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Head-to-head Updated

Pirelli Ice Zero 2 vs Kumho Winter Craft WP51 — 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 + 3 road tests and 3 + 15 owner reviews. How we score

Too close to call: Ice Zero 2 and Winter Craft WP51 are level at 67.

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Pirelli Ice Zero 2
Tire APirelli

Ice Zero 2

Winter

± 6

Tests 78 · 6 tests Owners 57 · 3 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 16 in 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test (snow traction)

Kumho Winter Craft WP51
Tire BKumho

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)

Category by category

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

  1. 72

    Dry

    Ice Zero 2 +10
    62
    Why this score
    SourceIce Zero 2Winter Craft WP51
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 2 tests8261
    Reviews found online5764

    Ice Zero 2: 60% × 81.8 + 40% × 56.8 = 72

    Winter Craft WP51: 60% × 60.7 + 40% × 64.1 = 62

  2. 73

    Wet

    Ice Zero 2 +5
    68
    Why this score
    SourceIce Zero 2Winter Craft WP51
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 5 / 3 tests8166
    Reviews found online6170

    Ice Zero 2: 60% × 81.1 + 40% × 60.9 = 73

    Winter Craft WP51: 60% × 66.4 + 40% × 69.9 = 68

  3. 70

    Snow

    Level
    70
    Why this score
    SourceIce Zero 2Winter Craft WP51
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 3 tests7667
    Reviews found online6374

    Ice Zero 2: 60% × 75.6 + 40% × 62.8 = 70

    Winter Craft WP51: 60% × 66.7 + 40% × 74.1 = 70

  4. 58

    Comfort

    Winter Craft WP51 +12
    70
    Why this score
    SourceIce Zero 2Winter Craft WP51
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 2 / – tests72≈ 69 (est.)
    Reviews found online4970

    Ice Zero 2: 40% × 72 + 60% × 49.2 = 58

    Winter Craft WP51: 40% × 68.9 (est.) + 60% × 70.1 = 70

    No road tests of comfort for Winter Craft WP51. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).

  5. 65

    Noise

    Winter Craft WP51 +4
    69
    Why this score
    SourceIce Zero 2Winter Craft WP51
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / 1 tests6571
    Reviews found online≈ 66 (est.)≈ 66 (est.)

    Ice Zero 2: 60% × 64.8 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 65

    Winter Craft WP51: 60% × 70.9 + 40% × 66.4 (est.) = 69

    No owner ratings of noise for Ice Zero 2 or Winter Craft WP51. The owner half is the owners’ average (66): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.

  6. 56

    Treadwear

    Winter Craft WP51 +11
    67
    Why this score
    SourceIce Zero 2Winter Craft WP51
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 60 (est.)≈ 67 (est.)
    Reviews found online4968

    Ice Zero 2: 60% × 60.3 (est.) + 40% × 49.3 = 56

    Winter Craft WP51: 60% × 67 (est.) + 40% × 67.9 = 67

    No road tests of treadwear for Ice Zero 2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).

    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 0.36).

  7. 53

    Handling (owners)

    Winter Craft WP51 +13
    66
    Why this score
    SourceIce Zero 2Winter Craft WP51
    Reviews found online5366
  8. 70

    Efficiency

    Ice Zero 2 +15
    55
    Why this score
    SourceIce Zero 2Winter Craft WP51
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 3 / 2 tests7055
Scores at a glance
CategoryPirelli Ice Zero 2Kumho Winter Craft WP51
Relative Score 67 67
Dry 72 62
Wet 73 68
Snow 70 70
Comfort 58 70
Noise 65 69
Treadwear 56 67
Handling (owners) 53 66
Efficiency 70 55

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
± 6

Ice Zero 2

± 8

Winter Craft WP51

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.

DisciplineCategoryIce Zero 2Winter Craft WP51ΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 97% #9/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test 91% #11/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 84% #14/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test 91% #7/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 100% #8/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test 85% #32/49 · 2021 Winter Tyre Market Overview – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 100% #1/8 · 2026 Vi Bilagare Studded Tyre Test 90% #11/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Ice Braking Snow 78% #13/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test 89% #4/8 · 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 – Different tests
Ice Handling Snow 92% #7/8 · 2026 Vi Bilagare Studded Tyre Test 85% #8/8 · 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 – Different tests
Ice Traction Snow 68% #4/8 · 2026 Vi Bilagare Studded Tyre Test 92% #3/8 · 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 – Different tests
Snow Braking Snow 99% #9/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test 92% #29/35 · 2021 Winter Tyre Market Overview – Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 97% #5/8 · 2026 Vi Bilagare Studded Tyre Test 97% #5/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Traction Snow 99% #2/8 · 2026 Vi Bilagare Studded Tyre Test 89% #8/8 · 2017 AC Winter Tyre Test - 185/65 R15 – Different tests
Noise Noise 98% #4/8 · 2026 Vi Bilagare Studded Tyre Test 100% #1/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Price Cost 55% #10/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test 92% #2/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Overall Ranking Overall #4/6 2027 NAF Motor Studded Winter Tire Test R17 #16/16 2021 ADAC Winter Tire Test R15 – Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A Ice Zero 2

Pros

  • Very good traction and performance on snow
  • Reasonably quiet for a studded winter tire
  • Adequate performance on wet and salty roads

Cons

  • Dangerous slipping on ice at low speeds in cold climates
  • Strong, intrusive howling noise at speeds above 95 km/h
  • Poor overall handling compared to competing studded winter tires like the Nokian Hakkapeliitta
All owner themes in the Ice Zero 2 review

Tire B 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

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Pirelli Ice Zero 2 B · Kumho Winter Craft WP51
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available—4
Rim diameters—13″ – 15″

Which one should you actually buy?

Pirelli Ice Zero 2

Kumho Winter Craft WP51

Too close to call: Pirelli Ice Zero 2 and Kumho Winter Craft WP51 are within 2 points overall. Pirelli Ice Zero 2 is stronger on efficiency, dry and wet. Kumho Winter Craft WP51 is stronger on handling, comfort and treadwear.

Pick tire A You want lower fuel or energy use

Pirelli Ice Zero 2 scores 70 vs 55 on efficiency.

Pick tire B You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Kumho Winter Craft WP51 scores 66 vs 53 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Kumho Winter Craft WP51 scores 70 vs 58 on comfort.

Pick tire B You want the longest tread life

Kumho Winter Craft WP51 scores 67 vs 56 on treadwear.

Tire A · Pirelli Ice Zero 2
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Tire B · Kumho Winter Craft WP51
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Ice Zero 2 or Winter Craft WP51?

Which is better in the wet, Ice Zero 2 or Winter Craft WP51?

Pirelli Ice Zero 2, 73 vs 68 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Ice Zero 2 or Winter Craft WP51?

Pirelli Ice Zero 2, 72 vs 62 on our dry score.

Which is better in snow, Ice Zero 2 or Winter Craft WP51?

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

Which is quieter, Ice Zero 2 or Winter Craft WP51?

Kumho Winter Craft WP51, 69 vs 65 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, Ice Zero 2 or Winter Craft WP51?

Kumho Winter Craft WP51, 70 vs 58 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Ice Zero 2 or Winter Craft WP51?

Kumho Winter Craft WP51, 67 vs 56 on our treadwear score.

Which rolls more easily, Ice Zero 2 or Winter Craft WP51?

Pirelli Ice Zero 2, 70 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