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Hankook Winter I cept RS3 Test Results

Tire Reviews tests: 2 Tested 2022 to 2026 8 publications

Tested 17 times by independent publications, the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 averages a finish of 6th. Its strongest discipline is Straight Aqua, beating 89% of the field across 15 tests; its weakest is Dry Braking, at 31% across 16 tests.

  • 17Independent tests
  • 0Test wins
  • 4Podium finishes
  • 6thAverage finish
  • 63%Field beaten on average
  • 8Publications
Hankook Winter I cept RS3

17 tests, 2022 to 2026

0%50%100%20222023202420252026Average 63%2022/23 Tire Reviews Winter Tire Test (2022): P3 of 9, Beat 75% of the field2022 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test (2022): P7 of 20, Beat 68% of the field2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tire Test (2023): P7 of 15, Beat 57% of the field2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tire Test (2023): P5 of 16, Beat 73% of the field2024 Winter 55 Tire Braking Test (2024): P14 of 55, Beat 76% of the field2024 ADAC 16 Inch Winter Tire Test (2024): P4 of 12, Beat 73% of the field2024 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tire Test (2024): P5 of 16, Beat 73% of the field2024 All Season and Winter Tire Test (2024): P5 of 10, Beat 22% of the field2024 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test (2024): P6 of 20, Beat 74% of the field2024 Auto Express Winter Tire Test (2024): P3 of 7, Beat 67% of the field2025 AMS Winter Tire Test (2025): P4 of 10, Beat 67% of the field2026 Auto Express Winter Tire Test (2026): P3 of 11, Beat 80% of the field2026 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 185/65 R15 (2026): P3 of 16, Beat 80% of the field2026 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 225/50 R17 (2026): P6 of 16, Beat 60% of the field2026 AvD Winter Tire Test (2026): P7 of 15, Beat 57% of the field2026 Sport Auto Winter Tire Test (2026): P6 of 9, Beat 38% of the fieldThe BEST Winter Tires for 2026/27 (2026): P7 of 9, Beat 25% of the field
Share of the field beaten in each test, oldest to newest. Hover or tap a point for the test.
  • Test win
  • Second
  • Third
  • Average 63%
The latest test

The BEST Winter Tires for 2026/27 P7 of 9

The Hankook Winter I cept RS3 finishes seventh. Its overall level of performance is similar to the Vredestein, but with some of the harsher edges rounded off, and I like it: it is easy to drive in the snow and excellent in deep water. It does need a little more dry and wet braking to get right at the front of this group, and it was the loudest tire in the cabin, which might put some people off. Consider it if deep standing water is a regular part of your winter and you can live with some road noise.

Strong: Straight Aqua, Subj. Noise Weak: Wet Handling, Snow Braking, Noise Winner: Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3

Record by discipline

Where the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 finished in each measured discipline, across every test that measured it against at least two other tires. Field beaten is the share of the other tires it outranked in that measurement.

Discipline Tests Avg finish Field beaten Firsts
Dry
Dry Braking Weak 16 P9.8 of 13.9 31% -
Dry Handling 8 P6 of 13.6 55% -
Subj. Dry Handling 5 P6 of 9.8 44% 1
Wet
Wet Braking 17 P7.6 of 16.4 55% 1
Wet Braking - Concrete 5 P7.8 of 15.2 51% -
Wet Handling 9 P5.9 of 13 55% -
Subj. Wet Handling 4 P4.3 of 10 61% 1
Wet Circle 6 P8.8 of 14.5 44% -
Straight Aqua Strong 15 P2.4 of 13.9 89% 7
Curved Aquaplaning 12 P3.4 of 14.8 82% 4
Snow
Snow Braking 17 P5.2 of 15.1 67% 5
Snow Traction 14 P7.1 of 14.1 53% 1
Snow Handling 9 P4.2 of 12.8 71% 1
Subj. Snow Handling 5 P3.6 of 9.8 69% 2
Snow Circle 2 P7.5 of 10 28% -
Snow Slalom 3 P3.7 of 18 80% 1
Ice
Ice Braking 6 P9.3 of 15.2 42% -
Comfort
Subj. Comfort 5 P4 of 9.8 68% 1
Subj. Noise 1 P1 of 9 100% 1
Noise 13 P8.6 of 13.8 38% -
Value
Wear 9 P9 of 16.2 48% -
Value 6 P8.8 of 16.8 49% -
Rolling Resistance 10 P7.3 of 12.9 43% -
Fuel Consumption 5 P8.4 of 15 50% 1
Abrasion 6 P6.5 of 15.2 63% 1

Head-to-head record

Overall finishing position against the tires that have most often shared a test with the Hankook Winter I cept RS3. Only tires tested alongside it at least three times are listed.

Rival Shared tests Ahead Behind Level Finished ahead
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3 13 shared: 2 ahead, 11 behind Compare with UltraGrip Performance 3 13 2 11 - 15%
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 10 shared: 7 ahead, 3 behind Compare with Cinturato Winter 2 10 7 3 - 70%
Continental WinterContact TS 870 10 shared: 0 ahead, 10 behind Compare with WinterContact TS 870 10 0 10 - 0%
Michelin Alpin 6 8 shared: 2 ahead, 6 behind Compare with Alpin 6 8 2 6 - 25%
Bridgestone Blizzak 6 8 shared: 2 ahead, 6 behind Compare with Blizzak 6 8 2 6 - 25%
Falken EUROWINTER HS02 7 shared: 7 ahead, 0 behind Compare with EUROWINTER HS02 7 7 0 - 100%
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 7 shared: 2 ahead, 5 behind Compare with Winter Sport 5 7 2 5 - 29%
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P 7 shared: 2 ahead, 5 behind Compare with WinterContact TS 870 P 7 2 5 - 29%
Michelin Alpin 7 7 shared: 1 ahead, 6 behind Compare with Alpin 7 7 1 6 - 14%
Kleber Krisalp HP3 6 shared: 6 ahead, 0 behind Compare with Krisalp HP3 6 6 0 - 100%
Vredestein Wintrac 6 shared: 6 ahead, 0 behind Compare with Wintrac 6 6 0 - 100%
Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 6 shared: 3 ahead, 3 behind 6 3 3 - 50%
Semperit Speed Grip 5 6 shared: 2 ahead, 4 behind Compare with Speed Grip 5 6 2 4 - 33%
Giti GitiWinterW2 5 shared: 4 ahead, 1 behind 5 4 1 - 80%
Linglong Sport Master Winter 5 shared: 4 ahead, 0 behind Compare with Sport Master Winter 5 4 0 1 100%
Kumho Winter Craft WP52 5 shared: 4 ahead, 1 behind Compare with Winter Craft WP52 5 4 1 - 80%
Firestone Winterhawk 4 5 shared: 4 ahead, 1 behind Compare with Winterhawk 4 5 4 1 - 80%
Vredestein Wintrac Pro 5 shared: 3 ahead, 2 behind 5 3 2 - 60%
Yokohama BluEarth Winter V906 4 shared: 4 ahead, 0 behind 4 4 0 - 100%
Fulda Kristall Control HP2 4 shared: 4 ahead, 0 behind 4 4 0 - 100%

Against its own line

The same record for the tire it replaced and the tire that replaced it.

Tire Tests Wins Avg finish Field beaten
Hankook Winter i cept RS2 Predecessor 26 0 7th 63%
Hankook Winter I cept RS3 This tire 17 0 6th 63%

Performance Analysis

Drawn from 18 tests. Updated October 6, 2026.

Across 18 independent tests, the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 most consistently stands out for water safety, regularly topping aquaplaning disciplines and being explicitly singled out by testers (e.g. “best aquaplaning protection in the test”). That strength is backed by repeated 1st places in straight and/or curved aquaplaning: 1/9 straight aquaplaning in the 2026 Tire Reviews winter test, 1/10 straight + 1/10 curved in the 2025 AMS test, 1/23 straight + 1/23 curved in the 2024 Auto Bild full winter test, plus 1/16 straight + 1/16 curved in the 2024 ADAC 17" test. When conditions turn wintry it is often very competitive too, taking outright snow-braking wins in several major tests (e.g. 1/13 in 2026 Auto Express; 1/10 in 2025 AMS; 1/23 in 2024 Auto Bild). Overall results tend to land in the upper mid-field to near-podium (average overall position 5.9; including multiple 3rd places and a “Highly recommended” award in the 2022/23 Tire Reviews winter test), and several write-ups also highlight its economic case via wear/efficiency (e.g. 2/20 wear and 3/20 rolling resistance in Auto Bild 2024, plus “Eco-Master” award).

The recurring limitation is braking performance on cleared roads, especially dry braking, which is frequently in the lower half of the class (e.g. 8/9 in 2026 sport auto, +7% from best; 17/23 in Auto Bild 2024, +17.1%). Wet braking is more variable: it can be strong (1/15 in ADAC 17" 2023; 4/16 in ADAC 225/50 R17 2026) but also shows notable off-days (e.g. 20/23 in Auto Bild 2024, +11.7%; and 10/10 in Auto Zeitung 2024, +9.8%). Several testers also mention steering/limit behavior quirks on dry or wet roads (elastic feel, steering corrections, oversteer on quick lane changes), and refinement is inconsistent, with some tests finding it loud in-cabin (e.g. “loudest tire in the cabin” in Tire Reviews 2026; 11/13 noise rank in Auto Express 2026).

Performance Strengths

Performance Weaknesses

Do owners agree with the tests?

Every tester write-up on the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 (13 tests) and 25 owner reviews were tagged for the aspects they judge. Where both have spoken, this is how they line up.

Where owners and testers agree

  • Aquaplaning resistance strength in 11 of 13 tests 5 praise, 0 criticise of 25 reviews · Read those reviews
  • Wet grip strength in 4 of 13 tests 9 praise, 2 criticise of 25 reviews · Read those reviews
  • Wet handling strength in 5 of 13 tests 5 praise, 0 criticise of 25 reviews · Read those reviews
  • Dry handling strength in 3 of 13 tests 6 praise, 0 criticise of 25 reviews · Read those reviews
  • Value for money strength in 1 of 13 tests 4 praise, 0 criticise of 25 reviews · Read those reviews

Flagged by testers, not mentioned by owners

  • Snow braking strength in 5 of 13 tests no owner mentions it

Every test, newest first 17

Strong = top two of the field in that measurement. Weak = bottom two.

2026 6 tests
P7 of 9 Beat 25% of the field

The BEST Winter Tires for 2026/27

Tire Reviews 205/55 R17 Tested by Tire Reviews

The Hankook Winter I cept RS3 finishes seventh. Its overall level of performance is similar to the Vredestein, but with some of the harsher edges rounded off, and I like it: it is easy to drive in the snow and excellent in deep water. It does need a little more dry and wet braking to get right at the front of this group, and it was the loudest tire in the cabin, which might put some people off. Consider it if deep standing water is a regular part of your winter and you can live with some road noise.

StrongStraight AquaSubj. Noise WeakWet HandlingSnow BrakingNoise WinnerGoodyear UltraGrip Performance 3

P6 of 9 Beat 38% of the field

2026 Sport Auto Winter Tire Test

Sport Auto 205/45 R17 gut (Good)

The Hankook Winter i*Cept RS3 finished sixth overall with a good rating, and it is the cheapest tire in the test to earn that grade. It is comfortable, quiet and genuinely secure in standing water, so for a driver whose winter is wet rather than white it makes a sensible case at the price. Anyone who needs to pull away on packed snow should look elsewhere, and its record in other tests points the same way.

StrongStraight AquaCurved AquaplaningSubj. Comfort WeakDry BrakingSnow Traction WinnerContinental WinterContact TS 870 P

P7 of 15 Beat 57% of the field

2026 AvD Winter Tire Test

AvD 225/45 R17 gut (Good)

The Hankook Winter i*cept RS3 finished seventh and is rated good. Its long tread life, low rolling resistance and good aquaplaning protection make it a sensible, economical choice, but it does not match the leading tires for braking or dry grip.

WinnerPirelli Cinturato Winter 3

P6 of 16 Beat 60% of the field

2026 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 225/50 R17

ADAC 225/50 R17

The Hankook Winter i*cept RS3 finished joint sixth overall. It is a safe, precise tire on dry and wet roads, but slight weaknesses on winter surfaces and a below-average tread life projection kept it to a satisfactory rating.

WinnerPirelli Cinturato Winter 3

P3 of 16 Beat 80% of the field

2026 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 185/65 R15

ADAC 185/65 R15

The Hankook Winter i*cept RS3 shares third place and is a sound choice for drivers who mostly face wet roads. Its dry handling and short tread life keep it out of the top two.

WeakWearFuel Consumption WinnerContinental WinterContact TS 870

P3 of 11 Beat 80% of the field

2026 Auto Express Winter Tire Test

Auto Express 205/55 R16

The Hankook Winter i*cept RS3 took third and is the pick of the field if snow matters most, pairing the best snow braking with solid wet and dry results. Refinement and economy are what hold it back.

StrongStraight AquaSnow BrakingSnow TractionSnow Handling WinnerContinental WinterContact TS 870

2025 1 test
P4 of 10 Beat 67% of the field

2025 AMS Winter Tire Test

Auto Motor Und Sport 215/55 R17

The Hankook i*cept RS3 delivers the shortest braking distances on snow and provides confident cornering on wet surfaces with the best aquaplaning protection in the test. It offers very precise, almost summer-tire-like driving characteristics with pronounced reserves in dry corners. However, the tire exhibits strong and confidence-reducing understeer on snow, and can be nervous and sensitive to load changes on wet surfaces. In dry conditions, while the reserves are excellent, braking distances are somewhat longer than the leaders. The tire can also feel harsh over cross joints. Despite these handling quirks, it represents good value and delivers secure all-around performance, making it a solid choice for those seeking the most performance for their money.

StrongSubj. Dry HandlingWet CircleStraight AquaCurved AquaplaningSnow Braking WeakRolling Resistance WinnerContinental WinterContact TS 870 P

2024 6 tests
P3 of 7 Beat 67% of the field

2024 Auto Express Winter Tire Test

Auto Express 205/55 R16

The Hankook earned third place with strong snow performance and solid wet results. It was fastest around the snow circuit, showing good initial grip and strong traction. Snow handling revealed effective adjustability, backed by second place in braking and third in traction tests. The tire led both straight and curved aquaplaning tests by a clear margin. In other wet tests, it placed third on the wet circle and fourth in braking, just one meter behind the best. Wet handling tests placed it fourth, where it showed predictable behavior but less initial grip than the top performers. Dry testing was its weakest area - the tire needed 8ft more stopping distance than the best and placed fifth in handling, though only half a second off the fastest time. The Hankook showed good stability on initial laps but became less stable with repeated use. Low rolling resistance added to its overall package.

WinnerContinental WinterContact TS 870

P6 of 20 Beat 74% of the field

2024 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test

Auto Bild 205/55 R16

The Hankook Winter i*cept RS3 offers a compelling mix of performance and value. It provides sporty, direct handling in all weather conditions and particularly excels in aquaplaning resistance. With outstanding mileage and a fair price, it's an attractive option for budget-conscious drivers. However, its slightly extended wet braking distance is a point to consider. Notably, it won the "Eco-Master" award, indicating excellent environmental and economic performance.

StrongStraight AquaCurved AquaplaningSnow BrakingSnow SlalomWearValue WinnerContinental WinterContact TS 870

P5 of 10 Beat 22% of the field

2024 All Season and Winter Tire Test

Auto Zeitung 215/55 R17

The Hankook Winter icept RS3 W462 has a firm ride on uneven roads in dry conditions. Its rolling resistance and braking performance are acceptable but are not the best in this test. While offering excellent protection against aquaplaning in wet conditions, it has the longest braking distance. It requires larger steering inputs when cornering. On snow, it delivers a decent performance, with good grip but less clear feedback near its grip limits. Although the Hankook Winter icept RS3 W462 performs well on snow, its long braking distances on wet and dry surfaces prevent it from ranking higher.

StrongStraight AquaSnow Braking WeakDry BrakingWet BrakingWet HandlingWet CircleSnow TractionSnow CircleRolling Resistance WinnerBridgestone Blizzak LM005

P5 of 16 Beat 73% of the field

2024 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tire Test

ADAC 215/55 R17

The Hankook Winter i*cept RS3 receives a satisfactory rating for driving safety, with good performance on wet and wintery roads but falling short on dry surfaces. It lacks precision and feedback on dry roads, requiring steering corrections and exhibiting a tendency to oversteer. However, it performs well on wet and snowy surfaces with good braking and handling. It also has good environmental performance with a long lifespan, low abrasion, and good fuel efficiency, though manufacturing residues on new tires are a negative point.

StrongStraight AquaCurved Aquaplaning WinnerGoodyear UltraGrip Performance 3

P4 of 12 Beat 73% of the field

2024 ADAC 16 Inch Winter Tire Test

ADAC 205/55 R16

The Hankook Winter icept RS3 tire shows mixed performance across different driving conditions. On dry roads, it offers good steering feedback, precise handling, and good safety reserves during sudden evasive maneuvers, though its braking distance is slightly longer than average. Its performance on wet roads is less impressive, barely missing a good rating. While it handles aquaplaning well, it struggles with wet braking and handling, showing weak grip and a tendency to oversteer. The tire performs well on winter roads, with above-average braking and acceleration on snow, and safe, precise handling on snowy courses. Ice braking performance is average. Environmentally, the tire scores well with above-average mileage, very low wear, light weight, and low fuel consumption. However, it's noted that production residues on new tires unnecessarily end up in nature during the first few kilometers of use. Overall, the Hankook Winter icept RS3 excels in dry and winter conditions but has room for improvement on wet surfaces.

StrongStraight AquaCurved AquaplaningWearFuel ConsumptionAbrasion WinnerContinental WinterContact TS 870

2023 2 tests
P5 of 16 Beat 73% of the field

2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tire Test

ADAC 205/60 R16

The Hankook Winter i*cept RS3 shows minor deficiencies in steering precision and feedback on dry roads but earns a good overall rating due to its safety reserves in sudden evasive maneuvers and braking performance rated as "still good." On wet roads, the tire performs well in braking, longitudinal aquaplaning, and handling, but falls short in lateral aquaplaning with a satisfactory rating. On winter roads, it ranks second-best in the test, excelling in braking and acceleration, and offering secure and precise handling on snow. Its ice braking performance is also above average. Environmentally, the tire misses a good rating due to its below-average projected lifespan, although its wear and efficiency are rated as good.

StrongSnow Braking WinnerDunlop Winter Sport 5

P7 of 15 Beat 57% of the field

2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tire Test

ADAC 225/45 R17

The Hankook Winter i*cept RS3 tire exhibits minor weaknesses on dry roads, particularly in steering precision and driving safety, with a tendency to oversteer during sudden maneuvers. However, its braking distance is rated as good. On wet roads, the tire performs well across all metrics, including precise handling and good safety reserves. It also ranks third in winter road performance, excelling in braking and acceleration on snow and offering precise and safe handling. Its ice braking performance is average. Environmentally, the tire scores well with good predicted mileage and wear. Its efficiency is also commendable due to its low weight and fuel consumption.

StrongWet BrakingStraight AquaSnow Braking WinnerContinental WinterContact TS 870

2022 2 tests
P3 of 9 Beat 75% of the field

2022/23 Tire Reviews Winter Tire Test

Tire Reviews 225/45 R17 Tested by Tire Reviews Highly Rec.

The new Hankook Winter I*Cept RS3 continues Hankooks impressive results, and other than an outlier in snow braking, it is a winter tire with no major weakness. IT was impressive in the dry, very impressive in the wet and thoroughly enjoyable around the snow handling track with predictable handling and high levels of grip. A good aquaplaning resistance and high snow traction cements the tire in third place and is a tire I highly recommend

StrongSubj. Snow Handling WeakSnow Braking WinnerBridgestone Blizzak LM005

Back to the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 overview

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