Kumho WinterCraft WP72

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.

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.

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.

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).