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 September 2026
Hankook Icebear W440 vs Pirelli P Zero PZ4 — 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
74
/ 100
Objective (60%)
90/100
24 professional tests
User signal (40%)
74/100
99 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Hankook Icebear W440 — better treadwear, comfort and wet. Pick the Pirelli P Zero PZ4 if dry and handling matter 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)
P Zero PZ4 leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | Icebear W440 | P Zero PZ4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 87 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 91 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 82 | 87 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Icebear W440 leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | Icebear W440 | P Zero PZ4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 85 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 82 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 86 | 75 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Icebear W440 leads by 18
Why this score
| Source | Icebear W440 | P Zero PZ4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 70 |
| Tire Rack owners | – | 83 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 69 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Icebear W440 | P Zero PZ4 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 73 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Icebear W440 leads by 23
Why this score
| Source | Icebear W440 | P Zero PZ4 |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | – | 64 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 82 | 58 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
P Zero PZ4 leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | Icebear W440 | P Zero PZ4 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 78 | 82 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Hankook Icebear W440 | Pirelli P Zero PZ4 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 83 | 74 |
| Dry | 82 | 87 |
| Wet | 86 | 81 |
| Comfort | 88 | 70 |
| Noise | – | 73 |
| Treadwear | 82 | 59 |
| Handling | 78 | 82 |
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
83
/ 100
Tire A
74
/ 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 Pirelli P Zero PZ4 is widely regarded as a high-performance summer tire that excels in dry handling, steering precision, and feedback. While many users praise its sporty character and comfort, consensus is divided regarding its longevity and wet-weather performance, with several reports indicating that grip levels drop significantly as the tread wears or temperatures fall.
Pros
- Exceptional dry grip and handling precision
- Excellent steering feedback and road communication
- High level of acoustic comfort and ride refinement for a UHP tire
- Effective rim protection design
- Strong performance when at optimal operating temperature
Cons
- Rapid tread wear and short lifespan
- Reduced performance and increased noise as tread depth decreases
- Poor grip and potential for aquaplaning in cold or wet conditions
- Susceptibility to sidewall damage or bulging from road hazards
- High price point relative to durability
Observations
- Users with high-torque EVs and performance sedans (e.g., BMW M-series, Audi RS) report significantly faster rear-axle tread wear.
- OEM-specific versions (e.g., HN for Hyundai, MO for Mercedes) show varied performance characteristics, with some users finding specific manufacturer-tuned compounds to be harsher or more temperature-sensitive.
- Drivers of heavy vehicles noted that the tire's performance is highly dependent on maintaining proper heat, which can be difficult to achieve in daily driving conditions.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Hankook Icebear W440 | B · Pirelli P Zero PZ4 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Touring tires | Summer Max Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
83
/ 100
Hankook
74
/ 100
Pirelli
Winner: Hankook Icebear W440 — better treadwear, comfort and wet. Pick the Pirelli P Zero PZ4 if dry and handling matter most to you.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Hankook Icebear W440 scores 82 vs 59 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Hankook Icebear W440 scores 88 vs 70 on comfort.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Hankook Icebear W440 scores 86 vs 81 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Pirelli P Zero PZ4 scores 87 vs 82 on dry.
Tire A · Hankook Icebear W440
Tire B · Pirelli P Zero PZ4
More comparisons
Also compared with
Hankook Icebear W440 also compared with
Pirelli P Zero PZ4 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.