Hankook Winter I cept RS3 vs Semperit Speed Grip 5
Across sizes from 16-17 inch, results are tight, yet patterns emerge. Semperit posts higher overall placings more often and repeatedly impresses on value and longevity. Hankook counters with consistently superior aquaplaning resistance and more confidence on wet and snow handling. If you drive through frequent standing water or mixed winter slush, the Hankook's security net stands out; if you prize low cost per mile and crisp braking, the Semperit makes a compelling case.
Test Results
Independent comparison tyre tests are the best source of data to get tyre information from, and the good news is there have been six tests which compare both tyres directly!
| Tyre | Test Wins | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Hankook Winter I cept RS3 | two | |
| Semperit Speed Grip 5 | four |
While it might look like the Semperit Speed Grip 5 is better than the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 purely based on the higher number of test wins, tyres are very complicated objects which means where one tyre is better than the other can be more important in real world use.
Let's look at how the two tyres compare across multiple tyre test categories.
Key Strengths
- Outstanding straight-line aquaplaning resistance (wins 5/5 shared straight-aqua head-to-heads)
- Consistently strong wet and snow handling balance with precise feel
- Competitive wear with low abrasion and good efficiency
- Sporty, predictable behavior across conditions
- Frequent overall test podiums with strong dry/wet braking performance
- Very good mileage and low rolling resistance (lower cost per mile)
- Solid aquaplaning in curves and good all-weather versatility
- Compelling value pricing versus performance
Dry Braking
Looking at data from five tyre tests, the Semperit Speed Grip 5 was better during two dry braking tests. On average the Semperit Speed Grip 5 stopped the vehicle in 0.28% less distance than the Hankook Winter I cept RS3.
Best In Dry Braking: Semperit Speed Grip 5
See how the Dry Braking winner was calculated >>
Dry Handling [s]
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Semperit Speed Grip 5 was better during one dry handling [s] tests. On average the Semperit Speed Grip 5 was 0.5% faster around a lap than the Hankook Winter I cept RS3.
Best In Dry Handling [s]: Semperit Speed Grip 5
See how the Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Dry Handling [Km/H]
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 was better during one dry handling [km/h] tests. On average the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 was 0.64% faster around a lap than the Semperit Speed Grip 5.
Best In Dry Handling [Km/H]: Hankook Winter I cept RS3
See how the Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Dry Handling
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Semperit Speed Grip 5 was better during one subj. dry handling tests. On average the Semperit Speed Grip 5 scored 10.53% more points than the Hankook Winter I cept RS3.
Best In Subj. Dry Handling: Semperit Speed Grip 5
See how the Subj. Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Braking
Looking at data from six tyre tests, the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 was better during three wet braking tests. On average the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 stopped the vehicle in 2.54% less distance than the Semperit Speed Grip 5.
Best In Wet Braking: Hankook Winter I cept RS3
See how the Wet Braking winner was calculated >>
Wet Braking - Concrete
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Semperit Speed Grip 5 was better during one wet braking - concrete tests. On average the Semperit Speed Grip 5 stopped the vehicle in 2.9% less distance than the Hankook Winter I cept RS3.
Best In Wet Braking - Concrete: Semperit Speed Grip 5
See how the Wet Braking - Concrete winner was calculated >>
Wet Handling [s]
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 was better during one wet handling [s] tests. On average the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 was 3.33% faster around a wet lap than the Semperit Speed Grip 5.
Best In Wet Handling [s]: Hankook Winter I cept RS3
See how the Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Handling [Km/H]
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 was better during two wet handling [km/h] tests. On average the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 was 2.02% faster around a wet lap than the Semperit Speed Grip 5.
Best In Wet Handling [Km/H]: Hankook Winter I cept RS3
See how the Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Wet Handling
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 and Semperit Speed Grip 5 performed equally well in subj. wet handling tests.
Best In Subj. Wet Handling: Both tyres performed equally well
See how the Subj. Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Circle
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Semperit Speed Grip 5 was better during one wet circle tests. On average the Semperit Speed Grip 5 was 0.4% faster around a wet circle than the Hankook Winter I cept RS3.
Best In Wet Circle: Semperit Speed Grip 5
See how the Wet Circle winner was calculated >>
Straight Aqua
Looking at data from five tyre tests, the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 was better during five straight aqua tests. On average the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 floated at a 1.45% higher speed than the Semperit Speed Grip 5.
Best In Straight Aqua: Hankook Winter I cept RS3
See how the Straight Aqua winner was calculated >>
Curved Aquaplaning
Looking at data from five tyre tests, the Semperit Speed Grip 5 was better during two curved aquaplaning tests. On average the Semperit Speed Grip 5 slipped out at a 2.88% higher speed than the Hankook Winter I cept RS3.
Best In Curved Aquaplaning: Semperit Speed Grip 5
See how the Curved Aquaplaning winner was calculated >>
Snow Braking
Looking at data from six tyre tests, the Semperit Speed Grip 5 was better during two snow braking tests. On average the Semperit Speed Grip 5 stopped the vehicle in 0.22% less distance than the Hankook Winter I cept RS3.
Best In Snow Braking: Semperit Speed Grip 5
See how the Snow Braking winner was calculated >>
Snow Traction
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 was better during one snow traction tests. On average the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 accelerated 9.26% faster than the Semperit Speed Grip 5.
Best In Snow Traction: Hankook Winter I cept RS3
See how the Snow Traction winner was calculated >>
Snow Traction
Looking at data from four tyre tests, the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 was better during three snow traction tests. On average the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 had 0.54% better snow traction than the Semperit Speed Grip 5.
Best In Snow Traction: Hankook Winter I cept RS3
See how the Snow Traction winner was calculated >>
Snow Handling [s]
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 was better during one snow handling [s] tests. On average the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 was 2.49% faster around a lap than the Semperit Speed Grip 5.
Best In Snow Handling [s]: Hankook Winter I cept RS3
See how the Snow Handling winner was calculated >>
Snow Handling [Km/H]
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 and Semperit Speed Grip 5 performed equally well in snow handling [km/h] tests.
Best In Snow Handling [Km/H]: Both tyres performed equally well
See how the Snow Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Snow Handling
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 was better during one subj. snow handling tests. On average the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 scored 10% more points than the Semperit Speed Grip 5.
Best In Subj. Snow Handling: Hankook Winter I cept RS3
See how the Subj. Snow Handling winner was calculated >>
Snow Slalom
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 was better during two snow slalom tests. On average the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 was 1.13% faster through a slalom than the Semperit Speed Grip 5.
Best In Snow Slalom: Hankook Winter I cept RS3
See how the Snow Slalom winner was calculated >>
Ice Braking
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Semperit Speed Grip 5 was better during one ice braking tests. On average the Semperit Speed Grip 5 stopped the vehicle 0.26% shorter than the Hankook Winter I cept RS3.
Best In Ice Braking: Semperit Speed Grip 5
See how the Ice Braking winner was calculated >>
Subj. Comfort
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 and Semperit Speed Grip 5 performed equally well in subj. comfort tests.
Best In Subj. Comfort: Both tyres performed equally well
See how the Subj. Comfort winner was calculated >>
Noise
Looking at data from three tyre tests, the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 was better during two noise tests. On average the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 measured 0.6% quieter than the Semperit Speed Grip 5.
Best In Noise: Hankook Winter I cept RS3
See how the Noise winner was calculated >>
Noise
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Semperit Speed Grip 5 was better during one noise tests. On average the Semperit Speed Grip 5 measured 0.43% quieter than the Hankook Winter I cept RS3.
Best In Noise: Semperit Speed Grip 5
See how the Noise winner was calculated >>
Wear
Looking at data from four tyre tests, the Semperit Speed Grip 5 was better during three wear tests. On average the Semperit Speed Grip 5 is predicted to cover 7.59% miles before reaching 1.6mm than the Hankook Winter I cept RS3.
Best In Wear: Semperit Speed Grip 5
See how the Wear winner was calculated >>
Value
Looking at data from three tyre tests, the Semperit Speed Grip 5 was better during three value tests. On average the Semperit Speed Grip 5 proved to have a 9.01% better value based on price/1000km than the Hankook Winter I cept RS3.
Best In Value: Semperit Speed Grip 5
See how the Value winner was calculated >>
Price
Looking at data from three tyre tests, the Semperit Speed Grip 5 was better during two price tests. On average the Semperit Speed Grip 5 cost 0.45% less than the Hankook Winter I cept RS3.
Best In Price: Semperit Speed Grip 5
See how the Price winner was calculated >>
Rolling Resistance
Looking at data from three tyre tests, the Semperit Speed Grip 5 was better during two rolling resistance tests. On average the Semperit Speed Grip 5 had a 7.45% lower rolling resistance than the Hankook Winter I cept RS3.
Best In Rolling Resistance: Semperit Speed Grip 5
See how the Rolling Resistance winner was calculated >>
Fuel Consumption
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Semperit Speed Grip 5 was better during one fuel consumption tests. On average the Semperit Speed Grip 5 used 1.72% less fuel than the Hankook Winter I cept RS3.
Best In Fuel Consumption: Semperit Speed Grip 5
See how the Fuel Consumption winner was calculated >>
Abrasion
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Semperit Speed Grip 5 was better during one abrasion tests. On average the Semperit Speed Grip 5 emitted 1.83% less particle wear matter than the Hankook Winter I cept RS3.
Best In Abrasion: Semperit Speed Grip 5
See how the Abrasion winner was calculated >>
Real World Driver Reviews
Tyre Reviews also collects real world driver reviews for the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 and Semperit Speed Grip 5.
In total the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 has been reviewed 20 times and drivers have given the tyre 77% overall.
The Semperit Speed Grip 5 has been reviewed 2 times and drivers have given the tyre 89% overall.
This means in real world driving, people prefer the Semperit Speed Grip 5.
First season/initial thoughts:
Dry roads - car was predictible, tyres felt a little bit softer and less responsive, in comparision with summer tyres (in my case it's 195/55 R15 2020's Michelin Energy Saver+), but it's a winter tyre, so it's absolutly normal to have a slightly different feeling in steering response or... Continue reading this review using the link below
Conclusion
Choose the Semperit Speed-Grip 5 if you prioritize braking, economy and long life, and mostly face typical cold, damp or light-snow conditions. Choose the Hankook Winter i*cept RS3 if aquaplaning security, predictable wet/snow handling and all-weather confidence matter most, especially on routes prone to standing water. The practical takeaway: Semperit saves you more over the life of the tyre; Hankook buys you extra margin when conditions get messy.
Key Differences
- Aquaplaning: Hankook leads decisively in straight aquaplaning; Semperit has occasional wins in curved aquaplaning.
- Braking profile: Semperit often stops shorter in dry and wet; Hankook counters with some standout wet-braking wins (e.g., 2023 ADAC, TR 2022).
- Handling: Hankook is more composed and predictable in wet and snow handling; Semperit shows minor precision/understeer downsides on dry/wet in some tests.
- Snow balance: Mixed-Hankook stronger in traction/handling; Semperit takes some snow braking wins.
- Efficiency & longevity: Semperit typically delivers longer wear and lower rolling resistance.
- Value: Semperit usually cheaper per 1,000 km; Hankook trades value for added safety margin in heavy rain/slush.
Overall Winner: Semperit Speed Grip 5
Based on the tyre test data and user reviews we have in our database, the Semperit Speed Grip 5 has demonstrated better overall performance in this comparison. However, as you can see from the spider diagram above, each tyre has its own strengths which should be considered in your final tyre buying choice.Similar Comparisons
Looking for more tyre comparisons? Here are other direct comparisons involving these tyres:
Footnote
This page has been developed using tyre industry testing best practices. This means we are only comparing tests which have had both tyres in the same test.
Why is this important? Tyre testing is heavily affected by things like surface grip levels and surface temperature, which means you can only compare values from the same day. During a tyre test external condition changes are calculated into the overall results, but it is not possible to calculate this between tyre tests performed on different days or at different locations.
As a result you will see other tests on Tyre Reviews which feature both the %s and %s, but as they weren't conducted on the same day, the results are not comparable.
Lots of other websites do this sort of tyre comparison, Tyre Reviews doesn't.