Hankook Winter i cept RS2 vs General Altimax Winter 3
In the 2 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Hankook Winter i cept RS2 finished ahead 2 times and the Altimax Winter 3 not once. The Winter i cept RS2 was stronger in wet and snow.
Performance profile
Their shared tests recorded too few of the same measurements to chart, so the chart starts from each tyre's Tyre Reviews Score categories: its whole record, not shared tests.
Where each scores higher
Winter i cept RS2
Altimax Winter 3
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
Winter i cept RS2
Altimax Winter 3
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Owners rate the Winter i cept RS2 81% from 51 reviews and the Altimax Winter 3 81% from 3. 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 | Winter i cept RS2 | Gap | Altimax Winter 3 | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wet Winter i cept RS2 ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking m | 32.7 | 9.9% | 36.3 | 2-0 |
| Snow Winter i cept RS2 ahead | ||||
| Snow Braking m | 28.2 | 1.4% | 28.6 | 1-0 |
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 2 tests, 2019 to 2021
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 | Winter i cept RS2 | Field | Altimax Winter 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Winter Tyre Market Overview | P3 of 50 | P24 of 50 | |
| 2019 Winter Tyre Test Market Overview | P12 of 53 | P35 of 53 |
Winter i cept RS2 vs Altimax Winter 3: your questions
Is the Hankook Winter i cept RS2 or the General Altimax Winter 3 the better tyre?
In the 2 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Hankook Winter i cept RS2 finished ahead 2 times and the Altimax Winter 3 not once. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Winter i cept RS2 scores 9 and the Altimax Winter 3 7.2 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Winter i cept RS2 or the Altimax Winter 3?
The Winter i cept RS2 led 2 of the 2 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 9.9% shorter in the wet across 2 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The Winter i cept RS2 led 1 of the 1 snow measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 7.4/10 for the Winter i cept RS2 and 8/10 for the Altimax Winter 3.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Winter i cept RS2 81% from 51 reviews and the Altimax Winter 3 81% from 3.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Winter i cept RS2 is made in 43 sizes (13 to 17 inch) and the Altimax Winter 3 in 38 (13 to 19 inch). 19 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Winter i cept RS2 is graded C for wet grip and D for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Altimax Winter 3 C and D.
Which is the newer tyre?
The Winter i cept RS2 is the newer design: it reached the market in 2021, the Altimax Winter 3 in 2017. The Altimax Winter 3 replaced the General Altimax Winter Plus.
More comparisons with these tyres
Run either of these?
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.