Hankook wins every shared test; Nexen suits tight budgets and light winter conditions only.
These two South Korean winter tyres occupy very different positions in the market. The Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 W452 is an established upper-middle-segment performer with a broad size range spanning R13 to R17, while the Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2 is a budget-oriented tyre available in a single R13 dimension — making this less a rivalry between equals and more a question of what you're willing to trade away for price. Across five shared group tests, the Hankook finished ahead in every single one. The gap is real, consistent, and worth understanding before you buy.
Winter i*cept RS2 W452
Winguard Snow G WH2
Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 W452Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 W452Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 W452Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 W452Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 W452Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2Wet performance is where the gap becomes most significant. Averaged across two measured braking tests, the Hankook stops in 37.0m versus 39.8m for the Nexen — a difference of nearly 3 metres that matters considerably in real emergencies. In the 2018 AutoBild test alone, the Nexen needed 36.8m to the Hankook's 34.9m. More concerning is the Nexen's aquaplaning resistance, which scores a low 53.5 against the Hankook's 89.7 — a substantial deficit suggesting the Nexen can lose traction quickly in standing water. Wet handling is similarly weaker. The Hankook's EU wet grip label reaches B in some fitments; the Nexen carries no EU label data at all for its sole available size.
Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 W452Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 W452Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 W452Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 W452Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2On dry roads the Hankook holds a clear advantage. Its dry braking and handling scores are meaningfully stronger, and in direct test comparisons the Winguard consistently trailed — finishing 21st versus the Hankook's 4th in a 51-tyre AutoBild group, and 37th versus 14th in a separate 50-tyre field. The Hankook's dry handling character is confident and progressive, inspiring driver trust. The Nexen is not unmanageable — owners of the WH2 regularly report decent dry grip for a budget tyre — but it simply lacks the composure and stopping authority of the Hankook in this discipline.
Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 W452Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 W452Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 W452Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 W452Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2Snow is where the Nexen closes the gap most convincingly, and real owners frequently praise its winter traction — one BMW 218d driver was genuinely impressed with its performance through Romanian winter slush and 10cm snowfall. In the 2018 AutoBild test, snow braking measured 27.7m for the Hankook versus 29.4m for the Nexen — respectable for a budget tyre. Snow traction and handling scores are also solid for the WH2. That said, the Hankook remains the stronger all-round winter performer with snow scores of 90.1 versus 79.9, and its ice grip is particularly well regarded. For pure budget winter driving in light snow conditions, the Nexen punches above its price; for anything more demanding, the Hankook's advantage reasserts itself.
Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 W452Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 W452Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2Neither tyre is a luxury cruiser, but the Hankook edges the comfort comparison. Owners consistently mention low noise as a highlight, and the tyre's interior refinement holds up well. The Nexen's story is more mixed: early in its life it is impressively quiet, but several owners note that noise increases noticeably after the first 5,000–10,000 km. Rolling resistance is modest on both tyres, though neither earns strong efficiency marks — the Hankook's EU fuel label sits predominantly at E. The Nexen's standout metric is mileage, scoring 89 versus the Hankook's 76.8, suggesting the budget tyre wears more slowly — though a minority of owners have reported the opposite experience.
Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 W452Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2The Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 W452 is the clear choice for anyone who wants a genuinely capable winter tyre with reliable wet braking, strong aquaplaning resistance, and consistent test results across multiple independent evaluations. It has since been succeeded by the Hankook W462 Winter i*cept RS3, so pricing on the RS2 may be attractive as stock clears. The Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2 is a narrow proposition — literally, given it comes in one size — best suited to cost-sensitive buyers fitting small R13 wheels who drive primarily in light winter conditions and value mileage over peak wet-weather safety. If aquaplaning or emergency wet braking are concerns, the Hankook is the only sensible answer here.
| Organization | Season | Year | Dimension | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 AutoMotorSport | Winter | 2018 | 205/55 R16 | View |
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