89
/ 100
Objective (60%)
76/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
92/100
10 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Dunlop Winter Response 2 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
83
/ 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: Dunlop Winter Response 2 — better comfort, snow and wet. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Read full
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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 1
Why this score
| Source | Winter Response 2 | Winter i*cept RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 89 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 86 | 84 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Winter Response 2 leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | Winter Response 2 | Winter i*cept RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 94 | 86 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 84 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 98% | 96% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Winter Response 2 leads by 12
Why this score
| Source | Winter Response 2 | Winter i*cept RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 94 | 87 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 100 | 81 |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 99% | 97% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Winter Response 2 leads by 16
Why this score
| Source | Winter Response 2 | Winter i*cept RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 78 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 93 | 75 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Winter Response 2 | Winter i*cept RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 63 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Winter Response 2 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | Winter Response 2 | Winter i*cept RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 87 | 85 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Winter Response 2 leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | Winter Response 2 | Winter i*cept RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 82 | 79 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop Winter Response 2 | Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 89 | 83 |
| Dry | 86 | 87 |
| Wet | 92 | 85 |
| Snow | 96 | 84 |
| Comfort | 93 | 77 |
| Noise | – | 63 |
| Treadwear | 87 | 85 |
| Handling | 82 | 79 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
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Recomputed
Headline score
89
/ 100
Tire A
83
/ 100
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
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? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 100% #1/51 · 2025 Winter Tyre Braking Test - 52 Sets! | 25% #4/51 · 2018 51 Winter Tyre Shootout | +75 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 99% #3/31 · 2025 Winter Tyre Braking Test - 52 Sets! | 97% #7/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +1.7 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 98% #3/51 · 2025 Winter Tyre Braking Test - 52 Sets! | 96% #2/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +1.7 | Different tests |
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Dunlop Winter Response 2 is widely regarded as a top-tier winter tire, consistently praised for its exceptional traction in snow and wet conditions. Users frequently highlight its balanced performance, noting that it maintains impressive grip and low noise levels even in dry, cold weather, making it a strong value proposition in the premium winter segment.
Pros
- Outstanding traction and confidence in deep snow and icy conditions.
- Excellent wet weather grip and handling stability.
- Low road noise levels, even at motorway speeds.
- Strong value for money compared to other premium winter offerings.
Cons
- Some reports of faster-than-expected tread wear.
- Noticeable sidewall roll during cornering at higher speeds.
- Inconsistent performance ratings across different tire widths in independent testing.
Observations
- Users noted that the tire remains remarkably quiet on smaller vehicles like the Renault Clio, particularly in 185/55 R15 sizing.
- Longevity appears sufficient for moderate usage, with one user reporting 46,000 km of service while maintaining 4mm of tread depth.
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 · Dunlop Winter Response 2 | B · Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Premium Touring Winter tire |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
89
/ 100
Dunlop
83
/ 100
Hankook
Winner: Dunlop Winter Response 2 — better comfort, snow and wet. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Dunlop Winter Response 2 scores 93 vs 77 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Dunlop Winter Response 2 scores 96 vs 84 on snow.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Dunlop Winter Response 2 scores 92 vs 85 on wet.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Dunlop Winter Response 2 scores 82 vs 79 on handling.
Tire A · Dunlop Winter Response 2
Tire B · Hankook Winter i*cept RS2
More comparisons
Also compared with
Dunlop Winter Response 2 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.