Hankook Winter I cept RS3 vs Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43

    2026 test data · 13 independent tests

    → See full Hankook vs Nexen brand comparison

    Hankook Winter I cept RS3 vs Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43: 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 RS3 and Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43 appear in 13 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 RS3 performs. It takes the win in wet, dry, snow, ice, noise / comfort, mileage. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 95/100, based on 11 tests.

    How the Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43 performs. It takes the win in efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 92/100, based on 2 tests.

    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 RS3 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in wet and Tire Lab Score. The Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43 still wins on efficiency, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.

    Which one should you buy?

    • You prioritise wet
    • You prioritise dry
    • You prioritise snow

    Test profile

    MetricHankook Winter I cept RS3Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43
    SegmentNordic WinterNordic Winter
    TypeWinterWinter
    Tests used112
    Best rank#1#1
    Avg rank7.28.8
    Latest test20252020
    Tire Lab Score94.992

    Tire Lab Score

    94.9
    Excellent · Nordic Winter
    92
    Excellent · Nordic Winter

    Performance overview

    Category-by-category results

    CategoryHankook Winter I cept RS3Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43Winner
    💧Wet
    Avg rank 6.3
    353
    Avg rank 10.2
    1
    Hankook Winter I cept RS3
    ☀️Dry
    Avg rank 8.1
    1
    Avg rank 11.0
    Hankook Winter I cept RS3
    ❄️Snow
    Avg rank 6.4
    323
    Avg rank 8.5
    11
    Hankook Winter I cept RS3
    🧊Ice
    Avg rank 7.8
    Avg rank 8.6
    1
    Hankook Winter I cept RS3
    🔇Noise / Comfort
    Avg rank 7.8
    2
    Avg rank 8.5
    Hankook Winter I cept RS3
    📏Mileage
    Avg rank 8.9
    2
    No data
    Hankook Winter I cept RS3
    🔋Efficiency
    Avg rank 5.2
    22
    Avg rank 2.0
    1
    Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43

    💧 Wet: Hankook Winter I cept RS3 vs Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43

    The Hankook Winter I cept RS3 wins this category with an average rank of 6.3, compared to 10.2 for the Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43.

    ☀️ Dry: Hankook Winter I cept RS3 vs Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43

    The Hankook Winter I cept RS3 wins this category with an average rank of 8.1, compared to 11.0 for the Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43.

    ❄️ Snow: Hankook Winter I cept RS3 vs Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43

    The Hankook Winter I cept RS3 wins this category with an average rank of 6.4, compared to 8.5 for the Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43.

    🧊 Ice: Hankook Winter I cept RS3 vs Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43

    The Hankook Winter I cept RS3 wins this category with an average rank of 7.8, compared to 8.6 for the Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43.

    🔇 Noise / Comfort: Hankook Winter I cept RS3 vs Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43

    The Hankook Winter I cept RS3 wins this category with an average rank of 7.8, compared to 8.5 for the Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43.

    📏 Mileage: Hankook Winter I cept RS3 vs Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43

    The Hankook Winter I cept RS3 wins this category with an average rank of 8.9, compared to no data for the Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43.

    🔋 Efficiency: Hankook Winter I cept RS3 vs Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43

    The Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43 wins this category with an average rank of 2.0, compared to 5.2 for the Hankook Winter I cept RS3.

    Frequently asked questions

    Which is better in the wet, Hankook Winter I cept RS3 or Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43?

    Across independent wet-braking tests, the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 ranks higher on average than the Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43.

    Which has shorter dry braking distance?

    The Hankook Winter I cept RS3 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43 across the tests where both appeared.

    Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?

    On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 ranks better than the Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43.

    Which tire lasts longer?

    Based on wear and abrasion testing, the Hankook Winter I cept RS3 shows better mileage performance than the Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43.

    How many tests were used in this comparison?

    Hankook Winter I cept RS3 appears in 11 independent tests, Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43 in 2.

    Also compare

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