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Head-to-head Updated

Kumho WinterCraft WP71 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 6 + 2 road tests and 17 + 14 owner reviews. How we score

Observe GSi-6 HP is ahead, 71–60

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Kumho WinterCraft WP71
Tire AKumho

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)

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. 53

    Dry

    Observe GSi-6 HP +22
    75
    Why this score
    SourceWinterCraft WP71Observe GSi-6 HP
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 1 tests6273
    Reviews found online3977

    WinterCraft WP71: 60% × 62.2 + 40% × 38.9 = 53

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

  2. 65

    Wet

    Observe GSi-6 HP +10
    75
    Why this score
    SourceWinterCraft WP71Observe GSi-6 HP
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 2 tests7671
    Reviews found online4881

    WinterCraft WP71: 60% × 75.7 + 40% × 48 = 65

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

  3. 68

    Snow

    WinterCraft WP71 +2
    66
    Why this score
    SourceWinterCraft WP71Observe GSi-6 HP
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 2 tests7360
    Reviews found online6175

    WinterCraft WP71: 60% × 73.1 + 40% × 61 = 68

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

  4. 46

    Comfort

    Observe GSi-6 HP +30
    76
    Why this score
    SourceWinterCraft WP71Observe GSi-6 HP
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 1 tests≈ 63 (est.)78
    Reviews found online3574

    WinterCraft WP71: 40% × 62.8 (est.) + 60% × 34.6 = 46

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

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

  5. 74

    Noise

    WinterCraft WP71 +4
    70
    Why this score
    SourceWinterCraft WP71Observe GSi-6 HP
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 1 tests7872
    Reviews found online≈ 67 (est.)≈ 67 (est.)

    WinterCraft WP71: 60% × 78.1 + 40% × 66.6 (est.) = 74

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

    No owner ratings of noise for WinterCraft WP71 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. 62

    Treadwear

    WinterCraft WP71 +1
    61
    Why this score
    SourceWinterCraft WP71Observe GSi-6 HP
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / – tests69≈ 63 (est.)
    Reviews found online5358

    WinterCraft WP71: 60% × 68.7 + 40% × 52.6 = 62

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

    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. 39

    Handling (owners)

    Observe GSi-6 HP +37
    76
    Why this score
    SourceWinterCraft WP71Observe GSi-6 HP
    Reviews found online3976
  8. 53

    Efficiency

    Observe GSi-6 HP +13
    66
    Why this score
    SourceWinterCraft WP71Observe GSi-6 HP
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 1 tests5366
Scores at a glance
CategoryKumho WinterCraft WP71Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP
Relative Score 60 71
Dry 53 75
Wet 65 75
Snow 68 66
Comfort 46 76
Noise 74 70
Treadwear 62 61
Handling (owners) 39 76
Efficiency 53 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
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Recomputed
Headline score
± 7

WinterCraft WP71

± 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.

DisciplineCategoryWinterCraft WP71Observe GSi-6 HPΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 97% #11/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test 97% #5/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 93% #8/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test 83% #9/20 · 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 93% #7/44 · 2019 Winter Tyre Test Market Overview 81% #7/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 97% #8/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test 97% #8/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Braking Snow 97% #15/30 · 2019 Winter Tyre Test Market Overview 99% #8/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 97% #17/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test 98% #12/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Overall Ranking Overall #12/10 2020 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tire Test R18 #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 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 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 WinterCraft WP71 B · Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / Crossover—
Sizes available239
Rim diameters17″ – 18″16″ – 21″
Tread depth—11 - 12/32″
Sidewall—Black Side Wall
Max pressure—50 - 51 psi

Which one should you actually buy?

Kumho WinterCraft WP71

Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP

Winner: Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP — better handling, comfort and dry. Pick the Kumho WinterCraft WP71 if noise matters most to you.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP scores 76 vs 39 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP scores 76 vs 46 on comfort.

Pick tire B You want the most grip on dry roads

Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP scores 75 vs 53 on dry.

Pick tire B You want lower fuel or energy use

Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP scores 66 vs 53 on efficiency.

Tire A · Kumho WinterCraft WP71
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Tire B · Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP
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WinterCraft WP71 or Observe GSi-6 HP?

Which is better in the wet, WinterCraft WP71 or Observe GSi-6 HP?

Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP, 75 vs 65 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, WinterCraft WP71 or Observe GSi-6 HP?

Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP, 75 vs 53 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, WinterCraft WP71 or Observe GSi-6 HP?

Neither, by our numbers: 68 vs 66 on the snow score, within 3 points.

Which is quieter, WinterCraft WP71 or Observe GSi-6 HP?

Kumho WinterCraft WP71, 74 vs 70 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, WinterCraft WP71 or Observe GSi-6 HP?

Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP, 76 vs 46 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, WinterCraft WP71 or Observe GSi-6 HP?

Neither, by our numbers: 62 vs 61 on the treadwear score, within 3 points.

Which rolls more easily, WinterCraft WP71 or Observe GSi-6 HP?

Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP, 66 vs 53 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