75
/ 100
Objective (60%)
58/100
5 professional tests
User signal (40%)
83/100
5 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 vs Yokohama IceGUARD Stud iG55 — 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
80
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
83/100
2 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Yokohama IceGUARD Stud iG55 — better dry and wet. Pick the Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 if treadwear, handling 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)
IceGUARD Stud iG55 leads by 51
Why this score
| Source | Winter i*pike RS2 | IceGUARD Stud iG55 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 1 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 70 | 80 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
IceGUARD Stud iG55 leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | Winter i*pike RS2 | IceGUARD Stud iG55 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 82 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 82 | 85 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
IceGUARD Stud iG55 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | Winter i*pike RS2 | IceGUARD Stud iG55 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 83 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 95 | 90 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Winter i*pike RS2 leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | Winter i*pike RS2 | IceGUARD Stud iG55 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 56 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 76 | 60 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Winter i*pike RS2 | IceGUARD Stud iG55 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 89 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Winter i*pike RS2 leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | Winter i*pike RS2 | IceGUARD Stud iG55 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 85 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Winter i*pike RS2 leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | Winter i*pike RS2 | IceGUARD Stud iG55 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 75 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 | Yokohama IceGUARD Stud iG55 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 75 | 80 |
| Dry | 29 | 80 |
| Wet | 82 | 85 |
| Snow | 88 | 90 |
| Comfort | 64 | 60 |
| Noise | 89 | – |
| Treadwear | 90 | 85 |
| Handling | 80 | 75 |
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
75
/ 100
Tire A
80
/ 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 Winter i*pike RS2 is widely regarded as a high-value, performance-oriented winter tire that excels in severe ice and snow conditions. Users consistently praise its robust stud retention and predictable handling, positioning it as a competitive alternative to premium European brands.
Pros
- Exceptional traction and braking performance on ice and packed snow
- High-quality stud retention and long-term durability
- Predictable side grip and cornering stability
- Excellent value-to-performance ratio
Cons
- Vague steering feedback on dry tarmac
- Noticeable understeer when driving on dry road surfaces
- Performance on dry pavement does not match the precision of premium summer-oriented winter tires
Observations
- Long-term users report that the rubber compound remains malleable and effective even after multiple seasons of harsh Nordic winters.
- The tire maintains consistent performance characteristics across various vehicle types, including those with higher horsepower outputs.
The Yokohama IceGUARD Stud iG55 is highly regarded for its robust performance in severe winter conditions, offering reliable traction on snow, ice, and slush. While users praise its winter capabilities, they note that the tire's soft compound and stud configuration result in increased road noise and reduced handling precision on dry pavement.
Pros
- Excellent grip and traction on snow and ice
- Strong performance in slushy conditions
- Durable tread life over multiple seasons
- Effective stud retention during normal driving
Cons
- High levels of road noise on dry or wet tarmac
- Increased stopping distances on dry surfaces
- Noticeable tire flex or 'tilting' during spirited cornering
- Potential for stud loss under heavy driving conditions
Observations
- Users report that the tire's performance is particularly enhanced when paired with 4x4 drivetrain systems.
- The soft compound is noted to be more noticeable during city driving and maneuvers over uneven surfaces like tram tracks.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 | B · Yokohama IceGUARD Stud iG55 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Premium Touring Winter tire | Winter Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
75
/ 100
Hankook
80
/ 100
Yokohama
Winner: Yokohama IceGUARD Stud iG55 — better dry and wet. Pick the Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 if treadwear, handling and comfort matter most to you.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Yokohama IceGUARD Stud iG55 scores 80 vs 29 on dry.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 scores 90 vs 85 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 scores 80 vs 75 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 scores 64 vs 60 on comfort.
Tire A · Hankook Winter i*pike RS2
Tire B · Yokohama IceGUARD Stud iG55
More comparisons
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Hankook Winter i*pike RS2 also compared with
Yokohama IceGUARD Stud iG55 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.