Viking WinTech NewGen vs Barum Polaris 6
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tires, the Barum Polaris 6 finished ahead 3 times and the WinTech NewGen not once. The WinTech NewGen was stronger in dry, wet and ice, the Polaris 6 in snow, comfort and value.
Performance profile
8 measurements from the 3 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
WinTech NewGen
Polaris 6
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 98%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 11 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
WinTech NewGen
Polaris 6
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.
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 | WinTech NewGen | Gap | Polaris 6 | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry WinTech NewGen ahead | ||||
| Dry Braking ft | 155 | 0.5% | 155 | 1-1 |
| Dry Handling mph | 68.5 | 1% | 67.9 | 1-0 |
| Wet WinTech NewGen ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking ft | 151 | 0.5% | 150 | 0-2 |
| Wet Braking - Concrete ft | 145 | 1.1% | 146 | 1-0 |
| Wet Handling mph | 47.9 | 1.3% | 48.5 | 0-1 |
| Wet Circle s | 12.85 | 0.3% | 12.89 | 1-0 |
| Straight Aqua mph | 54.8 | 0.6% | 54.5 | 2-0 |
| Curved Aquaplaning ft/s² | 9.2 | 1.4% | 9.3 | 1-1 |
| Snow Polaris 6 ahead | ||||
| Snow Braking ft | 75 | 0.9% | 75 | 0-3 |
| Snow Traction lbf | 917 | 0.9% | 905 | 1-1 |
| Snow Handling mph | 35.2 | 0.9% | 34.9 | 1-0 |
| Snow Slalom ft/s² | 11.2 | 2.1% | 11.4 | 0-1 |
| Ice WinTech NewGen ahead | ||||
| Ice Braking ft | 64 | 3% | 66 | 1-0 |
| Comfort Polaris 6 ahead | ||||
| Subj. Comfort pts | scored | 16.7% | scored | 0-1 |
| Noise dB | 70.6 | 0.1 dB | 70.5 | 1-1 |
| Value Polaris 6 ahead | ||||
| Wear miles | 22,680 | 7.8% | 24,855 | 1-1 |
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 7.46 | 14% | 8.67 | 1-0 |
| Fuel Consumption l/100km | 5.5 | 3.6% | 5.3 | 0-1 |
| Abrasion mg/km/t | 113 | 4.4% | 108 | 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 in 2026
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 | WinTech NewGen | Field | Polaris 6 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test | P12 of 20 | P10 of 20 | |
| 2026 Winter Tire Braking Test - 50 Sets | P12 of 50 | P7 of 50 | |
| 2026 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 185/65 R15 | P12 of 16 | P8 of 16 |
WinTech NewGen vs Polaris 6: your questions
Is the Viking WinTech NewGen or the Barum Polaris 6 the better tire?
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tires, the Barum Polaris 6 finished ahead 3 times and the WinTech NewGen not once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the WinTech NewGen scores 8.7 and the Polaris 6 8.6 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the WinTech NewGen or the Polaris 6?
The WinTech NewGen led 5 of the 10 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it resisted straight aquaplaning at a 0.6% higher speed across 2 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The WinTech NewGen led 2 of the 3 dry measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is better in snow?
The Polaris 6 led 5 of the 7 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 0.9% shorter on snow across 3 tests.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 8/10 for the WinTech NewGen and 8.5/10 for the Polaris 6.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the WinTech NewGen 78% from 2 reviews and the Polaris 6 81% from 6.
Which is more expensive?
In the 2 tests that listed prices, the Polaris 6 was the dearer tire in 1 of them, by 5.2% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The WinTech NewGen is made in 55 sizes (14 to 20 inch) and the Polaris 6 in 92 (14 to 20 inch). 53 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the WinTech NewGen is graded C for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Polaris 6 C and C.
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.