Westlake SW 608 review
Relative score 60% tests + 40% owners
Owners 42 · 5 reviews analysed Road tests 57 · 4 tests
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Westlake SW 608 has a Relative Score of 52 out of 100 among winter tires. In 11 road tests with an overall ranking it finished first 0 times and in the top three 0 times. Testers rate it best for wet (63) and weakest for snow (52). 5 owner reviews rate it 42 out of 100. 50% would buy it again.
- Weak point: Snow 52 — 30th of 30 (2020 Winter tire Market Overview - 52 tire Braking Test)
Owners rate it 15 points lower than the instrumented road tests do — see the two score breakdowns below for where they disagree.
Two scoring systems, side by side
Owner scores come from reviews found online; road-test scores come from instrumented tests. Where they disagree, it is usually a discipline owners rarely push to the limit.
How scores work
- Relative score
- 0–100. Blends road tests (60%) and owner reviews (40%) category by category, the same way on every TireWheelGuide page. With only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from it, so the score stays closer to average. It needs at least one road test or five owner reviews.
- Road tests
- 0–100 per score, from published tests, newer tests counting more. Each result is compared with every other tire in the same test, so a win against a strong field counts for more. The average tested tire gets 70, the best 100; with only one or two tests a tire stays nearer 70. The discipline rows show % of the best tire in that test.
- Owner reviews
- 0–100 from the owner reviews we found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates and scaled like the road tests: the average tested tire gets 70. With only a few reviews a tire stays near the average.
By owner reviews
42/100From 5 owner reviews analysed, scaled like the road tests: the average tested tire gets 70.
By road tests
57/100Scaled across every tested tire: the average gets 70, the best 100.
What owners like and dislike
Themes extracted from 5 owner reviews found online.
The Westlake SW 608 is a polarizing budget-tier tire that serves as an economical solution for light-duty driving but suffers from significant concerns regarding longevity. While some users appreciate the immediate improvements in comfort and value compared to worn-out sets, the consensus is heavily impacted by reports of premature tread wear and inconsistent durability.
Pros
- Highly competitive price point
- Noticeable improvement in comfort over worn tires
- Satisfactory handling for non-spirited, daily driving
Cons
- Extremely poor tread life and premature wear
- High levels of road noise
- Inconsistent quality control regarding longevity
Worth knowing
- Commercial fleet operators report significant dissatisfaction with tread life, noting failure within 5,000 kilometers.
- Passenger vehicle users report mixed results, with some achieving 9,000 miles while others fail MOT inspections within 10,000 miles.
11 published test appearances (4 in the score)
Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.
2025 Winter tire Braking Test - 52 Sets! · 225/40 R18
43rd of 51
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 43rd of 51 |
Source: Auto Bild
2024 Winter 55 tire Braking Test · 205/55 R16
40th of 55
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 40th of 55 |
Source: Auto Bild
2022 Winter tire Market Overview · 215/55 R17
45th of 56
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 45th of 56 |
Source: Auto Bild
2020 Winter tire Market Overview - 52 tire Braking Test · 245/45 R18
26th of 48
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 8th of 48 | |
| Snow Braking | 30th of 48 |
Source: Auto Bild
2018 51 Winter tire Shootout · 195/65 R15
30th of 52
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
2017 50 Winter tire Shoot Out · 225/50 R17
29th of 45
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
2014 AMS Winter tire Test · 205/55 R16
10th of 10
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: Auto Motor und Sport
2014 Auto Bild Winter tire Test · 225/50 R17
14th of 16
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: Auto Bild
2014 50 Winter tire Braking Overview · 225/50 R17
15th of 48
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
2013 Winter tire Overview - Braking · 195/65 R15
39th of 50
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
2012 Auto Bild 42 Winter tire Braking Test · 205/55 R16
27th of 43
Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.
Source: Auto Bild
Westlake SW 608 specs & sizes
Prices vary by size, so each one links out separately.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| EU label: wet grip | C |
| EU label: energy | D |
| EU label: external noise | 72–73 dB |
| Size | Retailer |
|---|---|
| 195/70 R15 | Amazon |
| 215/70 R15 | Amazon |
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Reviews from our readers
Drivers who have these tires on their car, in their own words. We check every review before it goes live.
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