Hankook Winter I cept RS3 vs Kumho Winter Craft WP52
- TR Score
- 8.8/10
- Owners say
- 77% · 28
- TR Score
- 8.3/10
- Owners say
- 68% · 9
In the 5 independent tests that ran both tires, the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 finished ahead 4 times and the Winter Craft WP52 once. The Winter I cept RS3 held 46.1% more grip in curved aquaplaning; the Winter Craft WP52 stopped 4.8% shorter in the dry.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose Hankook Winter i*cept RS3 for mixed winter climates, frequent rain, slush, and snow, where reserve safety and efficiency matter. Choose Kumho WinterCraft WP52 if you prioritize the shortest braking on cold, mostly dry or merely damp roads and want strong value-provided you're less exposed to heavy rain and deep water.
Where the Winter I cept RS3 is stronger
- Outstanding aquaplaning resistance (straight and curved) across all tests
- Consistently better snow performance (braking, traction, handling)
- Low rolling resistance, lower noise, and strong wear for long life
Where the Winter Craft WP52 is stronger
- Class-leading dry braking and often top-tier wet braking
- Sporty, responsive feel that suits dynamic driving
- Very strong predicted mileage and value in several tests
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 Winter Craft WP52 at a glance
| Category | Winter I cept RS3 | Gap | Winter Craft WP52 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won5 shared tests | 4 | 1 | |
| Dry6 measurements | 0 | The Winter Craft WP52 stopped 4.8% shorter in the dry (4 tests) | 6 |
| Wet18 measurements | 13 | The Winter I cept RS3 held 46.1% more grip in curved aquaplaning (4 tests) | 5 |
| Snow13 measurements | 13 | The Winter I cept RS3 stopped 3.9% shorter on snow (5 tests) | 0 |
| Ice2 measurements | 0 | The Winter Craft WP52 stopped 3.7% shorter on ice (2 tests) | 2 |
| Comfort3 measurements | 2 | 1 | |
| Value9 measurements | 5 | The Winter I cept RS3 had 8.3% lower rolling resistance (2 tests) | 4 |
| Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 8.8/10 | The Winter I cept RS3 by 0.5 | 8.3/10 |
| Owner rating28 and 9 reviews | 77% | The Winter I cept RS3 by 9 points | 68% |
| Would buy againshare of owners | 74% | The Winter I cept RS3 by 11 points | 63% |
| Pricein the 3 tests that listed prices | +16.4% | The Winter I cept RS3 was dearer in 3 of 3 | Cheaper |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 46 | 37 sizes made in both | 84 |
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 5 tests, 2022 to 2024
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 | Winter Craft WP52 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test | P6 of 20 | P15 of 20 | |
| 2024 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tire Test | P5 of 16 | P12 of 16 | |
| 2024 Winter 55 Tire Braking Test | P14 of 55 | P2 of 55 | |
| 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tire Test | P7 of 15 | P9 of 15 | |
| 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test | P7 of 20 | P17 of 20 |
Performance profile
16 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 RS3
Winter Craft 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. The scale stops at 85%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 2 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
Winter Craft 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
Winter Craft WP52
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Winter I cept RS3 77% from 28 reviews and the Winter Craft WP52 68% from 9. 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 | Winter Craft WP52 | Wins | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 147 | 4.8% | 140 | 0-4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 72.3 | 0.2% | 72.5 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 146 | 0.8% | 144 | 3-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 136 | 2.2% | 133 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 45.5 | 1.1% | 45 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 12.57 | 0.8% | 12.67 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 50.5 | 10.8% | 45.6 | 4-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 10.8 | 46.1% | 7.6 | 4-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 68 | 3.9% | 71 | 5-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 309 | 2.8% | 301 | 4-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 35.4 | 0.9% | 35.1 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 11.6 | 3.1% | 11.3 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 63 | 3.7% | 60 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 71.6 | 0.3 dB | 71.87 | 2-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 27,362 | 8.4% | 29,385 | 2-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 8.3 | 8.3% | 9.05 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 5.8 | 1.7% | 5.7 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 65.55 | 0.5% | 64.9 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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 Winter Craft WP52 8.3 out of 10.
| Winter I cept RS3 | Category | Winter Craft WP52 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | Dry | 93 | ||
| 93 | Wet | 68 | ||
| 36 | Comfort | 21 | ||
| 52 | Value | 72 | ||
| 75 | Snow | 38 | ||
| 33 | Ice | 56 | ||
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 | Winter Craft WP52 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.5 | Dry Grip | 7.7 | ||
| 8.3 | Wet Grip | 6.8 | ||
| 7.6 | Road Feedback | 6.9 | ||
| 8 | Handling | 7.1 | ||
| 7.6 | Wear | 6.8 | ||
| 6.7 | Comfort | 7.3 | ||
| 9 | Snow Grip | 7.3 | ||
| 7.7 | Ice Grip | 5.3 | ||
Owners rate the Winter I cept RS3 77% from 28 reviews and the Winter Craft WP52 68% from 9. 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
Kumho Winter Craft WP52
- 68%from 9 reviews
- 63%would buy again
- 97,000 milesdriven by reviewers
Drivers find the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 to deliver strong dry grip and handling with generally good snow traction, making it a solid value purchase. Wet performance is adequate but not standout, with several users noting longer wet braking distances or a vague feel. Noise can be higher than average for some, though overall comfort is acceptable. Overall sentiment is moderately positive with a few recurring caveats in the wet.
- dry grip and handling
- snow traction
- value for money
- average-to-weak wet braking/grip
- increased road noise
Summarised by AI from 6 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 9 Winter Craft WP52 reviewsThey were not at all suitable for my car, which has a diesel engine and higher torque. I drive mostly in the city, and they showed signs of fraying as early as the first winter. I experienced the same issue with Hankook tires in the past. For those who drive a more powerful car or one with high torque, I would recommend something that holds up better to conditions in cities with less snow.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tire: 46 sizes of the Winter I cept RS3 and 84 of the Winter Craft WP52, 37 of them made in both.
| Category | Winter I cept RS3 | Winter Craft WP52 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Winter | Winter |
| Sizes made | 46 sizes, 14 to 17 inch | 84 sizes, 13 to 21 inch |
| Made in both | 37 sizes 165/65 R14165/70 R14175/65 R14175/70 R14185/60 R14185/65 R14185/70 R14165/65 R15175/65 R15185/55 R15185/60 R15185/65 R15and 25 more | |
| EU label wet grip | B100% | B86%A14% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C58%D42% | C67%D30%B3% |
| EU label noise | 70-72 dB B100% | 71-72 dB B100% |
| Severe snow (3PMSF) sizes | 189 of 189 | 298 of 298 |
| Replaced | Hankook Winter i cept RS2 (2021) | Kumho Winter Craft WP51 |
| Price in the shared tests | The Winter I cept RS3 was the dearer tire in 3 of the 3 tests that listed prices, by 16.4% 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.
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.
Two closely matched premium-touring winter tires, the Hankook Winter i*cept RS3 and Kumho WinterCraft WP52, take notably different routes to performance. Across five shared tests from Auto Bild, ADAC and broader braking comparisons, the Hankook consistently places higher overall, while the Kumho frequently posts standout single-metric wins in dry and wet braking.
What emerges is a clear split: Kumho prioritizes short stopping on dry and often on wet asphalt with a sportier, reactive feel, whereas Hankook leans into all-weather security-especially class-leading aquaplaning resistance and dependable snow performance-wrapped in strong efficiency and longevity.
Conclusion
If your winter primarily means cold, damp motorways with heavy rain and frequent standing water, the Hankook RS3 is the safer, more rounded choice. It repeatedly dominates straight and curved aquaplaning, is consistently stronger on snow (braking, traction, handling), and adds low rolling resistance, lower noise, and excellent wear-evidenced by its Eco-Master recognition. Its main trade-off is a longer wet braking distance in some tests versus class leaders like Kumho.
Drivers who value the shortest asphalt stopping distances and a taut, sporty feel will gravitate to the Kumho WP52. It routinely tops dry braking and often wet braking, and it can deliver excellent projected mileage and value in some test years. However, reduced aquaplaning reserves and more variable wet handling margins make it less confidence-inspiring in heavy rain. Bottom line: Hankook for balanced safety and efficiency across real winter variability; Kumho for budget-savvy drivers prioritizing braking bite on clear, cold roads.
Winter I cept RS3 vs Winter Craft WP52: your questions
Is the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 or the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 the better tire?
In the 5 independent tests that ran both tires, the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 finished ahead 4 times and the Winter Craft WP52 once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Winter I cept RS3 scores 8.8 and the Winter Craft WP52 8.3 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Winter I cept RS3 or the Winter Craft WP52?
The Winter I cept RS3 led 13 of the 18 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it held 46.1% more grip in curved aquaplaning across 4 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Winter Craft WP52 led 6 of the 6 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 4.8% shorter in the dry across 4 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The Winter I cept RS3 led 13 of the 13 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 3.9% shorter on snow across 5 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Winter I cept RS3 had 8.3% lower rolling resistance (2 tests). Owners rate wear 7.6/10 for the Winter I cept RS3 and 6.8/10 for the Winter Craft WP52.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 6.7/10 for the Winter I cept RS3 and 7.3/10 for the Winter Craft WP52.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Winter I cept RS3 77% from 28 reviews and the Winter Craft WP52 68% from 9. 74% of Winter I cept RS3 owners would buy it again, against 63% for the Winter Craft WP52.
Which is more expensive?
In the 3 tests that listed prices, the Winter I cept RS3 was the dearer tire in 3 of them, by 16.4% 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 Winter Craft WP52 in 84 (13 to 21 inch). 37 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 Winter Craft WP52 B and C.
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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.
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