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Hankook Winter i cept RS2 View Gallery (1)
135-225/45-80 R13-17 90 sizes 2021 Winter rated
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Hankook Winter i cept RS2

Hankook Tires Premium Touring Winter Next

The Hankook Winter i cept RS2 is a Premium Touring Winter tire designed to be fitted to Passenger Cars.

8.8
Tire Reviews Score Based on Professional Tests & User Reviews
High Confidence View Breakdown
Dry Grip
84%
Wet Grip
84%
Road Feedback
75%
Handling
79%
Wear
85%
Comfort
75%
Buy again
81%
Snow Grip
81%
Ice Grip
73%
50 Reviews
80% Average
417,800 miles driven
26 Tests (avg: 7th)
Hankook Winter i cept RS2

Hankook Winter i cept RS2

Winter Premium
BETA
8.8 / 10
Based on Professional Tests & User Reviews · High Confidence · Updated 19 Jun 2026

The Tire Reviews Score is the most comprehensive tire scoring system available. It aggregates professional test data from multiple independent publications, user reviews, and consistency analysis using Bayesian statistical methods, weighted normalisation, and recency-adjusted scoring to produce a single, reliable performance rating.

Learn more about our methodology
Category Scores
Snow
93.8
1.5x / 14 tests
Wet
85.7
1.93x / 19 tests
Comfort
77.7
0.32x / 5 tests
Dry
67
1.13x / 10 tests
Value
63.8
0.42x / 16 tests
Cross-Category Performance

Cross-category scores are derived metrics that combine data from multiple test disciplines to evaluate real-world performance characteristics.

Traction
94.7
2 tests
Braking
83.4
19 tests
Handling
83.1
15 tests
Score Components
Professional Tests
Weight: 80%
Tests: 26
Publications: 6
Period: 2015 - 2021
User Reviews
Weight: 15%
Reviews: 50
Avg Rating: 79.8%
Min Required: 5
Consistency
Weight: 5%
Score Std Dev: 0.17
History Points: 10
Methodology & Configuration
Scoring Process
  1. Collect Test Data: Gather results from professional tire tests across multiple publications. Minimum 1 test(s) required.
  2. Normalize Positions: Convert test positions to percentile scores using exponential weighting (factor: 1.2).
  3. Apply Recency Weighting: More recent tests are weighted higher with a decay rate of 0.95.
  4. Incorporate User Reviews: Factor in user review data (minimum 5 reviews). Weight: 15%.
  5. Bayesian Smoothing: Apply Bayesian prior (score: 7, weight: 1.5) to prevent extreme scores with limited data.
  6. Calculate Final Score: Combine all components using normalization factor of 1.1. Max score with limited data: 9.5.
Component Weights
Test Data
80%
User Reviews
15%
Consistency
5%
All Configuration Parameters
ParameterValueDescription
safety_weight 0.7 Weight multiplier for safety-related metrics
performance_weight 0.55 Weight multiplier for performance metrics
comfort_weight 0.4 Weight multiplier for comfort metrics
value_weight 0.45 Weight multiplier for value-for-money metrics
user_reviews_weight 0.15 How much user reviews contribute to the final score
test_data_weight 0.8 How much professional test data contributes to the final score
consistency_weight 0.05 How much score consistency contributes to the final score
recency_decay_rate 0.95 Rate at which older test results lose influence (higher = slower decay)
min_test_count 1 Minimum number of professional tests required
min_review_count 5 Minimum number of user reviews required
score_version 1.9 Current version of the scoring algorithm
score_normalization_factor 1.1 Factor used to normalize raw scores to the 0-10 scale
confidence_factor_weight 0.2 How much data confidence affects the final score
position_penalty_weight 0.2 Penalty applied for poor test positions
gap_penalty_threshold 12 Score gap (%) that triggers additional penalties
min_metrics_count 2 Minimum number of test metrics needed per test
limited_data_threshold 2 Number of tests below which data is considered limited
single_test_penalty 0.75 Score multiplier when only one test is available
critical_metric_penalty 0.7 Penalty for poor performance on critical safety metrics
critical_metric_threshold 70 Score below which a critical metric penalty applies
position_exponential_factor 1.2 Exponent used to amplify position-based scoring
position_exponential_threshold 0.9 Position percentile below which exponential scoring applies
gap_multiplier_critical 3 Multiplier for critical gap penalties
max_category_weight 2 Maximum weight any single category can have
max_score_limited_data 9.5 Score cap when data is limited
bayesian_prior_weight 1.5 Weight of the Bayesian prior in smoothing
bayesian_prior_score 7 Prior score used for Bayesian smoothing
evidence_test_multiplier 1.9 Multiplier for test evidence in confidence calculation
evidence_metric_divisor 3 Divisor for metric count in evidence calculation
evidence_review_divisor 10 Divisor for review count in evidence calculation
combined_penalty_floor 0.2
Data Sources
TestPublicationDateSizePositionMetrics
2021 Auto Express Winter Tire Test Auto Express 2021 225/45 R17 3/8 0 metrics
2021 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test Auto Bild 2021 205/55 R16 6/22 15 metrics
2021 Winter Tire Market Overview Auto Bild 2021 205/55 R16 3/49 2 metrics
The Best Winter Tires for 2020 Tire Reviews 2020 205/55 R16 3/19 0 metrics
2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tire Test Auto Zeitung 2020 205/55 R16 4/14 11 metrics
2020 Auto Express Winter Tire Test Auto Express 2020 205/55 R16 2/9 0 metrics
2020 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 205/55 R16 ADAC 2020 205/55 R16 4/15 0 metrics
2019 Auto Express Winter Tire Test Auto Express 2019 225/45 R17 9/12 0 metrics
2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tire Test Auto Bild 2019 225/45 R17 9/21 12 metrics
2019 Winter Tire Test Market Overview Auto Bild 2019 225/45 R17 12/47 2 metrics
2019 ADAC 185/65 R15 Winter Tire Test ADAC 2019 185/65 R15 4/16 0 metrics
2018 AMS Winter Tire Test Auto Motor Und Sport 2018 205/55 R16 4/11 10 metrics
2018 Auto Express Winter Tire Test Auto Express 2018 205/55 R16 3/10 0 metrics
2018 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test Auto Bild 2018 195/65 R15 5/22 12 metrics
2018 51 Winter Tire Shootout Auto Bild 2018 195/65 R15 4/52 0 metrics
2017 50 Winter Tire Shoot Out Auto Bild 2017 225/50 R17 20/45 0 metrics
2017 ADAC SUV Winter Tire Test - 215/65 R16 ADAC 2017 215/65 R16 14/16 0 metrics
2017 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 195/65 R15 ADAC 2017 195/65 R15 6/16 0 metrics
2017 Auto Express Winter Tire Test Auto Express 2017 225/45 R17 2/8 0 metrics
2016 Auto Express Winter Tire Test Auto Express 2016 205/55 R16 8/8 0 metrics
2016 AutoBild Winter Tire Test Auto Bild 2016 205/55 R16 8/20 0 metrics
2016 Winter Tire Market Overview Auto Bild 2016 205/55 R16 14/43 0 metrics
2016 AZ Winter Tire Test - 205/55 R16 Auto Zeitung 2016 205/55 R16 8/14 0 metrics
2016 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 185/65 R15 ADAC 2016 185/65 R15 6/15 0 metrics
2015 Auto Bild Top 18 Winter Tire Test Auto Bild 2015 185/60 R15 7/18 0 metrics
2015 Winter Tire Market Overview Auto Bild 2015 185/60 R14 10/51 0 metrics
All Tests
View Test Results
26
Tests
7th
Average
2nd
Best
20th
Worst
Latest Tire Test Results
2021 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test
205/55 R16 • 2021
6th/22
Top performance in snow and wet conditions, very good aquaplaning resistance, short wet braking distances, well priced.
Understeer in the dry.
2021 Winter Tire Market Overview
205/55 R16 • 2021
3rd/49
2021 Auto Express Winter Tire Test
225/45 R17 • 2021
3rd/8
the I*Cept RS2 is very good in the dry, wet and snow.
High rolling resistance and cabin noise.
View Test Results
Size Fuel Wet Noise
14 inch
165/70R14 81 T E C 71
175/65R14 82 T E C 71
185/60R14 82 T E C 71
185/60R14 82 T E C 71
175/65R14 82 T E C 71
165/70R14 81 T E C 71
165/70R14 85 T XL D C 71
175/65R14 86 T XL D C 71
185/70R14 88 T C C 71
15 inch
185/65R15 88 T D C 71
185/65R15 92 T XL D C 71
195/55R15 85 H D C 72
195/65R15 91 H D C 72
195/65R15 91 T D C 72
195/65R15 91 T D C 72
185/65R15 88 T D C 71
185/65R15 92 T XL D C 71
195/65R15 91 H D C 72
195/55R15 85 H D C 72
195/65R15 95 T XL D C 72
195/65R15 95 T XL D C 72
185/65R15 88 H D C 71
195/55R15 89 H XL D C 72
16 inch
205/55R16 91 H D B 72
205/55R16 94 H XL D B 72
205/55R16 91 T D B 72
205/55R16 91 T D B 72
205/55R16 91 H D B 72
205/55R16 94 H XL D B 72
205/55R16 94 V XL D B 72
17 inch
225/45R17 91 H D B 72
225/45R17 91 H D B 72
225/45R17 94 H XL D B 72
225/45R17 94 V XL D B 72
View All Sizes and EU Label Scores for the Hankook Winter i cept RS2 >>

Questions and Answers for the Hankook Winter i cept RS2

Ask a question
October 10, 2017

I would like to know when this mid-life update was implemented ... Which date code to look on tires sidewalls ? Actually I m on a set of RS2 dating week 39of 2015 . I ll get another set for sure if i get an answer for this

Unfortunately we don't have any specific date information for a mid-life update for the Hankook Winter i cept RS2.

Review Summary

Based on 44 user reviews

Drivers generally rate the Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 highly, highlighting strong wet-road grip and excellent aquaplaning resistance, with many also reporting confident performance in snow and slush for everyday winter use. Value for money is a consistent theme, and several long-term users note good wear and durability. A recurring downside is elevated road noise (often more noticeable at highway speeds), and a smaller subset report a firmer ride or less sporty/precise dry handling, with occasional concerns about traction on black ice.

Strengths
  • Strong wet grip and braking confidence
  • Excellent aquaplaning resistance
  • Very good snow/slush traction for a non-studded winter tire
  • Good value/price-to-performance ratio
  • Good tread life and wear resistance reported by long-term users
Areas for Improvement
  • Higher road noise
  • Especially at higher speeds
  • Firm or less comfortable ride for some vehicles/sizes
  • Handling can feel softer/less sporty on dry roads (e.g.
  • Understeer or less precise feedback)

Top 3 Hankook Winter i cept RS2 Reviews

Given 61% while driving a Toyota Auris (205/55 R16) on mostly country roads for 10,000 average miles
I´ve crashed on these tires making a turn as slowly as 20km/h on a black ice, not impressed at all! Snow grip is average, on dry road they feel sluggish and are extremely loud above 80hm/h. Comfort is not the best, rubber feels quite hard considering it´s dedicated winter tire. Maybe they are acceptable for occasional city drivers but taking them to the mountains is not a good idea and ling highway drives will give you headache.
Helpful 987
April 9, 2025
Given 77% while driving a Volkswagen bora tdi (205/55 R16) on a combination of roads for 30,000 spirited miles
I had the tires on my 2005 diesel vw bora for over 6 years. Ran them all year both in the city, during cross-Europe trips and in severe winter conditions. They wore well (put around 50.000 km on them). They made my car snap oversteer twice, once on wet pavement, once on dry pavement while breaking in a corner at about 70 km/h. They seamed to sit on the sidewall for a while before gripping in a reassuring manner on dry pavement.
Helpful 992
March 3, 2025
Given 72% while driving a Mazda 3 2005 (195/65 R15) on a combination of roads for 7,000 average miles
Tires are above average and on par with very well known brands. For the price are very satisfying and, handle very well and the wear is also on very good level. Grip levels in dry and snow are fantastic, although on wet there is what to expect but of course nothing bothering and compared with good brand summer tire is expected.
Helpful 1081
November 15, 2023

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Latest Hankook Winter i cept RS2 Reviews

Initial Impressions Review
Given 80% while driving a Peugeot 107 (155/65 R14) on for 2,000 miles
Had this tire on two small cars both 14 inches radius, but different widths, mostly for driving around town in central/southeast Europe with quite some rainy days, there were also some highway stints with no observed drawbacks. Decent dry and wet grip for winter tires at lower speeds. Snow grip was better than expected and you can feel confident in the grip for everyday driving. Did not notice a lot of difference between summer and this tire regarding noise in the cabin.
Helpful 17
April 28, 2026
Given 80% while driving a Volkswagen Passat 2.0TDI (215/55 R17) on mostly motorways for 5,000 average miles
Had them on my "urban" Audi A3 and was so impressed that bought them for my Passat. You can read the other review below. Probably the best winter tire for snow, ice and wet. Unfortunately, we did not have enough snow this winter, but drove them in rain and wet a lot. Aquaplanning resistance is impessive for a winter tire. You can easily drive 120-130 km/h in heavy rain without worrying. Dry handling is also absolutely fine. Very comfortable ride. The only drawback: they are quite noisy, I would say above average. Did not had that impression on my Audi, but I guess it is due to the wider tires on the Passat.
Helpful 1096
June 17, 2023
Given 76% while driving a Volkswagen (B8) 1.4 TSI (150 Hp) DSG ACT (205/55 R16) on mostly town for 5,000 spirited miles
Considering the price, but also in general: Super good wet grip. It shines better in wet conditions than dry. Winter, ice, snow? No problem. These tires drive in the cold like it's nothing. They are quite noisy though. But the grooves are many and they are deep, they look like off road tires. Superb resistance against aquaplaning. Kinda under steers in the dry though, but braking is still great. Highly recommend, great price. DON'T cheap out on tires. They are worth your life.
Helpful 1033
February 26, 2023
Given 57% while driving a Fiat croma (205/55 R16) on a combination of roads for 8,000 average miles
Used this tire for two winter seasons couldn't feel tires well like they were a bit loose.Awful in ice average in snow comparison is with Kumhi wp51 and Sava eskimo,Great on wet and dry expected more from Hankook
Helpful 1218
October 2, 2022
Given 81% while driving a Audi A3 (195/65 R15) on mostly country roads for 15,000 average miles
I am impressed with that tire. The Contis I had before them are, hands down, the best winter tire but these come close. Especially given that they are around 25% cheaper. However, they are not 25% less good in any case. I am skiing and go to the mountains early in the morning when roads are icy and parking lots snowy. Grip in snow is magnificent, FWD car coupled with these tires simply cannot get stuck, unless you are excessively dump. Last year I was almost going to have big trouble as I was driving a high mountain road with deep frozen tracks from other cars and these tires saved me from leaving the car there, or worse, crashing. They have exceptional grip on ice and snow. Wet is also pretty good but I never drive fast when it rains. Dry, no worries, no squeaking, perfect driveability. This is going to be their 4th or 5th season I cant remember and do not have any signs of excessive wear.
Helpful 1050
September 29, 2022
Given 80% while driving a Ford Fiesta mk7 (185/60 R14) on a combination of roads for 300 easy going miles
Happy new year!! It is the the first time i buy Hankook tires and my previous winter tires were the Goodyear Ultragrip 9. Dry grip is very good and wet grip is excellent.The temperature in Greece is quite high,so i have no experience about snow and ice grip.It is too early to say something about the wear.The disadvantage of this set of tires is the comfort which is below the average and the noise. I think it is the noisiest tire i have ever had.The price is very good.
Helpful 1107
January 2, 2022
Given 88% while driving a Dacia Logan (185/65 R15) on a combination of roads for 500 easy going miles
Very good quality@performance/price ratio. Very silent. I bought them based on very good reviews and I congratulate myself. In my opinion, they are best buy. Still not tested on snow/ice.
Helpful 999
November 25, 2021
Given 83% while driving a SEAT Leon 1.9TDi (205/55 R16) on mostly town for 100 spirited miles
For the price these tires are amazing. Dry grip is really good, wet grip is phenomenal (really feel safe driving this tures), snow grip - can't say much there isn't a lot of snow in our country. Comfot is something that a I will point out as a good thing, don't expect this tire to be quiet as Michelin ones, but the noise is not irritating. Feels like a tire made for Central European weather with wet and cold dry asphalt mostly in the winter. Will add more details at end of life of the tires.
Helpful 1181
November 16, 2021
Given 85% while driving a Ford Fiesta (225/45 R17) on a combination of roads for 0 average miles
I exchanged my summer tires to Hankook tire and even on dry road i did not feel the difference. The car was virtually the same. Compared to summer tires of Michelin manufacturer that I had previously mounted on my vehicle, they are a little bit louder, but it is normal for any winter tire. Larger differences appear wet or snow-covered roads. Of course, for the benefit of winter tires. You can feel confident that the car holds the road well, no problems with moving off, and even braking is satisfactory I think that these tires are the best choice if you want to buy good tires at an affordable price. I do recommend these tires to everybody.
Helpful 1263
September 10, 2021
Given 59% while driving a Opel Astra J 1.7 CDTI (205/55 R16) on a combination of roads for 1,000 average miles
Good wet handling and breaking. The grip, handling and breaking on ice/ snow is bellow expected performance. Living in Latvia - maybe good option for city driving in winters but definitely would not recommend for areas with heavy and constant snow.
Helpful 1221
September 1, 2021
Given 91% while driving a Volkswagen Golf (205/55 R16) on a combination of roads for 6,500 average miles
First of for I’d like to say for the price they are the best winter tires. Comfort is superb and wear is literally nonexistent, grip on wet and dry during doing some rough starts can be trouble the ABS pops up right away but afterwards it is great. The only issue I have had was like someone else mentioned in mixture of snow muddy surfaces it would go sideways but that was on a bit of steep road so it is understandable. Either way would definitely recommend cheap comfortable great tire overall.
Helpful 1011
May 18, 2021
Given 73% while driving a Volkswagen Passat B5.5 1.9 TDi 130bhp highline (205/55 R16) on a combination of roads for 8,000 spirited miles
Great quality-price. Very good in dry.
Helpful 1071
May 11, 2021
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