Firestone Winterhawk 4 vs Kumho WinterCraft WP52+
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tires, the Kumho WinterCraft WP52+ finished ahead 3 times and the Winterhawk 4 not once. The Winterhawk 4 was stronger in snow and value, the WinterCraft WP52+ in dry and wet.
Performance profile
15 measurements from the 3 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Winterhawk 4
WinterCraft WP52+
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.
Where each scores higher
Winterhawk 4
WinterCraft WP52+
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
Winterhawk 4
Not ahead in any category
WinterCraft WP52+
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Winterhawk 4 72% from 6 reviews and the WinterCraft WP52+ 91% from 6. 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 | Winterhawk 4 | Gap | WinterCraft WP52+ | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry WinterCraft WP52+ ahead | ||||
| Dry Braking ft | 153 | 6.9% | 142 | 0-2 |
| Dry Handling mph | 68.7 | 1.9% | 70 | 0-2 |
| Wet WinterCraft WP52+ ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking ft | 173 | 6% | 162 | 0-3 |
| Wet Handling mph | 49.5 | 1.3% | 50.1 | 0-2 |
| Wet Circle s | 12.62 | 0.7% | 12.53 | 0-2 |
| Straight Aqua mph | 50.9 | 0.7% | 51.3 | 0-2 |
| Curved Aquaplaning ft/s² | 7.3 | 6.9% | 7.8 | 0-2 |
| Snow Winterhawk 4 ahead | ||||
| Snow Braking ft | 95 | 1.5% | 96 | 3-0 |
| Snow Traction lbf | 878 | 2.5% | 859 | 2-0 |
| Snow Handling mph | 35.6 | 1.2% | 36 | 0-2 |
| Snow Slalom ft/s² | 10.4 | 0.4% | 10.3 | 1-1 |
| Comfort Level | ||||
| Subj. Comfort pts | scored | 7.1% | scored | 1-1 |
| Noise dB | 69.1 | 0.1 dB | 69.2 | 1-1 |
| Value Winterhawk 4 ahead | ||||
| Wear miles | 29,096 | 3.1% | 30,034 | 1-1 |
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 8.11 | 1.5% | 8.24 | 2-0 |
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 3 tests, 2025 to 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 | Winterhawk 4 | Field | WinterCraft WP52+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test | P16 of 20 | P8 of 20 | |
| 2026 Winter Tire Braking Test - 50 Sets | P19 of 50 | P10 of 50 | |
| 2025 Autobild Winter Tire Test | P16 of 20 | P3 of 20 |
Winterhawk 4 vs WinterCraft WP52+: your questions
Is the Firestone Winterhawk 4 or the Kumho WinterCraft WP52+ the better tire?
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tires, the Kumho WinterCraft WP52+ finished ahead 3 times and the Winterhawk 4 not once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Winterhawk 4 scores 8.1 and the WinterCraft WP52+ 9.3 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Winterhawk 4 or the WinterCraft WP52+?
The WinterCraft WP52+ led 11 of the 11 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 6% shorter in the wet across 3 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The WinterCraft WP52+ led 4 of the 4 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 6.9% shorter in the dry across 2 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The Winterhawk 4 led 6 of the 9 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 1.5% shorter on snow across 3 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Winterhawk 4 had 1.5% lower rolling resistance (2 tests). Owners rate wear 7.6/10 for the Winterhawk 4 and 8.3/10 for the WinterCraft WP52+.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 7.7/10 for the Winterhawk 4 and 8.8/10 for the WinterCraft WP52+.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Winterhawk 4 72% from 6 reviews and the WinterCraft WP52+ 91% from 6. 67% of Winterhawk 4 owners would buy it again, against 100% for the WinterCraft WP52+.
Which is more expensive?
In the 2 tests that listed prices, the Winterhawk 4 was the dearer tire in 2 of them, by 4.5% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Winterhawk 4 is made in 83 sizes (14 to 20 inch) and the WinterCraft WP52+ in 115 (13 to 21 inch). 68 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Winterhawk 4 is graded B for wet grip and D for rolling resistance in most sizes; the WinterCraft WP52+ B and C.
Which is the newer tire?
The WinterCraft WP52+ is the newer design: it reached the market in 2025, the Winterhawk 4 in 2020. The Winterhawk 4 replaced the Firestone Winterhawk 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.