Hankook Winter I*cept iZ2 W616 review
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.
Owners rate it 16.3 points higher than the instrumented road tests do — see the two score breakdowns below for where they disagree.
Two scoring systems, side by side
Owner scores come from reviews on retailer and review sites; road-test scores come from instrumented tests. Where they disagree, it is usually a discipline owners rarely push to the limit.
By owner reviews
84%By road tests
67.7%What owners like and dislike
Themes extracted from 5 owner reviews across retailers and review sites.
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
Worth knowing
- 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.
4 published test appearances
Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.
2024 Nordic Friction Winter tire Test · 225/45 R17
5th of 8
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Handling | 6th of 8 | |
| Snow Traction | 3rd of 8 | |
| Snow Handling | 5th of 8 | |
| Ice Handling | 6th of 8 | |
| Straight Aqua | 5th of 8 | |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 4th of 8 | |
| Noise | 2nd of 8 | |
| Ice Traction | 5th of 8 | |
| Fuel Consumption | 4th of 8 |
2021 Studless and Studded Winter tire Test · 205/55 R16
10th of 16
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 9th of 16 | |
| Wet Handling | 10th of 16 | |
| Dry Braking | 9th of 16 | |
| Snow Braking | 14th of 16 | |
| Snow Traction | 11th of 16 | |
| Snow Handling | 13th of 16 | |
| Ice Braking | 15th of 16 | |
| Ice Handling | 14th of 16 | |
| Ice Traction | 15th of 16 | |
| Subj. Noise | 5th of 16 | |
| Price | 6th of 16 |
2020 Consumer Reports North America Winter tire Test · 215/60 R16
3rd of 17
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|
2020 Nordic and Studded Winter tire Test · 205/55 R16
12th of 20
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 14th of 20 | |
| Wet Handling | 4th of 20 | |
| Dry Braking | 13th of 20 | |
| Snow Braking | 12th of 20 | |
| Snow Traction | 13th of 20 | |
| Snow Handling | 10th of 20 | |
| Ice Braking | 12th of 20 | |
| Ice Handling | 16th of 20 | |
| Ice Traction | 16th of 20 | |
| Subj. Noise | 11th of 20 |