Hankook Winter I cept RS3 vs Kumho WinterCraft WP52+
The Hankook Winter I cept RS3 and the Kumho WinterCraft WP52+ have met in 2 independent tests and the record is level at 1-1. The Winter I cept RS3 was stronger in comfort and value, the WinterCraft WP52+ in dry, wet, snow and ice.
Performance profile
13 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
WinterCraft WP52+
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.
Where each scores higher
Winter I cept RS3
WinterCraft WP52+
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
Winter I cept RS3
Not ahead in any category
WinterCraft WP52+
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Winter I cept RS3 77% from 28 reviews and the WinterCraft WP52+ 91% from 6. 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 | Winter I cept RS3 | Gap | WinterCraft WP52+ | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry WinterCraft WP52+ ahead | ||||
| Dry Braking ft | 146 | 3.8% | 140 | 0-2 |
| Wet WinterCraft WP52+ ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking ft | 141 | 3.2% | 137 | 0-2 |
| Wet Braking - Concrete ft | 132 | 3% | 128 | 0-1 |
| Straight Aqua mph | 59.7 | 10.1% | 54.2 | 1-0 |
| Curved Aquaplaning ft/s² | 13.1 | 25% | 10.5 | 1-0 |
| Snow WinterCraft WP52+ ahead | ||||
| Snow Braking ft | 59 | 2.5% | 58 | 0-2 |
| Snow Traction lbf | 632 | 2% | 645 | 0-1 |
| Ice WinterCraft WP52+ ahead | ||||
| Ice Braking ft | 72 | 2.3% | 71 | 0-1 |
| Comfort Winter I cept RS3 ahead | ||||
| Noise dB | 72.5 | 0.6 dB | 73.1 | 1-0 |
| Value Winter I cept RS3 ahead | ||||
| Wear miles | 22,687 | 14.4% | 24,489 | 1-1 |
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 8.53 | 5.5% | 9.03 | 1-0 |
| Fuel Consumption l/100km | 5.7 | 1.8% | 5.6 | 0-1 |
| Abrasion mg/km/t | 93 | 2.1% | 95 | 1-0 |
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 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 | WinterCraft WP52+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 AvD Winter Tire Test | P7 of 15 | P6 of 15 | |
| 2026 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 185/65 R15 | P3 of 16 | P12 of 16 |
Winter I cept RS3 vs WinterCraft WP52+: your questions
Is the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 or the Kumho WinterCraft WP52+ the better tire?
The Hankook Winter I cept RS3 and the Kumho WinterCraft WP52+ have met in 2 independent tests and the record is level at 1-1. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Winter I cept RS3 scores 8.8 and the WinterCraft WP52+ 9.3 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Winter I cept RS3 or the WinterCraft WP52+?
The WinterCraft WP52+ led 3 of the 5 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 3.2% shorter in the wet across 2 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The WinterCraft WP52+ led 2 of the 2 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 3.8% shorter in the dry across 2 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The WinterCraft WP52+ led 3 of the 3 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 2.5% shorter on snow across 2 tests.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 6.7/10 for the Winter I cept RS3 and 8.8/10 for the WinterCraft WP52+.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Winter I cept RS3 77% from 28 reviews and the WinterCraft WP52+ 91% from 6. 74% of Winter I cept RS3 owners would buy it again, against 100% for the WinterCraft WP52+.
Which is more expensive?
In the 2 tests that listed prices, the Winter I cept RS3 was the dearer tire in 2 of them, by 27.3% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Winter I cept RS3 is made in 46 sizes (14 to 17 inch) and the WinterCraft WP52+ in 115 (13 to 21 inch). 42 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 WinterCraft WP52+ B and C.
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vs 
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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.