Ceat WinterDrive vs Semperit Speed Grip 5
- TR Score
- 9.4/10
- Owners say
- -
- TR Score
- 8.5/10
- Owners say
- 92% · 3
In the 4 independent tests that ran both tires, the Semperit Speed Grip 5 finished ahead 3 times and the WinterDrive once. The WinterDrive lasted 26.5% longer in the wear tests; the Speed Grip 5 stopped 5% shorter in the wet.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose Semperit Speed-Grip 5 for wet-dominant, milder winters and higher-speed, dynamic driving. Choose Ceat WinterDrive for frequent snow/ice, quiet comfort and the lowest running costs over high mileage.
Where the WinterDrive is stronger
- Superior snow and ice capability (better snow traction and ice braking)
- Shorter dry braking across multiple tests
- Outstanding mileage and lower abrasion (significantly longer tread life)
Where the Speed Grip 5 is stronger
- Class-leading wet performance (braking, handling, aquaplaning)
- Sharper handling feel and higher dry handling speed
- Lower rolling resistance in testing
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.
WinterDrive vs Speed Grip 5 at a glance
| Category | WinterDrive | Gap | Speed Grip 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won4 shared tests | 1 | 3 | |
| Dry3 measurements | 2 | The WinterDrive stopped 5.2% shorter in the dry (2 tests) | 1 |
| Wet11 measurements | 0 | The Speed Grip 5 stopped 5% shorter in the wet (4 tests) | 11 |
| Snow8 measurements | 6 | 2 | |
| Ice1 measurement | 1 | 0 | |
| Comfort3 measurements | 3 | The WinterDrive was 2.4 dB quieter (2 tests) | 0 |
| Value5 measurements | 3 | The WinterDrive lasted 26.5% longer in the wear tests (2 tests) | 1 |
| Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 9.4/10 | The WinterDrive by 0.9 | 8.5/10 |
| Pricein the 3 tests that listed prices | Cheaper | The Speed Grip 5 was dearer in 3 of 3 | +16.4% |
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 4 tests, 2024 to 2025
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 | WinterDrive | Field | Speed Grip 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Autobild Winter Tire Test | P15 of 20 | P11 of 20 | |
| 2025 Winter Tire Braking Test - 52 Sets! | P19 of 51 | P15 of 51 | |
| 2025 ADAC Winter Tire Test | P10 of 31 | P15 of 31 | |
| 2024 Winter 55 Tire Braking Test | P24 of 55 | P6 of 55 |
Performance profile
7 measurements from the 4 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
WinterDrive
Speed Grip 5
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. 13 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
WinterDrive
Speed Grip 5
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. Open a discipline for its measurements, and a measurement for every test's figure.
| Measurement | WinterDrive | Gap | Speed Grip 5 | Wins | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 140 | 5.2% | 148 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 71.3 | 1% | 72 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 138 | 5% | 131 | 0-4 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 130 | 5.3% | 123 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 49.6 | 2.9% | 51 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 5.6 | 4% | 5.8 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 12.69 | 1.3% | 12.52 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 44.6 | 4.9% | 46.8 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 6.8 | 20.4% | 8.1 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 79 | 0.2% | 79 | 2-2 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 314 | 4.4% | 300 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 36 | 1.4% | 35.5 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 9.3 | 1.4% | 9.2 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 51 | 8.8% | 56 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 9% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 68.55 | 2.4 dB | 70.9 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 36,207 | 26.5% | 28,549 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 9.07 | 10.1% | 8.15 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 5.8 | = | 5.8 | 0-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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| 64 | 3% | 66 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||
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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 WinterDrive scores 9.4 and the Speed Grip 5 8.5 out of 10.
| WinterDrive | Category | Speed Grip 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 93 | Dry | 62 | ||
| 54 | Wet | 80 | ||
| 71 | Comfort | 25 | ||
| 84 | Value | 73 | ||
| 76 | Snow | 51 | ||
| 90 | Ice | 32 | ||
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
| WinterDrive | Category | Speed Grip 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | Dry Grip | 9.3 | ||
| - | Wet Grip | 9.7 | ||
| - | Road Feedback | 9 | ||
| - | Handling | 9 | ||
| - | Wear | 9 | ||
| - | Comfort | 8.3 | ||
| - | Snow Grip | 9.3 | ||
| - | Ice Grip | 9.3 | ||
Owners rate the Speed Grip 5 92% from 3 reviews; the WinterDrive has no owner reviews yet. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Ceat WinterDrive
No owner reviews yet. Be the first to review it →
Semperit Speed Grip 5
- 92%from 3 reviews
- 20,500 milesdriven by reviewers
All 3 Speed Grip 5 reviewsSehr guter Winterreifen im mittleren Preissegment. Fahre 100 km täglich durchs Mittelgebirge (Stadt, BAB, Bundesstraßen) und hatte nun alle Bedingungen: Schnee, Eis, Regen, Trockene Fahrbahn. Toller Grip auf Schnee und Eis bedeckten Straßen. Habe mich stehts sicher gefühlt.
215/55 R18 99V XL. Made in France. Neuprofiltiefe gemessene 8,7 mm. Nach 10500 km vorn 8,2 mm, hinten 8,0 mm bei sehr ruhigem, entspanntem Fahrstil. D. h. sehr wenig Verschleiß und hohe zu erwartende Laufleistung. Laufgeräusch ist wie bei allen Winterreifen hörbar, aber nicht sonderlich auffällig.
Bin sehr zufrieden, würde sie wieder kaufen.
Meine vorherigen Reifen Bridgestone LM001 mit 5 mm Profil, 2 Jahre alt, waren auf nasser und trockener Fahrbahn top, hatten aber bei Schnee und Matsch null Grip und drehten durch.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
| Category | WinterDrive | Speed Grip 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Winter | Winter |
| On the market since | - | 2021 |
| Replaced | - | Semperit Speed Grip 3 (2017) |
| Price in the shared tests | The Speed Grip 5 was the dearer tire in 3 of the 3 tests that listed prices, by 16.4% on average. Each test priced the tires in its own market at the time; only the gap is comparable. | |
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.
This matchup pits the budget-focused Ceat WinterDrive against the higher-spec Semperit Speed-Grip 5, both in passenger-car winter guise but with different priorities: Ceat aims for value, mileage and snow assurance, while Semperit targets higher-performance manners on dry and especially wet roads. Across four shared tests in 205/55 R16 and 225/40 R18, each tire shows a clear personality.
Semperit consistently leads on wet braking, wet handling and aquaplaning resistance, translating to higher overall rankings in Autobild 2025 and the big 55-tire 2024 braking test. Ceat counters with shorter dry stops, stronger snow traction and ice braking, lower noise, and notably longer tread life at a lower purchase price, delivering standout cost-per-kilometer.
Conclusion
If your winter mostly means rain, mild temps and cleared city motorways, the Semperit Speed-Grip 5 is the safer, more confidence-inspiring pick: it brakes shorter in the wet by roughly 3-6% across tests, steers more precisely on wet courses, and resists aquaplaning better. Its dynamic feel on dry is also a touch sharper. However, it's noisier, wears faster, and costs more.
For regular snow/ice exposure, long-mileage driving or tight budgets, the Ceat WinterDrive makes a compelling case. It repeatedly stops shorter on dry, grips and pulls better on snow, excels on ice braking (up to ~9% shorter), rides quieter, and delivers far greater projected mileage-producing a class-leading value score. The practical takeaway: pick Semperit for wet-road security and higher-speed composure, pick Ceat for winter traction, low running costs and everyday comfort.
WinterDrive vs Speed Grip 5: your questions
Is the Ceat WinterDrive or the Semperit Speed Grip 5 the better tire?
In the 4 independent tests that ran both tires, the Semperit Speed Grip 5 finished ahead 3 times and the WinterDrive once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the WinterDrive scores 9.4 and the Speed Grip 5 8.5 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the WinterDrive or the Speed Grip 5?
The Speed Grip 5 led 11 of the 11 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 5% shorter in the wet across 4 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The WinterDrive led 2 of the 3 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 5.2% shorter in the dry across 2 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The WinterDrive led 6 of the 8 snow measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The WinterDrive lasted 26.5% longer in the wear tests (2 tests).
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
The WinterDrive was 2.4 dB quieter (2 tests).
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Speed Grip 5 92% from 3 reviews; the WinterDrive has no owner reviews yet.
Which is more expensive?
In the 3 tests that listed prices, the Speed Grip 5 was the dearer tire in 3 of them, by 16.4% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
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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.
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