Tests 75 · 2 tests Owners 76 · 5 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 16 in 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 (value)
Head-to-head
Updated
Kumho WinterCraft WP52 plus vs Firestone Winterhawk 4 — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
WinterCraft WP52 plus is ahead, 75–65
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Tests 69 · 17 tests Owners 60 · 6 reviews
Best test result: #2 of 10 in 2022 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test (noise)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
77
Dry
WinterCraft WP52 plus +2651Why this score
Source WinterCraft WP52 plus Winterhawk 4 Professional tests (TWG score) 77 47 Reviews found online 78 57 Dry Braking (% of best) 99% 92% Dry Handling (% of best) 98% 98% -
83
Wet
WinterCraft WP52 plus +380Why this score
Source WinterCraft WP52 plus Winterhawk 4 Professional tests (TWG score) 85 90 Reviews found online 80 64 Wet Braking (% of best) 95% 93% Wet Braking - Concrete (% of best) 95% 95% Wet Handling (% of best) 98% 98% -
76
Snow
WinterCraft WP52 plus +472Why this score
Source WinterCraft WP52 plus Winterhawk 4 Professional tests (TWG score) 77 80 Reviews found online 76 62 Snow Braking (% of best) 98% 95% Snow Handling (% of best) 100% 98% Snow Traction (% of best) 97% 97% -
63
Comfort
Winterhawk 4 +467Why this score
Source WinterCraft WP52 plus Winterhawk 4 Professional tests (TWG score) 55 70 Reviews found online 76 61 -
62
Noise
Winterhawk 4 +1375Why this score
Source WinterCraft WP52 plus Winterhawk 4 Professional tests (TWG score) 59 81 -
71
Treadwear
WinterCraft WP52 plus +1358Why this score
Source WinterCraft WP52 plus Winterhawk 4 Professional tests (TWG score) 73 55 Reviews found online 68 62 -
78
Handling
WinterCraft WP52 plus +2454Why this score
Source WinterCraft WP52 plus Winterhawk 4 Reviews found online 78 54
Scores at a glance
| Category | Kumho WinterCraft WP52 plus | Firestone Winterhawk 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 75 | 65 |
| Dry | 77 | 51 |
| Wet | 83 | 80 |
| Snow | 76 | 72 |
| Comfort | 63 | 67 |
| Noise | 62 | 75 |
| Treadwear | 71 | 58 |
| Handling | 78 | 54 |
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
75
/ 100
WinterCraft WP52 plus
65
/ 100
Winterhawk 4
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 | WinterCraft WP52 plus | Winterhawk 4 | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curved Aquaplaning | Curved | 73% #12/16 · 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | 89% #8/20 · 2024 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | −15.8 | Different tests |
| Dry Braking | Dry | 99% #2/16 · 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | 92% #16/16 · 2024 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test | +6.7 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 98% #13/20 · 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test | 98% #9/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | +0.3 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 89% #9/20 · 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test | 77% #7/10 · 2022 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | +12.2 | Different tests |
| Fuel Consumption | Fuel | 95% #14/16 · 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | 96% #11/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | −1.8 | Different tests |
| Ice Braking | Ice | 90% #11/16 · 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | 94% #5/16 · 2024 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test | −3.9 | Different tests |
| Abrasion | Other | 66% #11/16 · 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | 69% #23/31 · 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test | −3.1 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 96% #16/16 · 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | 99% #2/10 · 2022 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tyre Test | −3.8 | Different tests |
| Value | Other | 100% #1/16 · 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | 78% #8/20 · 2024 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +22.4 | Different tests |
| Wear | Other | 84% #16/20 · 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test | 59% #14/16 · 2024 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test | +25.5 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 8% #12/16 · 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | 20% #5/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | −11.7 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 98% #5/16 · 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | 95% #8/31 · 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test | +3.2 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 100% #4/20 · 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test | 98% #4/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | +1.5 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 97% #4/16 · 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | 97% #8/16 · 2024 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test | +0.2 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 98% #8/20 · 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test | 93% #6/8 · 2022 AMS Winter Tyre Test | +5.3 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 84% #20/20 · 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test | 91% #14/20 · 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test | −7.5 | Same test |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Total | 0% #8/20 · 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test | 0% #5/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 0.0 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 95% #2/16 · 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | 93% #6/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | +1.9 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking - Concrete | Wet | 95% #2/16 · 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | 95% #6/16 · 2024 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test | −0.8 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 98% #4/20 · 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test | 98% #6/10 · 2021 AZ SUV Winter Tyre Test | +0.3 | Different tests |
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
Tire A WinterCraft WP52 plus
Pros
- Exceptional value and price-to-performance ratio compared to premium competitors
- Impressive wet grip, with multiple users highlighting Class A wet rating performance
- High level of ride comfort and compliance, noticeably better than factory run-flats
Cons
- Limited long-term durability data available from current reviews
- High demand or regional availability compared to mainstream domestic brands
Tire B Winterhawk 4
Pros
- Competitive pricing offering great value compared to premium brands
- Good traction and performance in rain and snow conditions
- Comfortable and exceptionally quiet ride quality
Cons
- Steering feel can be relatively numb compared to ultra-high-performance summer tires
- Potential quality control issues or manufacturing defects leading to difficult wheel balancing and vibration at high speeds
- Mixed performance potential compared to top-tier premium winter alternatives
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Kumho WinterCraft WP52 plus | B · Firestone Winterhawk 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | — | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | — | 76 |
| Rim diameters | — | 14″ – 20″ |
Which one should you actually buy?
75
/ 100
Kumho WinterCraft WP52 plus
65
/ 100
Firestone Winterhawk 4
Winner: Kumho WinterCraft WP52 plus — better dry, handling and treadwear. Pick the Firestone Winterhawk 4 if noise and comfort matter most to you.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Kumho WinterCraft WP52 plus scores 77 vs 51 on dry.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Kumho WinterCraft WP52 plus scores 78 vs 54 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Kumho WinterCraft WP52 plus scores 71 vs 58 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Firestone Winterhawk 4 scores 75 vs 62 on noise.
Tire A · Kumho WinterCraft WP52 plus
Tire B · Firestone Winterhawk 4
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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.