Hankook Winter i pike RS2 vs Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51: 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 pike RS2 and Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 appear in 6 tests, 1 of which put both tires on the same track on the same day. 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 pike RS2 performs. It takes the win in snow, ice, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 89/100, based on 5 tests.
How the Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 performs. It takes the win in wet, dry, noise / comfort. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 85/100, 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 pike RS2 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in snow and Tire Lab Score. The Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 still wins on wet, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.
Which one should you buy?
Choose Hankook Winter i pike RS2 if
- You prioritise snow
- You prioritise ice
- You prioritise efficiency
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise dry
- You prioritise noise / comfort
Test profile
| Metric | Hankook Winter i pike RS2 | Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Nordic Winter | Nordic Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 5 | 1 |
| Best rank | #1 | #2 |
| Avg rank | 6.6 | 7.5 |
| Latest test | 2023 | 2021 |
| Tire Lab Score | 89 | 85.1 |
Tire Lab Score
Hankook Winter i pike RS2
Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Hankook Winter i pike RS2 | Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 6.8 1 | Avg rank 5.0 | Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 7.9 | Avg rank 6.0 | Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 5.1 124 | Avg rank 7.0 1 | Hankook Winter i pike RS2 |
| 🧊Ice | Avg rank 6.4 1 | Avg rank 7.5 1 | Hankook Winter i pike RS2 |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 9.0 2 | Avg rank 7.0 | Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 7.0 | No data | Hankook Winter i pike RS2 |
Tests used in this comparison
Both tires were measured head-to-head in these 1 independent test:
💧 Wet: Hankook Winter i pike RS2 vs Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51
The Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 wins this category with an average rank of 5.0, compared to 6.8 for the Hankook Winter i pike RS2.
☀️ Dry: Hankook Winter i pike RS2 vs Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51
The Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 wins this category with an average rank of 6.0, compared to 7.9 for the Hankook Winter i pike RS2.
❄️ Snow: Hankook Winter i pike RS2 vs Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51
The Hankook Winter i pike RS2 wins this category with an average rank of 5.1, compared to 7.0 for the Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51.
🧊 Ice: Hankook Winter i pike RS2 vs Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51
The Hankook Winter i pike RS2 wins this category with an average rank of 6.4, compared to 7.5 for the Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Hankook Winter i pike RS2 vs Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51
The Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 wins this category with an average rank of 7.0, compared to 9.0 for the Hankook Winter i pike RS2.
🔋 Efficiency: Hankook Winter i pike RS2 vs Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51
The Hankook Winter i pike RS2 wins this category with an average rank of 7.0, compared to no data for the Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Hankook Winter i pike RS2 or Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 ranks higher on average than the Hankook Winter i pike RS2.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Hankook Winter i pike RS2 across the tests where both appeared.
Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?
On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 ranks better than the Hankook Winter i pike RS2.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Hankook Winter i pike RS2 appears in 5 independent tests, Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi51 in 1, with 1 head-to-head tests where both were measured.
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Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →