Hankook Winter i cept RS2 vs Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV

    2026 test data · 8 independent tests

    → See full Hankook vs Kumho brand comparison

    Hankook Winter i cept RS2 vs Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV: the full picture

    This comparison is built only from published independent tests — no manufacturer claims and no sponsored reviews. Between them, the Hankook Winter i cept RS2 and Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV appear in 8 tests, though they have not yet met head-to-head in the same test. Head-to-head results carry the most weight here, because surface, weather and test car all change between events and make raw numbers from different tests hard to compare directly.

    How the Hankook Winter i cept RS2 performs. It takes the win in dry, mileage, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 96/100, based on 7 tests.

    How the Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV performs. It takes the win in wet, snow, ice, noise / comfort. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 90/100, based on 1 test.

    What this means for you. Category wins matter more than the overall score when your driving is weighted toward one condition — a wet-climate commuter should follow the wet braking column, while a high-mileage driver should follow wear and rolling resistance. Also check that both tires are actually offered in your size and load rating: performance can shift between sizes, and availability differs between the European and North American markets.

    Verdict

    The Hankook Winter i cept RS2 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in dry and Tire Lab Score. The Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV still wins on wet, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.

    Which one should you buy?

    • You prioritise dry
    • You prioritise mileage
    • You prioritise efficiency
    • You prioritise wet
    • You prioritise snow
    • You prioritise ice

    Test profile

    MetricHankook Winter i cept RS2Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV
    SegmentNordic WinterNordic Winter
    TypeWinterWinter
    Tests used71
    Best rank#1#1
    Avg rank7.94.4
    Latest test20212022
    Tire Lab Score96.390.1

    Tire Lab Score

    96.3
    Excellent · Nordic Winter
    90.1
    Excellent · Nordic Winter

    Performance overview

    Category-by-category results

    CategoryHankook Winter i cept RS2Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUVWinner
    💧Wet
    Avg rank 6.5
    121
    Avg rank 2.5
    11
    Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV
    ☀️Dry
    Avg rank 6.4
    21
    Avg rank 6.5
    Hankook Winter i cept RS2
    ❄️Snow
    Avg rank 6.6
    211
    Avg rank 3.3
    11
    Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV
    🧊IceNo data
    Avg rank 4.5
    1
    Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV
    🔇Noise / Comfort
    Avg rank 8.5
    11
    Avg rank 4.5
    Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV
    📏Mileage
    Avg rank 7.3
    1
    No data
    Hankook Winter i cept RS2
    🔋Efficiency
    Avg rank 3.4
    12
    Avg rank 4.0
    Hankook Winter i cept RS2

    💧 Wet: Hankook Winter i cept RS2 vs Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV

    The Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV wins this category with an average rank of 2.5, compared to 6.5 for the Hankook Winter i cept RS2.

    ☀️ Dry: Hankook Winter i cept RS2 vs Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV

    The Hankook Winter i cept RS2 wins this category with an average rank of 6.4, compared to 6.5 for the Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV.

    ❄️ Snow: Hankook Winter i cept RS2 vs Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV

    The Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV wins this category with an average rank of 3.3, compared to 6.6 for the Hankook Winter i cept RS2.

    🧊 Ice: Hankook Winter i cept RS2 vs Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV

    The Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV wins this category with an average rank of 4.5, compared to no data for the Hankook Winter i cept RS2.

    🔇 Noise / Comfort: Hankook Winter i cept RS2 vs Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV

    The Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV wins this category with an average rank of 4.5, compared to 8.5 for the Hankook Winter i cept RS2.

    📏 Mileage: Hankook Winter i cept RS2 vs Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV

    The Hankook Winter i cept RS2 wins this category with an average rank of 7.3, compared to no data for the Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV.

    🔋 Efficiency: Hankook Winter i cept RS2 vs Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV

    The Hankook Winter i cept RS2 wins this category with an average rank of 3.4, compared to 4.0 for the Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV.

    Frequently asked questions

    Which is better in the wet, Hankook Winter i cept RS2 or Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV?

    Across independent wet-braking tests, the Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV ranks higher on average than the Hankook Winter i cept RS2.

    Which has shorter dry braking distance?

    The Hankook Winter i cept RS2 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV across the tests where both appeared.

    Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?

    On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV ranks better than the Hankook Winter i cept RS2.

    Which tire lasts longer?

    Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Hankook Winter i cept RS2 shows better mileage performance than the Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV.

    How many tests were used in this comparison?

    Hankook Winter i cept RS2 appears in 7 independent tests, Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV in 1.

    Also compare

    Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →