Nokian WR D4 vs Hankook Winter i cept RS2
In the 14 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Nokian WR D4 finished ahead 8 times and the Winter i cept RS2 6 times. The WR D4 was stronger in snow and value, the Winter i cept RS2 in wet.
Performance profile
9 measurements from the 14 shared tests, each tyre shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
WR D4
Winter i cept RS2
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
In each test the better of the two figures counts as 100% and the other as its share of it, so a 36 m stop against 34.2 m is 95%; each spoke averages the shared tests that recorded it. The scale stops at 92%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 1 measurement recorded in only one shared test is left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
WR D4
Winter i cept RS2
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Category scores are percentiles among tyres of the same season and class: 90 means this tyre out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
Where owners rate each higher
WR D4
Winter i cept RS2
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Owners rate the WR D4 78% from 73 reviews and the Winter i cept RS2 81% from 50. Each spoke is one question owners answer out of 10; reviews are vetted by hand before publication.
Every measurement, side by side
Averages of the figures both tyres posted in the same tests. The gap is the average of each test's own gap, so figures from different cars and years are never mixed. Wins count the tests in which each tyre did better.
| Measurement | WR D4 | Gap | Winter i cept RS2 | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Level | ||||
| Dry Braking m | 44.15 | 2.6% | 45.35 | 2-0 |
| Dry Handling km/h | 110.5 | 1.7% | 112.4 | 0-2 |
| Wet Winter i cept RS2 ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking m | 36.85 | 8.2% | 33.85 | 0-2 |
| Wet Handling km/h | 69.85 | 3.2% | 72.1 | 0-2 |
| Straight Aqua km/h | 76.5 | 7.7% | 82.35 | 0-2 |
| Snow WR D4 ahead | ||||
| Snow Braking m | 26.6 | 2.6% | 27.3 | 2-0 |
| Snow Handling km/h | 54.65 | 0.1% | 54.75 | 1-1 |
| Comfort Level | ||||
| Noise dB | 69.25 | 0.5 dB | 69.75 | 1-1 |
| Value WR D4 ahead | ||||
| Wear km | 47,700 | 25.5% | 59,850 | 0-1 |
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 7.38 | 20.8% | 9.32 | 2-0 |
Braking distances and lap times are better when lower; speeds, wear and grip figures when higher. A test's figures are its own: sizes, cars, surfaces and temperatures differ from one to the next, which is why the averages here are only ever of tests the two tyres shared.
Head to head in 14 tests, 2016 to 2019
Each row is one published test in which both tyres ran on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The line is the whole field, winner on the left.
| Test | WR D4 | Field | Winter i cept RS2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 ADAC 185/65 R15 Winter Tyre Test | P9 of 16 | P4 of 16 | |
| 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | P3 of 11 | P4 of 11 | |
| 2018 Auto Express Winter Tyre Test | P7 of 9 | P3 of 9 | |
| 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | P9 of 20 | P5 of 20 | |
| 2018 51 Winter Tyre Shootout | P14 of 52 | P4 of 52 | |
| 2017 50 Winter Tyre Shoot Out | P11 of 50 | P20 of 50 | |
| 2017 ADAC SUV Winter Tyre Test - 215/65 R16 | P4 of 16 | P14 of 16 | |
| 2017 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 195/65 R15 | P11 of 16 | P6 of 16 | |
| 2017 Auto Express Winter Tyre Test | P5 of 8 | P2 of 8 | |
| 2016 Auto Express Winter Tyre Test | P2 of 8 | P8 of 8 | |
| 2016 AutoBild Winter Tyre Test | P7 of 20 | P8 of 20 | |
| 2016 Winter Tyre Market Overview | P7 of 49 | P14 of 49 | |
| 2016 AZ Winter Tyre Test - 205/55 R16 | P2 of 14 | P8 of 14 | |
| 2016 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | P3 of 15 | P6 of 15 |
WR D4 vs Winter i cept RS2: your questions
Is the Nokian WR D4 or the Hankook Winter i cept RS2 the better tyre?
In the 14 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Nokian WR D4 finished ahead 8 times and the Winter i cept RS2 6 times. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the WR D4 scores 8.5 and the Winter i cept RS2 9 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the WR D4 or the Winter i cept RS2?
The Winter i cept RS2 led 6 of the 6 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 8.2% shorter in the wet across 2 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
Across the shared tests the dry measurements are split 2-2 between the WR D4 and the Winter i cept RS2.
Which is better in snow?
The WR D4 led 3 of the 4 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 2.6% shorter on snow across 2 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The WR D4 had 20.8% lower rolling resistance (2 tests). Owners rate wear 6.8/10 for the WR D4 and 8.5/10 for the Winter i cept RS2.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 8.3/10 for the WR D4 and 7.5/10 for the Winter i cept RS2.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the WR D4 78% from 73 reviews and the Winter i cept RS2 81% from 50. 69% of WR D4 owners would buy it again, against 80% for the Winter i cept RS2.
Which is more expensive?
In the 2 tests that listed prices, the WR D4 was the dearer tyre in 2 of them, by 7.3% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The WR D4 is made in 32 sizes (13 to 18 inch) and the Winter i cept RS2 in 43 (13 to 17 inch). 18 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the WR D4 is graded B for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Winter i cept RS2 C and D.
Which is the newer tyre?
The Winter i cept RS2 is the newer design: it reached the market in 2021, the WR D4 in 2015. The WR D4 replaced the Nokian WR D3.
More comparisons with these tyres
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Your review is the part of this page no test can supply: how the tyre wore, how it aged, what it was like in the rain in year three. It takes about five minutes.
Where this data comes from
Finishing positions and measurements are transcribed from each published test. A test only counts here when both tyres ran in it, so every figure was recorded on the same car, size and day as the one it is compared to.
About the TR Score
The Tyre Reviews Score rates each tyre out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tyres can be compared even before a test has run them together.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tyre Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tyres independently since 2007.