The Hankook Winter i*cept evo2 is a winter ultra-high-performance tire that blends secure cold-weather traction with an engaging, predictable feel. Owners commonly rate it as quiet and comfortable with reassuring wet and snow/ice grip, and many highlight strong value for money. Independent tests back up its balanced winter ability and notably capable handling, particularly on dry roads and in snow. The main trade-off is braking performance, where it tends to lag rivals, especially in dry and wet stopping distances.
The quick answer
Owners say79%from 28 owner reviews77% would buy againRead the reviews
Strengths & weaknessesWet, SnowValue, ComfortRelative to its rivals across every test we hold
Built from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold for this tire - the evidence is all further down the page. Data updated February 2026.
In 225/50 R17, the Hankook Winter i cept evo2 is projected to cost €29.94 per 1,000 miles to buy and run - about €749 over 25,000 miles - based on the price, wear and rolling resistance measured in the 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test.
Tire purchase + fittingExtra fuel vs the most efficient tirecost per 1,000 miles
Assumes a typical car doing 29 mpg (rolling resistance causing 20% of fuel use), fuel at €6.25 per gallon and €70 fitting per set of four. Purchase prices are from the time of the 2017 test; financing costs are excluded.
How good is the Hankook Winter i cept evo2 in the wet?
Across the 5 wet-braking tests it has featured in, the Hankook Winter i cept evo2 stops 6.8% longer than premium rivals, 0.2% longer than mid-range rivals and 1.3% longer than budget rivals. It has a Tire Reviews wet score of 52/100, and owners rate it 7.8/10 in the wet from 28 reviews.
How good is the Hankook Winter i cept evo2 in the dry?
Across the 5 dry-braking tests it has featured in, the Hankook Winter i cept evo2 stops 3.6% longer than premium rivals, 3% longer than mid-range rivals and 12.7% longer than budget rivals. It has a Tire Reviews dry score of 42/100, and owners rate it 8.4/10 in the dry from 28 reviews.
How good is the Hankook Winter i cept evo2 in the snow?
Across the 5 snow-braking tests it has featured in, the Hankook Winter i cept evo2 stops 0.1% shorter than premium rivals, 1.7% shorter than mid-range rivals and 44.4% shorter than budget rivals. It has a Tire Reviews snow score of 43/100, and owners rate it 7.3/10 in the snow from 28 reviews.
How fuel efficient is the Hankook Winter i cept evo2?
Across the 4 tests measuring rolling resistance, the Hankook Winter i cept evo2's rolling resistance is 6.4% higher than premium rivals, 2.2% higher than mid-range rivals and 8.7% higher than budget rivals.
How many miles does the Hankook Winter i cept evo2 last?
Based on test and owner data, the Hankook Winter i cept evo2 is expected to last around 20,069 miles (32,298 km).
More questions about the Hankook Winter i cept evo2(11)
What do owners say about the Hankook Winter i cept evo2?
Across 28 owner ratings the Hankook Winter i cept evo2 averages 79%. Owners rate Dry Grip highest at 8.4 out of 10 and Ice Grip lowest at 6.8. 6 of those reviews come from owners past 10,000 miles. 67% of owners score it 70% or better.
How much does the Hankook Winter i cept evo2 cost to run?
In 225/50 R17, the Hankook Winter i cept evo2 is projected to cost €29.94 per 1,000 miles to buy and run - about €749 over 25,000 miles - based on the price, wear and rolling resistance measured in the 2017 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test. Of the tires compared in that test, that makes it the cheapest to run.
What is the Hankook Winter i cept evo2's EU tire label rating?
Across its range, the Hankook Winter i cept evo2 most commonly carries EU label ratings of D for fuel efficiency, C for wet grip and 72 dB for noise.
How comfortable and quiet are the Hankook Winter i cept evo2?
Owners rate the Hankook Winter i cept evo2 8.2 out of 10 for comfort and noise across 25 reviews.
How well do the Hankook Winter i cept evo2 wear, according to owners?
Owners rate the Hankook Winter i cept evo2 8.3 out of 10 for wear across 25 reviews. 6 of those reviews come from owners past 10,000 miles, and the typical review covers 3,000 miles.
Would owners buy the Hankook Winter i cept evo2 again?
77% of owners say they would buy the Hankook Winter i cept evo2 again, based on the 26 owner reviews that answered the question. 35% of them gave it the highest possible answer.
What do owners say about the Hankook Winter i cept evo2's snow traction?
Of the 25 owner reviews analyzed for the Hankook Winter i cept evo2, 12 mention snow traction: 11 praise it (strong snow traction) and 1 criticise it (weak snow traction). One owner wrote: "Very good with snow and wet performance". Read those reviews
What do owners say about the Hankook Winter i cept evo2's ride comfort?
Of the 25 owner reviews analyzed for the Hankook Winter i cept evo2, 11 mention ride comfort: 10 praise it (comfortable ride) and 1 criticise it (harsh ride). Read those reviews
What do owners say about the Hankook Winter i cept evo2's wet grip?
Of the 25 owner reviews analyzed for the Hankook Winter i cept evo2, 10 mention wet grip: 8 praise it (confident wet grip) and 2 criticise it (weak wet grip). One owner wrote: "in winter-wet conditions excellent". Read those reviews
Questions and Answers for the Hankook Winter i cept evo2
I have a BMW G20 (RWD) on 225/50 R17. I want to keep that sharp, 'on rails' BMW steering feel. Show moreI have a BMW G20 (RWD) on 225/50 R17. I want to keep that sharp, 'on rails' BMW steering feel. Should I choose the BMW Star Marked (*) Hankook Winter icept evo2, or the Goodyear UG Performance 3? Both are Non-RFT. Do you think there would be a significant difference in steering feel between them? Is it worth choosing a tire with worse test results just to preserve that specific BMW steering connection Show less
February 2, 2026
That's an interesting question. Without testing, I think it would be very difficult to answer. You are correct in assuming that the BMW OE tire should have a little bit more stiffness in the tread. However, I'm not sure whether the evo2 is the best example of this or how much work BMW and Hankook will have put into that tire development compared to the summer option. It's a very difficult question to answer. Sorry. If you don't encounter much snow, my gut would be to go for a summer bias all-season like the Bridgestone Turanza All Season 6.
Show all questions(4)
Hankook Winter i cept evo2 MO: Can rotate in both directions even if the thread is directional? is it possible also for front wheel drive? Show moreHankook Winter i cept evo2 MO:
Can rotate in both directions even if the thread is directional? is it possible also for front wheel drive? I ask as I would need to do the periodic front/rear tire rotation/inversion. Show less
October 19, 2022
Yes, the Hankook Winter i cept evo2 is an asymmetric winter tire so it can rotate in both directions, the tire should be mounted with the inside and outside marks on the sidewalls respected.
These are fine for 20" AudiQ7 (2008) ?
November 28, 2017
As long as you purchase the Hankook Winter i cept evo2 in the correct size and load rating they will be suitable for your SUV
Is the tire tread directional? All four tires are marked "inside" but all the tread is the same direction.Two of the tires have the tread in one direction and two… Show moreIs the tire tread directional? All four tires are marked "inside" but all the tread is the same direction.Two of the tires have the tread in one direction and two in the other,is this normal? Show less
November 16, 2017
This is normal, the Hankook Winter i cept evo2 is an asymmetric tire and can rotate in either direction.
Drivers generally describe the Hankook Winter i*cept evo2 as a comfortable, quiet winter tire with secure, predictable handling and strong overall grip in typical cold-weather conditions. Many high-scoring reviews praise its wet performance and snow/ice traction, especially considering the value for money. A recurring concern is that performance can drop noticeably as the tire ages (after a few seasons), and some drivers report it feels softer/less confident in warmer temperatures or when driven aggressively at the limit.
What owners mention most counted across 25 reviews
Tap one to read only the reviews that mention it.
Owner ratings averaged from 28 ratings
Owner score79%
Dry Grip84%
Wear83%
Comfort82%
Road Feedback81%
Handling81%
Wet Grip78%
Snow Grip73%
Ice Grip68%
Featured reviews
Most helpful 62%
“I bought them brand new at a stupid low price. Situation and thoughts after 3 winters - they started great, absolutely great. However.... I never drive like a lunatic, but I have never felt secure that they will get me...”
“Bought these tires factory mounted on BMW winter wheels. They turned out making the car uncomfortable and harsh on impacts. These winter tires degraded the comfort of the car compared to the factory summer tires...”
“I bought a second hand BMW 520D automatic 185ps and wanted to put a nice set of 20" wheels...but didn't want to swap it for the standerd wheels in winter...I didn't want to change the great looks in winter...So I...”
If you own a BMW and are tired of run-flat tires, and you want to switch to regular tires without losing steering feel and driving dynamics while gaining comfort, you can buy this tire with peace of mind. It’s neither as soft and comfort-oriented with loose steering like a touring tire, nor as stiff and sharp as a run-flat. This is the BMW OEM tire for 17-inch wheels.
Bought these tires factory mounted on BMW winter wheels. They turned out making the car uncomfortable and harsh on impacts. These winter tires degraded the comfort of the car compared to the factory summer tires (Pirelli P7C2). They were suprisingly dynamic to drive in the dry under the limit of grip for a winter tire, although once driven harder, understeer appears brutally, making the car slightly unstable. Average behavior on wet and on snow.
Check out how the BEST all seasons tires perform against premium summer and winter tires!
I bought them brand new at a stupid low price. Situation and thoughts after 3 winters - they started great, absolutely great. However....
I never drive like a lunatic, but I have never felt secure that they will get me out of a corner if I mess it up due to lack of feedback (65 wall) but on couple of occasions I went into a corner way too fast and they didn´t even squeak and just pulled me out. Gradually they turned into an average tire. Now (4th winter though) they feel like an old all season tire - they slip, they lack grip and are louder than before (my hearing is not getting stronger). Perhaps the rubber is not good after this much time, it just looses grip. The other day my car completely failed to stop on a slippery road in 1st gear at the lights from 10km/h and it just went into the rear of a small renault with all season tires that DID stop on the spot, not even the ABS worked. Only the registration plate plastic got cracked so... But this morning in similar conditions it went from 50 to 0 on a wet downhill at 0 degrees in about 2-3 seconds with some distance to spare to the car in front so I guess they still can work. Ice grip is always poor on all tires.
Conclusion - do not buy old never worn tires, they don´t feel secure at all after the second year.
Which tires do you drive?
Researching the Hankook Winter i cept evo2? Rate the tires you actually drive - and help the next buyer choose.
I drove this tires for 5 winters (give my best not to drive them on high ambient temps) 75% sprinted motorway, in total 22000km. Always proper tire pressure and wheel alignment, everything.
First four year felt very good, secure and balanced in all aspects (dry, wet, snow all good). Not so good in deep snow but manageable.
Tires ages with time and that is expected. They were degrade over four years, but nothing major. What I didn't expect is that on 5th winter, with 5.5-6mm tread depth left, it felt like someone turned off the winter switch. The car were dancing on snow and couldn't maintain the given path, or steer on the roundabout... Completely different tire. Never drove summer tire on snow but this was one of my worst experience in 25 years of winter driving.
On inspection, ppl from tire center found that they developed like flat spots all around them.
I give them 8+ for first two years, 8 for next two, and 3 after that.
The Car feels pretty good in wet and dry condition they are the first winter tires i put on the car since i own it and have to say they have more grip than it lets you think. I never had heard the tires sqeaking even when i go on the Motorway off ramp at 60-70 Km/h and never felt the lose grip on the twistys but it feels softer when compared to my Summer tires.
I drove this tires for 2 seasons. Good feedback, average fuel consumption. Very good with snow and wet performance. Dry braking at the limits is average. For the money is very good tire.
Good handling and braking on dry surfaces, also good on wet, but obly average on wet slightly icy roads, it breaks traction when driving more agressive on curvy mountain roads when wet and under 0°C. But they are manageble when the traction ends. On snow the traction is poor, especially on a RWD car struggled to leave a parking lot after a snow blizzard and about 30cm of snow. Would not recomend if you will encounter often snow roads! For city driving under normal conditions they are good, especially for the cheaper price. They are very stable at highway speeds, and you feel confident at high speed. I did not drove long enought to say something about the wear yet.
On my Mazda 3 MPS, around 315hp, those tires perform really good when the temperature is below 6-7 degrees celsius. As the temperature went up, they do not give me the confidence of a summer tire.
Overall, strictly for winter this tire is great. Performed really well on 10cm snow + ice underneath on an 10 degrees incline(I was amazed by that as my car has a high amount of torque).
If you buy them to use as "all season" do not mind.
As I used them for only for winter they performed as expected.
I bought a second hand BMW 520D automatic 185ps and wanted to put a nice set of 20" wheels...but didn't want to swap it for the standerd wheels in winter...I didn't want to change the great looks in winter...So I started reading and searching the internet for a performance wintertire I could use summer AND winter. I was aware that a lot of wintertires are horrible noise makers...so I searched for a profile that I know that would be silent. After my search...I bumped into these Hankook W320 tires...and finally bought them and fitted them on my nice new AXE EX30 wheels. These tires needs a bit running in for about 500 km...but once that passed...WAWWW !!! Hankook did here an excellent job with these new W320 wintertires. I have them now for exact one year and drove 30.000 km with them. The wear is excellent and now changed them front to rear...still plenty of mm's left. These tires are also very quiet and almost as good as summertires. Also the handling in summer is really very good even when it's very hot...and in winter-wet conditions excellent. Heavy snow we didn't have last year but in those winter condition I also felt very secure with my RWD car. I know for one thing...I recommand these tires VERY MUCH...do not hesitate...and are in my opinion as good (or better) than some all season tires that are being sold...for much higher price...What is also a very good point on these Hankook...very good in pricing, even for big tires like my 255/35R20.
So in case you didn't get it....BUY THEM !!!
Very good traction on the snow
Standard performance in wet condition
In my opinion poor performance on dry road, expecially with sprinted driving stile: I found the tire shoulder very weak and the dynamic balance of my car severely changed (in comparison with summer tires)
