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Hankook Winter i cept RS2 Test Results

Tire Reviews tests: 1 Tested 2015 to 2021 6 publications

Tested 26 times by independent publications, the Hankook Winter i cept RS2 averages a finish of 7th. Its strongest discipline is Wet Braking, beating 77% of the field across 7 tests; its weakest is Rolling Resistance, at 19% across 5 tests.

  • 26Independent tests
  • 0Test wins
  • 6Podium finishes
  • 7thAverage finish
  • 63%Field beaten on average
  • 6Publications
Hankook Winter i cept RS2

26 tests, 2015 to 2021

0%50%100%2015201620172018201920202021Average 63%2015 Winter Tire Market Overview (2015): P10 of 51, Beat 82% of the field2015 Auto Bild Top 18 Winter Tire Test (2015): P7 of 18, Beat 65% of the field2016 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 185/65 R15 (2016): P6 of 15, Beat 64% of the field2016 AZ Winter Tire Test - 205/55 R16 (2016): P8 of 14, Beat 46% of the field2016 Winter Tire Market Overview (2016): P14 of 49, Beat 69% of the field2016 AutoBild Winter Tire Test (2016): P8 of 20, Beat 63% of the field2016 Auto Express Winter Tire Test (2016): P8 of 8, Beat 0% of the field2017 Auto Express Winter Tire Test (2017): P2 of 8, Beat 86% of the field2017 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 195/65 R15 (2017): P6 of 16, Beat 67% of the field2017 ADAC SUV Winter Tire Test - 215/65 R16 (2017): P14 of 16, Beat 13% of the field2017 50 Winter Tire Shoot Out (2017): P20 of 50, Beat 57% of the field2018 51 Winter Tire Shootout (2018): P4 of 52, Beat 94% of the field2018 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test (2018): P5 of 20, Beat 79% of the field2018 Auto Express Winter Tire Test (2018): P3 of 9, Beat 75% of the field2018 AMS Winter Tire Test (2018): P4 of 11, Beat 70% of the field2019 ADAC 185/65 R15 Winter Tire Test (2019): P4 of 16, Beat 73% of the field2019 Winter Tire Test Market Overview (2019): P12 of 53, Beat 76% of the field2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tire Test (2019): P9 of 20, Beat 58% of the field2019 Auto Express Winter Tire Test (2019): P9 of 12, Beat 18% of the field2020 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 205/55 R16 (2020): P4 of 15, Beat 79% of the field2020 Auto Express Winter Tire Test (2020): P2 of 9, Beat 75% of the field2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tire Test (2020): P4 of 14, Beat 77% of the fieldThe Best Winter Tires for 2020 (2020): P3 of 19, Beat 22% of the field2021 Winter Tire Market Overview (2021): P3 of 50, Beat 96% of the field2021 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test (2021): P6 of 20, Beat 74% of the field2021 Auto Express Winter Tire Test (2021): P3 of 8, Beat 71% 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%

Record by discipline

Where the Hankook Winter i cept RS2 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 5 P7.4 of 18 62% 1
Dry Handling 4 P7.8 of 19 65% -
Subj. Dry Handling 1 P3 of 14 85% -
Wet
Wet Braking Strong 7 P5.7 of 26.1 77% -
Wet Handling 4 P6.3 of 19 70% -
Subj. Wet Handling 1 P5 of 14 69% -
Wet Circle 1 P3 of 22 90% -
Straight Aqua 5 P5 of 17.8 80% 3
Curved Aquaplaning 1 P5 of 22 81% -
Snow
Snow Braking 7 P9.1 of 22.1 61% -
Snow Traction 2 P5.5 of 18 76% -
Snow Handling 4 P2 of 18.5 95% 3
Subj. Snow Handling 1 P7 of 14 54% -
Comfort
Subj. Comfort 1 P3 of 14 85% -
Noise 4 P10.8 of 19 49% -
Value
Wear 3 P7.3 of 20.3 67% -
Value 3 P7 of 20.3 69% -
Rolling Resistance Weak 5 P15.2 of 18 19% -

Head-to-head record

Overall finishing position against the tires that have most often shared a test with the Hankook Winter i cept RS2. Only tires tested alongside it at least three times are listed.

Rival Shared tests Ahead Behind Level Finished ahead
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 20 shared: 10 ahead, 10 behind 20 10 10 - 50%
Continental WinterContact TS 860 18 shared: 1 ahead, 15 behind 18 1 15 2 6%
Pirelli Cinturato Winter 14 shared: 9 ahead, 5 behind 14 9 5 - 64%
Nokian WR D4 14 shared: 6 ahead, 8 behind 14 6 8 - 43%
Uniroyal MS+ 77 13 shared: 10 ahead, 3 behind 13 10 3 - 77%
Falken Eurowinter HS01 12 shared: 11 ahead, 1 behind 12 11 1 - 92%
Goodyear UltraGrip 9 11 shared: 2 ahead, 9 behind 11 2 9 - 18%
Michelin Alpin 5 10 shared: 4 ahead, 6 behind 10 4 6 - 40%
Michelin Alpin 6 10 shared: 4 ahead, 6 behind 10 4 6 - 40%
Kleber Krisalp HP3 10 shared: 4 ahead, 6 behind 10 4 6 - 40%
Vredestein Snowtrac 5 9 shared: 8 ahead, 1 behind 9 8 1 - 89%
Firestone Winterhawk 3 9 shared: 8 ahead, 1 behind 9 8 1 - 89%
Fulda Kristall Control HP2 9 shared: 5 ahead, 4 behind 9 5 4 - 56%
Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 9 shared: 0 ahead, 9 behind 9 0 9 - 0%
Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 8 shared: 6 ahead, 2 behind 8 6 2 - 75%
Barum Polaris 3 8 shared: 4 ahead, 4 behind 8 4 4 - 50%
Kumho Winter Craft WP51 7 shared: 7 ahead, 0 behind 7 7 0 - 100%
Sava Eskimo HP2 7 shared: 5 ahead, 2 behind 7 5 2 - 71%
BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 7 shared: 3 ahead, 4 behind 7 3 4 - 43%
Matador MP 92 Sibir Snow 6 shared: 6 ahead, 0 behind 6 6 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 This tire 26 0 7th 63%
Hankook Winter I cept RS3 Successor 17 0 6th 63%

Performance Analysis

Drawn from 26 tests. Updated October 11, 2025.

Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 delivers consistently strong wet and snow performance with standout aquaplaning resistance and frequent top-tier handling results, earning several podiums across major European tests. It often excels in dynamic grip (wet handling/circle, snow handling) and aquaplaning, and has occasional class-leading dry braking. Value and wear are generally competitive in some years. However, performance can fluctuate by size and test, with weaker showings in rolling resistance and occasional mid-pack dry handling/braking and noise. A few tests show lower placements, particularly in SUV sizing, indicating sensitivity to size/application.

Performance Strengths

Performance Weaknesses

Do owners agree with the tests?

Every tester write-up on the Hankook Winter i cept RS2 (18 tests) and 44 owner reviews were tagged for the aspects they judge. Where both have spoken, this is how they line up.

Where owners and testers agree

  • Snow traction strength in 11 of 18 tests 20 praise, 1 criticise of 44 reviews · Read those reviews
  • Wet grip strength in 8 of 18 tests 23 praise, 1 criticise of 44 reviews · Read those reviews
  • Dry grip strength in 6 of 18 tests 16 praise, 0 criticise of 44 reviews · Read those reviews
  • Aquaplaning resistance strength in 5 of 18 tests 5 praise, 0 criticise of 44 reviews · Read those reviews
  • Tread life strength in 3 of 18 tests 13 praise, 0 criticise of 44 reviews · Read those reviews
  • Value for money strength in 3 of 18 tests 9 praise, 0 criticise of 44 reviews · Read those reviews

Where they disagree

  • Wet braking weakness in 5 of 18 tests 5 praise, 1 criticise of 44 reviews · Read those reviews
  • Snow handling strength in 3 of 18 tests 0 praise, 3 criticise of 44 reviews · Read those reviews

Raised by owners, not by any test of this tire

  • Slush performance no test mentions it 5 praise, 0 criticise of 44 reviews · Read those reviews

Every test, newest first 26

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

2021 3 tests
P6 of 20 Beat 74% of the field

2021 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test

Auto Bild 205/55 R16

StrongWet BrakingWet HandlingStraight AquaSnow HandlingNoise WinnerContinental WinterContact TS 870

2020 4 tests
P2 of 9 Beat 75% of the field

2020 Auto Express Winter Tire Test

Auto Express 205/55 R16

A return to form for the I*Cept RS2, largely thanks to a strong wet performance.

WinnerBridgestone Blizzak LM005

2019 4 tests
2018 4 tests
P4 of 11 Beat 70% of the field

2018 AMS Winter Tire Test

Auto Motor Und Sport 205/55 R16

Highly recommended.

StrongStraight AquaSnow Handling WinnerContinental WinterContact TS 860

P5 of 20 Beat 79% of the field

2018 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test

Auto Bild 195/65 R15

StrongWearValue WeakRolling Resistance WinnerDunlop Winter Sport 5

2017 4 tests
P2 of 8 Beat 86% of the field

2017 Auto Express Winter Tire Test

Auto Express 225/45 R17

A mid life update for the Korean Hankook i*cept RS2 has moved the tire up from last place in the 2016 test, to runner up in 2017. Strongest overall in the snow, the Hankook also managed the second best overall wet and performance.

WinnerContinental WinterContact TS 860

2016 5 tests
P8 of 8 Beat 0% of the field

2016 Auto Express Winter Tire Test

Auto Express 205/55 R16

Like the Dunlop, the Hankook was happiest in the dry. In the wet the RS2 struggled, a full 19% behind the best in the wet braking, and second to last in the snow testing. While Hankooks summer tires are now amongst the best, the winter tires need more development.

WinnerContinental WinterContact TS 860

2015 2 tests

Back to the Hankook Winter i cept RS2 overview

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