Ranking just below Continental, the Hankook Winter iPike RS2 offers solid overall performance with a few areas to watch. On ice, it delivers decent longitudinal grip but can unexpectedly slip in challenging situations. However, on snow, it maintains control smoothly, allowing for quick stops and easy handling. Asphalt stability is also dependable, with a slight delay in steering response. With moderate noise and average rolling resistance, the iPike RS2 is a well-rounded choice for those needing a reliable tire across varied winter surfaces.

The Hankook Winter i*Pike RS2 W429, positioned sixth, marks a shift from its traditional winter focus, showcasing improved wet pavement grip. The tire performs exceptionally in wet braking and offers economic efficiency. However, it falls short in ice braking, snow traction, and handling, with a tendency to skid under load on all surfaces. Dry pavement performance is also compromised, evidenced by blurred responses to driver inputs and insufficient directional stability. Despite these drawbacks, the tire is notable for its low rolling resistance and noise levels, making it a viable choice for budget-conscious consumers.

This tire promises excellent braking and lateral grip on ice. Its snow handling is also worth noting. However, its performance on dry roads might leave room for improvement.

• Pros: Superior grip on ice and commendable snow handling.
• Cons: Underperforming on dry asphalt.

On ice, this Hankook model ensures quick acceleration and braking; its lateral grip is also quite decent, but the tire is a bit temperamental when cornering. On snow, the tire is also good — it has an impressive grip, and only the most abrupt of maneuvers can make the tire lose it. On wet pavement, the tire ensures a good handling performance, but it behaves nervously during abrupt maneuvers, and the grip on the rear wheels can go without warning. At the same time, on dry pavement during maneuvering the tire behaves in a more stable way. By the standards of this segment, this Hankook model is a rather quiet tire, and it has a rather low rolling resistance.

Positive: Good ice performance. Short braking distances on snow.
Negative: Poor dry performance.

Positive: Good and confident grip on slippery surfaces, good road holding on asphalt.
Negative: Very weak braking on dry and average braking distances on wet roads.

Positive: Good grip on winter surfaces and short braking distance on asphalt. Negative: Poor handling response at high speeds. Poor ice braking.

Performance on ice and snow: Great traction on ice. Average braking on ice. Unstable behavior on snow; prone to oversteer and understeer.
Performance on asphalt: Good handling and steering response. Extreme behavior during acceleration. Average grip when braking.

Positive: Good traction on ice. Good handling response and reliable grip on wet pavement.
Negative: Relatively long braking distance and prone to oversteer on ice. Prone to oversteer on snow. Delayed steering response and average braking performance on dry pavement.

Hankook provides well-balanced properties between ice / snow and bare ground.

Positive: Good winter grip and short braking distances on asphalt.

Positive: Good straight grip on snow; crisp steering response on ice; low rolling resistance, low noise. Negative: Minor issues with handling response on snow, overall traction and road holding ability.

The second-generation Hankook i*pike tire was presented in 2018, and, since the time the VB test was conducted, that manufacturer has had the time to upgrade it. As experts note, one can hope that Hankook has increased the braking effectiveness on wet and dry pavements, which was definitely an issue with this tire. At the same time, Hankook demonstrated excellent hydroplaning resistance, and by this parameter they were able to surpass all of the rivals. Yet another peculiarity of Hankook is the biggest projection of the spikes among all the tested tires, and this affected the results that turned out to be worse than expected.

Hankook is very good on the ice, good winding stability and precise steering. Performance worse on asphalt. Braking distance is long and lateral grip could be better.