Dunlop Winter Sport 5 vs Hankook Winter I cept RS3
- TR Score
- 8.9/10
- Owners say
- 83% · 47
- TR Score
- 8.8/10
- Owners say
- 77% · 28
In the 7 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 finished ahead 5 times and the Winter I cept RS3 twice. The Winter Sport 5 lasted 12.6% longer in the wear tests; the Winter I cept RS3 resisted straight aquaplaning at a 7.6% higher speed.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Cold, snowy regions or long-mileage drivers: choose Dunlop Winter Sport 5. Wet, mild winters with frequent standing water, lower noise priority, or tighter budgets: pick Hankook Winter i*cept RS3.
Where the Winter Sport 5 is stronger
- Outstanding snow performance (repeated wins in snow braking and traction)
- Excellent longevity and low wear (often top of test for mileage)
- Good efficiency/low rolling resistance and fuel consumption
Where the Winter I cept RS3 is stronger
- Best-in-class aquaplaning resistance (straight and curved) across all tests
- Sporty, precise feel with stable wet/dry handling
- Lower external noise and good comfort
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 Sport 5 vs Winter I cept RS3 at a glance
| Category | Winter Sport 5 | Gap | Winter I cept RS3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won7 shared tests | 5 | 2 | |
| Dry8 measurements | 4 | Level between the two. | 4 |
| Wet26 measurements | 8 | The Winter I cept RS3 resisted straight aquaplaning at a 7.6% higher speed (6 tests) | 15 |
| Snow17 measurements | 10 | 5 | |
| Ice4 measurements | 3 | The Winter Sport 5 stopped 1.2% shorter on ice (4 tests) | 1 |
| Comfort5 measurements | 0 | The Winter I cept RS3 was 1.2 dB quieter (5 tests) | 5 |
| Value15 measurements | 8 | The Winter Sport 5 lasted 12.6% longer in the wear tests (6 tests) | 5 |
| Tyre Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 8.9/10 | The Winter Sport 5 by 0.1 | 8.8/10 |
| Owner rating47 and 28 reviews | 83% | The Winter Sport 5 by 6 points | 77% |
| Would buy againshare of owners | 83% | The Winter Sport 5 by 9 points | 74% |
| Pricein the 3 tests that listed prices | +13.2% | The Winter Sport 5 was dearer in 3 of 3 | Cheaper |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 49 | 18 sizes made in both | 46 |
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 7 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 Sport 5 | Field | Winter I cept RS3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | P7 of 20 | P6 of 20 | |
| 2024 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test | P2 of 16 | P5 of 16 | |
| 2024 ADAC 16 Inch Winter Tyre Test | P5 of 12 | P4 of 12 | |
| 2024 Winter 55 Tyre Braking Test | P11 of 55 | P14 of 55 | |
| 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | P1 of 16 | P5 of 16 | |
| 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test | P4 of 15 | P7 of 15 | |
| 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | P4 of 20 | P7 of 20 |
Performance profile
18 measurements from the 7 shared tests, each tyre shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Winter Sport 5
Winter I cept RS3
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.
Where each scores higher
Winter Sport 5
Winter I cept RS3
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 Sport 5
Winter I cept RS3
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Owners rate the Winter Sport 5 83% from 47 reviews and the Winter I cept RS3 77% from 28. 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 Sport 5 | Gap | Winter I cept RS3 | Wins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45.05 | 0.1% | 45.02 | 4-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 115.4 | 0.9% | 116.4 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 42.8 | 1% | 42.4 | 3-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 39.57 | 2.8% | 40.73 | 2-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 72.92 | 0.3% | 73.15 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 12.41 | 1.3% | 12.57 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 76.68 | 7.6% | 82.48 | 0-6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 3.32 | 1.5% | 3.36 | 1-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 17.63 | 0.2% | 17.64 | 4-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 1,026 | 1.8% | 996.9 | 5-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 56.9 | 0.2% | 57 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 3.55 | 0.1% | 3.55 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 19.2 | 1.2% | 19.43 | 3-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 72.88 | 1.2 dB | 71.66 | 0-5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 49,622 | 12.6% | 44,606 | 4-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 8.1 | 2.2% | 8.3 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 5.43 | 1.7% | 5.53 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 65.08 | 5% | 62.28 | 2-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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 Sport 5 scores 8.9 and the Winter I cept RS3 8.8 out of 10.
| Winter Sport 5 | Category | Winter I cept RS3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | Dry | 60 | ||
| 85 | Wet | 93 | ||
| 18 | Comfort | 36 | ||
| 66 | Value | 52 | ||
| 83 | Snow | 75 | ||
| 48 | Ice | 33 | ||
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 Sport 5 | Category | Winter I cept RS3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.3 | Dry Grip | 8.5 | ||
| 8.5 | Wet Grip | 8.3 | ||
| 7.9 | Road Feedback | 7.6 | ||
| 7.9 | Handling | 8 | ||
| 8.7 | Wear | 7.6 | ||
| 8.4 | Comfort | 6.7 | ||
| 9.1 | Snow Grip | 9 | ||
| 8.2 | Ice Grip | 7.7 | ||
Owners rate the Winter Sport 5 83% from 47 reviews and the Winter I cept RS3 77% from 28. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Dunlop Winter Sport 5
- 83%from 47 reviews
- 83%would buy again
- 485,102 milesdriven by reviewers
Drivers largely praise the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 for outstanding snow and ice traction, strong wet grip in cold conditions, predictable handling, good comfort/low noise (for a winter tyre), and excellent tread life. A minority report softer sidewalls and reduced dry performance or understeer as temperatures rise, with a few notes on noise increase over time and isolated quality/balance issues. Overall sentiment is strongly positive, with most buyers willing to repurchase.
- snow and ice grip
- wet grip in cold
- predictable handling
- ride comfort
- weaker dry grip/softer feel in warmer temps
- increased noise with age
- occasional balance/quality issues
Summarised by AI from 39 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tyre page.
All 47 Winter Sport 5 reviewsYou must know, in 225/50/17 it is the best what you can buy in eurowinter tyres
+ perfect rim protector
+ dry and wet grip at different temperatures including +17 Celsius
+ snow grip? Easy
+ treadwear 12000 km/per 1 mm (on my new set 8 mm, now 7,0-6,8 after 2 seasons and 14400 km)
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
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tyre: 49 sizes of the Winter Sport 5 and 46 of the Winter I cept RS3, 18 of them made in both.
| Category | Winter Sport 5 | Winter I cept RS3 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Winter | Winter |
| Sizes made | 49 sizes, 15 to 21 inch | 46 sizes, 14 to 17 inch |
| Made in both | 18 sizes 195/55 R15195/65 R15195/45 R16195/55 R16205/55 R16205/60 R16215/55 R16215/60 R16215/65 R16225/55 R16205/50 R17205/55 R17and 6 more | |
| EU label wet grip | B52%C48% | B100% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C75%D24%B1% | C58%D42% |
| EU label noise | 70-74 dB B100% | 70-72 dB B100% |
| Severe snow (3PMSF) sizes | 79 of 79 | 189 of 189 |
| On the market since | 2021 | - |
| Replaced | Dunlop SP WinterSport 4D (2021) | Hankook Winter i cept RS2 (2021) |
| Price in the shared tests | The Winter Sport 5 was the dearer tyre in 3 of the 3 tests that listed prices, by 13.2% 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 pits the UHP-focused Dunlop Winter Sport 5 against the premium-touring Hankook Winter i*cept RS3 across seven shared professional tests from 2022-2024. Despite its age, the Dunlop consistently places near the top, leaning into snow grip, longevity, and efficiency. The newer Hankook counters with sporty steering feel, excellent aquaplaning safety, and lower noise at often keener prices.
Across sizes (205/55 R16 to 225/45 R17), patterns are clear: Dunlop is the snow specialist with class-leading mileage, while Hankook is the wet-weather aquaplaning benchmark with a calm, quiet road manner. Small gaps decide braking on dry/wet in either direction, but the meaningful divides are snow traction/mileage for Dunlop and aquaplaning/noise/value for Hankook.
Conclusion
Dunlop takes more overall test wins (5 vs 2) by combining strong snow braking and traction with excellent wear and low fuel consumption. If you regularly face compacted snow and value long service life, the Winter Sport 5 is the safer, more economical bet over time. Its key compromise is aquaplaning headroom on deep water.
Hankook's RS3 shines where winter often means cold rain and standing water: it dominates straight and curved aquaplaning in every test, runs quieter, and often costs less. Wet braking results are mixed by size, but on balance the RS3 trades a touch of snow bite and longevity for calmer wet-security margins and comfort. Choose it for milder, wetter winters and budget-conscious daily use.
Winter Sport 5 vs Winter I cept RS3: your questions
Is the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 or the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 the better tyre?
In the 7 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 finished ahead 5 times and the Winter I cept RS3 twice. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Winter Sport 5 scores 8.9 and the Winter I cept RS3 8.8 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Winter Sport 5 or the Winter I cept RS3?
The Winter I cept RS3 led 15 of the 26 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it resisted straight aquaplaning at a 7.6% higher speed across 6 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
Across the shared tests the dry measurements are split 4-4 between the Winter Sport 5 and the Winter I cept RS3.
Which is better in snow?
The Winter Sport 5 led 10 of the 17 snow measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Winter Sport 5 lasted 12.6% longer in the wear tests (6 tests) and used 1.7% less fuel (3 tests). Owners rate wear 8.7/10 for the Winter Sport 5 and 7.6/10 for the Winter I cept RS3.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
The Winter I cept RS3 was 1.2 dB quieter (5 tests). Owners rate comfort 8.4/10 for the Winter Sport 5 and 6.7/10 for the Winter I cept RS3.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Winter Sport 5 83% from 47 reviews and the Winter I cept RS3 77% from 28. 83% of Winter Sport 5 owners would buy it again, against 74% for the Winter I cept RS3.
Which is more expensive?
In the 3 tests that listed prices, the Winter Sport 5 was the dearer tyre in 3 of them, by 13.2% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Winter Sport 5 is made in 49 sizes (15 to 21 inch) and the Winter I cept RS3 in 46 (14 to 17 inch). 18 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Winter Sport 5 is graded B for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Winter I cept RS3 B and C.
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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.
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