Kleber Krisalp HP3 vs Barum Polaris 5
In the 11 independent tests that ran both tires, the Kleber Krisalp HP3 finished ahead 10 times and the Polaris 5 once. The Krisalp HP3 was stronger in dry, wet, snow and comfort, the Polaris 5 in ice and value.
Performance profile
14 measurements from the 11 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Krisalp HP3
Polaris 5
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
In each test the better of the two figures counts as 100% and the other as its share of it, so a 118 ft stop against 112 ft is 95%; each spoke averages the shared tests that recorded it. The scale stops at 92%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 4 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Krisalp HP3
Polaris 5
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Category scores are percentiles among tires of the same season and class: 90 means this tire out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
Where owners rate each higher
Krisalp HP3
Polaris 5
Not ahead in any category
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Krisalp HP3 84% from 36 reviews and the Polaris 5 61% from 16. Each spoke is one question owners answer out of 10; reviews are vetted by hand before publication.
Every measurement, side by side
Averages of the figures both tires posted in the same tests. The gap is the average of each test's own gap, so figures from different cars and years are never mixed. Wins count the tests in which each tire did better.
| Measurement | Krisalp HP3 | Gap | Polaris 5 | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Krisalp HP3 ahead | ||||
| Dry Braking ft | 148 | 1.7% | 151 | 4-1 |
| Dry Handling mph | 72.2 | 0.8% | 72.7 | 1-3 |
| Wet Krisalp HP3 ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking ft | 141 | 1.4% | 143 | 9-2 |
| Wet Braking - Concrete ft | 133 | 3.3% | 137 | 1-0 |
| Wet Handling mph | 46.2 | 0.5% | 45.9 | 4-0 |
| Wet Circle s | 12.8 | 0.5% | 12.73 | 0-3 |
| Straight Aqua mph | 53.7 | 6.2% | 50.7 | 5-0 |
| Curved Aquaplaning ft/s² | 10.1 | 12.5% | 9 | 4-0 |
| Snow Krisalp HP3 ahead | ||||
| Snow Braking ft | 84 | 3.1% | 87 | 11-0 |
| Snow Traction lbf | 478 | 2.8% | 500 | 3-2 |
| Snow Handling mph | 36.7 | 0.1% | 36.7 | 2-2 |
| Snow Slalom ft/s² | 10.8 | 3.5% | 10.5 | 1-0 |
| Ice Polaris 5 ahead | ||||
| Ice Braking ft | 72 | 4.6% | 68 | 0-1 |
| Comfort Krisalp HP3 ahead | ||||
| Noise dB | 70.98 | 1.2 dB | 72.18 | 4-1 |
| Value Polaris 5 ahead | ||||
| Wear miles | 24,171 | 3.7% | 24,987 | 2-3 |
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 8.75 | 12.7% | 7.62 | 0-4 |
| Fuel Consumption l/100km | 5.7 | 3.5% | 5.5 | 0-1 |
| Abrasion mg/km/t | 56 | 21.1% | 71 | 1-0 |
Braking distances and lap times are better when lower; speeds, wear and grip figures when higher. A test's figures are its own: sizes, cars, surfaces and temperatures differ from one to the next, which is why the averages here are only ever of tests the two tires shared.
Head to head in 11 tests, 2019 to 2024
Each row is one published test in which both tires ran on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The line is the whole field, winner on the left.
| Test | Krisalp HP3 | Field | Polaris 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test | P8 of 20 | P16 of 20 | |
| 2024 Winter 55 Tire Braking Test | P16 of 55 | P18 of 55 | |
| 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test | P11 of 20 | P9 of 20 | |
| 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tire Test | P10 of 16 | P12 of 16 | |
| 2023 Winter Tire Test 54 Set Braking Test | P4 of 54 | P14 of 54 | |
| 2022 Winter Tire Market Overview | P16 of 56 | P26 of 56 | |
| 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test | P3 of 20 | P15 of 20 | |
| 2021 Winter Tire Market Overview | P11 of 50 | P15 of 50 | |
| 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tire Test | P4 of 20 | P15 of 20 | |
| 2020 Winter Tire Market Overview - 52 Tire Braking Test | P8 of 51 | P11 of 51 | |
| 2019 Winter Tire Test Market Overview | P8 of 53 | P21 of 53 |
Krisalp HP3 vs Polaris 5: your questions
Is the Kleber Krisalp HP3 or the Barum Polaris 5 the better tire?
In the 11 independent tests that ran both tires, the Kleber Krisalp HP3 finished ahead 10 times and the Polaris 5 once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Krisalp HP3 scores 8.1 and the Polaris 5 7.6 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Krisalp HP3 or the Polaris 5?
The Krisalp HP3 led 23 of the 28 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it resisted straight aquaplaning at a 6.2% higher speed across 5 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Krisalp HP3 led 5 of the 9 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 1.7% shorter in the dry across 5 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The Krisalp HP3 led 17 of the 22 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 3.1% shorter on snow across 11 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Polaris 5 lasted 3.7% longer in the wear tests (5 tests) and had 12.7% lower rolling resistance (4 tests). Owners rate wear 8.4/10 for the Krisalp HP3 and 6.6/10 for the Polaris 5.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
The Krisalp HP3 was 1.2 dB quieter (5 tests). Owners rate comfort 8.8/10 for the Krisalp HP3 and 6.8/10 for the Polaris 5.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Krisalp HP3 84% from 36 reviews and the Polaris 5 61% from 16. 71% of Krisalp HP3 owners would buy it again, against 33% for the Polaris 5.
Which is more expensive?
In the 3 tests that listed prices, the Krisalp HP3 was the dearer tire in 3 of them, by 16.9% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Krisalp HP3 is made in 75 sizes (14 to 20 inch) and the Polaris 5 in 81 (13 to 19 inch). 53 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Krisalp HP3 is graded B for wet grip and D for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Polaris 5 C and D.
Which is the newer tire?
The Polaris 5 is the newer design: it reached the market in 2018, the Krisalp HP3 in 2016. The Krisalp HP3 replaced the Kleber Krisalp HP2. The Polaris 5 replaced the Barum Polaris 3.
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Run either of these?
Your review is the part of this page no test can supply: how the tire wore, how it aged, what it was like in the rain in year three. It takes about five minutes.
Where this data comes from
Finishing positions and measurements are transcribed from each published test. A test only counts here when both tires ran in it, so every figure was recorded on the same car, size and day as the one it is compared to.
About the TR Score
The Tire Reviews Score rates each tire out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tires can be compared even before a test has run them together.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tire Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tires independently since 2007.