A confidence-inspiring UHP winter tire with class-leading aquaplaning resistance and very strong snow ability, offering a lot of performance for the money. Its main trade-off is a tendency towards higher road noise than some rivals.
The quick answer
Owners say86%from 23 owner reviews91% would buy againRead the reviews
Strengths & weaknessesWet, DryValue, 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 October 2026.
The Hankook Winter i*cept evo3 finished eighth and was rated satisfactory. It is the best tire in the test for aquaplaning and good on snow, but long wet braking, high noise and high rolling resistance count against it.
Strong: Straight Aqua, Curved Aquaplaning ·Weak: Noise, Rolling Resistance ·Winner: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5
Every independent test of the Hankook Winter i cept evo3, newest first
In 225/40 R18, the Hankook Winter i cept evo3 is projected to cost €23.22 per 1,000 miles to buy and run - about €581 over 25,000 miles - based on the price, wear and rolling resistance measured in the 2025 Autobild 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 2025 test; financing costs are excluded.
Rim Protection
Small
A modest lip. Enough for a slow scrape against a kerb, but it will not save a wheel from a real hit.
Assessed by eye on the tires we tested, in the sizes listed. No manufacturer publishes rim protection as a specification, so treat this as a guide rather than a measurement.
How good is the Hankook Winter i cept evo3 in the wet?
Across the 21 wet-braking tests it has featured in, the Hankook Winter i cept evo3 stops 1.7% longer than premium rivals, 2.4% shorter than mid-range rivals and 7.7% shorter than budget rivals. It has a Tire Reviews wet score of 89/100, and owners rate it 9/10 in the wet from 23 reviews.
How good is the Hankook Winter i cept evo3 in the dry?
Across the 17 dry-braking tests it has featured in, the Hankook Winter i cept evo3 stops 1% longer than premium rivals, 0.4% shorter than mid-range rivals and 4.8% longer than budget rivals. It has a Tire Reviews dry score of 77/100, and owners rate it 9/10 in the dry from 23 reviews.
How good is the Hankook Winter i cept evo3 in the snow?
Across the 21 snow-braking tests it has featured in, the Hankook Winter i cept evo3 stops 0.2% shorter than premium rivals, 1.9% shorter than mid-range rivals and 20.8% shorter than budget rivals. Across the 17 snow-traction tests, it is 0.1% worse than premium rivals, 1.5% better than mid-range rivals and 57.3% better than budget rivals. It has a Tire Reviews snow score of 68/100, and owners rate it 9.4/10 in the snow from 23 reviews.
How good is the Hankook Winter i cept evo3 on ice?
Across the 2 ice-braking tests it has featured in, the Hankook Winter i cept evo3 stops 1.8% shorter than premium rivals, 1.3% longer than mid-range rivals and 17.9% shorter than budget rivals. Across the 1 ice-traction test, it is 4.8% better than premium rivals and 41.8% better than budget rivals. It has a Tire Reviews ice score of 63/100, and owners rate it 8.5/10 on ice from 23 reviews.
How fuel efficient is the Hankook Winter i cept evo3?
Across the 16 tests measuring rolling resistance, the Hankook Winter i cept evo3's rolling resistance is 5.5% higher than premium rivals, 2% lower than mid-range rivals and 2.8% higher than budget rivals.
More questions about the Hankook Winter i cept evo3(13)
How many miles does the Hankook Winter i cept evo3 last?
Based on test and owner data, the Hankook Winter i cept evo3 is expected to last around 27,837 miles (44,799 km).
What do owners say about the Hankook Winter i cept evo3?
Across 23 owner ratings the Hankook Winter i cept evo3 averages 86%. Owners rate Snow Grip highest at 9.4 out of 10 and Comfort lowest at 7.8. 4 of those reviews come from owners past 10,000 miles. 90% of owners score it 70% or better.
How much does the Hankook Winter i cept evo3 cost to run?
In 225/40 R18, the Hankook Winter i cept evo3 is projected to cost €23.22 per 1,000 miles to buy and run - about €581 over 25,000 miles - based on the price, wear and rolling resistance measured in the 2025 Autobild Winter Tire Test. Of the tires compared in that test, that makes it the cheapest to run.
What is the Hankook Winter i cept evo3's EU tire label rating?
Across its range, the Hankook Winter i cept evo3 most commonly carries EU label ratings of D for fuel efficiency, B for wet grip and 72 dB for noise.
How comfortable and quiet are the Hankook Winter i cept evo3?
Owners rate the Hankook Winter i cept evo3 7.8 out of 10 for comfort and noise across 21 reviews.
How well do the Hankook Winter i cept evo3 wear, according to owners?
Owners rate the Hankook Winter i cept evo3 8.8 out of 10 for wear across 21 reviews. 4 of those reviews come from owners past 10,000 miles, and the typical review covers 2,500 miles.
Would owners buy the Hankook Winter i cept evo3 again?
91% of owners say they would buy the Hankook Winter i cept evo3 again, based on the 23 owner reviews that answered the question. 65% of them gave it the highest possible answer.
What do owners say about the Hankook Winter i cept evo3's snow traction?
Of the 21 owner reviews analyzed for the Hankook Winter i cept evo3, 11 mention snow traction: 11 praise it (strong snow traction) and 0 criticise it (weak snow traction). One owner wrote: "This tyers on snow are the safest of them all". Read those reviews
What do owners say about the Hankook Winter i cept evo3's wet grip?
Of the 21 owner reviews analyzed for the Hankook Winter i cept evo3, 11 mention wet grip: 10 praise it (confident wet grip) and 1 criticise it (weak wet grip). Read those reviews
What do owners say about the Hankook Winter i cept evo3's dry grip?
Of the 21 owner reviews analyzed for the Hankook Winter i cept evo3, 8 mention dry grip: 8 praise it (strong dry grip) and 0 criticise it (limited dry grip). One owner wrote: "per total o anvelopa senzationala pentru orice tip de drum uscat". Read those reviews
Does the Hankook Winter i cept evo3 have a rim protector?
Yes. Rim protection on the Hankook Winter i cept evo3 is small, measured in 225/45 R18. No manufacturer publishes rim protection as a specification; this is assessed by eye when the tires are mounted for our own testing. 2023 Tire Reviews Winter Tire Test
Questions and Answers for the Hankook Winter i cept evo3
Regarding using this tire on EV: Thanks for your answer. Regarding your point that this tire can decrease my EV range, how much or how many percent should i expect? Show moreRegarding using this tire on EV:
Thanks for your answer.
Regarding your point that this tire can decrease my EV range, how much or how many percent should i expect?
Also, i noticed tgat the speed index of thie model i bought is V, but mazda recommends Y! At leat i could not find this tire Y in austria. Is this alo fine? Show less
January 24, 2026
You're allowed to drop speed index, but not load rating so make sure the load rating is ok.
I'm not sure on the drop in range. Worn to new adds rolling resistance by default, plus now it's cold. Maybe 5-10%.
Show all questions(3)
I World live to know in I can use this Model of Hankook on my Mazda 6e (electric)? Because I know that this was not developed for EVs, but I bought IT for my Car!! Show moreI World live to know in I can use this Model of Hankook on my Mazda 6e (electric)?
Because I know that this was not developed for EVs, but I bought IT for my Car!!
This is what I bought:
Hankook Winter I*cept EVO3 W330 245/45 R19 102V XL, FSL, 3PMSF Show less
January 23, 2026
Yes, that will be perfectly good on your EV. You might noticed a small reduction in range but the grip and the support from the tire will be great.
Can i use this tires in dimension 255 45 19 on tesla model y ?
September 16, 2025
Unfortunately we cannot advise on changing tire sizes, we suggest you check and owners forum to see what the common dimensions are. If you can find the Hankook Winter i cept evo3 in a matching size for your vehicle you can certainly use it, but Hankooks line for EVs is the iON range so it might be worth looking into that winter tire too.
Across 20 reviews, the Hankook Winter i*cept evo3 is described as a highly confidence-inspiring winter tire with standout traction in snow and strong, predictable grip in wet conditions (often praised for stability and aquaplaning resistance). Many drivers also report good dry-road handling for a winter tire and consider it excellent value versus premium brands. A smaller minority mention increased road noise or a firmer/less comfortable ride compared with their summer tires, but this is not the dominant experience.
What owners mention most counted across 21 reviews
Tap one to read only the reviews that mention it.
Owner ratings averaged from 23 ratings
Owner score86%
Snow Grip94%
Wet Grip90%
Dry Grip90%
Wear88%
Ice Grip85%
Handling84%
Road Feedback78%
Comfort78%
Featured reviews
Most helpful 89%
“I bought this tire after I read review on this site,I fit it on my audi a4 allroad and this tire is awesome.Im completely blown away in wet driveing ,I drive through water deep 4-5cm with 80-100km/h and I dont have 1mm...”
“Been running hankook winter ipike for over 10 years. Short summer seasons in Wyoming and there is no reason to change to a summer tire. Great value and an awesome tire. Never any punctures or other road hazard repairs...”
I used these Hankook Winter i*cept evo3 W330 tires for 4 full winter seasons on a Jeep Compass 2.0 Multijet 4x4. They lasted for roughly 5,500 miles (around 8,900 km). The grip held up exceptionally well as they wore down, providing consistent traction and stability for an AWD SUV in various winter conditions. They offer great value and reliable performance, and I would absolutely buy them again.
This tyers on snow are the safest of them all, I felt confident on a highway in a snow storm. I was on the mountin where all others were with snowchains and I didnt have them and drove safely uphill or downhill. On the positive side is that this tyers are confortable and silent even at high speed on higway.
Check out how the BEST all seasons tires perform against premium summer and winter tires!
We have tested the tires for 4000 km in a mixture of roads.
The weather conditions were wet and dry below 10 deg Celsius, but no snow or ice.
At highway speeds the tires had a good comfort and low noise. The braking distance was decent.
In the city, the tires had excellent behavior filtering the bumps and roughness of the surface very well.
On twisted roads is the place where these tires shine. Their grip is excellent both on wet and dry, the road feedback is very good and the noise is practically null.
I've had these tires for a couple of winters. I haven't driven them in the snow yet because there's no snow (yet) and that's why I bought them in the first place. I read in the tests published here that they are great in winter conditions. I only have rear-wheel drive on my car and I want tires that are good in the snow.
They are great in the wet as well as in the dry...maybe they are a little noisier..but I'm used to winter tires "buzzing" a bit.
p.s.
I'll update the review when I try them on snow and ice.
per total o anvelopa senzationala pentru orice tip de drum uscat , ud , acoperit cu zapada ,gheata , inainte de acestea am avut tot hankook 225 50 17 icept evo 2 si acelea au fost senzationale cel putin pentru masina mea audi a4 b9 fwd break , de obicei imi place sa merg tare cu masina pe autostrada rulez mai mereu 150-160-170 kmph iar pe drumuri virajate la fel merg foarte tare si mi se pare ca au tinut bine la uzura undeva la 30000k km si 3 ani cu rotatii fata spate ,singurul dezavantaj pe care l am vazut a fost la urcari pe zapada probabil din cauza ca nu am respectat dimensiunea data de producator pt iarna adica 225 45 18 (pentru vara e 245 40 18), pe mers uscat pot sa spun ca se tin ca niste anvelope normale de vara gen nokian powerproof, pirelli powergy , dunlop sport maxx rt etc pe ud nu acvaplaneaza pe zapada este aproape imposibil sa derapezi lateral cu ele , am incercat sa fac niste drifturi si nici macar nu a subvirat era ca pe sine masina . deci per total este o anvelopa minunata pentru toate conditiile de drum si char va incurajez sa o achizitionati doar sa o luati pe dimensiunea recomandata de producator . mai las niste imagini de la ultima distractie pe zapada sa arat de unde am iesit cu masina fara lanturi care era suspendata pe zapada si rotile afundate.
PS: anvelopele din poza si poza cu masina in zapada sunt in aceeasi perioada maxim 2 saptamani diferenta si cu toate astea in stadiul in care era anvelopa tot mergea si pe uscat ud excelent si pe zapada mai slab
Great tire! So far I've driven it for 1 season and despite the good results on the Tire Reviews' test, I was pleasantly surprised! The deep snow grip was amazing! Even though my car has relatively low ride height I had no issues with traction or anything. The ride quality isn't as bad as some people say. I use it as a family car, it never felt uncomfortable. I would definitely recommend the Tire and I will buy it again!
I bought this tire after I read review on this site,I fit it on my audi a4 allroad and this tire is awesome.Im completely blown away in wet driveing ,I drive through water deep 4-5cm with 80-100km/h and I dont have 1mm feedback to my steering wheel nothing to pull itd from my hands...In the dry condition tire is excellent.I drive a little bit on snow and ice and I think its great.This is best tire I ever have.
Overall a good tire. It had amazing traction in the dry and good in snow/ice, launch traction in the wet was a bit suboptimal, but once it got going the wet handling was superb. It felt very safe and aquaplanning resistance is the best I've seen from a winter tire thus far. Responsiveness was nice and it was coupled with a sense of stability. Handled nicely and predicatbly even when overtaking on snow covered roads (thorugh a snow median in between tire marks).
When it comes to drawbacks: these wore out faster than I had anticipated. Four winters and 34k km on Eastern European roads killed them. There were harsh use conditions though and a slight rim-damage accident (undiagnosed for a couple of months) could have also impacted their lifespan. The Hankooks are not the quietest or most comfortable, but I don't really care for that in a hot hatch. Nothing negatively outside of the norm in my opinion, but nothing spectacular in this regard either.
Had these on my car last year after doing some research I didn't want to spend £200 on winter tires so bought these... let me tell you you will never look back, we had some snow and a few cars was stuck but not me!! These are amazing in the snow will stick with these every year.. my only advice is change all 4 not just your front as you find you have that good of grip on your front your back end just spins out, this will happen trust me.
