Originally established in 1941, Hankook Tire is a South Korean tire manufacturer known for its innovative technologies and streamlined manufacturing process. Headquartered in Clarksville, TN, it is one of the largest tire manufacturers globally, producing high-quality tires for light trucks, passenger cars, electric vehicles, minivans, CUVs, SUVs, and trailers. With its technical center in Akron, its product portfolio includes different types of tires, including winter, highway, UHP, all-weather, and all-season. The Hankook iON series of tires was launched in the US fairly recently, in 2022.

Engineered for use on electric vehicles and SUVs, the Hankook iON i*cept SUV (IW01A) is a great winter tire featuring a specialized tread pattern and optimized sipes to ensure superior handling in slushy, snowy, and icy conditions. While its Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification ensures optimal performance in severe winter conditions, the angled sipes enhance traction and braking on snow, and the high concentration of silica lowers rolling resistance to boost fuel efficiency. The iON i*cept SUV (IW01A) is made from eco-friendly materials and is optimized to reduce noise and make your rides quiet and comfortable.

So, is it worth going for? Let's try to answer in this Hankook iON i*cept SUV (IW01A) review.

Features and Benefits

Winter tires are developed to handle extreme snow, ice, and slush in challenging conditions. The dense sipes and wide grooves enhance traction, while the special construction of these tires reduces the risk of hydroplaning. Thanks to the flexible rubber compound, winter tires retain their grip in freezing conditions. The following features and benefits help obtain a high Hankook iON i*cept SUV (IW01A) rating:

• Excellent traction: The Hankook iON i*cept SUV (IW01A) excels in winter conditions with its specialized tread pattern and optimized sipes. Drivers enjoy superior traction in slushy, snowy, and icy surfaces. Its Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification guarantees reliable performance in severe winter weather, while its angled sipes enhance traction and braking on snow.
• Superior grip: The Hankook iON i*cept SUV (IW01A) provides excellent grip thanks to its dense sipes and wide grooves. Drivers experience stable rides amidst treacherous terrains with a lower risk of hydroplaning. The high concentration of silica in the rubber compound enhances grip and control on slippery trails.
• Efficiency and comfort: The optimized pitch sequence of the iON i*cept SUV (IW01A) ensures a quiet and comfortable ride, minimizing road noise for a pleasant driving experience. The low rolling resistance enhances fuel efficiency and extends its tread life, making it a sustainable and practical choice for winter driving.

Pros and Cons

While the iON icept SUV (IW01A) offers several benefits, it has some drawbacks, too. Let’s glance over its pros and cons before we sum up this Hankook iON icept SUV (IW01A) tire review:

PROS:

• Its specialized tread pattern ensures superior handling in winter conditions
• Offers excellent traction and mitigates the risk of hydroplaning
• Dense sipes and wide grooves enhance control in winter conditions
• Ensures a comfortable ride with its optimized pitch sequence
• Delivers long tread life due to high silica content in the compound

CONS:

• It doesn’t come with a mileage warranty
• It cannot be used on rugged terrains

SimpleTire’s view on Hankook iON i*cept SUV (IW01A) tires

In brief, the Hankook iON i*cept SUV (IW01A) (starts around $204) is a great winter tire for electric vehicles and SUVs, ensuring stable rides in severe snow, ice, and slush. The Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified tire lasts long, thanks to its special rubber compound, while its dense sipes and wide grooves boost control in winter conditions. However, the lack of a mileage warranty remains a drawback for the tire.

In its segment, the iON i*cept SUV (IW01A) locks horns with the likes of Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 EV (starts around $282) and Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV (starts around $161).

With an overall SimpleScore of 8.5 out of 10, Hankook iON i*cept SUV (IW01A) is behind the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 EV and R5 SUV, who score 9.1 and 9, respectively. Barring the handling, where the Hankook scores 8.9, it loses out to the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 EV and R5 SUV in traction (9.9 each vs 8.3) and longevity {8.3 and 8.6 vs 8 (Hankook)}, respectively.

Vehicles the Hankook iON i*cept SUV (IW01A) is a good replacement tire for

The Hankook iON i*cept SUV (IW01A) will be a good replacement tire for vehicles like Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT5, Chevrolet Blazer, Ford Explorer Sport Trac, GMC Acadia, Infiniti QX60, and Jaguar I-Pace.