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Kumho WinterCraft WP72 View Gallery (2)
185-285/30-65 R15-21 85 sizes 2020 Winter rated

Kumho WinterCraft WP72

The Kumho WinterCraft WP72 is a Premium Touring Winter tire designed to be fitted to Passenger Cars.

7.4
Tire Reviews Score Based on User Reviews
Limited Confidence View Breakdown
Dry Grip
82%
Wet Grip
78%
Road Feedback
67%
Handling
71%
Wear
80%
Comfort
77%
Buy again
77%
Snow Grip
86%
Ice Grip
72%
9 Reviews
77% Average
80,900 miles driven
Kumho WinterCraft WP72

Kumho WinterCraft WP72

Winter Mid-Range
BETA
7.4 / 10
Based on User Reviews · Limited Confidence · Updated 23 Feb 2026

The Tire Reviews Score is the most comprehensive tire scoring system available. It aggregates professional test data from multiple independent publications, user reviews, and consistency analysis using Bayesian statistical methods, weighted normalisation, and recency-adjusted scoring to produce a single, reliable performance rating.

Learn more about our methodology
Score Components
Professional Tests
Weight: 80%
Tests: 0
Publications: 0
User Reviews
Weight: 15%
Reviews: 9
Avg Rating: 76.5%
Min Required: 5
Consistency
Weight: 5%
Score Std Dev: 0.09
History Points: 9
Methodology & Configuration
Scoring Process
  1. Collect Test Data: Gather results from professional tire tests across multiple publications. Minimum 1 test(s) required.
  2. Normalize Positions: Convert test positions to percentile scores using exponential weighting (factor: 1.2).
  3. Apply Recency Weighting: More recent tests are weighted higher with a decay rate of 0.95.
  4. Incorporate User Reviews: Factor in user review data (minimum 5 reviews). Weight: 15%.
  5. Bayesian Smoothing: Apply Bayesian prior (score: 7, weight: 1.5) to prevent extreme scores with limited data.
  6. Calculate Final Score: Combine all components using normalization factor of 1.1. Max score with limited data: 9.5.
Component Weights
Test Data
80%
User Reviews
15%
Consistency
5%
All Configuration Parameters
ParameterValueDescription
safety_weight 0.7 Weight multiplier for safety-related metrics
performance_weight 0.55 Weight multiplier for performance metrics
comfort_weight 0.4 Weight multiplier for comfort metrics
value_weight 0.45 Weight multiplier for value-for-money metrics
user_reviews_weight 0.15 How much user reviews contribute to the final score
test_data_weight 0.8 How much professional test data contributes to the final score
consistency_weight 0.05 How much score consistency contributes to the final score
recency_decay_rate 0.95 Rate at which older test results lose influence (higher = slower decay)
min_test_count 1 Minimum number of professional tests required
min_review_count 5 Minimum number of user reviews required
score_version 1.9 Current version of the scoring algorithm
score_normalization_factor 1.1 Factor used to normalize raw scores to the 0-10 scale
confidence_factor_weight 0.2 How much data confidence affects the final score
position_penalty_weight 0.2 Penalty applied for poor test positions
gap_penalty_threshold 12 Score gap (%) that triggers additional penalties
min_metrics_count 2 Minimum number of test metrics needed per test
limited_data_threshold 2 Number of tests below which data is considered limited
single_test_penalty 0.75 Score multiplier when only one test is available
critical_metric_penalty 0.7 Penalty for poor performance on critical safety metrics
critical_metric_threshold 70 Score below which a critical metric penalty applies
position_exponential_factor 1.2 Exponent used to amplify position-based scoring
position_exponential_threshold 0.9 Position percentile below which exponential scoring applies
gap_multiplier_critical 3 Multiplier for critical gap penalties
max_category_weight 2 Maximum weight any single category can have
max_score_limited_data 9.5 Score cap when data is limited
bayesian_prior_weight 1.5 Weight of the Bayesian prior in smoothing
bayesian_prior_score 7 Prior score used for Bayesian smoothing
evidence_test_multiplier 1.9 Multiplier for test evidence in confidence calculation
evidence_metric_divisor 3 Divisor for metric count in evidence calculation
evidence_review_divisor 10 Divisor for review count in evidence calculation
combined_penalty_floor 0.2
All Tests

Sorry, we don't currently have any magazine tire tests for the Kumho WinterCraft WP72

Size Fuel Wet Noise
16 inch
205/55 R16 94 V XL D C 72
215/60 R16 99 V XL D C 72
205/60 R16 96 H XL C C 72
17 inch
215/55 R17 98 V XL C C 72
215/45 R17 91 V XL D C 72
205/50 R17 93 V XL C C 72
225/45 R17 94 V XL C C 72
225/50 R17 98 V XL C C 72
18 inch
225/40 R18 92 V XL D C 72
245/40 R18 97 V XL C C 72
245/45 R18 100 V XL C C 72
19 inch
235/35 R19 91 W XL C C 72
235/35R19 91 W XL C C 72
20 inch
245/35 R20 95 W XL C C 72
245/35R20 95 W XL C C 72
View All Sizes and EU Label Scores for the Kumho WinterCraft WP72 >>

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Size Price Range  
225/40 R19 $173.99 - $173.99 (1 Price) Compare Prices >>
245/40 R18 $147.96 - $147.96 (1 Price) Compare Prices >>
255/40 R18 $156.99 - $156.99 (1 Price) Compare Prices >>
255/45 R19 $178.97 - $178.97 (1 Price) Compare Prices >>
Available in 33 tire sizes - View all.

Review Summary

Based on 9 user reviews

Overall, drivers report the Kumho WinterCraft WP72 as a strong value "performance" winter tire, delivering confident snow/slush traction along with notably good dry and wet-road manners for a winter setup. Many reviewers also highlight good comfort and quietness, plus better-than-expected wear for this category. A smaller subset of users report drawbacks around high-speed feel (vagueness/soft sidewalls) and, in isolated cases, balance/roundness issues that affected drivability.

Strengths
  • Strong value for money versus premium performance winter tires
  • Confident snow and slush traction for everyday winter driving
  • Good dry and wet grip for a winter tire
  • Comfortable ride with generally low noise (for many drivers)
  • Sportier
  • More responsive handling than typical winter tires (good on clear roads)
  • Better-than-expected tread life/wear for a winter tire
Areas for Improvement
  • High-speed stability/steering feel can be vague or less confidence-inspiring for some drivers

Top 3 Kumho WinterCraft WP72 Reviews

Given 84% while driving a Audi A7 3.0 TFSI (265/35 R20) on a combination of roads for 2,000 spirited miles
Got these tires for my both cars. ( Mercedes CLS 4matic and Audi A7 quattro).
After approx 3000km
- very quiet
- great dry and wet grip !
- stable on mid snow
- confortable
Cant say about the wear yet.
These are great value for money.
November 27, 2025
Given 50% while driving a Mercedes Benz C300 (255/40 R18) on mostly motorways for 300 spirited miles
Tires have been on a fortnight and 300 mmiles, but car is undriveable at fast speeds and anything over 60mph feels odd and I wouldn't want to have to take evasive action at anything over 50mph, temperatures are under 5 degrees c so it isn't that but it feels like the tirewalls are jelly, they are however quiet and comfy. It hasn't snowed yet to test the snow grip.
November 25, 2025
Given 84% while driving a Hyundai Kona SX2 N line Hybrid (215/55 R18) on a combination of roads for 600 average miles
I bought these tires mainly on budget (by experience I don't believe in extra expensive tires were much better in daily use than one grade lower ones) but finally I found them to be very close or equal to a premium tire. Very good grip on dry and wet road, (there was no snow yet) and very high level of comfort. Rolling resistance is low and probably these are the lowest noise winter tires I have ever had. It's a surprise and I am completely satisfied with this purchase.
November 17, 2025

How would you rate the Kumho WinterCraft WP72?

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Latest Kumho WinterCraft WP72 Reviews

Initial Impressions Review
Given 56% while driving a Hyundai Hyundai Veloster N (225/40 R19) on for 13,000 miles
These tires use nylon cords so they flat spot very easily. They came on a car I bought used and the could not be road-force balanced to within spec. They drive alright but I just wish they were rounder. You can hear the road force variation in the tread noise as you drive down the road. They definitely wear better than the Blizzak WS90s that I had on a previous car and they probably grip better in the dry and wet as well. Snow grip was decent when they were newer but has fallen off as the tires wore out, I didn't find ice grip to ever be that great. Overall would not buy again, mainly because of how not-round they are and how easily they flat spot.
March 17, 2026
Initial Impressions Review
Given 76% while driving a Honda Accord EX L V6 (225/45 R17) on for 2,000 miles
For a first time driver in southern Ontario, these tires gave me confidence to drive in deep snow days. Especially for the price these tires hold their own. For city driving, these tires provide a healthy level of grip in snow and slush and didn't ever do anything unexpected. On highways covered in Ontario snow, the WinterCraft WP72 is similarly straightforward but at higher speeds the grip level becomes a little more vague on a lane change. Nothing jarring or dangerous, and the tires do communicate the limit fairly well. I found that in icy conditions these tires give out more so than in other settings. Depending on how much load you have going into icy corners, you may find this tire doesn't give you the best indication to slow down before losing grip. The one major drawback of this tire is the noise at highway speeds. Nothing unbearable but these winters drone more than a comfy all season would. If you're looking for a dead quiet tire this isn't it but for an affordable price these are great winters.
March 9, 2026
Initial Impressions Review
Given 81% while driving a Tesla Model Y Long Range (255/45 R19) on for 11,000 miles
Considering its price, I think it is a very good value. Moreover the snow grip is outstanding even with a heavy EV.
Since my car is RWD only, it tends to slip at sharp and fast corners, roundabouts especially on wet surface.
February 19, 2026
Given 90% while driving a Subaru BRZ (225/45 R17) on a combination of roads for 10,000 spirited miles
Disclaimer: The numbers I chose for each rating are with the consideration that these are a "performance studless" winter tire, not really an outright "extreme nordic" winter tire.

Overall I am entirely satisfied with these tires. Are they the best winter tires ever? No, of course not. But I've driven them through two Quebec winters so far and have not once been stuck or let down. These are fitted to a 2023 Subaru BRZ that I drive daily throughout the year, and what makes me love these tires is that while they are entirely capable in every snow/ice/slush condition I've driven them though, they still are still very much enjoyable to drive on the average winter day when the roads are clear. These are on the car from early/mid November through to early April (close to 5 months of the year) so I didn't want some horrible handling, squishy, unresponsive winter rubber that completely ruins the fun of the car. I have Nokian Hakkapeliittas on my truck, and my wife's car as well, and they are the pinnacle of winter traction, but they are pretty horrible for daily driving on clear roads. These Kumhos, on the other hand, keep the car fun to drive and offer a measure of "performance" (it's all relative on winter rubber), all while doing everything I need a winter tire to do. I don't have the exact numbers, but I've driven over 16,000 kms on them over the course of 2 winters so far and the wear-indicator (3 dots that dissappear with use) still shows all 3 dots, with the first dot just starting to fade. (And I don't drive them gently... this car isn't made to be driven gently.)

Lastly, IMO they also look great, with a nice sidewall design and great asymetric tread pattern too.
December 2, 2025
Given 83% while driving a Tesla Model 3 Performance (225/45 R17) on a combination of roads for 40,000 spirited miles
Got stuck in a snow storm driving from Texas to Michigan shortly after buying my Tesla Model 3 Performance with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires. These summer tires were absolutely terrifying in the snow so I was determined to purchase some snow tires being a Michigan Native. After looking around most of the options in the car's size were extremely expensive ~$1500+ but I only planned to use the tires for winter driving so I was looking for something easier on the budget. I ended up purchasing these Kumho WinterCraft WP72 tires in a staggered set 225/40R19 (front) 265/35R19 (rear). After about 40k miles on these tires with a mix of winter and summer driving I have just hit the end of life on the rear tires, front have about 1/3 treadlife left. For a winter tire this is excellent, I do however wish I had been able to avoid the staggered wheel set that I settled on at the time for the winter tires. The car was extremely capable in Winter, and while I will say the tires were not as sticky in the summer as the Michelin 4S tires (which are actually quite good in most conditions above freezing temperature) I had no issues driving in a 'sporty' manner in any season with these winter tires. All around, excellent tires, and I put my money where my review is by buying another set now that these have reached the end of their life.
February 6, 2022
Given 79% while driving a Ford Focus ST (245/40 R18 W) on a combination of roads for 2,000 spirited miles
When it comes to "performance" winter tires, you don't really have much choice. There the Michelin Alpin and surely some equivalent from Pirelli and Goodyears but the Kumho wintercraft wp72 is the only middle-high tire available. At least where I am from (Canada). It offer very good wet, snow and ice performance while not being very soft like most of the winter tires. They tend to react like a summer tire without being as much grippy and direct. You do sacrifice snow/ice grip in exchange for performance but they do not alter the personality of the car like other non performance oriented tire do. They are literally half priced compared to the high end competition. So if money is not a criteria for you, they yes go with the high end but for 99% of us, it is a no brainer IF you a have spirited driving and a vehicle that offer some performance, otherwise a snow/ice winter dedicated tire is the way to go (saving money because the tire is not trying to sporty also).
November 6, 2020
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