Hankook Upper mid-range W462 WINTER I*CEPT RS3
tested in R15 
noise and comfort: only 65 % measured Which sizes it's made in
Select width → profile → rim diameter in turn.
Load index (LI) — You must keep the LI at least as high as stated in the vehicle registration document for the specific tyre size. A higher LI (load index) is permitted by law.
Speed index (SI) — For winter (3PMSF) tyres, the SI may be either higher or lower than stated in the vehicle registration document.
C 
B 
B Price from 22 489 Ft 
M+S 
3PMSF C B B Price from 23 159 Ft M+S 3PMSF C B B Price from 23 935 Ft M+S 3PMSF C B B Price from 24 085 Ft 
Reinforced profile M+S 3PMSF C B B Price from 26 066 Ft M+S 3PMSF C B B Price from 27 940 Ft M+S 3PMSF C B B Price from 32 026 Ft Reinforced profile M+S 3PMSF Price comparison across shops
Current prices for size 195/65 R15.
Prices are indicative and may differ in the shop. Click to go straight to the product.
How the Winter I cept RS3 evaluated
tested in R15 noise and comfort: only 65 % measured 
Snow 71 what it consists of Snow (3)
Wet 90 what it consists of Wet (3)
Dry 59 what it consists of Dry (2)
Ice – what it consists of Ice (1)
Economy 70 what it consists of Economy (2)
Noise and comfort 34 what it consists of Noise and comfort (2)
Zákaznícke recenzie do PTI nevstupujú – PTI stojí na meraniach nezávislých testov; pri pneumatikách s málo testami čiastočne prihliada aj na triedu značky.
Where Hankook W462 Winter i*cept RS3 stands in size 195/65 R15
Compared with 31 tyres in this size — same season and focus. All are on offer and have results from independent tests.
Michelin ALPIN 7 8.9 28 205 Ft Hankook W462 Winter i*cept RS3 8.6 21 534 Ft This tyre 
Dunlop WINTER 8.6 21 786 Ft 
Hankook W452 Winter i*cept RS2 8.4 30 328 Ft 
Kumho WINTERCRAFT WP52+ 8.4 18 744 Ft 
Bf goodrich G-FORCE WINTER2 8.3 24 077 Ft 
Kleber KRISALP HP3 8.1 25 425 Ft 
Vredestein WINTRAC - VW 8.1 25 513 Ft 
Kumho WINTERCRAFT WP52 8.0 32 719 Ft 
Semperit SPEED-GRIP 5 7.9 21 035 Ft 
Uniroyal WINTEREXPERT 7.8 21 064 Ft 
Nokian Tyres SNOWPROOF 2 7.8 25 010 Ft 
Barum POLARIS 6 7.7 20 729 Ft 
Falken EUROWINTER HS02 7.7 21 236 Ft 
Firestone WINTERHAWK 4 7.6 21 112 Ft 
Toyo OBSERVE EWS1 7.6 21 124 Ft 
Nokian Tyres SNOWPROOF 1 7.5 20 627 Ft 
Fulda KRISTALL CONTROL HP 2 7.4 23 929 Ft 
Laufenn LW31 I FIT+ 7.4 19 355 Ft 
Giti GITIWINTER W2 7.2 27 352 Ft 
Radar DIMAX ALPINE 6.9 
Nexen WINGUARD SNOW'G 3 6.8 18 671 Ft 
Debica FRIGO HP 2 6.8 23 170 Ft 
Apollo ALNAC 4G WINTER 6.8 15 906 Ft 
Radar DIMAX WINTER 6.8 29 171 Ft 
Matador MP93 NORDICCA 6.6 19 826 Ft 
Maxxis PREMITRA SNOW WP6 6.6 20 463 Ft 
Nexen WINGUARD SNOW'G WH2 6.5 24 832 Ft 
Triangle WINTERX TW401 6.5 19 818 Ft 
Petlas SNOWMASTER 2 XL BSW M+S 3PMSF 5.3 24 771 Ft 
Goodride SW608 M+S 5.0 27 728 Ft Goodride SW608 M+S 27 728 Ft +6 194 Ft 8.9 best in the group Michelin ALPIN 7 28 205 Ft +6 671 Ft Show all tyres in the ranking (31)
- 1. 8.9 28 205 Ft +6 671 Ft
- 2. 8.6 21 534 Ft
- 2. 8.6 21 786 Ft +252 Ft
- 4. 8.4 30 328 Ft +8 794 Ft
- 4. 8.4 18 744 Ft −2 790 Ft
- 6. 8.3 24 077 Ft +2 543 Ft
- 7. 8.1 25 425 Ft +3 891 Ft
- 7. 8.1 25 513 Ft +3 979 Ft
- 9. 8.0 32 719 Ft +11 185 Ft
- 10. 7.9 21 035 Ft −499 Ft
- 11. 7.8 21 064 Ft −470 Ft
- 11. 7.8 25 010 Ft +3 476 Ft
- 13. 7.7 20 729 Ft −805 Ft
- 13. 7.7 21 236 Ft −298 Ft
- 15. 7.6 21 112 Ft −422 Ft
- 15. 7.6 21 124 Ft −410 Ft
- 17. 7.5 20 627 Ft −907 Ft
- 18. 7.4 23 929 Ft +2 395 Ft
- 18. 7.4 19 355 Ft −2 179 Ft
- 20. 7.2 27 352 Ft +5 818 Ft
- 21. 6.9
- 22. 6.8 18 671 Ft −2 863 Ft
- 22. 6.8 23 170 Ft +1 636 Ft
- 22. 6.8 15 906 Ft −5 628 Ft
- 22. 6.8 29 171 Ft +7 637 Ft
- 26. 6.6 19 826 Ft −1 708 Ft
- 26. 6.6 20 463 Ft −1 071 Ft
- 28. 6.5 24 832 Ft +3 298 Ft
- 28. 6.5 19 818 Ft −1 716 Ft
- 30. 5.3 24 771 Ft +3 237 Ft
- 31. 5.0 27 728 Ft +6 194 Ft
The tyre's real value for money
Lowest price in size 195/65 R15 divided by the estimated mileage from tests and reviews.
Nokian Tyres SNOWPROOF 1 works out cheaper per 100 km, but has a lower overall score (7,5 vs 8,6).
Technical information
Focus: Standard
The largest and best-selling category, and Hankook W462 WINTER I*CEPT RS3 belongs to it. No single property is pushed here at the expense of the others — comfort, grip, noise and tread life keep a sensible balance. For most drivers it is the safest bet: the tyre behaves predictably in the dry and in the wet and covers a decent number of kilometres.
C B B (72 dB) 
3PMSF Áno Competitors
Main competitors in the same price range.
Which tests it appeared in
0× 
2× 
Auto Zeitung 
How the price has evolved
Lowest price across shops for size 195/65 R15.
The lowest available price across the monitored shops is shown. Indicative; may differ in the shop.
What owners say
<p>I drove some 13000 km with them, once they got 3 years old dry rot cracks were already visible in the tread area around the tread blocks, my winter tires before them were Continental TS850 replaced at 10 years old, gave them away to my father, they were made in 2012, still no dry rot cracks in them at 14 years old, but they aren't as grippy as my new Hankooks. However, Continental is a premium class, Hankooks are middle and now I can see why.
What I misjudged about Hankooks is noise above some 95 km/h, it's more the engine getting more noisy similar noise to the tyres humming excessively, once I distinguished that, I can say these Hankooks aren't noisy at all. However, dry rot at just 3 years old is not what I like, I almost wish I paid 80 euros per tyre for premium class instead 60 for these Hankooks, they surely aren't going to last me 10 years due to dry rot. But for now, they do their job well, if you wear out tyres within a few years, they are good tyres</p>
<p>Snow grip is still great, after 3 season, the tyre has great lateral grip and the ice grip is acceptable, compound is still soft. Wet grip is still at a high level. Dry handling is also great. Tyre noise is a bit higher, but nothing weird for a winter tire.</p>
I have used this tyre on my Mazda 3 in the German winter. In my opinion this is the best budget winter tyre you can buy. I have driven this tyre for one season covering 4000miles. The tyre is very noisy in general and washy over 75mph. My review is based on driving this tyre in a semi worn, 3 year old state, only!
Hankook winter I cept RS 3
Size: 205/60R16 92H, DOT23
+ cheap
+ good enough for average drivers
+ acceptable wear and snow performance
- noisy
- bad handling at high speeds (Autobahn)
In the last 2 months of the 4th season, wet grip significantly decreased. I expect it to be a combination of different factors: the temperature was higher than usual for February and March, I had some fast highway driving at higher temperature (170 kmph at approximately 17 degrees C), and of course, the tyre age. Maybe if it were driven in perfect conditions (temp always below 7, less hard push on highway), I suppose it could last one more year. But who knows? So I throw them away after 4 full winters (in my country, every year it is mandatory to have winter tyres from 15.11. to 15.4.) and just 21.500 km on them.
Would I buy it again? Maybe.
If I look for a tyre that will be safe for 3-4 years, I think the RS3 is really a winner. The feeling was great in all conditions for the first 3 and a half years, and the tyre was perfect in any way. In my country, the price is significantly lower than the premium. In my size (185/65/R15), UGP3 is 87 euros, TS870 is 92 euros, and RS3 is 64 euros.
I think I will try UGP3 next just to see how many years it can survive. If it can be safe for 6 years, then it can be cheaper than Hankook per year... Also, I think it is important to mention I don't do many km, so I always need to change tyres just because of their age and not because they are finished.
Edit: In the last 2 months of the 4th season, wet grip significantly decreased. I expect it to be a combination of different factors: the temperature was higher than usual for February and March, I had some fast highway driving at higher temperature (170 kmph at approximately 17 degrees C), and of course, the tyre age. Maybe if it were driven in perfect conditions (temp always below 7, less hard push on highway), I suppose it could last one more year. But who knows? So I throw them away after 4 full winters (in my country, every year it is mandatory to have winter tyres from 15.11. to 15.4.) and just 21.500 km on them.
Would I buy it again? Maybe.
If I look for a tyre that will be safe for 3-4 years, I think the RS3 is really a winner. The feeling was great in all conditions for the first 3 and a half years, and the tyre was perfect in any way. In my country, the price is significantly lower than the premium. In my size (185/65/R15), UGP3 is 87 euros, TS870 is 92 euros, and RS3 is 64 euros.
I think I will try UGP3 next just to see how many years it can survive. If it can be safe for 6 years, then it can be cheaper than Hankook per year... Also, I think it is important to mention I don't do many km, so I always need to change tyres just because of their age and not because they are finished.