Hankook Winter i cept RS2 vs Goodyear UltraGrip 9+
In the 5 independent tests that ran both tires, the Hankook Winter i cept RS2 finished ahead 3 times and the UltraGrip 9+ twice. The Winter i cept RS2 was stronger in dry and wet, the UltraGrip 9+ in snow and value.
Performance profile
6 measurements from the 5 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Winter i cept RS2
UltraGrip 9+
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 95%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 11 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 RS2
UltraGrip 9+
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
UltraGrip 9+
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Winter i cept RS2 81% from 50 reviews and the UltraGrip 9+ 88% 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 RS2 | Gap | UltraGrip 9+ | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Winter i cept RS2 ahead | ||||
| Dry Braking ft | 151 | 4.5% | 158 | 2-0 |
| Dry Handling mph | 84.8 | 0.5% | 84.4 | 1-0 |
| Subj. Dry Handling pts | scored | = | scored | 0-0 |
| Wet Winter i cept RS2 ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking ft | 154 | 3.6% | 159 | 3-0 |
| Wet Handling mph | 45.4 | 1.8% | 44.6 | 1-0 |
| Subj. Wet Handling pts | scored | = | scored | 0-0 |
| Wet Circle s | 12.64 | 0.2% | 12.66 | 1-0 |
| Straight Aqua mph | 52.7 | 4.1% | 50.7 | 2-0 |
| Curved Aquaplaning ft/s² | 10.4 | 2.8% | 10.7 | 0-1 |
| Snow UltraGrip 9+ ahead | ||||
| Snow Braking ft | 90 | 1.5% | 89 | 1-2 |
| Snow Traction lbf | 561 | 0.8% | 565 | 0-2 |
| Snow Handling mph | 36 | 2.7% | 35 | 1-0 |
| Subj. Snow Handling pts | scored | 50% | scored | 0-1 |
| Comfort Level | ||||
| Subj. Comfort pts | scored | 11.1% | scored | 0-1 |
| Noise dB | 69.8 | 1.5 dB | 71.3 | 1-0 |
| Value UltraGrip 9+ ahead | ||||
| Wear miles | 20,443 | 11.2% | 22,742 | 0-1 |
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 9.26 | 10.8% | 8.26 | 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 5 tests, 2020 to 2021
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 | UltraGrip 9+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test | P6 of 20 | P7 of 20 | |
| 2021 Winter Tire Market Overview | P3 of 50 | P6 of 50 | |
| The Best Winter Tires for 2020 | P3 of 19 | P2 of 19 | |
| 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tire Test | P4 of 14 | P3 of 14 | |
| 2020 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 205/55 R16 | P4 of 15 | P8 of 15 |
Winter i cept RS2 vs UltraGrip 9+: your questions
Is the Hankook Winter i cept RS2 or the Goodyear UltraGrip 9+ the better tire?
In the 5 independent tests that ran both tires, the Hankook Winter i cept RS2 finished ahead 3 times and the UltraGrip 9+ twice. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Winter i cept RS2 scores 9 and the UltraGrip 9+ 9.4 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Winter i cept RS2 or the UltraGrip 9+?
The Winter i cept RS2 led 7 of the 9 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 3.6% shorter in the wet across 3 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Winter i cept RS2 led 3 of the 4 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 4.5% shorter in the dry across 2 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The UltraGrip 9+ led 5 of the 7 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 1.5% shorter on snow across 3 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The UltraGrip 9+ had 10.8% lower rolling resistance (2 tests). Owners rate wear 8.5/10 for the Winter i cept RS2 and 9.7/10 for the UltraGrip 9+.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 7.5/10 for the Winter i cept RS2 and 8.5/10 for the UltraGrip 9+.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Winter i cept RS2 81% from 50 reviews and the UltraGrip 9+ 88% from 6. 80% of Winter i cept RS2 owners would buy it again, against 100% for the UltraGrip 9+.
Which is more expensive?
In the 2 tests that listed prices, the UltraGrip 9+ was the dearer tire in 2 of them, by 8.6% 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 UltraGrip 9+ in 19 (14 to 16 inch). 17 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 UltraGrip 9+ B and C.
More comparisons with these tires
Every Hankook vs Goodyear test → All comparisons → Compare three or more tires →
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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.