Hankook Winter i cept evo3 vs Uniroyal WinterExpert
- TR Score
- 9.2/10
- Owners say
- 86% · 23
- TR Score
- 7.8/10
- Owners say
- 76% · 7
In the 6 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Hankook Winter i cept evo3 finished ahead 5 times and the WinterExpert once. The Winter i cept evo3 lasted 9.3% longer in the wear tests; the WinterExpert had 7.7% lower rolling resistance.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose the Hankook Winter i cept evo3 for snow, aquaplaning and dry braking, which makes it the better all round winter tyre; choose the Uniroyal WinterExpert if your winter is wet rather than snowy and wet braking is the priority.
Where the Winter i cept evo3 is stronger
- Won snow traction in all three tests and snow braking in four of five
- Better aquaplaning in all five comparisons, by 17.2 percent in curved aquaplaning in 2025
- 4th of 31 at ADAC in 2025 against the Uniroyal's 11th, and ahead in five of six tests
Where the WinterExpert is stronger
- Shorter wet braking in four of five comparisons, 34.1m against 35.6m in 2025
- 5th of 52 in Auto Bild's 2025 winter braking test against the Hankook's 14th
- Lower rolling resistance in both tests, 8.09 against 8.9 kg/t, and quieter in two of three
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 evo3 vs WinterExpert at a glance
| Category | Winter i cept evo3 | Gap | WinterExpert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won6 shared tests | 5 | 1 | |
| Dry5 measurements | 4 | The Winter i cept evo3 stopped 3.6% shorter in the dry (3 tests) | 1 |
| Wet17 measurements | 10 | The Winter i cept evo3 held 20.4% more grip in curved aquaplaning (2 tests) | 6 |
| Snow13 measurements | 10 | The Winter i cept evo3 stopped 0.7% shorter on snow (6 tests) | 2 |
| Ice1 measurement | 0 | Level between the two. | 0 |
| Comfort4 measurements | 2 | Level between the two. | 2 |
| Value7 measurements | 4 | The Winter i cept evo3 lasted 9.3% longer in the wear tests (3 tests) | 3 |
| Tyre Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 9.2/10 | The Winter i cept evo3 by 1.4 | 7.8/10 |
| Owner rating23 and 7 reviews | 86% | The Winter i cept evo3 by 10 points | 76% |
| Would buy againshare of owners | 91% | The Winter i cept evo3 by 20 points | 71% |
| Pricein the 4 tests that listed prices | +2.1% | The Winter i cept evo3 was dearer in 3 of 4 | Cheaper |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 86 | 27 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 2025
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 evo3 | Field | WinterExpert |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test | P6 of 20 | P8 of 20 | |
| 2025 Winter Tyre Braking Test - 52 Sets! | P14 of 51 | P5 of 51 | |
| 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test | P4 of 31 | P11 of 31 | |
| 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | P6 of 20 | P12 of 20 | |
| 2023 Winter Tyre Test 54 Set Braking Test | P8 of 54 | P11 of 54 | |
| 2022 Winter Tyre Market Overview | P9 of 56 | P17 of 56 |
Performance profile
14 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 evo3
WinterExpert
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. 6 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 evo3
WinterExpert
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 evo3
WinterExpert
Not ahead in any category
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Owners rate the Winter i cept evo3 86% from 23 reviews and the WinterExpert 76% from 7. 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 evo3 | Gap | WinterExpert | Wins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43.93 | 3.6% | 45.6 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 113.5 | 0.4% | 113 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 41.6 | 0.9% | 41.15 | 1-4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 37.5 | 1.6% | 38.1 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 82.95 | 1.2% | 81.95 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 2.9 | 11.5% | 2.6 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 12.75 | 1.9% | 12.51 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 81.8 | 3% | 79.37 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 2.8 | 20.4% | 2.33 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 25.52 | 0.7% | 25.73 | 4-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 1,854 | 2.5% | 1,804 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 58.45 | 0.3% | 58.3 | 1-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 3.09 | 5.1% | 2.94 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 17.4 | = | 17.4 | 0-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 9% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 71.8 | 1.1 dB | 70.7 | 1-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 52,916 | 9.3% | 47,068 | 2-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 8.85 | 7.7% | 8.17 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 5.7 | 1.7% | 5.8 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 56 | 18.8% | 69 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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 evo3 scores 9.2 and the WinterExpert 7.8 out of 10.
| Winter i cept evo3 | Category | WinterExpert | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 77 | Dry | 35 | ||
| 89 | Wet | 70 | ||
| 11 | Comfort | 40 | ||
| 57 | Value | 69 | ||
| 68 | Snow | 65 | ||
| 63 | Ice | 19 | ||
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 evo3 | Category | WinterExpert | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Dry Grip | 8.3 | ||
| 9 | Wet Grip | 9 | ||
| 7.8 | Road Feedback | 7.3 | ||
| 8.4 | Handling | 7.4 | ||
| 8.8 | Wear | 7.8 | ||
| 7.8 | Comfort | 7.4 | ||
| 9.4 | Snow Grip | 7.2 | ||
| 8.5 | Ice Grip | 6 | ||
Owners rate the Winter i cept evo3 86% from 23 reviews and the WinterExpert 76% from 7. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Hankook Winter i cept evo3
- 86%from 23 reviews
- 91%would buy again
- 164,670 milesdriven by reviewers
Across 20 reviews, the Hankook Winter i*cept evo3 is described as a highly confidence-inspiring winter tyre with standout traction in snow and strong, predictable grip in wet conditions (often praised for stability and aquaplaning resistance). Many drivers also report good dry-road handling for a winter tyre and consider it excellent value versus premium brands. A smaller minority mention increased road noise or a firmer/less comfortable ride compared with their summer tyres, but this is not the dominant experience.
- Excellent snow traction and confidence in winter conditions
- Strong wet grip and high aquaplaning resistance
- Stable, predictable handling and good road feedback
- Good comfort and generally low noise for a winter tyre
- Some users find it noisier than summer tyres or typical winter tyre buzzing
Summarised by AI from 20 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tyre page.
All 23 Winter i cept evo3 reviewsI used these Hankook Winter i*cept evo3 W330 tires for 4 full winter seasons on a Jeep Compass 2.0 Multijet 4x4. They lasted for roughly 5,500 miles (around 8,900 km). The grip held up exceptionally well as they wore down, providing consistent traction and stability for an AWD SUV in various winter conditions. They offer great value and reliable performance, and I would absolutely buy them again.
Uniroyal WinterExpert
- 76%from 7 reviews
- 71%would buy again
- 59,000 milesdriven by reviewers
Drivers generally report the Uniroyal WinterExpert performs strongly in wet conditions, with confident rain performance and good grip on wet and dry roads. Snow capability is usually described as good, though one reviewer felt it lagged behind a previous winter tyre on snow/ice and questioned value for money. A recurring downside is higher noise typical of winter tyres, while fuel economy and predictable, responsive handling are noted positives.
- strong wet grip and rain performance (hydroplaning resistance)
- good overall grip on dry and wet roads
- capable winter performance for normal/calm driving (including snow)
- predictable/controlled handling and responsive steering feel
- tends to be noisier than expected, especially at low-speed maneuvers
Summarised by AI from 6 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tyre page.
All 7 WinterExpert reviewsTires that I had before was Hankook winter I-cept 2 much beter tires than this uniroyal when it comes to snow and ice driving, driving comfort are about the same, driving on wet roads uniroyal is realy good, beter than hankook, handling is ok and noise level beter than advertised. overall I will not spend that kind of money on uniroyal anymore.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tyre: 86 sizes of the Winter i cept evo3 and 90 of the WinterExpert, 27 of them made in both.
| Category | Winter i cept evo3 | WinterExpert |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Winter | Winter |
| Sizes made | 86 sizes, 17 to 22 inch | 90 sizes, 13 to 20 inch |
| Made in both | 27 sizes 215/60 R17225/60 R17235/45 R17215/40 R18215/45 R18215/50 R18215/55 R18225/40 R18225/45 R18225/50 R18225/55 R18235/45 R18and 15 more | |
| EU label wet grip | B98%C1%D1% | C79%B21% |
| EU label rolling resistance | C57%D42%B1% | C64%D30%B6% |
| EU label noise | 70-75 dB B100% | 71-73 dB B100% |
| Severe snow (3PMSF) sizes | 124 of 124 | 121 of 121 |
| On the market since | 2021 | 2021 |
| Replaced | Hankook Winter i cept evo2 | - |
| Price in the shared tests | The Winter i cept evo3 was the dearer tyre in 3 of the 4 tests that listed prices, by 2.1% 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.
Six shared winter tests, five wins for the Hankook Winter i cept evo3 and one for the Uniroyal WinterExpert. The exception is worth naming first: Auto Bild's 52 set winter braking test, where the Uniroyal finished 5th and the Hankook 14th.
That result comes from wet braking, the one discipline the Uniroyal owns. It stopped shorter in four of five comparisons, by 4.2 percent in that braking test, 34.1m against 35.6m. It also rolled with less resistance in both tests that measured it and was quieter in two of three.
Everywhere else the Hankook leads. It won dry braking in all three comparisons, by 7.0 percent in Auto Bild's 2023 test, straight aquaplaning in all three and curved aquaplaning in both, and on snow it took braking in four of five, traction in all three and slalom in both. ADAC placed it 4th of 31 in 2025 against the Uniroyal's 11th.
Conclusion
The Hankook Winter i cept evo3 is the better winter tyre here, and its case is built on the two things a winter tyre is bought for: snow and water clearance. It won snow traction in all three tests that measured it, snow braking in four of five and both snow slalom runs, and it resisted straight aquaplaning better in all three comparisons and curved aquaplaning in both, by 17.2 percent in Auto Bild's 2025 test, 2.72 against 2.32 m/sec2. It braked shorter in the dry in all three comparisons, projected longer life in two of three wear tests, 51,940km against 47,700km, and finished ahead in five of the six shared tests, including 4th of 31 at ADAC.
The Uniroyal WinterExpert has one real strength and two supporting ones. Wet braking is the real one: shorter in four of five comparisons, and 5th of 52 in Auto Bild's 2025 winter braking test against the Hankook's 14th, which is the only test either tyre won by a clear margin in the other's direction. It also rolled with less resistance in both measurements, 8.09 against 8.9 kg/t in 2025, and was the quieter tyre in two of three noise tests.
The two braking results pulling opposite ways is the thing to understand: the Uniroyal stops better on a wet road, the Hankook on a dry or snowy one. For a tyre fitted for a northern winter, snow and aquaplaning carry more weight than a wet braking advantage of a metre and a half, which is why the Hankook wins on balance and why the Uniroyal remains a fair pick for a mild, wet winter.
Winter i cept evo3 vs WinterExpert: your questions
Is the Hankook Winter i cept evo3 or the Uniroyal WinterExpert the better tyre?
In the 6 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Hankook Winter i cept evo3 finished ahead 5 times and the WinterExpert once. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Winter i cept evo3 scores 9.2 and the WinterExpert 7.8 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Winter i cept evo3 or the WinterExpert?
The Winter i cept evo3 led 10 of the 17 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it held 20.4% more grip in curved aquaplaning across 2 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Winter i cept evo3 led 4 of the 5 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 3.6% shorter in the dry across 3 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The Winter i cept evo3 led 10 of the 13 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 0.7% shorter on snow across 6 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Winter i cept evo3 lasted 9.3% longer in the wear tests (3 tests); the WinterExpert had 7.7% lower rolling resistance (2 tests). Owners rate wear 8.8/10 for the Winter i cept evo3 and 7.8/10 for the WinterExpert.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
The WinterExpert was 1.1 dB quieter (3 tests). Owners rate comfort 7.8/10 for the Winter i cept evo3 and 7.4/10 for the WinterExpert.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Winter i cept evo3 86% from 23 reviews and the WinterExpert 76% from 7. 91% of Winter i cept evo3 owners would buy it again, against 71% for the WinterExpert.
Which is more expensive?
In the 4 tests that listed prices, the Winter i cept evo3 was the dearer tyre in 3 of them, by 2.1% 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 evo3 is made in 86 sizes (17 to 22 inch) and the WinterExpert in 90 (13 to 20 inch). 27 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Winter i cept evo3 is graded B for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the WinterExpert 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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