75
/ 100
Objective (60%)
70/100
7 professional tests
User signal (40%)
78/100
30 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Continental VikingContact 7 vs Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 — Compared (September 2026)
Our Relative Score blends 60% objective test data with 40% owner-review signal — so any two tires can be compared even if they were never tested on the same day.
VS
81
/ 100
Objective (60%)
83/100
7 professional tests
User signal (40%)
80/100
50 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 — better dry, treadwear and wet. Pick the Continental VikingContact 7 if noise and comfort matter most to you.
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Category breakdown
7 categories, side by side
Each bar is the Relative Score for that category. Expand a tile to see the test results and owner ratings behind it.
Dry
Score (0–100)
Winter i*cept RS2 leads by 28
Why this score
| Source | VikingContact 7 | Winter i*cept RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 48 | 89 |
| Tire Rack owners | 87 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 68 | 84 |
| SimpleTire owners | 91 | – |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 92% | 98% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 98% | 99% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Winter i*cept RS2 leads by 9
Why this score
| Source | VikingContact 7 | Winter i*cept RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 77 | 86 |
| Tire Rack owners | 87 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 84 |
| SimpleTire owners | 89 | – |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 93% | 96% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 94% | 99% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
VikingContact 7 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | VikingContact 7 | Winter i*cept RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 85 | 87 |
| Tire Rack owners | 88 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 81 |
| SimpleTire owners | 87 | – |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 100% | 94% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 94% | 99% |
| Snow Traction (% of best) | 98% | 94% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
VikingContact 7 leads by 11
Why this score
| Source | VikingContact 7 | Winter i*cept RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 89 | 78 |
| Tire Rack owners | 89 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 75 |
| SimpleTire owners | 94 | – |
Noise
Score (0–100)
VikingContact 7 leads by 21
Why this score
| Source | VikingContact 7 | Winter i*cept RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 80 | 63 |
| SimpleTire owners | 91 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Winter i*cept RS2 leads by 17
Why this score
| Source | VikingContact 7 | Winter i*cept RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 85 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 61 | 85 |
| SimpleTire owners | 90 | – |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Winter i*cept RS2 leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | VikingContact 7 | Winter i*cept RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 71 | 79 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental VikingContact 7 | Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 75 | 81 |
| Dry | 59 | 87 |
| Wet | 76 | 85 |
| Snow | 86 | 84 |
| Comfort | 88 | 77 |
| Noise | 84 | 63 |
| Treadwear | 68 | 85 |
| Handling | 71 | 79 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Personalize
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Neutral
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Recomputed
Headline score
75
/ 100
Tire A
81
/ 100
Tire B
Test data
The professional test results behind the scores
Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.
| Discipline | Category | Tire A | Tire B | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 92% #13/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 98% #3/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | -5.6 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 98% #2/8 · 2022/23 Tyre Reviews Studless Winter Tyre Test | 99% #8/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | -0.3 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 98% #2/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test | 77% #18/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +20.9 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 100% #8/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test | 99% #4/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | +1 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 100% #8/8 · 2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | 79% #11/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +20.8 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 33% #3/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test | 25% #4/15 · 2020 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 205/55 R16 | +8.3 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 100% #1/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | 94% #5/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | +6.4 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 94% #2/8 · 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tyre Test | 99% #5/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | -5.1 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 98% #5/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 94% #3/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | +4.4 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 96% #4/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test | 92% #9/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +4.6 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 95% #4/8 · 2022/23 Tyre Reviews Studless Winter Tyre Test | 90% #4/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | +5 | Different tests |
| Subj. Dry Handling | Subj | 80% #3/8 · 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tyre Test | 80% #3/14 · 2020 Auto Zeitung Winter Tyre Test | 0 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 93% #5/8 · 2019 Studded Winter Tyre Test | 96% #2/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | -3.3 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 94% #2/8 · 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tyre Test | 99% #3/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | -4.9 | Different tests |
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Continental VikingContact 7 is widely regarded as a premium, well-rounded studless winter tire that excels in comfort, noise suppression, and slush performance. While it receives high praise for its predictable handling and stability on cold, dry, or wet pavement, user consensus suggests it may slightly trail dedicated ice-focused competitors like the Bridgestone Blizzak in extreme stopping grip on pure ice.
Pros
- Exceptionally quiet and comfortable ride quality
- Strong performance in slush and deep snow
- Stable and predictable handling at highway speeds
- Excellent dry and wet road manners for a winter tire
Cons
- Mixed reports regarding tread life and longevity
- Noticeable decline in ice-braking performance compared to top-tier ice specialists
- Compound may harden or performance may degrade after multiple seasons
- Potential for reduced traction if driven in warmer, non-winter conditions
Observations
- Users noted that the tire maintains excellent fuel economy and low noise levels even on electric vehicles like the Tesla Model 3 and Mazda MX-30.
- Drivers of rear-wheel-drive sports cars (e.g., Mazda Miata) reported that the tire's soft compound can feel overwhelmed during aggressive acceleration on dry pavement.
- Downsizing to a smaller wheel diameter (e.g., -2 from OE) was successfully used to improve the tire's profile and winter performance on hybrid SUVs.
The Hankook Winter i cept RS2 is widely regarded as a high-value winter tire that excels in wet and slushy conditions, offering performance that often rivals premium brands at a significantly lower price point. While most users praise its traction in snow and rain, opinions are polarized regarding cabin noise and ride comfort, with several users noting a firm, sometimes noisy experience at highway speeds.
Pros
- Excellent value for money and competitive pricing
- Strong wet weather performance and aquaplaning resistance
- Impressive tread longevity and durability
- Reliable traction in snow and slush for daily commuting
Cons
- High noise levels, particularly at highway speeds
- Firm, stiff ride quality that transmits road imperfections
- Inconsistent performance on pure black ice
- Occasional reports of sluggish handling or lack of steering feedback
Observations
- Users with smaller, lighter vehicles (e.g., Ford Fiesta, Dacia Logan) report high satisfaction with general winter traction.
- Some drivers noted that performance and comfort characteristics may vary significantly depending on the specific tire size, with smaller 14-inch sizes receiving fewer noise complaints than larger fitments.
- Drivers of heavier or more powerful vehicles occasionally reported higher fuel consumption and a more noticeable impact on ride harshness.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental VikingContact 7 | B · Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Premium Touring Winter tire |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 18 | — |
| Rim diameters | 15″ – 22″ | — |
| Tread depth | 10 - 11/32″ | — |
| Sidewall | Black Side Wall | — |
| Max pressure | 44 - 51 psi | — |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
75
/ 100
Continental
81
/ 100
Hankook
Winner: Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 — better dry, treadwear and wet. Pick the Continental VikingContact 7 if noise and comfort matter most to you.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 scores 87 vs 59 on dry.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Continental VikingContact 7 scores 84 vs 63 on noise.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 scores 85 vs 68 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Continental VikingContact 7 scores 88 vs 77 on comfort.
Tire A · Continental VikingContact 7
Tire B · Hankook Winter i*cept RS2
More comparisons
Also compared with
Continental VikingContact 7 also compared with
Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 also compared with
How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements) normalized against the best tire in each test and weighted toward recent tests. 40% comes from thousands of owner reviews collected from retailers and review sites. When a tire has only one of the two, we use what exists and say so.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.