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Head-to-head Updated

Kumho Winter Craft WP51 vs Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP — 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 3 + 2 road tests and 15 + 14 owner reviews. How we score

Observe GSi-6 HP leads, 71–67 Narrow edge

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Kumho Winter Craft WP51
Tire AKumho

Winter Craft WP51

Winter

± 8

Tests 65 · 3 tests Owners 69 · 15 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 11 in 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test (noise)

Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP
Tire BToyo

Observe GSi-6 HP

Winter

± 6

Tests 69 · 2 tests Owners 73 · 14 reviews

Best test result: #5 of 20 in 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test (dry braking)

Category by category

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

  1. 62

    Dry

    Observe GSi-6 HP +13
    75
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Craft WP51Observe GSi-6 HP
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 1 tests6173
    Reviews found online6577

    Winter Craft WP51: 60% × 60.8 + 40% × 64.7 = 62

    Observe GSi-6 HP: 60% × 73 + 40% × 77.4 = 75

  2. 68

    Wet

    Observe GSi-6 HP +7
    75
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Craft WP51Observe GSi-6 HP
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 2 tests6671
    Reviews found online7081

    Winter Craft WP51: 60% × 66.2 + 40% × 70.1 = 68

    Observe GSi-6 HP: 60% × 71.2 + 40% × 81 = 75

  3. 70

    Snow

    Winter Craft WP51 +4
    66
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Craft WP51Observe GSi-6 HP
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 2 tests6760
    Reviews found online7575

    Winter Craft WP51: 60% × 66.9 + 40% × 74.6 = 70

    Observe GSi-6 HP: 60% × 59.7 + 40% × 75.2 = 66

  4. 70

    Comfort

    Observe GSi-6 HP +6
    76
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Craft WP51Observe GSi-6 HP
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 69 (est.)78
    Reviews found online7174

    Winter Craft WP51: 40% × 69.4 (est.) + 60% × 70.7 = 70

    Observe GSi-6 HP: 40% × 77.5 + 60% × 74.4 = 76

    No road tests of comfort for Winter Craft WP51. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.

  5. 69

    Noise

    Observe GSi-6 HP +1
    70
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Craft WP51Observe GSi-6 HP
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 1 tests7172
    Reviews found online≈ 67 (est.)≈ 67 (est.)

    Winter Craft WP51: 60% × 71 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 69

    Observe GSi-6 HP: 60% × 71.7 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 70

    No owner ratings of noise for Winter Craft WP51 or Observe GSi-6 HP. The owner half is the owners’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.

  6. 67

    Treadwear

    Winter Craft WP51 +6
    61
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Craft WP51Observe GSi-6 HP
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 67 (est.)≈ 63 (est.)
    Reviews found online6858

    Winter Craft WP51: 60% × 66.7 (est.) + 40% × 67.8 = 67

    Observe GSi-6 HP: 60% × 63.4 (est.) + 40% × 58.3 = 61

    No road tests of treadwear for Winter Craft WP51. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.35).

    No road tests of treadwear for Observe GSi-6 HP. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.35).

  7. 66

    Handling (owners)

    Observe GSi-6 HP +10
    76
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Craft WP51Observe GSi-6 HP
    Reviews found online6676
  8. 55

    Efficiency

    Observe GSi-6 HP +11
    66
    Why this score
    SourceWinter Craft WP51Observe GSi-6 HP
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 1 tests5566
Scores at a glance
CategoryKumho Winter Craft WP51Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP
Relative Score 67 71
Dry 62 75
Wet 68 75
Snow 70 66
Comfort 70 76
Noise 69 70
Treadwear 67 61
Handling (owners) 66 76
Efficiency 55 66

Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.

Weight the categories that matter to you

Wet grip starts at “Important”. Treadwear starts at “Neutral” here: road tests measured it for at most one of the two tires, so it rests on owner reviews. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.

Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Recomputed
Headline score
± 8

Winter Craft WP51

± 6

Observe GSi-6 HP

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.

DisciplineCategoryWinter Craft WP51Observe GSi-6 HPΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 91% #11/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test 97% #5/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 91% #7/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test 83% #9/20 · 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 85% #32/49 · 2021 Winter Tyre Market Overview 81% #7/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 90% #11/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test 97% #8/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Ice Braking Snow 89% #4/8 · 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 79% #18/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Ice Handling Snow 85% #8/8 · 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 85% #18/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Ice Traction Snow 92% #3/8 · 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 57% #18/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Braking Snow 92% #29/35 · 2021 Winter Tyre Market Overview 99% #8/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 97% #5/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test 98% #12/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Traction Snow 89% #8/8 · 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 95% #16/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Overall Ranking Overall #16/16 2021 ADAC Winter Tire Test R15 #12/20 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test – Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A Winter Craft WP51

Pros

  • Exceptional traction and reliability in deep snow and slush
  • High price-to-performance ratio compared to premium brands
  • Solid durability and tread life for the price point

Cons

  • Noticeable increase in road noise
  • Mediocre wet-weather braking and traction
  • Lack of steering feedback and stability on dry pavement
All owner themes in the Winter Craft WP51 review

Tire B Observe GSi-6 HP

Pros

  • Exceptional traction and stability in snow and slush
  • Impressive wet-weather performance and hydroplaning resistance
  • Remarkably quiet ride quality for a winter tire

Cons

  • Inconsistent tread life reports, with some users experiencing premature wear
  • Occasional reports of structural failure or tread separation
  • Slightly vague steering feel at lower speeds
All owner themes in the Observe GSi-6 HP review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Kumho Winter Craft WP51 B · Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / Crossover—
Sizes available439
Rim diameters13″ – 15″16″ – 21″
Tread depth—11 - 12/32″
Sidewall—Black Side Wall
Max pressure—50 - 51 psi
Sizes in common00

Which one should you actually buy?

Kumho Winter Craft WP51

Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP

Narrow edge: Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP — better dry, efficiency and handling. Pick the Kumho Winter Craft WP51 if treadwear and snow matter most to you.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP scores 75 vs 62 on dry.

Pick tire B You want lower fuel or energy use

Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP scores 66 vs 55 on efficiency.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP scores 76 vs 66 on handling.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP scores 75 vs 68 on wet.

Tire A · Kumho Winter Craft WP51
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Tire B · Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP
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Winter Craft WP51 or Observe GSi-6 HP?

Which is better in the wet, Winter Craft WP51 or Observe GSi-6 HP?

Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP, 75 vs 68 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Winter Craft WP51 or Observe GSi-6 HP?

Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP, 75 vs 62 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, Winter Craft WP51 or Observe GSi-6 HP?

Kumho Winter Craft WP51, 70 vs 66 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, Winter Craft WP51 or Observe GSi-6 HP?

Neither, by our numbers: 69 vs 70 on the noise score, within 3 points.

Which is more comfortable, Winter Craft WP51 or Observe GSi-6 HP?

Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP, 76 vs 70 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Winter Craft WP51 or Observe GSi-6 HP?

Kumho Winter Craft WP51, 67 vs 61 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, Winter Craft WP51 or Observe GSi-6 HP?

Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP, 66 vs 55 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