W462 WINTER I*CEPT RS3

<p>Snow grip is still great, after 3 season, the tyre has great lateral grip and the ice grip is acceptable, compound is still soft. Wet grip is still at a high level. Dry handling is also great. Tyre noise is a bit higher, but nothing weird for a winter tire.</p>

I have used this tyre on my Mazda 3 in the German winter. In my opinion this is the best budget winter tyre you can buy. I have driven this tyre for one season covering 4000miles. The tyre is very noisy in general and washy over 75mph. My review is based on driving this tyre in a semi worn, 3 year old state, only!
Hankook winter I cept RS 3
Size: 205/60R16 92H, DOT23
+ cheap
+ good enough for average drivers
+ acceptable wear and snow performance
- noisy
- bad handling at high speeds (Autobahn)

In the last 2 months of the 4th season, wet grip significantly decreased. I expect it to be a combination of different factors: the temperature was higher than usual for February and March, I had some fast highway driving at higher temperature (170 kmph at approximately 17 degrees C), and of course, the tyre age. Maybe if it were driven in perfect conditions (temp always below 7, less hard push on highway), I suppose it could last one more year. But who knows? So I throw them away after 4 full winters (in my country, every year it is mandatory to have winter tyres from 15.11. to 15.4.) and just 21.500 km on them.
Would I buy it again? Maybe.
If I look for a tyre that will be safe for 3-4 years, I think the RS3 is really a winner. The feeling was great in all conditions for the first 3 and a half years, and the tyre was perfect in any way. In my country, the price is significantly lower than the premium. In my size (185/65/R15), UGP3 is 87 euros, TS870 is 92 euros, and RS3 is 64 euros.
I think I will try UGP3 next just to see how many years it can survive. If it can be safe for 6 years, then it can be cheaper than Hankook per year... Also, I think it is important to mention I don't do many km, so I always need to change tyres just because of their age and not because they are finished.

Edit: In the last 2 months of the 4th season, wet grip significantly decreased. I expect it to be a combination of different factors: the temperature was higher than usual for February and March, I had some fast highway driving at higher temperature (170 kmph at approximately 17 degrees C), and of course, the tyre age. Maybe if it were driven in perfect conditions (temp always below 7, less hard push on highway), I suppose it could last one more year. But who knows? So I throw them away after 4 full winters (in my country, every year it is mandatory to have winter tyres from 15.11. to 15.4.) and just 21.500 km on them.
Would I buy it again? Maybe.
If I look for a tyre that will be safe for 3-4 years, I think the RS3 is really a winner. The feeling was great in all conditions for the first 3 and a half years, and the tyre was perfect in any way. In my country, the price is significantly lower than the premium. In my size (185/65/R15), UGP3 is 87 euros, TS870 is 92 euros, and RS3 is 64 euros.
I think I will try UGP3 next just to see how many years it can survive. If it can be safe for 6 years, then it can be cheaper than Hankook per year... Also, I think it is important to mention I don't do many km, so I always need to change tyres just because of their age and not because they are finished.

These are my first winter tires (it's my first car) so I can't really compare them to other tires on this car. Tires are quite loud and on dry roads in higher speed corners they feel elastic, almost like the car is gliding latteraly. Fuel consumption is higher than on my summer tires (about half a liter more per 100km). After 3800km, wear is pretty good, still around 7mm of tire tread left. One specific thing I must praise them for is the snow grip. We had a lot of snow this year and grip was impeccable! They really make you feel secure and rarely loose traction. For the price they are great. Definitely would recommend them.