Nokian WR D4 vs Hankook Winter i cept RS2
In the 14 independent tests that ran both tires, the Nokian WR D4 finished ahead 8 times and the Winter i cept RS2 6 times. The WR D4 was stronger in snow and value, the Winter i cept RS2 in wet.
Performance profile
9 measurements from the 14 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
WR D4
Winter i cept RS2
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. The scale stops at 92%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 1 measurement recorded in only one shared test is left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
WR D4
Winter i cept RS2
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
WR D4
Winter i cept RS2
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the WR D4 78% from 73 reviews and the Winter i cept RS2 81% from 50. 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. Wins count the tests in which each tire did better.
| Measurement | WR D4 | Gap | Winter i cept RS2 | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Level | ||||
| Dry Braking ft | 145 | 2.6% | 149 | 2-0 |
| Dry Handling mph | 68.7 | 1.7% | 69.8 | 0-2 |
| Wet Winter i cept RS2 ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking ft | 121 | 8.2% | 111 | 0-2 |
| Wet Handling mph | 43.4 | 3.2% | 44.8 | 0-2 |
| Straight Aqua mph | 47.5 | 7.7% | 51.2 | 0-2 |
| Snow WR D4 ahead | ||||
| Snow Braking ft | 87 | 2.6% | 90 | 2-0 |
| Snow Handling mph | 34 | 0.1% | 34 | 1-1 |
| Comfort Level | ||||
| Noise dB | 69.25 | 0.5 dB | 69.75 | 1-1 |
| Value WR D4 ahead | ||||
| Wear miles | 29,639 | 25.5% | 37,189 | 0-1 |
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 7.38 | 20.8% | 9.32 | 2-0 |
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.
Head to head in 14 tests, 2016 to 2019
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 | WR D4 | Field | Winter i cept RS2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 ADAC 185/65 R15 Winter Tire Test | P9 of 16 | P4 of 16 | |
| 2018 AMS Winter Tire Test | P3 of 11 | P4 of 11 | |
| 2018 Auto Express Winter Tire Test | P7 of 9 | P3 of 9 | |
| 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test | P9 of 20 | P5 of 20 | |
| 2018 51 Winter Tire Shootout | P14 of 52 | P4 of 52 | |
| 2017 50 Winter Tire Shoot Out | P11 of 50 | P20 of 50 | |
| 2017 ADAC SUV Winter Tire Test - 215/65 R16 | P4 of 16 | P14 of 16 | |
| 2017 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 195/65 R15 | P11 of 16 | P6 of 16 | |
| 2017 Auto Express Winter Tire Test | P5 of 8 | P2 of 8 | |
| 2016 Auto Express Winter Tire Test | P2 of 8 | P8 of 8 | |
| 2016 AutoBild Winter Tire Test | P7 of 20 | P8 of 20 | |
| 2016 Winter Tire Market Overview | P7 of 49 | P14 of 49 | |
| 2016 AZ Winter Tire Test - 205/55 R16 | P2 of 14 | P8 of 14 | |
| 2016 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 185/65 R15 | P3 of 15 | P6 of 15 |
WR D4 vs Winter i cept RS2: your questions
Is the Nokian WR D4 or the Hankook Winter i cept RS2 the better tire?
In the 14 independent tests that ran both tires, the Nokian WR D4 finished ahead 8 times and the Winter i cept RS2 6 times. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the WR D4 scores 8.5 and the Winter i cept RS2 9 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the WR D4 or the Winter i cept RS2?
The Winter i cept RS2 led 6 of the 6 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 8.2% shorter in the wet across 2 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
Across the shared tests the dry measurements are split 2-2 between the WR D4 and the Winter i cept RS2.
Which is better in snow?
The WR D4 led 3 of the 4 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 2.6% shorter on snow across 2 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The WR D4 had 20.8% lower rolling resistance (2 tests). Owners rate wear 6.8/10 for the WR D4 and 8.5/10 for the Winter i cept RS2.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 8.3/10 for the WR D4 and 7.5/10 for the Winter i cept RS2.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the WR D4 78% from 73 reviews and the Winter i cept RS2 81% from 50. 69% of WR D4 owners would buy it again, against 80% for the Winter i cept RS2.
Which is more expensive?
In the 2 tests that listed prices, the WR D4 was the dearer tire in 2 of them, by 7.3% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The WR D4 is made in 32 sizes (13 to 18 inch) and the Winter i cept RS2 in 43 (13 to 17 inch). 18 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the WR D4 is graded B for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Winter i cept RS2 C and D.
Which is the newer tire?
The Winter i cept RS2 is the newer design: it reached the market in 2021, the WR D4 in 2015. The WR D4 replaced the Nokian WR D3.
More comparisons with these tires
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.