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Head-to-head Updated

Dunlop Winter Sport 5 vs Kumho WinterCraft WP71 — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 25 + 6 road tests and 47 + 17 owner reviews. How we score

Winter Sport 5 is ahead, 76–60

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Dunlop Winter Sport 5
Tire ADunlop

Winter Sport 5

Winter

± 4

Tests 75 · 25 tests Owners 78 · 47 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2024 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test (snow traction)

Kumho WinterCraft WP71
Tire BKumho

WinterCraft WP71

Winter

± 7

Tests 70 · 6 tests Owners 48 · 17 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 11 in 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test (snow handling)

Category by category

Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.

Key facts

  • In 4 tests that measured wet braking for both, Winter Sport 5 won 2 and WinterCraft WP71 won 2 (average 93% vs 93% of the best).
  • In 4 tests that measured snow braking for both, Winter Sport 5 won 4 and WinterCraft WP71 won 0 (average 98% vs 95% of the best).
  • In 3 tests that measured dry braking for both, Winter Sport 5 won 0 and WinterCraft WP71 won 3 (average 97% vs 98% of the best).
  • In 3 tests that measured dry handling for both, Winter Sport 5 won 3 and WinterCraft WP71 won 0 (average 99% vs 97% of the best).
  • In 3 tests that measured straight aquaplaning for both, Winter Sport 5 won 3 and WinterCraft WP71 won 0 (average 95% vs 94% of the best).
  1. 69

    Dry

    Winter Sport 5 +17
    52
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Sport 5WinterCraft WP71
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 19 / 5 tests6662
    Reviews found online7438
    Dry Braking (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 0–397%98%
    Dry Handling (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 3–099%97%

    Winter Sport 5: 60% × 65.7 + 40% × 73.7 = 69

    WinterCraft WP71: 60% × 62 + 40% × 38 = 52

  2. 84

    Wet

    Winter Sport 5 +20
    64
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Sport 5WinterCraft WP71
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 25 / 6 tests8676
    Reviews found online8248
    Straight Aquaplaning (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 3–095%94%
    Wet Braking (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 2–293%93%
    Wet Handling (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 2–197%95%

    Winter Sport 5: 60% × 86.2 + 40% × 81.6 = 84

    WinterCraft WP71: 60% × 75.6 + 40% × 47.6 = 64

  3. 83

    Snow

    Winter Sport 5 +15
    68
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Sport 5WinterCraft WP71
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 25 / 6 tests8773
    Reviews found online7860
    Snow Braking (% of best) · 4 shared tests · wins 4–098%95%
    Snow Handling (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 3–099%97%

    Winter Sport 5: 60% × 86.8 + 40% × 77.8 = 83

    WinterCraft WP71: 60% × 73 + 40% × 60.4 = 68

  4. 75

    Comfort

    Winter Sport 5 +30
    45
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Sport 5WinterCraft WP71
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / – tests74≈ 62 (est.)
    Reviews found online7634

    Winter Sport 5: 40% × 74.4 + 60% × 76 = 75

    WinterCraft WP71: 40% × 61.7 (est.) + 60% × 33.9 = 45

    No road tests of comfort for WinterCraft WP71. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).

  5. 33

    Noise

    WinterCraft WP71 +40
    73
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Sport 5WinterCraft WP71
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 17 / 5 tests1078
    Reviews found online≈ 66 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)
    Noise (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 0–396%99%

    Winter Sport 5: 60% × 10.3 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 33

    WinterCraft WP71: 60% × 77.6 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 73

    No owner ratings of noise for Winter Sport 5 or WinterCraft WP71. The owner half is the owners’ average (66): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.

  6. 79

    Treadwear

    Winter Sport 5 +17
    62
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Sport 5WinterCraft WP71
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 13 / 2 tests7869
    Reviews found online8053
    Wear (% of best) · 2 shared tests · wins 1–176%78%

    Winter Sport 5: 60% × 78.2 + 40% × 79.5 = 79

    WinterCraft WP71: 60% × 68.9 + 40% × 52.8 = 62

  7. 76

    Handling (owners)

    Winter Sport 5 +38
    38
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Sport 5WinterCraft WP71
    Reviews found online7638
  8. 79

    Efficiency

    Winter Sport 5 +27
    52
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Sport 5WinterCraft WP71
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 18 / 5 tests7952
    Rolling Resistance (% of best) · 3 shared tests · wins 2–192%82%
Scores at a glance
CategoryDunlop Winter Sport 5Kumho WinterCraft WP71
Relative Score 76 60
Dry 69 52
Wet 84 64
Snow 83 68
Comfort 75 45
Noise 33 73
Treadwear 79 62
Handling (owners) 76 38
Efficiency 79 52

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.

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Recomputed
Headline score
± 4

Winter Sport 5

± 7

WinterCraft WP71

The professional test results behind the scores

Per discipline: the average % of the best tire over every test both tires were in, and how many of those tests each one won. “Different tests” rows compare results from separate tests.

In the overall rankings of 6 tests that ran both, Dunlop Winter Sport 5 finished ahead 5 times and Kumho WinterCraft WP71 1 times.

DisciplineCategoryWinter Sport 5WinterCraft WP71ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 97% 98% −1.4 0–3 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Dry Handling Dry 99% 97% +1.7 3–0 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 95% 94% +1.5 3–0 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Wet Braking Wet 93% 93% −0.2 2–2 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2019 Winter Tyre Test Market Overview · 225/45 R17
Wet Handling Wet 97% 95% +1.7 2–1 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Snow Braking Snow 98% 95% +3.0 4–0 in 4 shared tests Newest: 2019 Winter Tyre Test Market Overview · 225/45 R17
Snow Handling Snow 99% 97% +1.6 3–0 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Noise Noise 96% 99% −2.5 0–3 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Wear Treadwear 76% 78% −2.6 1–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 92% 82% +10.3 2–1 in 3 shared tests Newest: 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 65% 82% −17.7 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Total Cost of Ownership Cost #7/20 #20/20 – 1–1 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Value Cost 58% 78% −19.8 0–2 in 2 shared tests Newest: 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test · 225/45 R17
Overall Ranking Overall #13/45 #10/45 – 5–1 in 6 shared tests Newest: 2019 Winter Tyre Test Market Overview · 225/45 R17

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A 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
All owner themes in the Winter Sport 5 review

Tire B WinterCraft WP71

Pros

  • Strong traction and braking performance in deep snow and slush
  • Competitive price point compared to premium winter tire alternatives
  • Predictable handling in dry winter conditions

Cons

  • Excessive road noise, particularly at low to moderate speeds
  • Vague or 'spongy' steering feedback and handling characteristics
  • Inconsistent lateral grip and understeer issues on wet roads
All owner themes in the WinterCraft WP71 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Dunlop Winter Sport 5 B · Kumho WinterCraft WP71
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available462
Rim diameters15″ – 21″17″ – 18″

Which one should you actually buy?

Dunlop Winter Sport 5

Kumho WinterCraft WP71

Winner: Dunlop Winter Sport 5 — better handling, comfort and efficiency. Pick the Kumho WinterCraft WP71 if noise matters most to you.

Pick tire B You want a quieter cabin

Kumho WinterCraft WP71 scores 73 vs 33 on noise.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Dunlop Winter Sport 5 scores 76 vs 38 on handling.

Pick tire A You want the most comfortable ride

Dunlop Winter Sport 5 scores 75 vs 45 on comfort.

Pick tire A You want lower fuel or energy use

Dunlop Winter Sport 5 scores 79 vs 52 on efficiency.

Tire A · Dunlop Winter Sport 5
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Tire B · Kumho WinterCraft WP71
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Winter Sport 5 or WinterCraft WP71?

Which is better in the wet, Winter Sport 5 or WinterCraft WP71?

Dunlop Winter Sport 5, 84 vs 64 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Winter Sport 5 or WinterCraft WP71?

Dunlop Winter Sport 5, 69 vs 52 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, Winter Sport 5 or WinterCraft WP71?

Dunlop Winter Sport 5, 83 vs 68 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, Winter Sport 5 or WinterCraft WP71?

Kumho WinterCraft WP71, 73 vs 33 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, Winter Sport 5 or WinterCraft WP71?

Dunlop Winter Sport 5, 75 vs 45 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Winter Sport 5 or WinterCraft WP71?

Dunlop Winter Sport 5, 79 vs 62 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, Winter Sport 5 or WinterCraft WP71?

Dunlop Winter Sport 5, 79 vs 52 on our efficiency score.

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.

Handling is the exception: road tests measure it inside the dry and wet scores, so its own row comes from owner ratings only and starts as less important.

Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score. Full methodology