83
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
83/100
5 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated May 2026
Hankook Icebear W440 vs Riken Snowtime B2 — Compared (May 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
75
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
78/100
6 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Hankook Icebear W440 — better handling, wet and dry. Pick the Riken Snowtime B2 if treadwear matters most to you.
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Category breakdown
6 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)
Icebear W440 leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | Icebear W440 | Snowtime B2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 82 | 78 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Icebear W440 leads by 19
Why this score
| Source | Icebear W440 | Snowtime B2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 86 | 67 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Icebear W440 | Snowtime B2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | – | 95 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Icebear W440 | Snowtime B2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 88 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Snowtime B2 leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | Icebear W440 | Snowtime B2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 82 | 87 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Icebear W440 leads by 23
Why this score
| Source | Icebear W440 | Snowtime B2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 78 | 55 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Hankook Icebear W440 | Riken Snowtime B2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 83 | 75 |
| Dry | 82 | 78 |
| Wet | 86 | 67 |
| Snow | – | 95 |
| Comfort | 88 | 88 |
| Treadwear | 82 | 87 |
| Handling | 78 | 55 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Recomputed
Headline score
83
/ 100
Tire A
75
/ 100
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Hankook Icebear W440 is widely regarded as a high-value winter tire that offers impressive performance in snow and ice at a competitive price point. While some users note a necessary break-in period where the tires feel initially slippery, the consensus highlights a significant improvement in traction for rear-wheel-drive vehicles in challenging winter conditions.
Pros
- Excellent traction and confidence on snow and ice
- High value-for-money proposition compared to premium brands
- Noticeable performance improvement for rear-wheel-drive vehicles
- Reliable grip on ungritted and steep winter roads
Cons
- Noticeable 'slippery' sensation during the initial 100-mile break-in period
- Performance is strictly categorized as a budget-friendly option rather than a top-tier premium performer
- Mixed feedback on overall refinement compared to more expensive alternatives
Observations
- Users driving rear-wheel-drive platforms, such as the BMW 5 Series and Mazda Eunos, reported a transformative improvement in winter handling.
- The tire is noted for providing sufficient dry and wet grip once the initial break-in phase is complete.
The Riken Snowtime B2 is widely regarded as a competent budget-friendly winter tire that offers surprising value, particularly regarding noise levels and tread longevity. While it provides reliable traction in snow and standing water, users note that its handling limits in dry and wet conditions are lower than premium summer tires, requiring a more cautious driving style.
Pros
- Impressive noise suppression compared to both premium and budget competitors
- Strong snow and slush traction for the price point
- Excellent tread life and durability over multiple seasons
- Noticeable improvements in fuel economy for some users
Cons
- Lower handling limits in dry and wet conditions compared to summer tires
- Potential for sudden loss of grip if pushed too hard in corners
- Increased stopping distances compared to high-performance summer rubber
Observations
- Users noted that downsizing to 16-inch wheels contributed to a cumulative improvement in ride comfort and noise reduction.
- Handling characteristics were significantly influenced by vehicle suspension health, with one user noting that perceived tire instability was actually resolved by replacing rear shocks.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Hankook Icebear W440 | B · Riken Snowtime B2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Touring tires | Winter Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
83
/ 100
Hankook
75
/ 100
Riken
Winner: Hankook Icebear W440 — better handling, wet and dry. Pick the Riken Snowtime B2 if treadwear matters most to you.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Hankook Icebear W440 scores 78 vs 55 on handling.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Hankook Icebear W440 scores 86 vs 67 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Riken Snowtime B2 scores 87 vs 82 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Hankook Icebear W440 scores 82 vs 78 on dry.
Tire A · Hankook Icebear W440
Tire B · Riken Snowtime B2
More comparisons
Also compared with
Hankook Icebear W440 also compared with
Riken Snowtime B2 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.