Hankook Winter i cept evo2 SUV im Test

The Hankook Winter i*cept evo2 W320, which had already been awarded the "Red Dot Design" award even before its official premiere, was specially developed for medium-class passenger cars, as well as expensive limousines and premium sports cars. The same model, adapted to the features of the popular category of vehicles Sport Utility Vehicle, is called Hankook Winter i*cept evo2 SUV W320A.

As the manufacturer asserts, these tires are up to any dangerous driving conditions in the form of snow, ice, frost, heavy rain and wet leaves on the road. This is due to the tire's advanced constructional features and the use of an optimized rubber compound containing high-dispersed silica, which greatly improve the tire's grip on snowy and wet roads.

Design

Asymmetric tread pattern of Hankook W320 and Hankook W320A provides excellent traction properties and increased braking efficiency on snow, slush and wet roads. Special 3D-lamellas "scattered" over all tread surface by limiting the block mobility increase driving stability in cold conditions, prevent abrasion and due to maximization of edge effect increase the tire general performance on winter surfaces.

Lateral X-shaped grooves on the inner part of the tread, which functionally resemble ice axes, improve traction on snowy roads. The optimal angle of these side grooves also increases the snow performance of the Winter i*cept evo2.

Radial grooves, located on the outer part of the tread, have 30% more cavities than existing analogues. It allows Hankook W320 Winter i*cept evo 2 tires to quickly drain water and snow slush from the contact area, with good resistance to aqua- and slushplaning, as a result, stable and easy driving on snowy and wet roads is provided.

Reinforced sidewalls and sidewalls, combined with wide shoulder areas and optimized tread beads, ensure quick and precise steering response and improved cornering traction.

We will also remember its predecessor, model Hankook Winter I*cept Evo W310, which was tested with pleasure by experts from a number of authoritative profile publications. The tire has never risen on the podium, but it consistently showed average results. Of course, it did not reach the indicators of premium car tires, but in its price range it was clearly one of the leading positions.

Availability

The Winter i*cept evo 2 and Winter i*cept evo 2 SUV winter tires are mainly produced at the Hankook factory in Hungary. They are currently available in different sizes: the passenger car version is available in sizes 16 to 20 inches with speed indexes H, V and W, while the off-road version is available in sizes 16 to 21 with speed indexes T to V.