Tire Buying Guides
The Hankook Winter iPike tires have gained popularity as capable winter tires and can tackle northern winter conditions. Suitable for use on roads covered with ice and snow, the Winter iPike tires perform well when used in temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. The South Korean tire manufacturer offers a couple of iPike iterations in studdable and studded choices. The two popular tire models offered by the manufacturer, namely the Winter iPike RS2 and iPike X have their dual variations (studdable and studded) available in the US tire market. The Winter iPike line covers various vehicle segments, including coupes, sedans, CUVs, SUVs, and light trucks, and assures confident winter weather traction, grip, handling, and performance.
Let’s learn more about the Winter i*Pike tires by understanding the different technologies, features, and abilities these tires have, and also get a quick insight about their SimpleScore and vehicle fitments.
Hankook Winter i*Pike RS2 (W429)
The Hankook Winter i*Pike RS2 (W429) is a great studdable winter tire that has a directional tread pattern and is specially engineered to perform in northern winter conditions. This means the Winter iPike RS2 tires can offer great control, improved ride comfort, and increased traction performance on conditions like ice, slush, and snow. For those who often drive in regions that witness heavy snowfall, the tire can also be pinned with TSMI #11 studs (where permitted by law), allowing you to gain extra traction. The wider center block arrangement on the tread helps boost traction and performance on ice and snow. What makes this Winter iPike tire more interesting is the ice slit design technology that improves ice traction. Likewise, the optimized stud pin placement further enhances the ice traction performance. Thanks to the claw edge on the tread, the tire offers better snow grip while its step-down design increases friction surface and maintains surefootedness in deep snow conditions. Durability and comfort are also taken care of and the tire comes with an ultra-high-tensile steel belt that makes the tread harder enough to offer improved handling and cornering performance at higher speeds alongside ensuring optimum puncture resistance and durability. The highly flexible bead rubber, on the other hand, not only makes the bead more durable but also reduces vibrations from the tire. This Hankook winter tire is suitable for use on coupes, sedans, CUVs, and SUVs, and can be a great choice for vehicles like Subaru XV Crosstrek, Acura CL, Audi A4, Porsche Cayenne, BMW 3 Series, and more. A bundle of advanced technologies and features bless the Winter i*Pike RS2 (W429) with a generous overall SimpleScore of 8.0.
Hankook Winter i*Pike X (W429A)
The Hankook Winter i*Pike X (W429A) is another studdable winter tire that’s suitable for use on CUVs, SUVs, and light trucks and is compatible with vehicles like Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Land LR4 HSE, and more. The tire sports a directional tread pattern and is considered to be a great choice for the aforementioned types of vehicles for northern winter driving. The innovative ice slit design technology gives it an edge over many noteworthy winter tires and ensures confident ice traction. The optimized winter tread can be pinned with TSMI #12 studs (wherever permissible by law) to gain extra traction in heavy snow and icy conditions.
The tread features a claw edge on both sides for better performance and grip on snow. For increased side snow grip, there’s a step-down design on the edge that allows drivers to confidently drive even on deep snow roads. The UHT (Ultra High Tensile) steel belt is another technological marvel that makes the structure hard so that handling and cornering levels are impressive, and there is enough puncture resistance and durability. Likewise, the HF (High Flexible) bead rubber is further optimized for extra bead durability and reduction in vibrations. During colder months, whether you drive through roads covered with snow, ice, slush, or water, the advanced tread design and new-gen rubber compound will ensure that the drives are always in control with the Winter i*Pike X (W429A) tires mounted on wheels. All these innovative features and technologies award the tire a great 8.6 SimpleScore rating.
Other Hankook Winter i*Pike tires
The Hankook Winter i*Pike family also includes the:
- i*Pike X (W429A) Studded – A studded winter tire designed for use on CUVs, SUVs, and light trucks
- i*Pike RS2 (W429) Studded – A studded winter tire designed for use on coupes, sedans, CUVs, and SUVs
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