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Kumho Winter Craft WP52

Premium Touring Winter Winter rated Tested by Tire Reviews

Replaces the Kumho Winter Craft WP51

The Kumho Winter Craft WP52 is a mid-range premium touring winter tire that majors on dry-road security and strong value. It consistently impresses for dry braking and predictable handling, and most drivers report dependable traction in winter conditions. The trade-off is that wet performance can feel less confidence-inspiring, particularly in standing water, where aquaplaning resistance is a known weak point.

The quick answer

Owners say 68% from 9 owner reviews 63% would buy again Read the reviews
Tests say 11th average finish across 11 independent tests Latest: P4 of 51 · 2025 See every test
Strengths & weaknesses Dry, Value Snow, Comfort Relative to its rivals across every test we hold

Built from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold for this tire - the evidence is all further down the page. Data updated October 2026.

  • 9owner reviews
  • 97,000miles driven
  • 11professional tests
Kumho Winter Craft WP52 4 photos

Tire Reviews Score

Kumho Winter Craft WP52

8.3/10

Better than 74% of winter tires

  • High Confidence
  • 11 tests
  • 9 owner reviews
Scores of the 278 winter tires we have tested

How this score is built

Better than Weight
Independent tests11 tests · 5 publications · 2022-2025 82% 87%
Owner reviews9 owner reviews · rated 68% 21% 13%
Combined 74% 8.3

A fixed curve turns the combined figure into the 0 to 10 score, so roughly the top 10% of a group score 9 or more.

Category by category

How it compares with other winter tires in each area, and how much each area counts. 50 is the middle of the group.

Category Better than Weight Tests
WetBraking, handling and aquaplaning in the wet 68% 30% 11
SnowBraking, traction and handling on snow 38% 23% 11
IceBraking, traction and handling on ice 56% 18% 2
DryBraking and handling on dry roads 93% 17% 7
ValueWear, efficiency and cost 72% 6% 7
ComfortNoise and ride comfort 21% 5% 6

Weights are shares of the test result. Owner reviews are blended in afterwards. Faded bars rest on one or two tests.

By discipline

The same results grouped by what the tire was doing. They are not counted a second time.

BrakingEvery braking test, on any surface 85% 11
HandlingEvery handling test, on any surface 75% 5
TractionEvery traction test, on any surface 36% 7

Confidence

  1. Limited
  2. Medium
  3. High

Its own test results decide 95% of the test figure. The other 5% comes from its predecessor, the Kumho Winter Craft WP51, and it shrinks as more tests arrive.

High needs at least 3 tests, with its own results deciding 90% or more. Medium needs 2 tests and 70%. Anything less is Limited: expect the number to move as tests arrive.

The tests behind it

  1. 2025 2025 Winter Tire Braking Test - 52 Sets! Auto Bild · 225/40 R18 P4 / 51
  2. 2024 2024 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tire Test Auto Bild Allrad · 245/45 R18 P7 / 12
  3. 2024 2024 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test Auto Bild · 205/55 R16 P15 / 20
  4. 2024 2024 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tire Test ADAC · 215/55 R17 P12 / 16
  5. 2024 2024 Winter 55 Tire Braking Test Auto Bild · 205/55 R16 P2 / 55
  6. 2023 2023 Sports Cars Winter Tire Test Auto Bild Sportscars · 225/40 R18 P7 / 11
Show all 11 tests
  1. 2023 2023 Winter Tire Test 54 Set Braking Test Auto Bild · 225/45 R18 P25 / 54
  2. 2023 2023 Tire Reviews Winter Tire Test Tire Reviews · 225/45 R18 P9 / 11
  3. 2023 2023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tire Test ADAC · 225/45 R17 P9 / 15
  4. 2022 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test Auto Bild · 215/55 R17 P17 / 20
  5. 2022 2022 Winter Tire Market Overview Auto Bild · 215/55 R17 P19 / 56
All Tests
View Test Results

Tested 11 times by independent publications, the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 averages a finish of 11th.

11 Tests
0 Test Wins
11th Average
2nd Best
25th Worst
Finishing position in each test1stLast20222025

Finishing position in each test

YearTestResultAward
20252025 Winter Tire Braking Test - 52 Sets!Auto Bild · 225/40 R18P4 / 51
20242024 Auto Bild SUV Winter Tire TestAuto Bild Allrad · 245/45 R18P7 / 12
20242024 Auto Bild Winter Tire TestAuto Bild · 205/55 R16P15 / 20
20242024 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tire TestADAC · 215/55 R17P12 / 16
20242024 Winter 55 Tire Braking TestAuto Bild · 205/55 R16P2 / 55
20232023 Sports Cars Winter Tire TestAuto Bild Sportscars · 225/40 R18P7 / 11
20232023 Winter Tire Test 54 Set Braking TestAuto Bild · 225/45 R18P25 / 54
20232023 Tire Reviews Winter Tire TestTire Reviews · 225/45 R18P9 / 11Tested by Tire Reviews
20232023 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tire TestADAC · 225/45 R17P9 / 15
20222022 Auto Bild Winter Tire TestAuto Bild · 215/55 R17P17 / 20
20222022 Winter Tire Market OverviewAuto Bild · 215/55 R17P19 / 56

On the full record: Record by disciplineHead-to-head recordEvery published verdict

Videos

Best 11 Winter Tires for 2023/24 - Tested and Rated

Best 11 Winter Tires for 2023/24 - Tested and Rated

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Running Costs
View Test

In 205/55 R16, the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 is projected to cost €27.13 per 1,000 miles to buy and run - about €678 over 25,000 miles - based on the price, wear and rolling resistance measured in the 2024 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test.

Vredestein Wintrac€22.19
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3€22.65
Kumho Winter Craft WP52€27.13
Bridgestone Blizzak 6€29.40
Tire purchase + fittingExtra fuel vs the most efficient tirecost per 1,000 miles
Assumes a typical car doing 29 mpg (rolling resistance causing 20% of fuel use), fuel at €6.25 per gallon and €70 fitting per set of four. Purchase prices are from the time of the 2024 test; financing costs are excluded.
Rim Protection
None

No rim protector. The sidewall sits flush with the wheel, so a kerb strike goes straight into the rim.

Assessed by eye on the tires we tested, in the sizes listed. No manufacturer publishes rim protection as a specification, so treat this as a guide rather than a measurement.
Dimensions & Label Scores
View All

Size Range164 sizes available

155-255Width35-80Profile13-21Rim75-108 T-WLoad/Speed Index

EU LabelAcross 164 sizes - the grade depends on the size you buy.

Noise

71-72dB

3PMSF on every size

Popular sizes225/45 R17205/55 R16195/55 R15185/60 R14225/45 R18225/50 R17
Frequently Asked Questions
How good is the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 in the wet?
Across the 11 wet-braking tests it has featured in, the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 stops 2.5% longer than premium rivals, 1.8% shorter than mid-range rivals and 8.9% shorter than budget rivals. It has a Tire Reviews wet score of 68/100, and owners rate it 6.8/10 in the wet from 9 reviews.
How good is the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 in the dry?
Across the 7 dry-braking tests it has featured in, the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 stops 1.6% shorter than premium rivals, 3.1% shorter than mid-range rivals and 1.4% shorter than budget rivals. It has a Tire Reviews dry score of 93/100, and owners rate it 7.7/10 in the dry from 9 reviews.
How good is the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 in the snow?
Across the 11 snow-braking tests it has featured in, the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 stops 2.2% longer than premium rivals, 1% longer than mid-range rivals and 12% shorter than budget rivals. Across the 7 snow-traction tests, it is 1% worse than premium rivals, 0.3% better than mid-range rivals and 32.5% better than budget rivals. It has a Tire Reviews snow score of 38/100, and owners rate it 7.3/10 in the snow from 9 reviews.
How good is the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 on ice?
Across the 2 ice-braking tests it has featured in, the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 stops 1.1% shorter than premium rivals, 3.5% shorter than mid-range rivals and 8% shorter than budget rivals. It has a Tire Reviews ice score of 56/100, and owners rate it 5.3/10 on ice from 9 reviews.
How fuel efficient is the Kumho Winter Craft WP52?
Across the 5 tests measuring rolling resistance, the Kumho Winter Craft WP52's rolling resistance is 6.7% higher than premium rivals, 0.8% higher than mid-range rivals and 3.1% higher than budget rivals.
More questions about the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 (10)
How many miles does the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 last?
Based on test and owner data, the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 is expected to last around 29,385 miles (47,290 km).
What do owners say about the Kumho Winter Craft WP52?
Across 9 owner ratings the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 averages 68%. Owners rate Dry Grip highest at 7.7 out of 10 and Ice Grip lowest at 5.3. 3 of those reviews come from owners past 10,000 miles. 57% of owners score it 70% or better.
How much does the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 cost to run?
In 205/55 R16, the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 is projected to cost €27.13 per 1,000 miles to buy and run - about €678 over 25,000 miles - based on the price, wear and rolling resistance measured in the 2024 Auto Bild Winter Tire Test. The cheapest to run in that test is the Vredestein Wintrac, at €22.19.
What is the Kumho Winter Craft WP52's EU tire label rating?
Across its range, the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 most commonly carries EU label ratings of C for fuel efficiency, B for wet grip and 72 dB for noise.
How comfortable and quiet are the Kumho Winter Craft WP52?
Owners rate the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 7.3 out of 10 for comfort and noise across 7 reviews.
How well do the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 wear, according to owners?
Owners rate the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 6.8 out of 10 for wear across 7 reviews. 3 of those reviews come from owners past 10,000 miles, and the typical review covers 8,000 miles.
Would owners buy the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 again?
63% of owners say they would buy the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 again, based on the 8 owner reviews that answered the question. 0% of them gave it the highest possible answer.
Does the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 have a rim protector?
No. The Kumho Winter Craft WP52 has no rim protector: the sidewall sits flush with the wheel, so a kerb strike goes straight into the rim. Measured in 225/45 R18. No manufacturer publishes rim protection as a specification; this is assessed by eye when the tires are mounted for our own testing. 2023 Tire Reviews Winter Tire Test
What does the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 replace?
The Kumho Winter Craft WP52 is the successor to the Kumho Winter Craft WP51 in Kumho's range.
What sizes does the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 come in?
The Kumho Winter Craft WP52 is available in 298 sizes, ranging from 155-255/35-80 R13-21.
Owner Questions
Ask a question
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Kumho Winter Craft WP52 Owner Reviews

Review this tire

What owners say summarised from 6 reviews

Drivers find the Kumho Winter Craft WP52 to deliver strong dry grip and handling with generally good snow traction, making it a solid value purchase. Wet performance is adequate but not standout, with several users noting longer wet braking distances or a vague feel. Noise can be higher than average for some, though overall comfort is acceptable. Overall sentiment is moderately positive with a few recurring caveats in the wet.

What owners mention most counted across 7 reviews

Tap one to read only the reviews that mention it.

Owner ratings averaged from 9 ratings

  • Owner score 68%
  • Dry Grip 77%
  • Comfort 73%
  • Snow Grip 73%
  • Handling 71%
  • Road Feedback 69%
  • Wet Grip 68%
  • Wear 68%
  • Ice Grip 53%

Featured reviews

Most helpful 74%

“Fitted these tires late 2023. The price was good and the reviews were OK. After one very mild winter I can say that these tires are not perfect but they don't disappoint. Dry grip is good, wet grip is also ok. Under...”

  • Audi A4 1.8T Quattro
  • 5,000 miles
Read full review → 1,162 found this helpful
Most critical 56%

“They were not at all suitable for my car, which has a diesel engine and higher torque. I drive mostly in the city, and they showed signs of fraying as early as the first winter. I experienced the same issue with Hankook...”

  • Kia Motors Kia Optima K5
  • 15,000 miles
Read full review → 1 found this helpful
Longest term 69%

“25,000km already done with these wp52s, they are generally good but a slight feeling of vagueness in terms of grip in the wet, in the dry you can feel the tires working in the turns, always this feeling a little vague...”

  • Tesla Model 3 LR
  • 25,000 miles
Read full review → 1,106 found this helpful

All 7 Kumho Winter Craft WP52 reviews

Score spread across 7 written reviews
56%
Member
Initial Impressions

They were not at all suitable for my car, which has a diesel engine and higher torque. I drive mostly in the city, and they showed signs of fraying as early as the first winter. I experienced the same issue with Hankook tires in the past. For those who drive a more powerful car or one with high torque, I would recommend something that holds up better to conditions in cities with less snow.

This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 7
  • Wet Grip 7
  • Road Feedback 6
  • Handling 6
  • Wear 2
  • Comfort 7
  • Buy again 1
  • Snow Grip 7
  • Ice Grip 7
Helpful 1
73%
Member
Initial Impressions
Very good tire for snow. Good at dry and wet cornering. Not good at wet braking, distance of braking is longer but tire is good for controlling that distance if you put breaking pad harder when you got to lower speed it will not slide in tricky situations.
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 8
  • Wet Grip 6
  • Road Feedback 7
  • Handling 7
  • Wear 7
  • Comfort 8
  • Buy again 8
  • Snow Grip 9
  • Ice Grip 6
Helpful 182
74%
Member
Fitted these tires late 2023. The price was good and the reviews were OK. After one very mild winter I can say that these tires are not perfect but they don't disappoint.

Dry grip is good, wet grip is also ok. Under braking the car is predictable and stable. Didn't experience any aquaplanning at all.

They're very resistant to wear, after about 8000km they appear good as new, but time will tell how long they last.

Grip on snow is mediocre but combined with the AWD the car managed everything I threw at it, from 20cm of fresh snow to awfully wet sludge on a dirt road, they got me through.

They're very comfortable over potholes, a bit noisy but that's expected from an aggressive tire pattern, they're structurally strong although a bit heavy (tire fitter told me it's the heaviest he had at that size) and they increased fuel consumption slightly. They're not sporty but they're not meant to be, so I won't be commenting on that.

The Pirelli Sottozero 3 I had before were a bit better in every way but the price on the Kumho's makes them worth it.
Kumho Winter Craft WP52 owner photo
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 8
  • Wet Grip 8
  • Road Feedback 6
  • Handling 8
  • Wear 10
  • Comfort 9
  • Buy again 7
  • Snow Grip 7
  • Ice Grip 4
Helpful 1,162

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69%
Member
25,000km already done with these wp52s, they are generally good but a slight feeling of vagueness in terms of grip in the wet, in the dry you can feel the tires working in the turns, always this feeling a little vague. On the snow the traction is good, it does the job.
The tires consume a little more than summer tires, and they are of course a little noisier.
But the price-performance ratio is very good compared to the competition, for cheap it does the job without being exceptional.
Kumho Winter Craft WP52 owner photo
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 7
  • Wet Grip 7
  • Road Feedback 7
  • Handling 6
  • Wear 8
  • Comfort 7
  • Buy again 6
Helpful 1,106
60%
Member
Good dry handling and traction, average wet and below expectations on snow as for a winter tire. Noise depends a lot on tire pressure
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 8
  • Wet Grip 6
  • Road Feedback 8
  • Handling 7
  • Wear 7
  • Comfort 5
  • Buy again 7
  • Snow Grip 3
  • Ice Grip 3
Helpful 1,332
78%
Member
I have WP52 on my A3 Sportback. Very good tire, excellent grip on snow, and dry roads, satisfy grip on wet road.
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 8
  • Wet Grip 8
  • Road Feedback 8
  • Handling 8
  • Wear 7
  • Comfort 8
  • Snow Grip 9
  • Ice Grip 6
Helpful 1,085
79%
Member
Nice grip both on snow and on dry/wet roads. Wear seems a little high, but we'll see how long they'll last.
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 7
  • Wet Grip 8
  • Road Feedback 9
  • Handling 9
  • Wear 6
  • Comfort 8
  • Buy again 9
  • Snow Grip 9
  • Ice Grip 6
Helpful 1,141
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