Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs Hankook Winter i cept evo3
- TR Score
- 8.1/10
- Owners say
- 72% · 6
- TR Score
- 9.2/10
- Owners say
- 86% · 23
In the 7 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Hankook Winter i cept evo3 finished ahead 5 times and the Winterhawk 4 twice. The Winterhawk 4 had 2.8% lower rolling resistance; the Winter i cept evo3 lasted 17.9% longer in the wear tests.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose Hankook Winter i*cept evo3 if you drive briskly in mixed winter conditions, value strong dry/wet safety, aquaplaning stability, and long tread life. Choose Firestone Winterhawk 4 if you prioritize quiet comfort, efficiency, and confident traction on snow/ice at a sharper price-and are comfortable with longer dry braking and softer handling.
Where the Winterhawk 4 is stronger
- Excellent ice and strong snow-traction performance (e.g., ADAC ice braking 16.1 m vs. 17.4 m)
- Consistently low noise and lower rolling resistance (quieter by 2-7 dB; ~3-5% RR advantage)
- Competitive to strong wet braking in several tests (often 2-4% shorter vs. Hankook)
Where the Winter i cept evo3 is stronger
- Shorter dry braking and sharper dry/wet handling (e.g., ~6% shorter dry stop in Auto Bild 2025)
- Superior aquaplaning safety, especially in curves (often 18-30% advantage)
- High projected mileage and low abrasion (up to +48% mileage in ADAC 2025)
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.
Winterhawk 4 vs Winter i cept evo3 at a glance
| Category | Winterhawk 4 | Gap | Winter i cept evo3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won7 shared tests | 2 | 5 | |
| Dry7 measurements | 0 | The Winter i cept evo3 stopped 3.8% shorter in the dry (4 tests) | 6 |
| Wet22 measurements | 7 | The Winter i cept evo3 held 24.4% more grip in curved aquaplaning (3 tests) | 15 |
| Snow17 measurements | 9 | 7 | |
| Ice1 measurement | 1 | 0 | |
| Comfort5 measurements | 3 | The Winterhawk 4 was 2.3 dB quieter (4 tests) | 0 |
| Value8 measurements | 4 | The Winterhawk 4 had 2.8% lower rolling resistance (3 tests) | 3 |
| Tyre Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 8.1/10 | The Winter i cept evo3 by 1.1 | 9.2/10 |
| Owner rating6 and 23 reviews | 72% | The Winter i cept evo3 by 14 points | 86% |
| Would buy againshare of owners | 67% | The Winter i cept evo3 by 24 points | 91% |
| Pricein the 5 tests that listed prices | Cheaper | The Winter i cept evo3 was dearer in 4 of 5 | +3.3% |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 83 | 26 sizes made in both | 86 |
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 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 | Winterhawk 4 | Field | Winter i cept evo3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test | P16 of 20 | P6 of 20 | |
| 2025 Winter Tyre Braking Test - 52 Sets! | P7 of 51 | P14 of 51 | |
| 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test | P17 of 31 | P4 of 31 | |
| 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | P20 of 20 | P6 of 20 | |
| 2023 Winter Tyre Test 54 Set Braking Test | P6 of 54 | P8 of 54 | |
| 2022 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | P6 of 10 | P5 of 10 | |
| 2022 Winter Tyre Market Overview | P14 of 56 | P9 of 56 |
Performance profile
14 measurements from the 7 shared tests, each tyre shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Winterhawk 4
Winter i cept evo3
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. 6 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Winterhawk 4
Winter i cept evo3
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
Winterhawk 4
Not ahead in any category
Winter i cept evo3
Point at or tap any spoke for both tyres' figures.
Owners rate the Winterhawk 4 72% from 6 reviews and the Winter i cept evo3 86% from 23. 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 | Winterhawk 4 | Gap | Winter i cept evo3 | Wins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46.43 | 3.8% | 44.65 | 0-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 106 | 1.6% | 107.8 | 0-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 42 | 0.6% | 42.26 | 4-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 38.2 | 1.8% | 37.5 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 81 | 0.3% | 81.23 | 0-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 2.3 | 26.1% | 2.9 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 13.64 | 0.2% | 13.64 | 2-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 78.88 | 1.1% | 79.83 | 1-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 2.73 | 24.4% | 3.36 | 0-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 25.63 | 0.6% | 25.44 | 2-4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 2,339 | 0.9% | 2,326 | 4-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 61.47 | 0.3% | 61.27 | 2-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 3.53 | 0.2% | 3.53 | 1-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 16.1 | 7.5% | 17.4 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | = | scored | 0-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 70.25 | 2.3 dB | 72.58 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 43,890 | 17.9% | 52,916 | 1-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 8.73 | 2.8% | 8.98 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 5.7 | = | 5.7 | 0-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 72 | 22.2% | 56 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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 Winterhawk 4 scores 8.1 and the Winter i cept evo3 9.2 out of 10.
| Winterhawk 4 | Category | Winter i cept evo3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | Dry | 77 | ||
| 86 | Wet | 89 | ||
| 66 | Comfort | 11 | ||
| 49 | Value | 57 | ||
| 69 | Snow | 68 | ||
| 54 | Ice | 63 | ||
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
| Winterhawk 4 | Category | Winter i cept evo3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.3 | Dry Grip | 9 | ||
| 7.3 | Wet Grip | 9 | ||
| 6.2 | Road Feedback | 7.8 | ||
| 5.5 | Handling | 8.4 | ||
| 7.6 | Wear | 8.8 | ||
| 7.7 | Comfort | 7.8 | ||
| 7.5 | Snow Grip | 9.4 | ||
| 6.8 | Ice Grip | 8.5 | ||
Owners rate the Winterhawk 4 72% from 6 reviews and the Winter i cept evo3 86% from 23. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Firestone Winterhawk 4
- 72%from 6 reviews
- 67%would buy again
- 25,300 milesdriven by reviewers
Drivers generally rate the Firestone Winterhawk 4 highly for everyday winter use, with strong confidence in snow and rain, short braking distances, and reassuring all-round performance. Many highlight its good value versus premium brands, along with a quiet, comfortable ride and responsive feel. Overall satisfaction is high across the majority of reviews.
- strong snow performance
- good wet grip and braking
- quiet and comfortable ride
- good value for money
Summarised by AI from 5 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tyre page.
All 6 Winterhawk 4 reviewsGood quality for mid-range brand, cover winter needs. In general there is no high potential of performance for winter tyres independently of brand!
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.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tyre: 83 sizes of the Winterhawk 4 and 86 of the Winter i cept evo3, 26 of them made in both.
| Category | Winterhawk 4 | Winter i cept evo3 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Winter | Winter |
| Sizes made | 83 sizes, 14 to 20 inch | 86 sizes, 17 to 22 inch |
| Made in both | 26 sizes 215/60 R17225/60 R17235/45 R17245/45 R17215/50 R18215/55 R18225/40 R18225/45 R18225/50 R18225/55 R18235/40 R18235/45 R18and 14 more | |
| EU label wet grip | B100% | B98%C1%D1% |
| EU label rolling resistance | D50%C50% | C57%D42%B1% |
| EU label noise | 71 dB B100% | 70-75 dB B100% |
| Severe snow (3PMSF) sizes | 101 of 101 | 124 of 124 |
| On the market since | 2020 | 2021 |
| Replaced | Firestone Winterhawk 3 (2013) | Hankook Winter i cept evo2 |
| Price in the shared tests | The Winter i cept evo3 was the dearer tyre in 4 of the 5 tests that listed prices, by 3.3% 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 a value-focused touring winter tyre against an ultra-high-performance winter option: Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs. Hankook Winter i*cept evo3. Tested across seven shared professional evaluations in 17-19-inch sizes, the pair deliver distinctly different personalities shaped by their design briefs. The Firestone leans into low noise, efficiency, and surefooted traction in wintry conditions; the Hankook aims for sharper dynamics, stronger dry-road safety, and robust aquaplaning reserves.
Across multi-year testing, the Hankook typically ranks higher overall (e.g., 6/22 vs. 16/22 in Auto Bild 2025; 4/31 vs. 17/31 in ADAC 2025), driven by shorter dry stops and more precise handling. Yet the Firestone repeatedly surfaces as a quiet, efficient winter specialist with competitive wet braking and standout ice performance, offering a compelling value play-especially for drivers prioritizing calm, conservative winter driving.
Conclusion
If you value balanced, confidence-inspiring performance with clear safety margins on dry and wet roads, the Hankook Winter i*cept evo3 is the more complete tyre. It consistently brakes shorter on dry (e.g., 44.3 m vs. 47.2 m in Auto Bild 2025, ~6% advantage), steers more precisely, and offers notably stronger curved aquaplaning resistance (often 18-30% better). Its longevity is a highlight too, with projected mileage up 15% (Auto Bild 2025) to 48% (ADAC 2025) over the Firestone, strengthening its value over time.
The Firestone Winterhawk 4 counters with strong winter-road traction, very competitive wet braking in multiple tests (2-4% advantages common), excellent ice braking (16.1 m vs. 17.4 m in ADAC, ~7.5% shorter), lower noise (typically 2-7 dB quieter), and lower rolling resistance (3-5% lower). Its trade-off is clear: spongier dry handling and longer dry stops that cap overall safety in milder winter spells. For snowbelt commuters who drive calmly and prioritize quietness, efficiency, and price, the Firestone remains a smart, budget-conscious choice.
Bottom line: Hankook for mixed winter use, dynamic feel, and long life; Firestone for quiet, efficient, snow-forward daily driving where dry performance compromises are acceptable.
Winterhawk 4 vs Winter i cept evo3: your questions
Is the Firestone Winterhawk 4 or the Hankook Winter i cept evo3 the better tyre?
In the 7 independent tests that ran both tyres, the Hankook Winter i cept evo3 finished ahead 5 times and the Winterhawk 4 twice. On the Tyre Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Winterhawk 4 scores 8.1 and the Winter i cept evo3 9.2 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Winterhawk 4 or the Winter i cept evo3?
The Winter i cept evo3 led 15 of the 22 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it held 24.4% more grip in curved aquaplaning across 3 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Winter i cept evo3 led 6 of the 7 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 3.8% shorter in the dry across 4 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The Winterhawk 4 led 9 of the 17 snow measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Winterhawk 4 had 2.8% lower rolling resistance (3 tests); the Winter i cept evo3 lasted 17.9% longer in the wear tests (3 tests). Owners rate wear 7.6/10 for the Winterhawk 4 and 8.8/10 for the Winter i cept evo3.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
The Winterhawk 4 was 2.3 dB quieter (4 tests). Owners rate comfort 7.7/10 for the Winterhawk 4 and 7.8/10 for the Winter i cept evo3.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Winterhawk 4 72% from 6 reviews and the Winter i cept evo3 86% from 23. 67% of Winterhawk 4 owners would buy it again, against 91% for the Winter i cept evo3.
Which is more expensive?
In the 5 tests that listed prices, the Winter i cept evo3 was the dearer tyre in 4 of them, by 3.3% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Winterhawk 4 is made in 83 sizes (14 to 20 inch) and the Winter i cept evo3 in 86 (17 to 22 inch). 26 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Winterhawk 4 is graded B for wet grip and D for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Winter i cept evo3 B and C.
Which is the newer tyre?
The Winter i cept evo3 is the newer design: it reached the market in 2021, the Winterhawk 4 in 2020. The Winterhawk 4 replaced the Firestone Winterhawk 3. The Winter i cept evo3 replaced the Hankook Winter i cept evo2.
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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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