Imperial Snowdragon 3 vs Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tires, the Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 finished ahead 3 times and the Snowdragon 3 not once. The WinGuard Sport 2 was stronger in wet and snow.
Performance profile
Their shared tests recorded too few of the same measurements to chart, so the chart shows what owners rate each tire on every question.
Where owners rate each higher
Snowdragon 3
WinGuard Sport 2
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Snowdragon 3 62% from 4 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 | Snowdragon 3 | Gap | WinGuard Sport 2 | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wet WinGuard Sport 2 ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking ft | 129 | 8.3% | 117 | 0-3 |
| Snow WinGuard Sport 2 ahead | ||||
| Snow Braking ft | 104 | 22.1% | 81 | 0-1 |
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 3 tests, 2019 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 | Snowdragon 3 | Field | WinGuard Sport 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Winter Tire Test 54 Set Braking Test | P50 of 54 | P27 of 54 | |
| 2020 Winter Tire Market Overview - 52 Tire Braking Test | P47 of 51 | P24 of 51 | |
| 2019 Winter Tire Test Market Overview | P30 of 53 | P15 of 53 |
Snowdragon 3 vs WinGuard Sport 2: your questions
Is the Imperial Snowdragon 3 or the Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 the better tire?
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tires, the Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 finished ahead 3 times and the Snowdragon 3 not once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Snowdragon 3 scores 2.3 and the WinGuard Sport 2 8.1 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Snowdragon 3 or the WinGuard Sport 2?
The WinGuard Sport 2 led 3 of the 3 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 8.3% shorter in the wet across 3 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The WinGuard Sport 2 led 1 of the 1 snow measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 6.3/10 for the Snowdragon 3 and 8.6/10 for the WinGuard Sport 2.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Snowdragon 3 62% from 4 reviews and the WinGuard Sport 2 82% from 35.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Snowdragon 3 is made in 34 sizes (15 to 19 inch) and the WinGuard Sport 2 in 61 (15 to 20 inch). 25 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Snowdragon 3 is graded C for wet grip and C 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 Snowdragon 3 in 2015. 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.