Hankook Winter I cept RS3 vs Semperit Speed Grip 5
- TR Score
- 8.8/10
- Owners say
- 77% · 28
- TR Score
- 8.5/10
- Owners say
- 92% · 3
In the 6 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Semperit Speed Grip 5 finished ahead 4 times and the Winter I cept RS3 twice. The Winter I cept RS3 resisted straight aquaplaning at a 1.5% higher speed; the Speed Grip 5 lasted 8.5% longer in the wear tests.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Pick Semperit Speed-Grip 5 for best value, low running costs and strong all-round braking. Pick Hankook Winter i*cept RS3 if you regularly encounter heavy rain/slush and want the safest aquaplaning and more confidence in wet/snow handling.
Where the Winter I cept RS3 is stronger
- 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
Where the Speed Grip 5 is stronger
- 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
The bullet points are analysis of the shared tests and of owner reviews; the measured wins in each discipline are in the tables below. Where the two disagree, the figures are right.
Winter I cept RS3 vs Speed Grip 5 at a glance
| Category | Winter I cept RS3 | Gap | Speed Grip 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won6 shared tests | 2 | 4 | |
| Dry9 measurements | 3 | 4 | |
| Wet23 measurements | 13 | The Winter I cept RS3 resisted straight aquaplaning at a 1.5% higher speed (5 tests) | 7 |
| Snow17 measurements | 11 | 4 | |
| Ice2 measurements | 1 | Level between the two. | 1 |
| Comfort5 measurements | 2 | 1 | |
| Value10 measurements | 3 | The Speed Grip 5 lasted 8.5% longer in the wear tests (4 tests) | 7 |
| Tyre Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 8.8/10 | The Winter I cept RS3 by 0.3 | 8.5/10 |
| Owner rating28 and 3 reviews | 77% | The Speed Grip 5 by 15 points | 92% |
| Pricein the 4 tests that listed prices | +3.1% | The Winter I cept RS3 was dearer in 3 of 4 | Cheaper |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 46 | 32 sizes made in both | 90 |
Wins count every measurement the shared tests recorded for both tyres; a tick marks the tyre ahead on that line. Subjective driver scores count as wins but are never averaged, because each test uses its own scale.
Head to head in 6 tests, 2022 to 2024
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 RS3 | Field | Speed Grip 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | P6 of 20 | P3 of 20 | |
| 2024 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test | P5 of 16 | P4 of 16 | |
| 2024 Winter 55 Tyre Braking Test | P14 of 55 | P6 of 55 | |
| 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test | P7 of 15 | P6 of 15 | |
| 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | P7 of 20 | P9 of 20 | |
| 2022/23 Tyre Reviews Winter Tyre Test | P3 of 9 | P5 of 9 |
Performance profile
16 measurements from the 6 shared tests, each tyre shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Winter I cept RS3
Speed Grip 5
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 96%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 10 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Winter I cept RS3
Speed Grip 5
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 RS3
Not ahead in any category
Speed Grip 5
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Owners rate the Winter I cept RS3 77% from 28 reviews and the Speed Grip 5 92% 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. Open a discipline for its measurements, and a measurement for every test's figure.
| Measurement | Winter I cept RS3 | Gap | Speed Grip 5 | Wins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43.48 | 0.3% | 43.36 | 2-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 80.3 | 0.5% | 79.9 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 116.4 | 0.6% | 115.7 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 11.8% | scored | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 41.83 | 3.2% | 42.92 | 3-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 41.4 | 2.9% | 40.2 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 98.8 | 3.3% | 102.2 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 73.15 | 2.1% | 71.67 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | = | scored | 0-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 12.57 | 0.4% | 12.52 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 81.36 | 1.5% | 80.18 | 5-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 4.05 | 1% | 4.17 | 1-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 22.23 | 0.8% | 22.18 | 2-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 4.9 | 9.3% | 5.4 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 1,373 | 2.2% | 1,365 | 3-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 113.6 | 2.5% | 116.5 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 57 | = | 57 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 11.1% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 3.55 | 1.1% | 3.51 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 19.1 | 0.4% | 19.05 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | = | scored | 0-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 71.1 | 0.3 dB | 71.35 | 2-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 44,035 | 8.5% | 47,653 | 1-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 8.46 | 7% | 7.83 | 1-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 5.8 | 1.7% | 5.7 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 65.55 | 1.3% | 64.35 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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. "Scored" rows are subjective driver ratings: each test uses its own scale, so only the wins are counted.
Scores beyond the shared tests
On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Winter I cept RS3 scores 8.8 and the Speed Grip 5 8.5 out of 10.
| Winter I cept RS3 | Category | Speed Grip 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | Dry | 62 | ||
| 93 | Wet | 80 | ||
| 36 | Comfort | 25 | ||
| 52 | Value | 73 | ||
| 75 | Snow | 51 | ||
| 33 | Ice | 32 | ||
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.
What owners say
| Winter I cept RS3 | Category | Speed Grip 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.5 | Dry Grip | 9.3 | ||
| 8.3 | Wet Grip | 9.7 | ||
| 7.6 | Road Feedback | 9 | ||
| 8 | Handling | 9 | ||
| 7.6 | Wear | 9 | ||
| 6.7 | Comfort | 8.3 | ||
| 9 | Snow Grip | 9.3 | ||
| 7.7 | Ice Grip | 9.3 | ||
Owners rate the Winter I cept RS3 77% from 28 reviews and the Speed Grip 5 92% from 3. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Hankook Winter I cept RS3
- 77%from 28 reviews
- 74%would buy again
- 156,320 milesdriven by reviewers
Owners generally rate the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 as a capable winter tyre with strong real-world grip, particularly in snow and wet conditions, backed up by solid dry grip and handling for a winter pattern. Around two in five owners specifically praise snow traction and wet grip, and a smaller but meaningful group also mention confident aquaplaning resistance and wet handling. The standout drawback is road noise: nearly two thirds of owners mention it and most of those are unhappy, often describing it as noticeably loud at speed. A smaller group also report softer, less responsive steering feel, with mixed feedback on tread life.
- Strong snow traction and confidence in winter conditions
- Reassuring wet grip
- Very good dry grip for a winter tyre
- Secure wet handling
- Noticeably loud road noise, especially at speed
- Steering feels soft / less responsive
- Mixed or disappointing tread life
Summarised by AI from 25 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tyre page.
All 28 Winter I cept RS3 reviewsI 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
Semperit Speed Grip 5
- 92%from 3 reviews
- 20,500 milesdriven by reviewers
All 3 Speed Grip 5 reviewsSehr guter Winterreifen im mittleren Preissegment. Fahre 100 km täglich durchs Mittelgebirge (Stadt, BAB, Bundesstraßen) und hatte nun alle Bedingungen: Schnee, Eis, Regen, Trockene Fahrbahn. Toller Grip auf Schnee und Eis bedeckten Straßen. Habe mich stehts sicher gefühlt.
215/55 R18 99V XL. Made in France. Neuprofiltiefe gemessene 8,7 mm. Nach 10500 km vorn 8,2 mm, hinten 8,0 mm bei sehr ruhigem, entspanntem Fahrstil. D. h. sehr wenig Verschleiß und hohe zu erwartende Laufleistung. Laufgeräusch ist wie bei allen Winterreifen hörbar, aber nicht sonderlich auffällig.
Bin sehr zufrieden, würde sie wieder kaufen.
Meine vorherigen Reifen Bridgestone LM001 mit 5 mm Profil, 2 Jahre alt, waren auf nasser und trockener Fahrbahn top, hatten aber bei Schnee und Matsch null Grip und drehten durch.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tyre: 46 sizes of the Winter I cept RS3 and 90 of the Speed Grip 5, 32 of them made in both.
| Category | Winter I cept RS3 | Speed Grip 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Winter | Winter |
| Sizes made | 46 sizes, 14 to 17 inch | 90 sizes, 14 to 21 inch |
| Made in both | 32 sizes 165/70 R14175/70 R14165/60 R15165/65 R15185/55 R15185/60 R15185/65 R15195/55 R15195/60 R15195/65 R15185/50 R16195/50 R16and 20 more | |
| EU label wet grip | B100% | C76%B24% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C58%D42% | C70%D18%B12% |
| EU label noise | 70-72 dB B100% | 71-75 dB B100% |
| Severe snow (3PMSF) sizes | 189 of 189 | 137 of 137 |
| On the market since | - | 2021 |
| Replaced | Hankook Winter i cept RS2 (2021) | Semperit Speed Grip 3 (2017) |
| Price in the shared tests | The Winter I cept RS3 was the dearer tyre in 3 of the 4 tests that listed prices, by 3.1% on average. Each test priced the tyres in its own market at the time; only the gap is comparable. | |
Label grades are shown as the share of registered sizes carrying each grade, so "B (88%), C (12%)" means most sizes are B. Grades vary by size; check the label for yours.
Reading the results
Written from the test results and owner reviews above. It is analysis, not a measurement: where it and the tables disagree, the tables are right.
This head-to-head pitches the premium-touring Hankook Winter i*cept RS3 against the high-performance Semperit Speed-Grip 5 across six independent winter tests from 2022-2024. Both target mainstream passenger cars but take different tacks: Hankook leans on balanced, sporty feel with standout aquaplaning reserves, while Semperit, Continental's second-tier brand, emphasizes strong braking value and efficiency.
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.
Conclusion
Both tyres are proven all-rounders, but they trade wins in different domains. Semperit edges more overall finishes (4 vs 2) and frequently stops shorter in dry and wet braking, pairs that with notably longer life and lower rolling resistance, and often costs less-an excellent value and efficiency play. Hankook responds with class-leading straight-line aquaplaning performance in nearly every test, stronger wet and snow handling balance, and very solid mileage, making it the safer pick for heavy rain, slush and variable winter days.
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.
Winter I cept RS3 vs Speed Grip 5: your questions
Is the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 or the Semperit Speed Grip 5 the better tyre?
In the 6 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Semperit Speed Grip 5 finished ahead 4 times and the Winter I cept RS3 twice. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Winter I cept RS3 scores 8.8 and the Speed Grip 5 8.5 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Winter I cept RS3 or the Speed Grip 5?
The Winter I cept RS3 led 13 of the 23 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it resisted straight aquaplaning at a 1.5% higher speed across 5 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Speed Grip 5 led 4 of the 9 dry measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is better in snow?
The Winter I cept RS3 led 11 of the 17 snow measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Speed Grip 5 lasted 8.5% longer in the wear tests (4 tests) and had 7% lower rolling resistance (3 tests). Owners rate wear 7.6/10 for the Winter I cept RS3 and 9/10 for the Speed Grip 5.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 6.7/10 for the Winter I cept RS3 and 8.3/10 for the Speed Grip 5.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Winter I cept RS3 77% from 28 reviews and the Speed Grip 5 92% from 3.
Which is more expensive?
In the 4 tests that listed prices, the Winter I cept RS3 was the dearer tyre in 3 of them, by 3.1% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Winter I cept RS3 is made in 46 sizes (14 to 17 inch) and the Speed Grip 5 in 90 (14 to 21 inch). 32 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Winter I cept RS3 is graded B for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Speed Grip 5 C and C.
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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.
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