I almost wish I paid 80 euros per tire for premium class instead 60 for these Hankooks, they surely aren't going to last me 10 years due to dry rot. But for now, they do their job well, if you wear out tires within a few years, they are good tires
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tire: 72 sizes of the EUROWINTER HS02 and 46 of the Winter I cept RS3, 38 of them made in both.
| Category | EUROWINTER HS02 | Winter I cept RS3 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Winter | Winter |
| Sizes made | 72 sizes, 14 to 20 inch | 46 sizes, 14 to 17 inch |
| Made in both | 38 sizes 165/65 R14165/70 R14175/65 R14175/70 R14185/60 R14185/65 R14165/60 R15165/65 R15175/60 R15175/65 R15185/55 R15185/60 R15and 26 more | |
| EU label wet grip | B97%C3% | B100% |
| EU label rolling resistance | D72%C28% | C58%D42% |
| EU label noise | 68-72 dB B54%A46% | 70-72 dB B100% |
| Severe snow (3PMSF) sizes | 97 of 97 | 189 of 189 |
| On the market since | 2022 | - |
| Replaced | Falken Eurowinter HS01 (2017) | Hankook Winter i cept RS2 (2021) |
| Price in the shared tests | The Winter I cept RS3 was the dearer tire in 2 of the 4 tests that listed prices, by 4.6% on average. Each test priced the tires in its own market at the time; only the gap is comparable. | |
Label grades are shown as the share of registered sizes carrying each grade, so "B (88%), C (12%)" means most sizes are B. Grades vary by size; check the label for yours.
Reading the results
Written from the test results and owner reviews above. It is analysis, not a measurement: where it and the tables disagree, the tables are right.
Falken's EUROWINTER HS02 and Hankook's Winter i*cept RS3 sit in the same “premium-touring” winter bracket, but their test histories show they're tuned for very different priorities. Across six shared professional tests in common European sizes (mostly 205/55 R16, plus 215/55 R17), the Hankook repeatedly places near the top overall, while the Falken tends to land mid-pack despite flashing a few standout asphalt results.
The pattern is consistent: the Falken is an on-road-biased winter tire with notably strong dry braking and generally low cabin noise, but it gives away too much where a winter tire must deliver-snow traction, snow braking, and snow handling. The Hankook, by contrast, is a more “true winter” option: consistently excellent on snow and strong in aquaplaning resistance, with the trade-off being refinement (noise/ride) and, depending on the test, some wet-grip/handling sharpness versus the very best wet-focused tires.
Conclusion
If winter capability is the deciding factor, Hankook's Winter i*cept RS3 is the clear winner in this head-to-head. It won all six shared comparisons on overall ranking (e.g., 3/13 vs 7/13 in Auto Express 2026; 4/10 vs 9/10 in AMS 2025; 4/12 vs 7/12 in ADAC 2024; 5/16 vs 11/16 in ADAC 2023) and repeatedly posts meaningful advantages on snow: ADAC 2023 snow braking 9.5 m vs 11.4 m (~16.7% shorter), AMS 2025 snow braking 27.2 m vs 30.8 m (~11.7% shorter), and Auto Express 2026 snow traction 6.03 s vs 6.55 s (~7.9% quicker). It also brings a safety margin in heavy rain with consistently stronger straight and curved aquaplaning (e.g., Auto Express 2026 +7.3% straight-line and +8.5% curved; AMS 2025 +5.0% and +10.9%).
The Falken EUROWINTER HS02's strongest argument is that it behaves more like a quiet, predictable cold-weather touring tire on clear roads, especially when braking on dry asphalt (it wins dry braking 4-0 across the shared data; e.g., ADAC 2023 41.4 m vs 44.8 m, Auto Express 2026 43.3 m vs 44.78 m). But multiple test reports describe the same limitation: once conditions turn properly wintry, its reserves drop off sharply, and it can show early under/oversteer on snow. The practical takeaway is simple: the Falken can make sense for mild winters with infrequent snow and lots of dry motorway miles, but the Hankook is the safer, more complete winter choice for mixed conditions and any snow-prone region-accepting that it may be noisier and not the most refined option in this pair.
EUROWINTER HS02 vs Winter I cept RS3: your questions
Is the Falken EUROWINTER HS02 or the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 the better tire?
In the 7 independent tests that ran both tires, the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 finished ahead 7 times and the EUROWINTER HS02 not once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the EUROWINTER HS02 scores 8.2 and the Winter I cept RS3 8.8 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the EUROWINTER HS02 or the Winter I cept RS3?
The Winter I cept RS3 led 21 of the 26 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it resisted straight aquaplaning at a 5.4% higher speed across 5 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
Across the shared tests the dry measurements are split 5-5 between the EUROWINTER HS02 and the Winter I cept RS3.
Which is better in snow?
The Winter I cept RS3 led 15 of the 17 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 8.8% shorter on snow across 6 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The EUROWINTER HS02 had 1.5% lower rolling resistance (3 tests); the Winter I cept RS3 used 1% less fuel (2 tests) and shed 20.1% less rubber in the abrasion test (2 tests). Owners rate wear 9/10 for the EUROWINTER HS02 and 7.6/10 for the Winter I cept RS3.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
The EUROWINTER HS02 was 0.6 dB quieter (5 tests). Owners rate comfort 9/10 for the EUROWINTER HS02 and 6.7/10 for the Winter I cept RS3.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the EUROWINTER HS02 82% from 3 reviews and the Winter I cept RS3 77% from 28.
Which is more expensive?
In the 4 tests that listed prices, the Winter I cept RS3 was the dearer tire in 2 of them, by 4.6% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The EUROWINTER HS02 is made in 72 sizes (14 to 20 inch) and the Winter I cept RS3 in 46 (14 to 17 inch). 38 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the EUROWINTER HS02 is graded B for wet grip and D for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Winter I cept RS3 B and C.
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Run either of these?
Your review is the part of this page no test can supply: how the tire wore, how it aged, what it was like in the rain in year three. It takes about five minutes.
Where this data comes from
Finishing positions and measurements are transcribed from each published test. A test only counts here when both tires ran in it, so every figure was recorded on the same car, size and day as the one it is compared to.
About the TR Score
The Tire Reviews Score rates each tire out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tires can be compared even before a test has run them together.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tire Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tires independently since 2007.
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