Tests 83 · 1 test Owners 81 · 10 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 51 in 2025 Winter Tyre Braking Test - 52 Sets! (overall ranking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Dunlop Winter Response 2 vs Dunlop Winter Sport 5 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Winter Response 2 leads, 78–76 Narrow edge
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Tests 74 · 25 tests Owners 75 · 44 reviews
Best test result: #4 of 8 in 2020 Motor Winter Tire Test R16 (overall ranking)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
75
Dry
Winter Response 2 +768Why this score
Source Winter Response 2 Winter Sport 5 Professional tests (TWG score) – 66 Reviews found online 79 71 -
85
Wet
Winter Response 2 +382Why this score
Source Winter Response 2 Winter Sport 5 Professional tests (TWG score) 86 85 Reviews found online 84 78 Wet Braking (% of best) 98% 92% -
81
Snow
Winter Sport 5 +182Why this score
Source Winter Response 2 Winter Sport 5 Professional tests (TWG score) 79 86 Reviews found online 83 77 Snow Braking (% of best) 99% 96% -
76
Comfort
Winter Response 2 +175Why this score
Source Winter Response 2 Winter Sport 5 Professional tests (TWG score) – 75 Reviews found online 82 74 -
–
Noise
No comparison34Why this score
Source Winter Response 2 Winter Sport 5 Professional tests (TWG score) – 12 -
71
Treadwear
Winter Sport 5 +475Why this score
Source Winter Response 2 Winter Sport 5 Professional tests (TWG score) – 76 Reviews found online 75 74 -
82
Handling
Winter Response 2 +874Why this score
Source Winter Response 2 Winter Sport 5 Reviews found online 82 74
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop Winter Response 2 | Dunlop Winter Sport 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 78 | 76 |
| Dry | 75 | 68 |
| Wet | 85 | 82 |
| Snow | 81 | 82 |
| Comfort | 76 | 75 |
| Noise | – | 34 |
| Treadwear | 71 | 75 |
| Handling | 82 | 74 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Important
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Important
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Important
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Less important
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Less important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neither tire has a score here yet, so this weight changes nothing.
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score
78
/ 100
Winter Response 2
76
/ 100
Winter Sport 5
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
The professional test results behind the scores
Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.
| Discipline | Category | Winter Response 2 | Winter Sport 5 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 100% #1/51 · 2025 Winter Tyre Braking Test - 52 Sets! | 57% #4/8 · 2020 Motor Winter Tire Test R16 | +42.9 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 99% #3/31 · 2025 Winter Tyre Braking Test - 52 Sets! | 96% #14/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +2.5 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 98% #3/51 · 2025 Winter Tyre Braking Test - 52 Sets! | 92% #6/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | +5.7 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A Winter Response 2
Pros
- Outstanding grip and confidence in snow and ice
- Excellent wet weather performance and braking
- High level of cabin comfort and low noise levels
Cons
- Faster tread wear reported by some users
- Slightly noticeable tire roll in fast corners above 50 mph
Tire B Winter Sport 5
Pros
- Exceptional grip and braking performance in snow, slush, and heavy winter conditions
- Strong wet weather handling and reliable water clearance to prevent hydroplaning
- Impressive tread wear and long-term durability across multiple seasons
Cons
- Soft sidewalls can lead to a mushy or floating steering response and unstable cornering when temperatures rise above 5-10°C
- Reduced dry handling precision and longer braking distances in warmer ambient conditions
- Inadequate or missing effective rim protection despite manufacturer claims
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Dunlop Winter Response 2 | B · Dunlop Winter Sport 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 15 | 46 |
| Rim diameters | 14″ – 16″ | 15″ – 21″ |
Which one should you actually buy?
78
/ 100
Dunlop Winter Response 2
76
/ 100
Dunlop Winter Sport 5
Winner: Dunlop Winter Response 2 — better handling, dry and wet. Pick the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 if treadwear matters most to you.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Dunlop Winter Response 2 scores 82 vs 74 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Dunlop Winter Response 2 scores 75 vs 68 on dry.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 scores 75 vs 71 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Dunlop Winter Response 2 scores 85 vs 82 on wet.
Tire A · Dunlop Winter Response 2
Tire B · Dunlop Winter Sport 5
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How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements), each result compared with every other tire in the same test and newer tests counting more. 40% comes from owner reviews found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates. Both use one scale: the average tested tire gets 70, the best 100. When a tire has only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from the other and the score stays closer to average; with no road test and fewer than five owner reviews it gets no score yet.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.