Dunlop Winter Sport 5 vs Nokian WR A4
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tires, the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 finished ahead 2 times and the WR A4 once. The Winter Sport 5 was stronger in wet and snow, the WR A4 in dry, comfort and value.
Performance profile
9 measurements from the 3 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Winter Sport 5
WR A4
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. 2 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Winter Sport 5
WR A4
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
Winter Sport 5
WR A4
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Winter Sport 5 83% from 47 reviews and the WR A4 84% from 24. 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 | Winter Sport 5 | Gap | WR A4 | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry WR A4 ahead | ||||
| Dry Braking ft | 150 | 2.7% | 146 | 0-2 |
| Dry Handling mph | 70.7 | 0.4% | 71.1 | 0-2 |
| Wet Winter Sport 5 ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking ft | 136 | 1.7% | 138 | 1-2 |
| Wet Handling mph | 45.5 | 3.6% | 43.9 | 2-0 |
| Straight Aqua mph | 54.6 | 7% | 51 | 2-0 |
| Snow Winter Sport 5 ahead | ||||
| Snow Braking ft | 85 | 3.9% | 89 | 3-0 |
| Snow Traction lbf | 654 | 0.9% | 648 | 1-0 |
| Snow Handling mph | 36.4 | 3.4% | 35.1 | 2-0 |
| Comfort WR A4 ahead | ||||
| Noise dB | 73.9 | 2 dB | 71.9 | 0-2 |
| Value WR A4 ahead | ||||
| Wear miles | 26,495 | 14.3% | 23,183 | 1-0 |
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 8.1 | 6.4% | 7.56 | 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 3 tests, 2017 to 2020
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 | Winter Sport 5 | Field | WR A4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tire Test | P8 of 20 | P16 of 20 | |
| 2020 Winter Tire Market Overview - 52 Tire Braking Test | P13 of 51 | P12 of 51 | |
| 2017 AMS Performance 18 inch Winter Tire Test | P2 of 10 | P5 of 10 |
Winter Sport 5 vs WR A4: your questions
Is the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 or the Nokian WR A4 the better tire?
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tires, the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 finished ahead 2 times and the WR A4 once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Winter Sport 5 scores 8.9 and the WR A4 7.4 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Winter Sport 5 or the WR A4?
The Winter Sport 5 led 5 of the 7 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it resisted straight aquaplaning at a 7% higher speed across 2 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The WR A4 led 4 of the 4 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 2.7% shorter in the dry across 2 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The Winter Sport 5 led 6 of the 6 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 3.9% shorter on snow across 3 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The WR A4 had 6.4% lower rolling resistance (2 tests). Owners rate wear 8.7/10 for the Winter Sport 5 and 7.9/10 for the WR A4.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
The WR A4 was 2 dB quieter (2 tests). Owners rate comfort 8.4/10 for the Winter Sport 5 and 8.5/10 for the WR A4.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Winter Sport 5 83% from 47 reviews and the WR A4 84% from 24. 83% of Winter Sport 5 owners would buy it again, against 85% for the WR A4.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Winter Sport 5 is made in 49 sizes (15 to 21 inch) and the WR A4 in 9 (17 to 21 inch). 4 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Winter Sport 5 is graded B for wet grip and C for rolling resistance in most sizes; the WR A4 B and C.
Which is the newer tire?
The Winter Sport 5 is the newer design: it reached the market in 2021, the WR A4 in 2016. The Winter Sport 5 replaced the Dunlop SP WinterSport 4D. The WR A4 replaced the Nokian WR A3.
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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.