Hankook Winter I cept RS3 vs Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3
- TR Score
- 8.8/10
- Owners say
- 77% · 28
- TR Score
- 9.2/10
- Owners say
- 77% · 5
In the 4 independent tests that ran both tires, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 finished ahead 4 times and the Winter I cept RS3 not once. The Winter I cept RS3 had 1% lower rolling resistance; the Cinturato Winter 3 stopped 3.1% shorter in the dry.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 if you want the best all-round winter tire for predominantly wet, cold roads with strong dry braking-its repeated test wins and consistent braking/handling edge make it the safer, more confidence-inspiring pick. Choose the Hankook Winter i*cept RS3 if budget and running costs are a priority and you still want solid winter ability with occasional standout aquaplaning/snow results-just accept that it typically gives up braking and wet-grip performance to the top tires.
Where the Winter I cept RS3 is stronger
- Strong value proposition in multiple datasets (e.g., AvD value 9.62 vs 12.68 price/1000; ADAC value 3.09 vs 3.46)
- Aquaplaning resilience can be a standout, including best straight-aquaplaning speed in the 205/55 R17 test (90.8 km/h) and strong ratings in AvD commentary
- Capable on snow and easy to control; particularly strong in Auto Express snow disciplines (best snow braking and traction, joint-best snow handling time)
Where the Cinturato Winter 3 is stronger
- Consistently top overall results (4/4 higher overall positions; wins AvD and ADAC outright and earns “highly recommended” in the 205/55 R17 test)
- Best-in-comparison dry braking across all four tests (e.g., 41.7 m vs 43.8 m in AvD; 44.4 m vs 45.3 m in ADAC)
- Wet-road strength is the defining advantage: repeatedly shorter wet braking and faster wet handling (e.g., AvD 46.1 m vs 48.8 m wet braking; 107.75 s vs 110.03 s wet handling in 205/55 R17)
The bullet points are analysis of the shared tests and of owner reviews; the measured wins in each discipline are in the tables below. Where the two disagree, the figures are right.
Winter I cept RS3 vs Cinturato Winter 3 at a glance
| Category | Winter I cept RS3 | Gap | Cinturato Winter 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won4 shared tests | 0 | 4 | |
| Dry6 measurements | 1 | The Cinturato Winter 3 stopped 3.1% shorter in the dry (4 tests) | 5 |
| Wet13 measurements | 2 | The Cinturato Winter 3 stopped 2.6% shorter in the wet (4 tests) | 11 |
| Snow10 measurements | 3 | 6 | |
| Ice1 measurement | 0 | 1 | |
| Comfort5 measurements | 0 | The Cinturato Winter 3 was 1.5 dB quieter (3 tests) | 3 |
| Value7 measurements | 4 | The Winter I cept RS3 had 1% lower rolling resistance (3 tests) | 3 |
| Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 8.8/10 | The Cinturato Winter 3 by 0.4 | 9.2/10 |
| Owner rating28 and 5 reviews | 77% | Too close to call | 77% |
| Would buy againshare of owners | 74% | The Winter I cept RS3 by 14 points | 60% |
| Pricein the 4 tests that listed prices | Cheaper | The Cinturato Winter 3 was dearer in 4 of 4 | +20% |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 46 | 12 sizes made in both | 36 |
Wins count every measurement the shared tests recorded for both tires; a tick marks the tire ahead on that line. Subjective driver scores count as wins but are never averaged, because each test uses its own scale.
Head to head in 4 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 | Cinturato Winter 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| The BEST Winter Tires for 2026/27 | P7 of 9 | P3 of 9 | |
| 2026 AvD Winter Tire Test | P7 of 15 | P1 of 15 | |
| 2026 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 225/50 R17 | P6 of 16 | P1 of 16 | |
| 2026 Auto Express Winter Tire Test | P3 of 11 | P2 of 11 |
Performance profile
11 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 RS3
Cinturato Winter 3
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. 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 RS3
Cinturato Winter 3
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
Cinturato Winter 3
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Winter I cept RS3 77% from 28 reviews and the Cinturato Winter 3 77% from 5. 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. Open a discipline for its measurements, and a measurement for every test's figure.
| Measurement | Winter I cept RS3 | Gap | Cinturato Winter 3 | Wins | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 144 | 3.1% | 139 | 0-4 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 57.41 | 0.8% | 57.88 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 8.6% | scored | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 122 | 2.6% | 118 | 1-3 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 132 | 4.2% | 126 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 99.61 | 2% | 97.63 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 12.46 | 2.3% | 12.17 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 52.5 | 2.1% | 53.5 | 1-2 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 10.5 | 3.8% | 10.9 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 56 | 0.2% | 56 | 1-3 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 5.64 | 0.9% | 5.7 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 566 | 3.2% | 584 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 82.27 | 0.2% | 82.11 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 2.4% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 61 | 2.2% | 59 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| scored | = | scored | 0-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| scored | = | scored | 0-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 66.49 | 1.5 dB | 64.95 | 0-3 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 26,477 | 2.8% | 27,114 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 8.3 | 1% | 8.38 | 2-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 5.6 | 1.8% | 5.5 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 72 | 10% | 80 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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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. "Scored" rows are subjective driver ratings: each test uses its own scale, so only the wins are counted.
Scores beyond the shared tests
On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Winter I cept RS3 scores 8.8 and the Cinturato Winter 3 9.2 out of 10.
| Winter I cept RS3 | Category | Cinturato Winter 3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | Dry | 90 | ||
| 93 | Wet | 100 | ||
| 36 | Comfort | 69 | ||
| 52 | Value | 44 | ||
| 75 | Snow | 72 | ||
| 33 | Ice | 40 | ||
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.
What owners say
| Winter I cept RS3 | Category | Cinturato Winter 3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.5 | Dry Grip | 8.6 | ||
| 8.3 | Wet Grip | 8.8 | ||
| 7.6 | Road Feedback | 7 | ||
| 8 | Handling | 7.6 | ||
| 7.6 | Wear | 8.5 | ||
| 6.7 | Comfort | 6.4 | ||
| 9 | Snow Grip | 9.5 | ||
| 7.7 | Ice Grip | 9 | ||
Owners rate the Winter I cept RS3 77% from 28 reviews and the Cinturato Winter 3 77% from 5. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Hankook Winter I cept RS3
- 77%from 28 reviews
- 74%would buy again
- 156,320 milesdriven by reviewers
Owners generally rate the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 as a capable winter tire with strong real-world grip, particularly in snow and wet conditions, backed up by solid dry grip and handling for a winter pattern. Around two in five owners specifically praise snow traction and wet grip, and a smaller but meaningful group also mention confident aquaplaning resistance and wet handling. The standout drawback is road noise: nearly two thirds of owners mention it and most of those are unhappy, often describing it as noticeably loud at speed. A smaller group also report softer, less responsive steering feel, with mixed feedback on tread life.
- Strong snow traction and confidence in winter conditions
- Reassuring wet grip
- Very good dry grip for a winter tire
- Secure wet handling
- Noticeably loud road noise, especially at speed
- Steering feels soft / less responsive
- Mixed or disappointing tread life
Summarised by AI from 25 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 28 Winter I cept RS3 reviewsI drove some 13000 km with them, once they got 3 years old dry rot cracks were already visible in the tread area around the tread blocks, my winter tires before them were Continental TS850 replaced at 10 years old, gave them away to my father, they were made in 2012, still no dry rot cracks in them at 14 years old, but they aren't as grippy as my new Hankooks. However, Continental is a premium class, Hankooks are middle and now I can see why.
What I misjudged about Hankooks is noise above some 95 km/h, it's more the engine getting more noisy similar noise to the tires humming excessively, once I distinguished that, I can say these Hankooks aren't noisy at all. However, dry rot at just 3 years old is not what I like, I almost wish I paid 80 euros per tire for premium class instead 60 for these Hankooks, they surely aren't going to last me 10 years due to dry rot. But for now, they do their job well, if you wear out tires within a few years, they are good tires
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3
- 77%from 5 reviews
- 60%would buy again
- 11,000 milesdriven by reviewers
Drivers generally rate the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 positively, highlighting strong winter capability and a confident, planted feel in snow/ice as well as reassuring grip in wet conditions. Several also note good overall handling and comfort, with some reporting impressive quietness at lower speeds (especially with PNCS). The most consistent drawback is increased road noise as speeds rise (around 100-110 km/h and above), and a couple of users report higher energy consumption on EVs versus summer tires.
- Strong snow and ice traction
- Confident grip and stability in wet conditions
- Good dry-road handling for a winter tire
- Comfortable ride and generally refined feel (noted by multiple users)
- Noticeable road noise at higher speeds (around 100-110 km/h and above)
- Higher energy consumption/rolling resistance versus summer tires (reported on EVs)
Summarised by AI from 5 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 5 Cinturato Winter 3 reviewsCompared to the previous tire (Michelin Alpin 6), the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 offers more grip on snow.
I haven’t yet reached the limit in dry or wet conditions to provide an objective evaluation in those scenarios, but I notice that as lateral forces increase, the steering loses precision, accompanied by a clearly noticeable noise, typical of a winter tire “working”.
I believe this is due to the relatively narrow tread blocks. The car has also become more sensitive to crosswinds, as well as to road camber.
It is a safe tire, but not a particularly fun or precise one.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tire: 46 sizes of the Winter I cept RS3 and 36 of the Cinturato Winter 3, 12 of them made in both.
| Category | Winter I cept RS3 | Cinturato Winter 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Winter | Winter |
| Sizes made | 46 sizes, 14 to 17 inch | 36 sizes, 16 to 20 inch |
| Made in both | 12 sizes 195/55 R16205/55 R16205/60 R16215/60 R16215/65 R16205/50 R17205/55 R17215/50 R17215/55 R17225/45 R17225/50 R17225/55 R17 | |
| EU label wet grip | B100% | A58%B42% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C58%D42% | C61%B39% |
| EU label noise | 70-72 dB B100% | 72 dB B100% |
| Severe snow (3PMSF) sizes | 189 of 189 | 36 of 36 |
| On the market since | - | 2025 |
| Replaced | Hankook Winter i cept RS2 (2021) | Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 (2021) |
| Price in the shared tests | The Cinturato Winter 3 was the dearer tire in 4 of the 4 tests that listed prices, by 20% on average. Each test priced the tires in its own market at the time; only the gap is comparable. | |
Label grades are shown as the share of registered sizes carrying each grade, so "B (88%), C (12%)" means most sizes are B. Grades vary by size; check the label for yours.
Previous generation: Hankook Winter I cept RS3 vs Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 (10 shared tests)
Reading the results
Written from the test results and owner reviews above. It is analysis, not a measurement: where it and the tables disagree, the tables are right.
Hankook's Winter i*cept RS3 and Pirelli's Cinturato Winter 3 sit in the same “premium touring winter” space, but the shared 2026 test data shows they reach that goal with different priorities. Across four independent group tests (sizes from 205/55 R16 to 225/50 R17), the Pirelli is repeatedly positioned as a front-runner or outright winner, while the Hankook tends to land mid-pack overall despite having a few standout traits.
The key story is balance versus value. The Cinturato Winter 3 consistently delivers class-leading wet-road security and strong dry braking/handling-exactly the conditions many drivers experience most in modern European winters. The Winter i*cept RS3 counters with pockets of excellence (notably certain aquaplaning and snow results) plus stronger cost-per-km logic in multiple datasets, making it attractive if you're optimizing for budget and specific winter pain points like standing water.
Conclusion
Taken as a pattern across the four shared tests, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 is the more complete, confidence-inspiring winter tire. It goes 4/4 on overall test position versus the Hankook, including outright wins in both the 2026 AvD test (1/15 vs 7/15) and the 2026 ADAC test (1/16 vs 6/16). The performance differences that matter most day-to-day show up repeatedly in braking and wet control: Pirelli wins dry braking in all four shared tests (e.g., 41.7 m vs 43.8 m in AvD; 39.89 m vs 41.51 m in the 205/55 R17 test) and is typically ahead in wet braking and wet handling too.
The Hankook Winter i*cept RS3 is best viewed as a smart “value-premium” pick rather than a class leader. It can be excellent in specific areas-strong straight-line aquaplaning in one test (90.8 km/h vs 87.8 km/h) and very strong snow performance in Auto Express where it led snow braking and traction (18.7 m vs 19.26 m; 6.03 s vs 6.19 s). It also tends to score well on ownership economics: better value metrics in AvD (9.62 vs 12.68 price/1000) and ADAC (3.09 vs 3.46), and it often posts slightly lower rolling resistance. The practical takeaway: if you want the safest, most consistently high-grip tire across wet/dry with “does everything well” winter capability, choose Pirelli; if you want a cheaper-to-run tire with strong aquaplaning protection and credible snow ability (accepting some compromises in outright braking and refinement), the Hankook makes sense.
Winter I cept RS3 vs Cinturato Winter 3: your questions
Is the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 or the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 the better tire?
In the 4 independent tests that ran both tires, the Pirelli Cinturato Winter 3 finished ahead 4 times and the Winter I cept RS3 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 Cinturato Winter 3 9.2 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Winter I cept RS3 or the Cinturato Winter 3?
The Cinturato Winter 3 led 11 of the 13 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 2.6% shorter in the wet across 4 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Cinturato Winter 3 led 5 of the 6 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 3.1% shorter in the dry across 4 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The Cinturato Winter 3 led 6 of the 10 snow measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Winter I cept RS3 had 1% lower rolling resistance (3 tests). Owners rate wear 7.6/10 for the Winter I cept RS3 and 8.5/10 for the Cinturato Winter 3.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
The Cinturato Winter 3 was 1.5 dB quieter (3 tests). Owners rate comfort 6.7/10 for the Winter I cept RS3 and 6.4/10 for the Cinturato Winter 3.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Winter I cept RS3 77% from 28 reviews and the Cinturato Winter 3 77% from 5. 74% of Winter I cept RS3 owners would buy it again, against 60% for the Cinturato Winter 3.
Which is more expensive?
In the 4 tests that listed prices, the Cinturato Winter 3 was the dearer tire in 4 of them, by 20% 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 Cinturato Winter 3 in 36 (16 to 20 inch). 12 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 Cinturato Winter 3 A and C.
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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.
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