Hankook Winter I cept RS3 vs Dunlop Winter
In the 2 independent tests that ran both tires, the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 finished ahead 2 times and the Winter not once. The Winter I cept RS3 was stronger in dry and wet, the Winter in snow, ice, comfort and value.
Performance profile
6 measurements from the 2 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Winter I cept RS3
Winter
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. 12 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Winter I cept RS3
Winter
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.
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 | Winter I cept RS3 | Gap | Winter | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Winter I cept RS3 ahead | ||||
| Dry Braking ft | 148 | 0.1% | 148 | 1-1 |
| Dry Handling s | 57.41 | 0.9% | 57.94 | 1-0 |
| Wet Winter I cept RS3 ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking ft | 114 | 5.8% | 121 | 2-0 |
| Wet Braking - Concrete ft | 132 | 4.3% | 138 | 1-0 |
| Wet Handling s | 89.19 | 1.7% | 90.77 | 1-0 |
| Wet Circle s | 12.46 | 1% | 12.58 | 1-0 |
| Straight Aqua mph | 50.6 | 6.6% | 47.5 | 2-0 |
| Curved Aquaplaning ft/s² | 10.5 | 14.5% | 9.4 | 2-0 |
| Snow Winter ahead | ||||
| Snow Braking ft | 47 | 1.2% | 47 | 1-1 |
| Snow Traction s | 6.03 | 0.5% | 6 | 0-1 |
| Snow Traction (lbf) | 566 | 4.8% | 593 | 0-1 |
| Snow Handling s | 86.43 | 1.8% | 88.02 | 1-0 |
| Ice Winter ahead | ||||
| Ice Braking ft | 61 | 3.2% | 59 | 0-1 |
| Comfort Winter ahead | ||||
| Noise dB | 70.5 | 0.7 dB | 69.8 | 0-2 |
| Value Winter ahead | ||||
| Wear miles | 24,544 | 50.1% | 36,847 | 0-1 |
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 8.38 | 0.8% | 8.31 | 0-1 |
| Fuel Consumption l/100km | 5.6 | 1.8% | 5.5 | 0-1 |
| Abrasion mg/km/t | 72 | 20.8% | 57 | 0-1 |
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 2 tests in 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 | Winter I cept RS3 | Field | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 225/50 R17 | P6 of 16 | P8 of 16 | |
| 2026 Auto Express Winter Tire Test | P3 of 11 | P8 of 11 |
Winter I cept RS3 vs Winter: your questions
Is the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 or the Dunlop Winter the better tire?
In the 2 independent tests that ran both tires, the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 finished ahead 2 times and the Winter not once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Winter I cept RS3 scores 8.8 and the Winter 9.2 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Winter I cept RS3 or the Winter?
The Winter I cept RS3 led 9 of the 9 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 5.8% shorter in the wet across 2 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Winter I cept RS3 led 2 of the 3 dry measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is better in snow?
The Winter led 3 of the 5 snow measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
The Winter was 0.7 dB quieter (2 tests). Owners rate comfort 6.7/10 for the Winter I cept RS3 and 9.5/10 for the Winter.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Winter I cept RS3 77% from 28 reviews and the Winter 89% from 2.
Which is more expensive?
In the 2 tests that listed prices, the two were priced within 1% of each other on average.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Winter I cept RS3 is made in 46 sizes (14 to 17 inch) and the Winter in 63 (15 to 21 inch). 27 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Winter I cept RS3 is graded B for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Winter C and C.
More comparisons with these tires
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Dunlop Winter vs Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
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Bridgestone Blizzak 6 vs Dunlop Winter
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vs 
Hankook Winter I cept RS3 vs Vredestein Wintrac
6-0 in 6 shared tests
vs 
Hankook Winter I cept RS3 vs Kumho Winter Craft WP52
4-1 in 5 shared tests
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Hankook Winter I cept RS3 vs Kleber Krisalp HP3
6-0 in 6 shared tests
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.