Hankook Winter i cept RS2 vs Kumho WinterCraft WP71
Ahead in each discipline
The Hankook Winter i cept RS2 and the Kumho WinterCraft WP71 have met in 4 independent tests and the record is level at 2-2. The Winter i cept RS2 was stronger in dry and value, the WinterCraft WP71 in wet, snow and 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
WinterCraft WP71
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
WinterCraft WP71
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
WinterCraft WP71
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Winter i cept RS2 81% from 50 reviews and the WinterCraft WP71 58% from 17. 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 | WinterCraft WP71 | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Winter i cept RS2 ahead | ||||
| Dry Braking ft | 148 | 0.9% | 149 | 1-0 |
| Dry Handling mph | 50.8 | 2.1% | 49.8 | 1-0 |
| Wet WinterCraft WP71 ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking ft | 105 | 1.6% | 103 | 0-2 |
| Wet Handling mph | 44.6 | 1.1% | 45 | 0-1 |
| Straight Aqua mph | 43.6 | 3% | 44.9 | 0-1 |
| Snow WinterCraft WP71 ahead | ||||
| Snow Braking ft | 82 | 0.4% | 81 | 0-2 |
| Snow Handling mph | 48.7 | 2.8% | 47.4 | 1-0 |
| Comfort WinterCraft WP71 ahead | ||||
| Noise dB | 74.1 | 4.3 dB | 69.8 | 0-1 |
| Value Winter i cept RS2 ahead | ||||
| Wear miles | 25,986 | 18.6% | 21,910 | 1-0 |
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 9.29 | 7% | 9.99 | 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 4 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 | Winter i cept RS2 | Field | WinterCraft WP71 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tire Test | P9 of 20 | P20 of 20 | |
| 2019 Winter Tire Test Market Overview | P12 of 53 | P10 of 53 | |
| 2017 50 Winter Tire Shoot Out | P20 of 50 | P16 of 50 | |
| 2016 AZ Winter Tire Test - 205/55 R16 | P8 of 14 | P11 of 14 |
Winter i cept RS2 vs WinterCraft WP71: your questions
Is the Hankook Winter i cept RS2 or the Kumho WinterCraft WP71 the better tire?
The Hankook Winter i cept RS2 and the Kumho WinterCraft WP71 have met in 4 independent tests and the record is level at 2-2. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Winter i cept RS2 scores 9 and the WinterCraft WP71 7.2 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Winter i cept RS2 or the WinterCraft WP71?
The WinterCraft WP71 led 4 of the 4 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 1.6% shorter in the wet across 2 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Winter i cept RS2 led 2 of the 2 dry measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is better in snow?
The WinterCraft WP71 led 2 of the 3 snow measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 7.5/10 for the Winter i cept RS2 and 5.1/10 for the WinterCraft WP71.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Winter i cept RS2 81% from 50 reviews and the WinterCraft WP71 58% from 17. 80% of Winter i cept RS2 owners would buy it again, against 35% for the WinterCraft WP71.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Winter i cept RS2 is made in 43 sizes (13 to 17 inch) and the WinterCraft WP71 in 68 (15 to 22 inch). 1 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 WinterCraft WP71 C and D.
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.