Tested 7 times by independent publications, the Falken EUROWINTER HS02 averages a finish of 10th. Its strongest discipline is Dry Braking, beating 85% of the field across 5 tests; its weakest is Snow Braking, at 10% across 6 tests.
2026 Sport Auto Winter Tire Test P7 of 9
The Falken Eurowinter HS02 finished seventh overall and was rated only satisfactory. It is one of the cheaper tires in the test and it shows: the isolated traction result flatters a tire that is otherwise short of grip and composure in exactly the conditions a winter tire is bought for.
Where the Falken EUROWINTER HS02 finished in each measured discipline, across every test that measured it against at least two other tires. Field beaten is the share of the other tires it outranked in that measurement.
| Discipline | Tests | Avg finish | Field beaten | Firsts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | ||||
| Dry Braking Strong | 5 | P2.4 of 12 | 85% | 2 |
| Dry Handling | 3 | P6.3 of 10.7 | 44% | - |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 2 | P8 of 9.5 | 18% | - |
| Wet | ||||
| Wet Braking | 6 | P9.8 of 19.2 | 45% | - |
| Wet Braking - Concrete | 2 | P4 of 14 | 75% | - |
| Wet Handling | 3 | P7.3 of 10.7 | 30% | - |
| Subj. Wet Handling | 2 | P7.5 of 9.5 | 24% | - |
| Wet Circle | 3 | P8.3 of 10.7 | 21% | - |
| Straight Aqua | 5 | P7.6 of 12 | 40% | - |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 5 | P8.4 of 12 | 33% | - |
| Snow | ||||
| Snow Braking Weak | 6 | P13.3 of 15.5 | 10% | - |
| Snow Traction | 4 | P10 of 12.5 | 27% | - |
| Snow Handling | 3 | P10 of 10.7 | 6% | - |
| Subj. Snow Handling | 2 | P7.5 of 9.5 | 23% | - |
| Snow Circle | 1 | P10 of 10 | 0% | - |
| Snow Slalom | 1 | P5 of 9 | 50% | - |
| Ice | ||||
| Ice Braking | 2 | P5 of 14 | 71% | - |
| Comfort | ||||
| Subj. Comfort | 2 | P5 of 9.5 | 53% | - |
| Noise | 5 | P3.4 of 12 | 78% | - |
| Value | ||||
| Wear | 2 | P7.5 of 14 | 48% | - |
| Rolling Resistance | 3 | P6.7 of 10.7 | 38% | - |
| Fuel Consumption | 2 | P6.5 of 14 | 56% | - |
| Abrasion | 2 | P10 of 14 | 32% | - |
Overall finishing position against the tires that have most often shared a test with the Falken EUROWINTER HS02. Only tires tested alongside it at least three times are listed.
| Rival | Shared tests | Ahead | Behind | Level | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Hankook Winter I cept RS3
7 shared: 0 ahead, 7 behind
Compare with Winter I cept RS3 |
7 | 0 | 7 | - | 0% |
 Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
6 shared: 0 ahead, 6 behind
|
6 | 0 | 6 | - | 0% |
 Vredestein Wintrac
4 shared: 2 ahead, 2 behind
|
4 | 2 | 2 | - | 50% |
 Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
4 shared: 1 ahead, 3 behind
|
4 | 1 | 3 | - | 25% |
 Bridgestone Blizzak 6
4 shared: 0 ahead, 4 behind
|
4 | 0 | 4 | - | 0% |
 Continental WinterContact TS 870
4 shared: 0 ahead, 4 behind
|
4 | 0 | 4 | - | 0% |
 Linglong Sport Master Winter
3 shared: 2 ahead, 1 behind
|
3 | 2 | 1 | - | 67% |
 Kleber Krisalp HP3
3 shared: 1 ahead, 2 behind
|
3 | 1 | 2 | - | 33% |
 Michelin Alpin 6
3 shared: 0 ahead, 3 behind
|
3 | 0 | 3 | - | 0% |
 Michelin Alpin 7
3 shared: 0 ahead, 3 behind
|
3 | 0 | 3 | - | 0% |
 Dunlop Winter Sport 5
3 shared: 0 ahead, 3 behind
|
3 | 0 | 3 | - | 0% |
 Continental WinterContact TS 870 P
3 shared: 0 ahead, 3 behind
|
3 | 0 | 3 | - | 0% |
The same record for the tire it replaced and the tire that replaced it.
| Tire | Tests | Wins | Avg finish | Field beaten |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falken Eurowinter HS01 Predecessor | 24 | 0 | 11th | 39% |
| Falken EUROWINTER HS02 This tire | 7 | 0 | 10th | 33% |
Drawn from 7 tests. Updated October 6, 2026.
Across seven independent winter tire tests, the Falken EUROWINTER HS02 repeatedly shows a strong road-biased character: it is consistently excellent on dry braking (1st in ADAC 2024 16", 1st in ADAC 2023 16", and 2nd of 9 in Sport Auto 2026 at just +2.6% from best), and is often described with “precise steering” and “good safety reserves” on dry roads. Wet braking tends to be serviceable rather than class-leading (e.g. 5th of 12 at +2.3% from best in ADAC 2024; 8th of 16 at +9.4% in ADAC 2023), while aquaplaning is mixed, with testers sometimes noting it “excels in... longitudinal aquaplaning” but lateral/curved aquaplaning frequently only mid-pack to weak (e.g. 12th of 16 at +15.4% in ADAC 2023; 11th of 13 at +9.7% in Auto Express 2026).
It also braked short in the dry, matching the overall winner- 2026 Sport Auto Winter Tire Test (2026)
provides decent braking on wet and dry asphalt- 2025 AMS Winter Tire Test (2025)
the shortest braking distance- 2024 ADAC 16 Inch Winter Tire Test (2024)
The tire led dry braking by a full meter- 2024 Auto Express Winter Tire Test (2024)
above-average braking performance- 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tire Test (2023)
offering precise steering, good safety reserves, and the shortest braking distance- 2024 ADAC 16 Inch Winter Tire Test (2024)
provides good steering feedback and safety margins on dry roads- 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tire Test (2023)
provides decent braking on wet and dry asphalt- 2025 AMS Winter Tire Test (2025)
Wet performance is marginally good, with above-average results in braking- 2024 ADAC 16 Inch Winter Tire Test (2024)
ice braking performance is average and rated as good- 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tire Test (2023)
excels in braking and longitudinal aquaplaning- 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tire Test (2023)
On dry roads, it excels with the best rating in the test- 2024 ADAC 16 Inch Winter Tire Test (2024)
It recorded the longest snow braking distance- 2026 Sport Auto Winter Tire Test (2026)
Snow performance was weak, placing last in both braking and traction tests- 2024 Auto Express Winter Tire Test (2024)
the slowest snow handling laps in the test- 2026 Sport Auto Winter Tire Test (2026)
On snow, it delivers weak performance across nearly all disciplines- 2025 AMS Winter Tire Test (2025)
Snow handling also finished sixth, showing loose behavior and requiring careful inputs- 2024 Auto Express Winter Tire Test (2024)
the tire's snow capability is its major shortcoming- 2025 AMS Winter Tire Test (2025)
Snow performance was weak, placing last in both braking and traction tests- 2024 Auto Express Winter Tire Test (2024)
its handling pace was near the back, and the testers described it as slow to respond and short of reserve- 2026 Sport Auto Winter Tire Test (2026)
The wet handling is sluggish with limited reserves and concerning lift-off oversteer tendencies- 2025 AMS Winter Tire Test (2025)
matched its fifth place in wet handling, showing adequate balance but lower grip levels- 2024 Auto Express Winter Tire Test (2024)
receives only a satisfactory rating in lateral aquaplaning and handling- 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tire Test (2023)
Rolling resistance was among the highest here- 2026 Sport Auto Winter Tire Test (2026)
The Falken recorded the highest rolling resistance scores in the test- 2024 Auto Express Winter Tire Test (2024)
the drivers reported clearly audible road noise inside the car- 2026 Sport Auto Winter Tire Test (2026)
produces noticeable interior noise from both rolling and lateral scrubbing during cornering- 2025 AMS Winter Tire Test (2025)
the drivers reported a high risk of oversteer and a poorly balanced car- 2026 Sport Auto Winter Tire Test (2026)
concerning lift-off oversteer tendencies- 2025 AMS Winter Tire Test (2025)
vehicle tends to understeer or oversteer early, limiting the handling precision- 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tire Test (2023)
In the wet it generated less cornering grip on the circle than any other tire- 2026 Sport Auto Winter Tire Test (2026)
Strong = top two of the field in that measurement. Weak = bottom two.
The Falken Eurowinter HS02 finished seventh overall and was rated only satisfactory. It is one of the cheaper tires in the test and it shows: the isolated traction result flatters a tire that is otherwise short of grip and composure in exactly the conditions a winter tire is bought for.
The Falken Eurowinter HS02 finished seventh with a distinctly wet and dry biased result. It is a competent tire for a mild winter, but it gives away too much on snow to be an obvious first choice.
The Falken Eurowinter HS02 rolls somewhat past its target with weak winter performance despite reasonable pricing. While it provides decent braking on wet and dry asphalt, the tire's snow capability is its major shortcoming. On snow, it delivers weak performance across nearly all disciplines with low reserves, making it unsuitable for snow-rich regions. The wet handling is sluggish with limited reserves and concerning lift-off oversteer tendencies. In dry conditions, while grip levels and reserves are adequate, the steering response is poor and it can feel harsh over cross joints. The tire also produces noticeable interior noise from both rolling and lateral scrubbing during cornering. Overall, it represents a compromised package that might have been better developed as an all-season tire rather than a dedicated winter tire.
The Falken placed sixth overall, with its strongest results coming in dry conditions. The tire led dry braking by a full meter but finished fourth in dry handling, with grip dropping on second laps. Snow performance was weak, placing last in both braking and traction tests. Snow handling also finished sixth, showing loose behavior and requiring careful inputs. Wet performance was similarly modest - the tire placed sixth in both aquaplaning tests and equal fifth in wet braking, about a meter behind the leader. It managed fourth on the wet circle but matched its fifth place in wet handling, showing adequate balance but lower grip levels. The Falken recorded the highest rolling resistance scores in the test.
The Falken Eurowinter HS02 tire shows varied performance across different driving conditions. On dry roads, it excels with the best rating in the test, offering precise steering, good safety reserves, and the shortest braking distance. Wet performance is marginally good, with above-average results in braking and aquaplaning resistance, though it narrowly misses a good rating in handling due to slightly lower precision. The tire's weakest performance is on winter roads, where it achieves only satisfactory results in braking, traction, and handling, with early tendencies to under- and oversteer. Ice braking is average. Environmentally, the tire narrowly misses a good rating despite good projected mileage, wear resistance, and efficiency. Average noise levels and only adequate sustainability in its Turkish production prevent a higher environmental score. Overall, the Falken Eurowinter HS02 performs best on dry and wet roads but struggles in winter conditions, with room for improvement in environmental aspects.
The FALKEN EUROWINTER HS02 provides good steering feedback and safety margins on dry roads, along with above-average braking performance. On wet roads, it excels in braking and longitudinal aquaplaning but receives only a satisfactory rating in lateral aquaplaning and handling. While the tire offers sufficient safety reserves, it lacks precision due to inadequate integration of longitudinal and lateral forces. On winter roads, the tire achieves a satisfactory overall rating, missing good scores in braking, traction, and handling. The vehicle tends to understeer or oversteer early, limiting the handling precision. However, its ice braking performance is average and rated as good. Environmentally, the tire receives a satisfactory overall rating; its projected lifespan and wear are rated as just good, but its higher weight impacts its efficiency rating negatively. Its sustainability, given its production in Turkey, is rated as inadequate.
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