Hankook Winter i cept RS2 vs Yokohama BluEarth Winter V905
In the 4 independent tests that ran both tires, the Hankook Winter i cept RS2 finished ahead 4 times and the BluEarth Winter V905 not once. The Winter i cept RS2 was stronger in wet and snow, the BluEarth Winter V905 in comfort.
Performance profile
10 measurements from the 4 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Winter i cept RS2
BluEarth Winter V905
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.
Where each scores higher
Winter i cept RS2
BluEarth Winter V905
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 RS2
BluEarth Winter V905
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Winter i cept RS2 81% from 51 reviews and the BluEarth Winter V905 87% from 15. 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 RS2 | Gap | BluEarth Winter V905 | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Level | ||||
| Dry Braking ft | 149 | 1.5% | 147 | 1-1 |
| Dry Handling mph | 58.8 | 0.5% | 58.5 | 1-1 |
| Wet Winter i cept RS2 ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking ft | 108 | 2.6% | 111 | 3-0 |
| Wet Handling mph | 44.7 | 0.9% | 44.3 | 1-0 |
| Straight Aqua mph | 46.9 | 6.2% | 44.5 | 2-0 |
| Snow Winter i cept RS2 ahead | ||||
| Snow Braking ft | 85 | 4.9% | 89 | 3-0 |
| Snow Handling mph | 40.6 | 3.6% | 39.1 | 2-0 |
| Comfort BluEarth Winter V905 ahead | ||||
| Noise dB | 70.95 | 1.5 dB | 69.45 | 0-2 |
| Value Level | ||||
| Wear miles | 31,587 | 26.2% | 25,001 | 2-0 |
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 9.21 | 10.8% | 8.22 | 0-2 |
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 4 tests, 2018 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 | Winter i cept RS2 | Field | BluEarth Winter V905 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tire Test | P9 of 20 | P14 of 20 | |
| 2019 Winter Tire Test Market Overview | P12 of 53 | P20 of 53 | |
| 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test | P5 of 20 | P15 of 20 | |
| 2018 51 Winter Tire Shootout | P4 of 52 | P20 of 52 |
Winter i cept RS2 vs BluEarth Winter V905: your questions
Is the Hankook Winter i cept RS2 or the Yokohama BluEarth Winter V905 the better tire?
In the 4 independent tests that ran both tires, the Hankook Winter i cept RS2 finished ahead 4 times and the BluEarth Winter V905 not once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Winter i cept RS2 scores 9 and the BluEarth Winter V905 6.8 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Winter i cept RS2 or the BluEarth Winter V905?
The Winter i cept RS2 led 6 of the 7 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 2.6% shorter in the wet across 3 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
Across the shared tests the dry measurements are split 2-2 between the Winter i cept RS2 and the BluEarth Winter V905.
Which is better in snow?
The Winter i cept RS2 led 5 of the 5 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 4.9% shorter on snow across 3 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Winter i cept RS2 lasted 26.2% longer in the wear tests (2 tests); the BluEarth Winter V905 had 10.8% lower rolling resistance (2 tests). Owners rate wear 8.4/10 for the Winter i cept RS2 and 8/10 for the BluEarth Winter V905.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
The BluEarth Winter V905 was 1.5 dB quieter (2 tests). Owners rate comfort 7.4/10 for the Winter i cept RS2 and 8.3/10 for the BluEarth Winter V905.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Winter i cept RS2 81% from 51 reviews and the BluEarth Winter V905 87% from 15. 80% of Winter i cept RS2 owners would buy it again, against 93% for the BluEarth Winter V905.
Which is more expensive?
In the 2 tests that listed prices, the BluEarth Winter V905 was the dearer tire in 2 of them, by 3.5% 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 RS2 is made in 43 sizes (13 to 17 inch) and the BluEarth Winter V905 in 132 (15 to 22 inch). 13 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Winter i cept RS2 is graded C for wet grip and D for rolling resistance in most sizes; the BluEarth Winter V905 C and C.
Which is the newer tire?
The Winter i cept RS2 is the newer design: it reached the market in 2021, the BluEarth Winter V905 in 2017.
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.
Review the Winter i cept RS2 Review the BluEarth Winter V905
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.