Hankook Icebear W300

A pretty poor tire. Dry grip is ok but feedback limited and noise levels quite high. Wet grip is very weak, on a powerful car the back end is easy to step out in these conditions. Snow has not been an issue so far but in sleet and ice they have yet to inspire confidence.

These came fitted to my 04 BMW Z4 3.0.
I had them on all summer and through most of the winter.

In the summer they were a good tire and held the road well even on 30+ degrees centigrade days. They could be pushed to loose traction but it was very progressive in breaking away and did not snatch back. Lots of fun if not the fastest way from a-b.

Winter use, wet grip isn't amazing but they aren't a wet focused tire so to be expected, I. The 255 section aqua planing a little at the rear would happen with some standing water.
The limit of traction could be found at very small amounts over what would be considered sedate driving in the z4.

Snow, used in North yorkshire. They handled snow and ice much better than an all year round/rain tire. Noticeable improvement. Hill starts on half an inch of snow (no Tarmac) were pretty easy. It was still essential to drive to the conditions I.e atleast a third off speed 20-25 mph. Driving in this way sees good traction and no silly incidents getting stuck. The same hill taken with brand new cooper zeon sport tires saw me going nowhere with the lightest dusting of snow.

Summary, a good entry level winter tire that will keep you moving in bad weather all be it slowly.

After two years driving an old Porsche in the snow, it was a nightmare.
I bought an old Scirocco and a set of icebears.
The combination of a lightweight low powered car on very soft tires is brilliant.
It stops on the proverbial sixpence in the deepest snow and howls around corners while the four wheel drive stuff trying to keep up just flies into the ditches.
These are brill.
Great in the wet too, but they come off in April because it looks like they wear rapidly when things warm up.
Seen them formular one drivers going through the puddles to keep their rubber cools?
That's me that is.

Very good but appear to wear rapidly, I think two years / ten thousand miles max.
Bloody fun miles though!

Two years on an 09 GTI, with no snow on the roads work well in the cold weather. In deeper snow trying to take off on a slight incline from a stop is impossible. Worse then most all season tires. Would not recommend and will not re-buy.

Very bad traction on snow and ice. Extreme wear in 10000 miles, could use only one season and replaced them. Extremely sliding on snow and ice and nearly impossible to keep the car on the road.

great tires use them all year bit more road noise but this dosnt really bother me great in any type of snow been on my car 2 years done about20000 miles but the side walls are beginning to crack mostly on the inside wall.talked to tire supplier he reconed they had been ran at too low a pressure i check pressures fairly regulaly and never had to top them up much wonder if any one else has had a similer problem

Living in Scotland, Winters never fun especially the one we just had but I've got to admit the car performed superb. I only purchased it in october and didn't realise I had winter tires on until the snow hit and I was driving around leaving everyone else spinning. I cruised past 34 cars on one particular hill where I work and couldn't believe what a difference the tires made. The only down side is I've been told in dry conditions they can affect your fuel consumption and I think I believe them as my 1.6 C-max's mpg is poor but won't know for sure till I change the tires for the spring.

In dry conditions for the first 300 miles or so - its like driving on bars of soap, HOWEVER, once worn in, these tires are very good. They aren't high performance summer tires, so dont drive like they are. Once the Ice and snow has kicked in - you will be gob smacked at the difference these babies make to winter driving. BMW's - especially 1 series are HORRIFIC in ice and snow. Walking is both faster and safer. With these on, I have driven up icy and snowy banks that had Quattro Audi's stuck at the bottom. Slush, snow, Ice, heavy rain, these tires keep on going when all around are slipping and sliding! Yes you can still provoke rear drive fun still(Im pushing 260bhp after a remap)with drifts / sliding is VERY controlled. Highly recommended! And comfier than RFT's even in XL format!

Over the last 2 months I've driven these tires in all types of Winter conditions: Ice, compacted snow, fresh snow, slush, wet cold roads. They give excellent grip and on two occasions have given good traction to allow pulling away on an icy incline which has seen 4x4's (including a Land Rover Defender) slide. Clearly no winter tire will give licence to drive without due respect for slippery conditions but these tires have allowed me to travel where otherwise it would not be possible. I can't yet comment on how these tires wear, although no signs are showing yet.

First experience of snow tires entirely positive. While other brands might score higher in tests, these kept me mobile in some of the worst conditions I have ever experienced. Fresh snow, compacted snow, ice, slush- these tires totally transform the driving experience of the BMW in winter conditions. No wheelspin, no flashing lights on the dashboard (except on greasy tarmac???) Very little road noise, comfortable ride...I'm a big fan.