85
/ 100
Objective (60%)
90/100
20 professional tests
User signal (40%)
86/100
22 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Hankook Winter i cept evo3 vs Hankook Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 — 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
78
/ 100
Objective (60%)
68/100
3 professional tests
User signal (40%)
84/100
5 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Hankook Winter i cept evo3 — better wet, dry and treadwear. Pick the Hankook Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 if comfort and snow 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 evo3 leads by 18
Why this score
| Source | Winter i cept evo3 | Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 89 | 59 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 88 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 99% | 96% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Winter i cept evo3 leads by 19
Why this score
| Source | Winter i cept evo3 | Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 85 | 64 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 74 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 89% | 77% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 91% | 97% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | Winter i cept evo3 | Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 77 | 83 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 93 | 96 |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 95% | 98% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 97% | 92% |
| Snow Traction (% of best) | 100% | 96% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 leads by 12
Why this score
| Source | Winter i cept evo3 | Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 81 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 77 | 92 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Winter i cept evo3 leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | Winter i cept evo3 | Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 81 | 77 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Winter i cept evo3 leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | Winter i cept evo3 | Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 78 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Winter i cept evo3 leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | Winter i cept evo3 | Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 83 | 82 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Hankook Winter i cept evo3 | Hankook Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 85 | 78 |
| Dry | 89 | 71 |
| Wet | 87 | 68 |
| Snow | 84 | 88 |
| Comfort | 80 | 92 |
| Noise | 81 | 77 |
| Treadwear | 88 | 78 |
| Handling | 83 | 82 |
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.
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Recomputed
Headline score
85
/ 100
Tire A
78
/ 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 | 99% #4/6 · 2025 High Performance Winter Tyre Test | 96% #13/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +3.2 | Different tests |
| Fuel Consumption | Fuel | 95% #10/31 · 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test | 96% #4/8 · 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | -1.4 | Different tests |
| Ice Braking | Ice | 87% #21/31 · 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test | 87% #12/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +0.5 | Different tests |
| Ice Traction | Ice | 87% #3/6 · The BEST Performance Winter Tyres for 2024 / 2025 | 85% #5/8 · 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | +2.4 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 99% #18/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tyre Test | 98% #2/8 · 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | +0.8 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 75% #3/6 · 2023/24 Tyre Reviews UHP Winter Tyre Test | 69% #6/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +6.2 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 7% #14/51 · 2025 Winter Tyre Braking Test - 52 Sets! | 8% #12/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | -1.2 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 95% #13/31 · 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test | 98% #12/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | -3.2 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 97% #5/10 · 2022 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | 92% #10/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +5.1 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 100% #10/10 · 2024 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test | 96% #3/8 · 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | +3.8 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 100% #1/11 · 2023 Sports Cars Winter Tyre Test | 73% #5/8 · 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | +27.4 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 89% #11/54 · 2023 Winter Tyre Test 54 Set Braking Test | 77% #14/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +12.1 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 91% #2/9 · 2021 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test | 97% #4/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | -6.4 | Different tests |
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Hankook Winter i cept evo3 is widely regarded as a high-performance winter tire that offers exceptional value, frequently outperforming more expensive premium brands in wet and snowy conditions. While most users praise its balanced handling and impressive aquaplaning resistance, a small minority of drivers report concerns regarding ride comfort and noise levels.
Pros
- Exceptional wet weather performance and aquaplaning resistance
- Strong traction and confidence-inspiring grip in deep snow and ice
- Excellent value-for-money proposition compared to premium competitors
- Stable and predictable handling on dry and cold pavement
Cons
- Reports of increased road noise compared to summer tires
- Mixed feedback regarding ride comfort, with some users finding them stiff
- Occasional reports of suboptimal launch traction in wet conditions
Observations
- Drivers of performance-oriented vehicles (e.g., Ford Puma ST) noted that the tire maintains sporty characteristics without significant compromise.
- Users with AWD vehicles (e.g., Audi A4 Allroad) highlighted superior stability in deep water and snow, though some RWD users noted the importance of fitting all four tires to prevent rear-end instability.
The Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616 is widely regarded as a high-value winter tire that excels in deep snow and provides a comfortable, communicative driving experience. While it offers impressive traction in wintry conditions, users note that its performance is less refined on ice and that the compound is prone to accelerated wear when used in dry, warmer conditions.
Pros
- Exceptional traction and plowing capability in deep snow
- High level of ride comfort and stability during long-distance driving
- Excellent steering feedback and surface communication
- Strong value proposition relative to price
Cons
- Rapid tread wear when driven on dry pavement
- Limited grip and confidence on icy surfaces
- Reduced performance and stability during aggressive driving maneuvers
- Not optimized for regions with infrequent snowfall
Observations
- Users report the tire is well-suited for city driving and daily commuting rather than high-performance or aggressive driving styles.
- The tire's soft compound provides a comfortable ride but necessitates careful driving in dry, non-winter conditions to preserve tread life.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Hankook Winter i cept evo3 | B · Hankook Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Ultra High Performance tires | Premium Touring Winter tire |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
85
/ 100
Hankook
78
/ 100
Hankook
Winner: Hankook Winter i cept evo3 — better wet, dry and treadwear. Pick the Hankook Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 if comfort and snow matter most to you.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Hankook Winter i cept evo3 scores 87 vs 68 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Hankook Winter i cept evo3 scores 89 vs 71 on dry.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Hankook Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 scores 92 vs 80 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Hankook Winter i cept evo3 scores 88 vs 78 on treadwear.
Tire A · Hankook Winter i cept evo3
Tire B · Hankook Winter I*cept iZ2 W616
More comparisons
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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.