Headquartered in Seoul, Hankook is a South Korean tire manufacturer with technical centers and production plants worldwide. Among the world’s largest tire makers, Hankook rolls out tires for passenger cars, CUVs, SUVs, light trucks, EVs, trailers, and commercial vehicles across different categories such as all-season, all-terrain, all-weather, UHP, summer, commercial, and winter. The Winter i* pike (W409), as the name suggests, is a winter tire with excellent water and slush wading capacity without compromising performance and grip in freezing temperatures.

Designed for use on luxury sedans, sports coupes, minivans, and CUVs, the Hankook Winter i* pike (W409) features a studdable tread pattern for deep snow and ice grip. The special rubber compound ensures there is no hardening, and the flexibility is maintained in low temperatures. While the directional tread pattern offers superior grip and handling, the wide grooves channel out water quickly to resist hydroplaning. The Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification assures its great performance in severe winter weather conditions.

So, is the tire able to perform the way it promises? Let’s check out the Hankook Winter i*pike (W409) tire review to know more about it. Read on.

Features and Benefits

Winter tires are engineered to deliver excellent traction and grip in severe winter weather conditions. They usually offer a directional tread pattern that aids in delivering superior handling and stability. Hankook Winter i* pike (W409) ticks most of the boxes required to qualify for a quality winter tire.

• Exceptional grip and traction – Driving in extreme winter means tackling slush, ice, and snow at low temperatures; the directional tread of the Winter i* pike (W409) with deep grooves cuts through them with authority. The solid shoulder grooves aid in lending enhanced grip while cornering and during straight-line drives. Dense sipes provide extra biting edges for better control and improved traction.
• Increased handling and stability – The stiff tread blocks improve handling and braking while also allowing for precise steering response. The special rubber compound provides the necessary strength to block to-not-to-crack under low temperatures and maintain flexibility in freezing temperatures. If studded with pins, the performance of the tire in ice and snow is increased manifold as it provides tremendous grip and traction to the vehicle.
• Long-lasting tread – Deep grooves on the tread ensure there is excellent wearability, while solid shoulders with wide grooves resist uneven wear.

Pros and Cons

While the Hankook winter tire has many advantages, it has some disadvantages too. Let’s have a look at the pros and cons of the tire before summing up this Hankook Winter i* pike (W409) review.

Pros

• Directional tread pattern for improved stability and grip
• Deep and wide grooves for maximum traction in ice and snow
• Dense sipes for extra biting edges
• Tread design quickly removes water and slush to resist hydroplaning
• Strong shoulder design with stiff tread blocks for precise handling and stability
• Special rubber compound for enhanced flexibility in freezing temperatures
• Studdable pins option, where permitted, for increased grip and traction in ice and snow

Cons

• Cannot be used when temperatures are consistently above 45 degrees Fahrenheit
• Studdable tires are not available for use in certain locations
• No tread life warranty
• Can be noisy when pinned with studs

SimpleTire’s view on Hankook Winter i*pike (W409) tires

To sum up, the Winter i* pike (W409) (starts around $78) is a good option for someone looking for a reliable set of tires that offer solid grip, enhanced traction, and uncompromised performance in ice and snow. It also offers improved stability and handling at moderate speeds.

The winter tire competes with the likes of Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 (starts around $82), Toyo Observe G3-Ice (starts around $87), and Kumho WinterCraft Ice WI31 (starts around $84).

Vehicles the Hankook Winter i*pike (W409) is a good replacement tire for

While the Hankook Winter i* pike (W409) may not be an OE-fitted tire on any car, it’s a great replacement option for tuned cars, CUVs, minivans, and sedans such as Honda CR-V, Chevrolet Colorado, Dodge Avenger, Mitsubishi Lancer, Chrysler 300, and many more.