Tests 77 · 4 tests Owners 78 · 5 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 16 in 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 (wear)
Head-to-head
Updated
Kumho WinterCraft WP52 plus vs Uniroyal WinterExpert — 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 4 + 11 road tests and 5 + 7 owner reviews. How we score
WinterCraft WP52 plus is ahead, 77–68
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Tests 70 · 11 tests Owners 67 · 7 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test (snow traction)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
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80
Dry
WinterCraft WP52 plus +2060Why this score
Source WinterCraft WP52 plus WinterExpert Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 7 tests 80 57 Reviews found online 80 66 Dry Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 96% 93% Dry Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 98% 99% WinterCraft WP52 plus: 60% × 80.1 + 40% × 80.1 = 80
WinterExpert: 60% × 56.8 + 40% × 66 = 60
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88
Wet
WinterCraft WP52 plus +880Why this score
Source WinterCraft WP52 plus WinterExpert Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 11 tests 91 84 Reviews found online 84 75 Straight Aquaplaning (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 98% 97% Wet Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 97% 96% Wet Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 98% 96% WinterCraft WP52 plus: 60% × 90.6 + 40% × 83.7 = 88
WinterExpert: 60% × 83.8 + 40% × 74.7 = 80
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76
Snow
WinterCraft WP52 plus +472Why this score
Source WinterCraft WP52 plus WinterExpert Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 11 tests 74 78 Reviews found online 77 63 Snow Braking (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 96% 95% Snow Handling (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 100% 98% Snow Traction (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 95% 92% WinterCraft WP52 plus: 60% × 74.4 + 40% × 77.2 = 76
WinterExpert: 60% × 77.7 + 40% × 62.8 = 72
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68
Comfort
WinterCraft WP52 plus +959Why this score
Source WinterCraft WP52 plus WinterExpert Professional tests (TWG score) · 1 / 1 tests 54 54 Reviews found online 77 62 Comfort (tester's mark) (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–0 84% 84% WinterCraft WP52 plus: 40% × 54.4 + 60% × 76.9 = 68
WinterExpert: 40% × 54.4 + 60% × 62 = 59
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62
Noise
WinterCraft WP52 plus +161Why this score
Source WinterCraft WP52 plus WinterExpert Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / 7 tests 58 58 Reviews found online ≈ 67 (est.) ≈ 67 (est.) Noise (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 1–0 99% 98% WinterCraft WP52 plus: 60% × 58.3 + 40% × 66.5 (est.) = 62
WinterExpert: 60% × 58.1 + 40% × 66.5 (est.) = 61
No owner ratings of noise for WinterCraft WP52 plus or WinterExpert. 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.
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72
Treadwear
WinterCraft WP52 plus +567Why this score
Source WinterCraft WP52 plus WinterExpert Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 6 tests 74 68 Reviews found online 69 65 Wear (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 84% 90% WinterCraft WP52 plus: 60% × 73.6 + 40% × 69.3 = 72
WinterExpert: 60% × 67.8 + 40% × 64.9 = 67
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80
Handling (owners)
WinterCraft WP52 plus +1565Why this score
Source WinterCraft WP52 plus WinterExpert Reviews found online 80 65 -
59
Efficiency
WinterExpert +2483Why this score
Source WinterCraft WP52 plus WinterExpert Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 7 tests 59 83 Rolling Resistance (% of best) · 1 shared test · wins 0–1 89% 96%
Scores at a glance
| Category | Kumho WinterCraft WP52 plus | Uniroyal WinterExpert |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 77 | 68 |
| Dry | 80 | 60 |
| Wet | 88 | 80 |
| Snow | 76 | 72 |
| Comfort | 68 | 59 |
| Noise | 62 | 61 |
| Treadwear | 72 | 67 |
| Handling (owners) | 80 | 65 |
| Efficiency | 59 | 83 |
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
77
/ 100
WinterCraft WP52 plus
68
/ 100
WinterExpert
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 1 tests that ran both, Kumho WinterCraft WP52 plus finished ahead 1 times and Uniroyal WinterExpert 0 times.
| Discipline | Category | WinterCraft WP52 plus | WinterExpert | Δ | Head-to-head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 96% | 93% | +2.7 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test · 225/40 R18 |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 98% | 99% | −1.0 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test · 225/40 R18 |
| Curved Aquaplaning | Wet | 73% #12/16 · 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | 87% #11/20 · 2024 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Straight Aquaplaning | Wet | 98% | 97% | +1.3 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test · 225/40 R18 |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 97% | 96% | +1.8 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test · 225/40 R18 |
| Wet Braking (concrete) | Wet | 95% #2/16 · 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | 96% #10/31 · 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 98% | 96% | +1.9 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test · 225/40 R18 |
| Ice Braking | Snow | 90% #11/16 · 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | 87% #24/31 · 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 96% | 95% | +1.0 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test · 225/40 R18 |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 100% | 98% | +2.2 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test · 225/40 R18 |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 95% | 92% | +2.9 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test · 225/40 R18 |
| Comfort (tester's mark) | Comfort | 84% | 84% | 0.0 | 0–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test · 225/40 R18 |
| Noise | Noise | 99% | 98% | +1.4 | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test · 225/40 R18 |
| Abrasion | Treadwear | 66% #11/16 · 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | 72% #19/31 · 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Wear | Treadwear | 84% | 90% | −6.0 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test · 225/40 R18 |
| Fuel Consumption | Efficiency | 95% #14/16 · 2026 ADAC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 | 97% #23/31 · 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test | – | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 89% | 96% | −6.7 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test · 225/40 R18 |
| Also published by the testers (not in the score) | |||||
| Total Cost of Ownership | Cost | #8/20 | #2/20 | – | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test · 225/40 R18 |
| Value | Cost | 76% | 76% | −0.1 | 0–1 in 1 shared test Newest: 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test · 225/40 R18 |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | #4/20 | #8/20 | – | 1–0 in 1 shared test Newest: 2025 Autobild Winter Tyre Test · 225/40 R18 |
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 WinterExpert
Pros
- Reliable and great grip on dry, wet, and snow-covered roads
- Direct and responsive handling with predictable cornering
- Good fuel economy
Cons
- Noticeably higher noise levels, particularly on dry roads and during parking maneuvers
- Limited traction and performance when pushed or driven aggressively
- Inferior snow and ice performance compared to some competing winter tires like the Hankook Winter I-cept 2
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Kumho WinterCraft WP52 plus | B · Uniroyal WinterExpert |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | — | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | — | 90 |
| Rim diameters | — | 13″ – 20″ |
Which one should you actually buy?
77
/ 100
Kumho WinterCraft WP52 plus
68
/ 100
Uniroyal WinterExpert
Winner: Kumho WinterCraft WP52 plus — better dry, handling and comfort. Pick the Uniroyal WinterExpert if efficiency matters most to you.
Pick tire B
You want lower fuel or energy use
Uniroyal WinterExpert scores 83 vs 59 on efficiency.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Kumho WinterCraft WP52 plus scores 80 vs 60 on dry.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Kumho WinterCraft WP52 plus scores 80 vs 65 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Kumho WinterCraft WP52 plus scores 68 vs 59 on comfort.
Tire A · Kumho WinterCraft WP52 plus
Tire B · Uniroyal WinterExpert
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WinterCraft WP52 plus or WinterExpert?
Which is better in the wet, WinterCraft WP52 plus or WinterExpert?
Kumho WinterCraft WP52 plus, 88 vs 80 on our wet score.
Which grips better on dry roads, WinterCraft WP52 plus or WinterExpert?
Kumho WinterCraft WP52 plus, 80 vs 60 on our dry score.
Which is better in snow, WinterCraft WP52 plus or WinterExpert?
Kumho WinterCraft WP52 plus, 76 vs 72 on our snow score.
Which is quieter, WinterCraft WP52 plus or WinterExpert?
Neither, by our numbers: 62 vs 61 on the noise score, within 3 points.
Which is more comfortable, WinterCraft WP52 plus or WinterExpert?
Kumho WinterCraft WP52 plus, 68 vs 59 on our comfort score.
Which lasts longer, WinterCraft WP52 plus or WinterExpert?
Kumho WinterCraft WP52 plus, 72 vs 67 on our treadwear score.
Which rolls more easily, WinterCraft WP52 plus or WinterExpert?
Uniroyal WinterExpert, 83 vs 59 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