Winter Traction That Won’t Break the Bank: Hankook i*cept iZ3 Winter Tire Review

I’m not a fan of cheaping out on tires. Like shoes and camping mattresses, the things that go between you and the ground are crucial to having a good time (and avoiding the bad ones). I’ve also learned the hard way that brands you’ve never heard of can be far costlier than the premium ones, even if they’re cheaper at the cash register.

But I understand that budgets — my own included — don’t always let you spend big. Sometimes, you need to find a product that isn’t cheap but low-cost and high-value.

My new crossover arrived at the end of the year. The timing meant the Bridgestone and Michelin tires I wanted weren’t in stock, and they wouldn’t be for a while. I started looking and came across a tire I hadn’t seen before: the new 2024 Hankook Winter i*cept iZ³ and its SUV companion, the iZ³X.

These tires were low-priced. They were about half the price of the tires I wanted (but couldn’t find). So, it was time to find out if the iZ³ were just cheap tires or a true bargain.

In short: Hankook’s newest iZ³ X winter tires ($128 each) deliver winter-weather grip and high ride comfort. All at a price that is a pleasant surprise. They grip on snow and ice as well as big name brands. They can get pretty loud on pavement, and they can be hard to source, but anyone looking to buy solid winter tires that won’t break the bank should look into these.

If you’re shopping for winter tires, compare the Hankook Winter i*cept iZ³ tires to those on our guide to the Best Snow Tires.

Hankook Winter i*cept iZ³ Review

For 5 months out of every year, I drive on winter tires. It’s not my choice; it’s my insurance company. If I have tires sporting that mountain snowflake logo on my car from November 20 until April 15, I save an amount that’s worth the hassle of the swap.

My point is I spend a lot of time on winter tires. Not just on my own vehicles but also on the vehicles I bring home to review most weeks. I drive a dozen or more different winter tires every year, and that makes it a challenge when it comes time to lay down my own cash for a new set.

Over the last few years, I’ve used the latest Michelin X-Ice for my own rides, as well as the Bridgestone Blizzak in whichever model was right for the fitment. I’m also particular to the Toyo Observe line and its walnut shell tech. But those weren’t options this time around. The best-looking option I could get in a hurry was the latest from Hankook, the Winter i*cept iZ³.

Initial Impressions

What first caught my eye about the Winter i*cept iZ³ was the price. They cost less than two-thirds of the other tires I was looking at, putting it in with brands at the level of Roundandblack in my search sort. Korean tire company Hankook, though, isn’t an unknown off-brand. It supplies factory equipment tires to Honda, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and even Porsche. It produces SUV tires as well as performance car tires.

The huge number of sipes on the Winter i*cept iZ³ tire tread caught my attention, too. They’re what help grab on ice, and where I live, I see a lot of ice, not just snow. Hankook claims the tire’s new compound and tread enhance ice braking by 9% versus the iZ2, and it has 13% better ice handling versus its competitors.

Grip on Snow and Ice

Marketing copy doesn’t matter when the snow starts to fall. It’s the work of the engineers that matters, separating the best snow tires from the also-rans.

My first snowstorm with these tires was the day after I had them installed. Sometimes, new tires that still have mold releases on them don’t perform at their best. Still, I immediately noticed that the grip was at least up to the standard of the other big-name tire producers.

I had loads of grip in the snow for acceleration and excellent traction when braking. When I’d mash the gas for some sideways fun, the tires would break loose for as long as I wanted them to, but it never got out of control. A bit less pedal, and the tires regained a hold on the snow.

I noticed less traction on ice, but that’s to be expected. The slicker the surface, the more slowly you had to drive. Still, starting on icy and wet hills was no problem, and the braking grip was tenacious enough that the ABS system didn’t have anything to do unless I really mashed the pedal hard.

Which I did, of course. For science.

Winter Tire Rumble Kept in Check

In most places, no matter how much snow you get, people drive on paved roads most of the winter. In those conditions, traction is still important, but noise and tire life become serious considerations.

The iZ³X tires made the usual winter tire rumble. It’s unavoidable, really. Any winter tire that’s whisper quiet will probably leave you stuck in anything more than a dusting. You need thick and flexible treads for grip — and those make more noise.

I rate these tires as mid-pack for noise on the highway. They’re loud enough that you’ll turn up the volume a few ticks, but not enough to make conversation more difficult.

They’ll Stick, But Are They Comfy?

The ride comfort of the Hankook Winter i*cept iZ³ tires is also excellent. Some of that comes from swapping the low-profile factory 19-inch tires for some 17s with a whole lot more sidewall and more squishy comfort, but some of it comes from the tire design itself. This is a tire designed for crossovers, and that means more sidewall flex. That’s good for traction and ride at the expense of handling.

Not that handling with the Hankook Winter i*cept iZ³ tires is an issue. I’m not throwing this into corners like I would a sedan in cold weather. It corners without any squealing and is responsive to the steering wheel, though, as I said before, with a bit of sidewall flex. If you think your crossover is a sports car, this might not be for you. For the rest of us, it’s just fine.

Fuel Economy Delivers With Hankook Winter i*cept iZ³ tires

I didn’t spend enough time in the vehicle with the standard tires to judge the fuel economy difference, but I don’t think it’s much. The official EPA range estimate for my Tucson, though, is 33 miles on electric power.

I’ve gotten that without a problem. EVs and PHEVs in EV mode are notoriously sensitive to tire rolling resistance, so hitting that figure in winter is a good sign.

Hankook Winter i*cept iZ³ Review: Conclusion

I’ve now had these tires on my Hyundai Tucson for almost 2 months and nearly 2,000 miles. Those little nubs from the factory are finally starting to wear off. This is a low-cost tire option that I haven’t regretted for even a moment.

No regrets is high praise for me. Normally, I second, third, and tenth guess every purchase from $5 to $50,000. This new Hankook product has been excellent on pavement, snow, and ice. They’re confidence-inspiring and the winter tire noise compromise is within my expectations. Plus, the tires come with a 50,000-mile treadwear warranty, meaning they should deliver years of winter service.

The Hankook Winter i*cept iZ³ and iZ³X Winter Tires are offered in 51 sizes, and 15- to 20-inch diameter tires are available. My size, 235/65R17, ran $128 each. Pricing will vary by size and store.