Hankook has achieved several top results in the latest round of independent tyre tests of winter and all-season tyres. Hankook’s Winter i*cept and Kinergy 4S tyre lines gained several podium finishes in tests by such leading independent testers as ADAC, Auto Bild and Auto Express, scoring particularly highly in the dry and wet as well as in snow.
In the latest ADAC winter tyre test for small SUVs, the Hankook Winter i*cept RS3 in the size 205/60 R16 H came in third overall and second in the driving safety category. It impressed testers in particular for its winter properties: “For anyone planning on doing lots of winter driving, the Hankook Winter i*cept RS3 will serve you very well.”
In ACE’s winter test, Hankook’s Winter i*cept evo 3 X SUV tyre was second of 10, proving its ability in both in minus temperatures at the Ivalo Arctic Center in Finland and in moderate temperatures in Mireval in France. The Hankook Winter i*cept evo 3 X, designed specifically for the popular SUV segment, impressed the testers most of all in the tough braking challenge, where it was the first to come to a stop on a wet road surface with a braking distance of 30.4 metres.
The Winter i*cept evo 3 X in the size 225/60 R18 also performed impressively in the Auto Bild allrad winter tyre test, with a grade of “Good”. Testrs called the tyre balanced, with “impressive winter properties, very good aquaplaning qualities and good value for money.”
Auto Bild also gave the Hankook Winter i*cept evo 3 winter tyre in the size 225/45 R18 for passenger cars a grade of “Good”, while Auto Bild Sportscars gave the Winter i*cept evo 3 in the size 225/40 R18 the rating “Exemplary”. The testers also praised the high aquaplaning safety reserves here. The Hankook tyres came out top in this evaluation. The magazines also praised the good winter qualities and the dynamic dry handling (Auto Bild) as well as the short braking distances both on wet and dry surfaces (Auto Bild Sportscars).
The Hankook Winter i*cept evo 3 achieved good marks in the UK too. The premium tyre in the size 225/45 R17 scored four and a half out of a possible five stars in the winter tyre comparison test by the magazine Auto Express, where it performed particularly well in dry handling and dry braking. The tyre’s wet grip was also impressive.
All-season tyre with top safety, handling and comfort properties
The all-season tyre comparison by Auto Bild allrad in size 235/65 R17 saw the Hankook Kinergy 4S 2 X SUV tyre achieve an “Exemplary” rating. Testers said the tyre is a “proven all-season profile with balanced high performance potential, dynamic wet and snow handling, attractive price.” The Hankook all-season tyre achieved particularly good results for handling on snow as well as driving on the wet circular track. It also impressed when it came to comfort and came top of the competitors in the “pass-by noise” evaluation.
In the all-season tyre test by Auto Zeitung, the Hankook Kinergy 4S 2 in the size 215/55 R17 finished in the top group. It was one of only three tyres to receive the rating “Highly recommended”, and the testers picked it as their sole choice for “Recommended for value for money”. The tyre was particularly strong in the wet evaluation. Testers praised the “balanced presentation” and “good performance” of the Hankook Kinergy 4S 2. In the dry evaluation, they described the all-season tyre as having “impeccable handling right to the limits”. The tyre scored top points in the “driving safety”, “handling” and “slalom” disciplines.
The Hankook Kinergy 4S 2 in the size 225/45 R17 received a score of “Good” in the Auto Bild all-season tyre ranking. Due to the combination of best ratio of price, mileage and rolling resistance as well as good performance in the snow and wet, the testers also awarded it the “EcoMeister” title for optimum ecological properties. In the Auto Bild test, the Hankook Kinergy 4S 2 was up against 15 other tyres. The testers’ verdict on the eco-champion: a “reliable all-season tyre with dependable handling characteristics on snow and ice, snappy steering response, very good mileage.”
