Barum Polaris 5 vs BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2
- TR Score
- 7.6/10
- Owners say
- 61% · 16
- TR Score
- 8.3/10
- Owners say
- 89% · 30
In the 13 independent tests that ran both tires, the BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 finished ahead 13 times and the Polaris 5 not once. The Polaris 5 had 11.8% lower rolling resistance; the gForce Winter 2 resisted straight aquaplaning at a 6.2% higher speed.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose the BFGoodrich g-Force Winter 2 if you drive in mixed winter conditions (rain/slush/standing water) or want the most consistent safety reserves-especially for aquaplaning and snow braking. Choose the Barum Polaris 5 if your priority is lowest total cost of ownership (value + low rolling resistance) and your winters are mostly cold and dry, while accepting weaker wet grip and reduced aquaplaning headroom.
Where the Polaris 5 is stronger
- Stronger value proposition in multiple tests (often lower price/1000 than BFGoodrich; e.g., Auto Bild 2023: 10.5 vs 14.95)
- Lower rolling resistance / better efficiency tendency (e.g., Auto Bild 2024: 7.28 vs 8.48 kg/t; ADAC 2023 fuel: 5.5 vs 5.7 l/100km)
- Competitive dry handling across several comparisons (category win count: 4-0 in favor of Barum)
Where the gForce Winter 2 is stronger
- Consistently higher overall rankings across shared tests (e.g., Auto Bild 2024: 9/23 vs 16/23; Auto Bild 2023: 4/22 vs 9/22)
- Much stronger aquaplaning safety reserves (e.g., Auto Bild 2024 straight aqua +10.6% and curved aqua +20.1% vs Barum)
- Better snow braking and generally stronger snow package (snow braking category wins: 11-0; plus frequent gains in traction/handling)
The bullet points are analysis of the shared tests and of owner reviews; the measured wins in each discipline are in the tables below. Where the two disagree, the figures are right.
Polaris 5 vs gForce Winter 2 at a glance
| Category | Polaris 5 | Gap | gForce Winter 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won13 shared tests | 0 | 13 | |
| Dry9 measurements | 5 | The Polaris 5 averaged a 1% higher speed on the dry handling course (4 tests) | 4 |
| Wet28 measurements | 2 | The gForce Winter 2 resisted straight aquaplaning at a 6.2% higher speed (5 tests) | 26 |
| Snow22 measurements | 2 | The gForce Winter 2 stopped 3.3% shorter on snow (11 tests) | 20 |
| Ice1 measurement | 1 | 0 | |
| Comfort5 measurements | 0 | The gForce Winter 2 was 0.9 dB quieter (5 tests) | 5 |
| Value11 measurements | 7 | The Polaris 5 had 11.8% lower rolling resistance (4 tests) | 4 |
| Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 7.6/10 | The gForce Winter 2 by 0.7 | 8.3/10 |
| Owner rating16 and 30 reviews | 61% | The gForce Winter 2 by 28 points | 89% |
| Would buy againshare of owners | 33% | The gForce Winter 2 by 67 points | 100% |
| Pricein the 3 tests that listed prices | Cheaper | The gForce Winter 2 was dearer in 3 of 3 | +19.6% |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 81 | 53 sizes made in both | 75 |
Wins count every measurement the shared tests recorded for both tires; a tick marks the tire ahead on that line. Subjective driver scores count as wins but are never averaged, because each test uses its own scale.
Head to head in 13 tests, 2019 to 2024
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 | Polaris 5 | Field | gForce Winter 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test | P16 of 20 | P9 of 20 | |
| 2024 Winter 55 Tire Braking Test | P18 of 55 | P13 of 55 | |
| 2023 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test | P9 of 20 | P4 of 20 | |
| 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tire Test | P12 of 16 | P8 of 16 | |
| 2023 Winter Tire Test 54 Set Braking Test | P14 of 54 | P5 of 54 | |
| 2022 Winter Tire Market Overview | P26 of 56 | P6 of 56 | |
| 2022 ADAC Winter Tire Test - 185/65 R15 | P14 of 15 | P5 of 15 | |
| 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test | P15 of 20 | P11 of 20 | |
| 2021 ADAC 15 Inch Winter Tire Test | P12 of 16 | P5 of 16 | |
| 2021 Winter Tire Market Overview | P15 of 50 | P7 of 50 | |
| 2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter Tire Test | P15 of 20 | P4 of 20 | |
| 2020 Winter Tire Market Overview - 52 Tire Braking Test | P11 of 51 | P7 of 51 | |
| 2019 Winter Tire Test Market Overview | P21 of 53 | P7 of 53 |
Performance profile
14 measurements from the 13 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Polaris 5
gForce Winter 2
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 94%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 4 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Polaris 5
gForce Winter 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
Polaris 5
Not ahead in any category
gForce Winter 2
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Polaris 5 61% from 16 reviews and the gForce Winter 2 89% from 30. 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. Open a discipline for its measurements, and a measurement for every test's figure.
| Measurement | Polaris 5 | Gap | gForce Winter 2 | Wins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 151 | 1% | 149 | 1-4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 72.7 | 1% | 72 | 4-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 143 | 1.9% | 141 | 1-10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 137 | 2.1% | 135 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 45.9 | 1.6% | 46.7 | 0-4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 12.73 | 0.5% | 12.79 | 1-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 50.7 | 6.2% | 53.7 | 0-5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 9 | 13.9% | 10.2 | 0-4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 87 | 3.3% | 84 | 0-11 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 500 | 4.6% | 515 | 1-4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 36.7 | 0.6% | 36.9 | 1-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 10.5 | 3.9% | 10.9 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 68 | 1% | 69 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 72.18 | 0.9 dB | 71.24 | 0-5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 24,987 | = | 24,897 | 3-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 7.62 | 11.8% | 8.67 | 3-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 5.5 | 3.5% | 5.7 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 71 | 21.1% | 56 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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. "Scored" rows are subjective driver ratings: each test uses its own scale, so only the wins are counted.
Scores beyond the shared tests
On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Polaris 5 scores 7.6 and the gForce Winter 2 8.3 out of 10.
| Polaris 5 | Category | gForce Winter 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | Dry | 38 | ||
| 61 | Wet | 78 | ||
| 35 | Comfort | 62 | ||
| 89 | Value | 49 | ||
| 54 | Snow | 92 | ||
| 23 | Ice | 15 | ||
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.
What owners say
| Polaris 5 | Category | gForce Winter 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.8 | Dry Grip | 8.5 | ||
| 6.5 | Wet Grip | 9 | ||
| 6.3 | Road Feedback | 7.9 | ||
| 6.3 | Handling | 8.5 | ||
| 6.6 | Wear | 8.7 | ||
| 6.8 | Comfort | 9.2 | ||
| 6.8 | Snow Grip | 9.5 | ||
| 5.5 | Ice Grip | 8.8 | ||
Owners rate the Polaris 5 61% from 16 reviews and the gForce Winter 2 89% from 30. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Barum Polaris 5
- 61%from 16 reviews
- 33%would buy again
- 88,800 milesdriven by reviewers
Most drivers report that the Barum Polaris 5 delivers strong snow and ice traction with solid wet and acceptable dry grip for typical winter use, offering good comfort and low noise for many at a value price. High-scoring reviews highlight safety, predictability, and good wear in cold conditions. However, a minority cite poor wet traction, high noise at certain speeds, and faster wear or higher fuel consumption in some cases. Overall sentiment is mixed-to-positive, with winter performance as the standout strength.
- snow and ice grip
- predictable/safe handling
- wet grip (moderate conditions)
- comfort/low noise
- wet traction concerns (heavy rain/cold wet)
- noise at certain speeds
- higher wear/fuel consumption for some
Summarised by AI from 12 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 16 Polaris 5 reviewsBought these tires last year for my 2015 520d, id never buy them but my tire shop was selling them for really cheap with little bit older dot (2023), seemed good for ice and snow, rain is ok but during heavy rain i didnt feel much what the tires were doing, on autobahn when you first hit some snow on the road going over 80kmh the car would wiggle a bit but then it was stable, comfort and noise are ok but there is a really annoying noise from the tires above 130-140kmh.
Overall i would not recommend them as they cost as much as hankook or falken, but the polaris 6 seems to have a lot better reviews than polaris 5 so it might be a much better tire.
They are still above 8mm tread after around 5000-6000km so wear is good.
BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2
- 89%from 30 reviews
- 100%would buy again
- 215,300 milesdriven by reviewers
Drivers generally rate the BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 very highly, with repeated praise for confident traction on snow and ice and strong wet-weather performance with good aquaplaning resistance. Many also highlight excellent value for money, stable behavior in harsh winter conditions, and generally good comfort/quietness for a winter tire. A smaller set of reviews note compromises on dry roads, describing softer handling, reduced steering/on-center response, and occasional higher noise depending on speed and surface.
- Excellent snow traction
- Strong ice grip for a studless winter tire
- Very good wet grip and aquaplaning resistance
- Great price-to-performance/value
- Dry grip/handling is only average (softer feel, more roll than summer tires)
- Reduced steering feedback/on-center response compared with other tires
- Some report increased noise on certain surfaces/speeds (wet roads or above ~90 km/h)
Summarised by AI from 24 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 30 gForce Winter 2 reviewsI'm using on a Dacia Duster. Before, for winter, on this car I had Michelin Latitude Alpin 1 and Kleber Krisalp HP3 (same as Bf Goodrich). The snow grip was very good for 4 winters (same as Kleber), never let me down. The wet grip was also very good. But what surprised me a lot, was the emergency braking, that was very very good, on wet and dry. The only minus, was that I need to make some corrections on the directions compared with a summer touring tire (michelin primacy 3 or hankook), but the care never lost control with those tires, even if I drove too fast for it. In conclusion I will buy again (bf goodrich or kleber, in function of price).
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tire: 81 sizes of the Polaris 5 and 75 of the gForce Winter 2, 53 of them made in both.
| Category | Polaris 5 | gForce Winter 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Winter | Winter |
| Sizes made | 81 sizes, 13 to 19 inch | 75 sizes, 14 to 20 inch |
| Made in both | 53 sizes 155/65 R14165/65 R14165/70 R14175/65 R14175/70 R14185/60 R14185/65 R14185/70 R14165/60 R15165/65 R15175/65 R15185/55 R15and 41 more | |
| EU label wet grip | C98%D2% | B90%C10% |
| EU label rolling resistance | D75%E15%C10% | D50%C48%B3% |
| EU label noise | 71-73 dB B100% | 68-71 dB A80%B20% |
| Severe snow (3PMSF) sizes | 96 of 96 | 115 of 115 |
| On the market since | 2018 | 2016 |
| Replaced | Barum Polaris 3 (2011) | - |
| Price in the shared tests | The gForce Winter 2 was the dearer tire in 3 of the 3 tests that listed prices, by 19.6% on average. Each test priced the tires in its own market at the time; only the gap is comparable. | |
Label grades are shown as the share of registered sizes carrying each grade, so "B (88%), C (12%)" means most sizes are B. Grades vary by size; check the label for yours.
Reading the results
Written from the test results and owner reviews above. It is analysis, not a measurement: where it and the tables disagree, the tables are right.
Barum's Polaris 5 and BFGoodrich's g-Force Winter 2 sit in a similar “mainstream winter tire” space on paper, but the test history shows they're tuned for very different priorities. Across 13 shared professional results, the BFGoodrich consistently lands higher overall (often top-10), while the Barum tends to place mid-to-lower in the same fields-despite occasionally looking competitive in select dry and efficiency metrics.
The real story is balance versus budget-biased strengths. The Polaris 5 repeatedly trades wet safety margins and aquaplaning reserves for strong running costs (price/value and rolling resistance) and respectable dry pace. The g-Force Winter 2, by contrast, is the more rounded winter performer-especially when conditions turn properly wintry (snow) or waterlogged (aquaplaning)-and it generally backs that up with quieter refinement and solid wear in several tests.
Conclusion
Looking across the shared testing, BFGoodrich g-Force Winter 2 is the clearer “performance and safety” choice, winning all 13 head-to-head matchups on the provided scorecards and dominating the categories that matter most in real winter risk scenarios. Its advantage is most meaningful in aquaplaning: for example in Auto Bild 2024 it reaches 83.4 km/h versus 75.4 km/h in straight aquaplaning (+10.6%) and posts 3.46 vs 2.88 m/sec² in curved aquaplaning (+20.1%). It also repeatedly brakes shorter on snow (e.g., 29.4 m vs 30.0 m in Auto Bild 2024; 29.3 m vs 31.0 m in Auto Bild 2023), and usually edges wet braking and wet handling-exactly the conditions where winter crashes often happen.
Barum Polaris 5's case is value-led rather than outright performance-led. It frequently performs well for efficiency and ownership costs: lower rolling resistance (e.g., 7.28 vs 8.48 kg/t in Auto Bild 2024; also best-in-test noted there), strong value scores (Auto Bild 2024: 8.1 vs 9.19 price/1000), and in multiple tests very competitive mileage (ADAC 2023: 46,900 km vs 41,700 km). It can also feel decent on dry handling-Barum wins dry handling across several tests-so for drivers in colder but predominantly dry winters, it can be a rational budget pick.
The practical takeaway: if your winters include frequent rain, slush, standing water, or you simply want broader safety reserves, the BFGoodrich is the safer, more consistently high-performing tire. The Barum is best viewed as a cost-efficiency winter tire that you choose with eyes open about its weaker wet grip and aquaplaning headroom.
Polaris 5 vs gForce Winter 2: your questions
Is the Barum Polaris 5 or the BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 the better tire?
In the 13 independent tests that ran both tires, the BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 finished ahead 13 times and the Polaris 5 not once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Polaris 5 scores 7.6 and the gForce Winter 2 8.3 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Polaris 5 or the gForce Winter 2?
The gForce Winter 2 led 26 of the 28 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it resisted straight aquaplaning at a 6.2% higher speed across 5 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Polaris 5 led 5 of the 9 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it averaged a 1% higher speed on the dry handling course across 4 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The gForce Winter 2 led 20 of the 22 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 3.3% shorter on snow across 11 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Polaris 5 had 11.8% lower rolling resistance (4 tests). Owners rate wear 6.6/10 for the Polaris 5 and 8.7/10 for the gForce Winter 2.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
The gForce Winter 2 was 0.9 dB quieter (5 tests). Owners rate comfort 6.8/10 for the Polaris 5 and 9.2/10 for the gForce Winter 2.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Polaris 5 61% from 16 reviews and the gForce Winter 2 89% from 30. 33% of Polaris 5 owners would buy it again, against 100% for the gForce Winter 2.
Which is more expensive?
In the 3 tests that listed prices, the gForce Winter 2 was the dearer tire in 3 of them, by 19.6% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Polaris 5 is made in 81 sizes (13 to 19 inch) and the gForce Winter 2 in 75 (14 to 20 inch). 53 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Polaris 5 is graded C for wet grip and D for rolling resistance in most sizes; the gForce Winter 2 B and D.
Which is the newer tire?
The Polaris 5 is the newer design: it reached the market in 2018, the gForce Winter 2 in 2016. The Polaris 5 replaced the Barum Polaris 3.
More comparisons with these tires
vs 
BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 vs Kleber Krisalp HP3
13-5 in 20 shared tests
vs 
BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 vs Hankook Winter i cept evo3
5-3 in 8 shared tests
vs 
BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 vs Bridgestone Blizzak LM005
3-14 in 17 shared tests
vs 
BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 vs Firestone Winterhawk 4
9-5 in 14 shared tests
vs 
BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 vs Michelin Alpin 6
3-11 in 14 shared tests
vs 
BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 vs Semperit Speed Grip 5
6-4 in 11 shared tests
vs 
BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 vs Fulda Kristall Control HP2
19-0 in 19 shared tests
vs 
BFGoodrich gForce Winter 2 vs Uniroyal WinterExpert
5-3 in 9 shared tests
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.
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