Continental WinterContact TS 870 P vs Hankook Winter I cept RS3
Across five shared tests, the Continental generally leads in dry and wet braking, subjective control, noise, and efficiency, taking three overall wins to Hankook's two. The Hankook counters with standout straight-line aquaplaning resistance, competitive snow braking/traction, and a lower purchase price-creating a compelling alternative for cost-conscious drivers and heavy rain or slush climates.
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 five tests which compare both tyres directly!
| Tyre | Test Wins | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Continental WinterContact TS 870 P | three | |
| Hankook Winter I cept RS3 | two |
While it might look like the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P 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
- Class-leading dry and wet braking across tests for larger safety margins
- Balanced, confidence-inspiring handling with strong subjective wet control
- Low rolling resistance for better efficiency and typically lower cabin noise
- Consistent top-tier results and three overall test wins in shared comparisons
- Best straight-line aquaplaning resistance in every shared test
- Strong value with significantly lower purchase price
- Competitive on snow with frequent wins in snow braking/traction
- Secure, precise feel with good wet reserves when not braking
Dry Braking
Looking at data from five tyre tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P was better during five dry braking tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P stopped the vehicle in 4% less distance than the Hankook Winter I cept RS3.
Best In Dry Braking: Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
See how the Dry Braking winner was calculated >>
Dry Handling [s]
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P and Hankook Winter I cept RS3 performed equally well in dry handling [s] tests.
Best In Dry Handling [s]: Both tyres performed equally well
See how the Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Dry Handling [Km/H]
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P was better during two dry handling [km/h] tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P was 0.13% faster around a lap than the Hankook Winter I cept RS3.
Best In Dry Handling [Km/H]: Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
See how the Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Dry Handling
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P and Hankook Winter I cept RS3 performed equally well in subj. dry handling tests.
Best In Subj. Dry Handling: Both tyres performed equally well
See how the Subj. Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Braking
Looking at data from five tyre tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P was better during four wet braking tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P stopped the vehicle in 2.65% less distance than the Hankook Winter I cept RS3.
Best In Wet Braking: Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
See how the Wet Braking winner was calculated >>
Wet Braking - Concrete
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P was better during one wet braking - concrete tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P stopped the vehicle in 3.12% less distance than the Hankook Winter I cept RS3.
Best In Wet Braking - Concrete: Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
See how the Wet Braking - Concrete winner was calculated >>
Wet Handling [s]
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P was better during one wet handling [s] tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P was 1.69% faster around a wet lap than the Hankook Winter I cept RS3.
Best In Wet Handling [s]: Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
See how the Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Handling [Km/H]
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P was better during two wet handling [km/h] tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P was 0.51% faster around a wet lap than the Hankook Winter I cept RS3.
Best In Wet Handling [Km/H]: Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
See how the Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Wet Handling
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P was better during one subj. wet handling tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scored 20% more points than the Hankook Winter I cept RS3.
Best In Subj. Wet Handling: Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
See how the Subj. Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Circle
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 was better during one wet circle tests. On average the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 had 8.81% higher lateral wet grip than the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P.
Best In Wet Circle: Hankook Winter I cept RS3
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 3.57% higher speed than the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P.
Best In Straight Aqua: Hankook Winter I cept RS3
See how the Straight Aqua winner was calculated >>
Curved Aquaplaning
Looking at data from four tyre tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P was better during three curved aquaplaning tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P slipped out at a 0.23% higher speed than the Hankook Winter I cept RS3.
Best In Curved Aquaplaning: Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
See how the Curved Aquaplaning winner was calculated >>
Snow Braking
Looking at data from five tyre tests, the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 was better during four snow braking tests. On average the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 stopped the vehicle in 1.35% less distance than the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P.
Best In Snow Braking: Hankook Winter I cept RS3
See how the Snow Braking winner was calculated >>
Snow Traction
Looking at data from four tyre tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P was better during two snow traction tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P had 1.3% better snow traction than the Hankook Winter I cept RS3.
Best In Snow Traction: Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
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 2.36% faster around a lap than the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P.
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 Continental WinterContact TS 870 P was better during one snow handling [km/h] tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P was 0.33% faster around a lap than the Hankook Winter I cept RS3.
Best In Snow Handling [Km/H]: Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
See how the Snow Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Snow Handling
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P was better during one subj. snow handling tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P scored 12.5% more points than the Hankook Winter I cept RS3.
Best In Subj. Snow Handling: Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
See how the Subj. Snow Handling winner was calculated >>
Snow Circle
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P and Hankook Winter I cept RS3 performed equally well in snow circle tests.
Best In Snow Circle: Both tyres performed equally well
See how the Snow Circle winner was calculated >>
Snow Slalom
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P and Hankook Winter I cept RS3 performed equally well in snow slalom tests.
Best In Snow Slalom: Both tyres performed equally well
See how the Snow Slalom winner was calculated >>
Ice Braking
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P was better during one ice braking tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P stopped the vehicle 1.6% shorter than the Hankook Winter I cept RS3.
Best In Ice Braking: Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
See how the Ice Braking winner was calculated >>
Subj. Comfort
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P and Hankook Winter I cept RS3 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 four tyre tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P was better during four noise tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P measured 0.94% quieter than the Hankook Winter I cept RS3.
Best In Noise: Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
See how the Noise winner was calculated >>
Wear
Looking at data from three tyre tests, the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 was better during two wear tests. On average the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 is predicted to cover 2.77% miles before reaching 1.6mm than the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P.
Best In Wear: Hankook Winter I cept RS3
See how the Wear winner was calculated >>
Value
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 was better during one value tests. On average the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 proved to have a 25.57% better value based on price/1000km than the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P.
Best In Value: Hankook Winter I cept RS3
See how the Value winner was calculated >>
Price
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 was better during two price tests. On average the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 cost 25.17% less than the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P.
Best In Price: Hankook Winter I cept RS3
See how the Price winner was calculated >>
Rolling Resistance
Looking at data from three tyre tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P was better during three rolling resistance tests. On average the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P had a 15.01% lower rolling resistance than the Hankook Winter I cept RS3.
Best In Rolling Resistance: Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
See how the Rolling Resistance winner was calculated >>
Fuel Consumption
Looking at data from one tyre tests, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P and Hankook Winter I cept RS3 performed equally well in fuel consumption tests.
Best In Fuel Consumption: Both tyres performed equally well
See how the Fuel Consumption winner was calculated >>
Abrasion
Looking at data from two tyre tests, the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 was better during two abrasion tests. On average the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 emitted 5.93% less particle wear matter than the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P.
Best In Abrasion: Hankook Winter I cept RS3
See how the Abrasion winner was calculated >>
Real World Driver Reviews
Continental WinterContact TS 870 P Driver Reviews
Most drivers rate the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P very highly, praising its outstanding wet grip and braking, strong snow traction, stable high-speed behavior, and quiet, comfortable ride. Many note predictable handling and good wear/longevity, with some EV owners highlighting low noise and rolling resistance. A minority mention softer steering feel and less sharp dry handling, and several point out a high price. One outlier reports poor snow/ice performance, which contrasts with the overwhelmingly positive winter feedback from others.
Based on 25 reviews with an average rating of 87%
Hankook Winter I cept RS3 Driver Reviews
Most drivers rate the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 highly for strong grip and confidence in dry, wet, and especially snow, with stable handling and predictable feedback. Several high-scoring reviews highlight aquaplaning resistance and braking, and some note normal winter-tyre softness in steering. The main recurring drawback is elevated road noise, particularly at certain speeds; a minority mention higher rolling resistance or faster wear. Overall, sentiment skews positive for winter performance with noise being the key trade-off.
Based on 20 reviews with an average rating of 77%
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
Hankook's i*cept RS3 shines where water clearance and value dominate: best-in-class straight aquaplaning across all shared tests, frequent snow-surface advantages (notably snow braking/traction), and a notably lower price (often ~25% cheaper). Braking distances on wet/dry are usually longer than Continental's, and ride/feedback can be a touch harsher, but for budget-minded buyers in wetter, slush-heavy regions, the RS3 offers strong security per euro. The practical takeaway: prioritize Continental for shortest stops and all-round polish; choose Hankook for aquaplaning assurance and savings without major compromises.
Key Differences
- Braking: Continental repeatedly stops shorter on wet and dry; Hankook's distances are longer.
- Aquaplaning: Hankook decisively leads in straight-line aquaplaning; Continental is average here.
- Handling feel: Continental scores higher in subjective wet control; Hankook can feel nervous near limits.
- Snow balance: Hankook often edges snow braking/traction; Continental holds its own and can lead in snow handling.
- Efficiency/noise: Continental shows lower rolling resistance and marginally lower noise.
- Value/longevity: Hankook is ~20-25% cheaper and often shows better projected wear/abrasion.
Overall Winner: Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
Based on the tyre test data and user reviews we have in our database, the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P 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
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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.