Petlas Snow Master W651 vs Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
In the 2 independent tests that ran both tires, the Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 finished ahead 2 times and the Snow Master W651 not once. The WinGuard Sport 2 was stronger in wet.
Performance profile
Their shared tests recorded too few of the same measurements to chart, so the chart starts from each tire's Tire Reviews Score categories: its whole record, not shared tests.
Where each scores higher
Snow Master W651
WinGuard Sport 2
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
Snow Master W651
Not ahead in any category
WinGuard Sport 2
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Snow Master W651 71% from 29 reviews and the WinGuard Sport 2 82% from 35. 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 | Snow Master W651 | Gap | WinGuard Sport 2 | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wet WinGuard Sport 2 ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking ft | 133 | 7.8% | 122 | 0-2 |
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 2 tests, 2020 to 2023
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 | Snow Master W651 | Field | WinGuard Sport 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Winter Tire Test 54 Set Braking Test | P33 of 54 | P27 of 54 | |
| 2020 Winter Tire Market Overview - 52 Tire Braking Test | P51 of 51 | P24 of 51 |
Snow Master W651 vs WinGuard Sport 2: your questions
Is the Petlas Snow Master W651 or the Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 the better tire?
In the 2 independent tests that ran both tires, the Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 finished ahead 2 times and the Snow Master W651 not once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Snow Master W651 scores 3.5 and the WinGuard Sport 2 8.1 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Snow Master W651 or the WinGuard Sport 2?
The WinGuard Sport 2 led 2 of the 2 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 7.8% shorter in the wet across 2 tests.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 7.2/10 for the Snow Master W651 and 8.6/10 for the WinGuard Sport 2.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Snow Master W651 71% from 29 reviews and the WinGuard Sport 2 82% from 35. 57% of Snow Master W651 owners would buy it again, against 85% for the WinGuard Sport 2.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Snow Master W651 is made in 58 sizes (14 to 19 inch) and the WinGuard Sport 2 in 61 (15 to 20 inch). 31 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Snow Master W651 is graded C for wet grip and B for rolling resistance in most sizes; the WinGuard Sport 2 C and D.
Which is the newer tire?
The WinGuard Sport 2 is the newer design: it reached the market in 2017, the Snow Master W651 in 2014. The WinGuard Sport 2 replaced the Nexen Winguard Sport.
More comparisons with these tires
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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.