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Head-to-head Updated

Kumho WinterCraft WP71 vs Kumho WinterCraft WP72 — 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 6 + 0 road tests and 17 + 28 owner reviews. How we score

WinterCraft WP72 is ahead, 70–60

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Kumho WinterCraft WP71
Tire AKumho

WinterCraft WP71

Winter

± 6

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.

  1. 53

    Dry

    WinterCraft WP72 +12
    65
    Why this score
    SourceWinterCraft WP71WinterCraft WP72
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / – tests62≈ 66 (est.)
    Reviews found online3964

    WinterCraft WP71: 60% × 62.1 + 40% × 38.5 = 53

    WinterCraft WP72: 60% × 66.2 (est.) + 40% × 63.5 = 65

    No road tests of dry for WinterCraft WP72. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.42).

  2. 64

    Wet

    WinterCraft WP72 +10
    74
    Why this score
    SourceWinterCraft WP71WinterCraft WP72
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / – tests76≈ 73 (est.)
    Reviews found online4876

    WinterCraft WP71: 60% × 75.6 + 40% × 47.7 = 64

    WinterCraft WP72: 60% × 73.4 (est.) + 40% × 75.6 = 74

    No road tests of wet for WinterCraft WP72. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.54).

  3. 68

    Snow

    WinterCraft WP72 +5
    73
    Why this score
    SourceWinterCraft WP71WinterCraft WP72
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / – tests73≈ 72 (est.)
    Reviews found online6075

    WinterCraft WP71: 60% × 73 + 40% × 60.3 = 68

    WinterCraft WP72: 60% × 71.9 (est.) + 40% × 75.4 = 73

    No road tests of snow for WinterCraft WP72. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.32).

  4. 46

    Comfort

    WinterCraft WP72 +21
    67
    Why this score
    SourceWinterCraft WP71WinterCraft WP72
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 63 (est.)≈ 68 (est.)
    Reviews found online3465

    WinterCraft WP71: 40% × 62.9 (est.) + 60% × 34.3 = 46

    WinterCraft WP72: 40% × 68.5 (est.) + 60% × 65.4 = 67

    No road tests of comfort for WinterCraft WP71 or WinterCraft WP72. The test half is the tested tires’ average (69): owners’ comfort ratings barely follow the road tests.

  5. 73

    Noise

    WinterCraft WP71 +7
    66
    Why this score
    SourceWinterCraft WP71WinterCraft WP72
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / – tests78≈ 67 (est.)
    Reviews found online≈ 67 (est.)64

    WinterCraft WP71: 60% × 77.8 + 40% × 66.5 (est.) = 73

    WinterCraft WP72: 60% × 66.5 (est.) + 40% × 64.4 = 66

    No owner ratings of noise for WinterCraft WP71. 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.

    No road tests of noise for WinterCraft WP72. The test half is the tested tires’ average (67): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests.

  6. 62

    Treadwear

    WinterCraft WP72 +8
    70
    Why this score
    SourceWinterCraft WP71WinterCraft WP72
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / – tests69≈ 69 (est.)
    Reviews found online5373

    WinterCraft WP71: 60% × 68.8 + 40% × 52.9 = 62

    WinterCraft WP72: 60% × 68.8 (est.) + 40% × 72.9 = 70

    No road tests of treadwear for WinterCraft WP72. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.35).

  7. 38

    Handling (owners)

    WinterCraft WP72 +28
    66
    Why this score
    SourceWinterCraft WP71WinterCraft WP72
    Reviews found online3866
  8. 52

    Efficiency

    No comparison
    –
    Why this score
    SourceWinterCraft WP71WinterCraft WP72
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / – tests52–
Scores at a glance
CategoryKumho WinterCraft WP71Kumho WinterCraft WP72
Relative Score 60 70
Dry 53 65
Wet 64 74
Snow 68 73
Comfort 46 67
Noise 73 66
Treadwear 62 70
Handling (owners) 38 66
Efficiency 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 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

Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.

Recomputed
Headline score
± 6

WinterCraft WP71

± 7

WinterCraft WP72

Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.

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.

DisciplineCategoryWinterCraft WP71WinterCraft WP72ΔHead-to-head
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Overall Ranking Overall #12/10 2020 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tire Test R18 #2/2 2025 AutoView Winter Tire Test R19 – Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A 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

Tire B WinterCraft WP72

Pros

  • Exceptional grip and traction in snow, slush, and deep snow conditions
  • Great value and budget-friendly pricing compared to tier-one premium brands
  • Surprisingly low noise levels and high comfort for a winter tire

Cons

  • Some users reported vague high-speed handling or a 'jelly' sidewall feel at speeds over 50-60 mph
  • A few mentions of increased noise compared to standard all-season tires
  • Potential for flat-spotting due to nylon cord construction, making balancing difficult for some
All owner themes in the WinterCraft WP72 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Kumho WinterCraft WP71 B · Kumho WinterCraft WP72
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available225
Rim diameters17″ – 18″18″ – 21″
Tread depth—11/32″
Sidewall—Blackwall
Max pressure—51 psi

Which one should you actually buy?

Kumho WinterCraft WP71

Kumho WinterCraft WP72

Winner: Kumho WinterCraft WP72 — better handling, comfort and dry. Pick the Kumho WinterCraft WP71 if noise matters most to you.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Kumho WinterCraft WP72 scores 66 vs 38 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Kumho WinterCraft WP72 scores 67 vs 46 on comfort.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Kumho WinterCraft WP72 scores 65 vs 53 on dry.

Pick tire B Your priority is wet-weather safety

Kumho WinterCraft WP72 scores 74 vs 64 on wet.

Tire A · Kumho WinterCraft WP71
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Tire B · Kumho WinterCraft WP72
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WinterCraft WP71 or WinterCraft WP72?

Which is better in the wet, WinterCraft WP71 or WinterCraft WP72?

Kumho WinterCraft WP72, 74 vs 64 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, WinterCraft WP71 or WinterCraft WP72?

Kumho WinterCraft WP72, 65 vs 53 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, WinterCraft WP71 or WinterCraft WP72?

Kumho WinterCraft WP72, 73 vs 68 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, WinterCraft WP71 or WinterCraft WP72?

Kumho WinterCraft WP71, 73 vs 66 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, WinterCraft WP71 or WinterCraft WP72?

Kumho WinterCraft WP72, 67 vs 46 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, WinterCraft WP71 or WinterCraft WP72?

Kumho WinterCraft WP72, 70 vs 62 on our treadwear 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