89%
- Kia Motors Kia EV6 AWD
- 235/55 R19
- 3,000 miles
Good tire. Traction is very good on snowy surfaces and fairly good on ice. I don't feel any difference between these and former Continental Viking Contact 7.
Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV
The Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV is a mid-range SUV winter tire with strong aquaplaning resistance and good wet braking in its single test. Winter grip and behavior near the limit were less convincing, with a loose rear end and difficult control under pressure.
The quick answer
Strengths & weaknesses
Value, Ice
Wet, Dry
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 January 2026.
- 2owner reviews
- 28,000miles driven
- 1professional tests
All Tests
View Test Results
1
Tests
0
Test Wins
7th
Average
7th
Best
7th
Worst
The latest test
2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tire Test P7 of 8
WS51 is the SUV version of Kumho's latest friction tire Wi51. It's the stiffest tire here, with high priority on asphalt rounds, not winter grip. On ice it performs far from the best. The WS51 is difficult to master under pressure on both snow and ice, where all grip suddenly disappears at once and without warning. It does a lot better against aquaplaning where Kumho is the best of the bunch. The braking distance on wet asphalt is also good, and the steering feel for small steering movements as well. Unfortunately, the WS51 has problems with a loose rear-end both wet and dry roads with a skidding behavior in the evasive maneuvers and especially in wet corners. Nor is the noise level impressive. Difficult to control on the limit and poor winter grip result in a low score.
| Year | Test | Result | Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tire TestVi Bilagare · 235/55 R18 | P7 / 8 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How good is the Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV in the wet?
Across the 1 wet-braking test it has featured in, the Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV stops 1.2% shorter than premium rivals, 1.7% shorter than mid-range rivals and 2.7% longer than budget rivals. It has a Tire Reviews wet score of 7/100, and owners rate it 9.5/10 in the wet from 2 reviews.
How good is the Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV in the dry?
Across the 1 dry-braking test it has featured in, the Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV stops 3.4% longer than premium rivals, 2.8% longer than mid-range rivals and 1.9% longer than budget rivals. It has a Tire Reviews dry score of 4/100, and owners rate it 8.5/10 in the dry from 2 reviews.
How good is the Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV in the snow?
Across the 1 snow-braking test it has featured in, the Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV stops 1.1% longer than premium rivals, 3.7% longer than mid-range rivals and 3.6% longer than budget rivals. Across the 1 snow-traction test, it is 7.5% worse than premium rivals, 9.4% worse than mid-range rivals and 7.1% worse than budget rivals. It has a Tire Reviews snow score of 72/100, and owners rate it 10/10 in the snow from 2 reviews.
How good is the Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV on ice?
Across the 1 ice-braking test it has featured in, the Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV stops 13% longer than premium rivals, 17% longer than mid-range rivals and 6.6% shorter than budget rivals. Across the 1 ice-traction test, it is 5.3% worse than premium rivals, 10.7% worse than mid-range rivals and 10.2% better than budget rivals. It has a Tire Reviews ice score of 91/100, and owners rate it 9/10 on ice from 2 reviews.
How fuel efficient is the Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV?
Across the 1 test measuring rolling resistance, the Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV's rolling resistance is 0.8% lower than premium rivals, 1.3% lower than mid-range rivals and 0.7% lower than budget rivals.
Owner Questions
Ask a questionQuestions and Answers for the Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV
Sorry, we don't currently have any questions and answers for the Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV. Why not submit a question to our tire experts using the form below!
Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV Owner Reviews
Review this tireOwner ratings averaged from 2 ratings
- Owner score 91%
- Wear 100%
- Snow Grip 100%
- Wet Grip 95%
- Ice Grip 90%
- Dry Grip 85%
- Handling 85%
- Comfort 85%
- Road Feedback 80%
All 2 Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV reviews
Score spread across 2 written reviews
91%
- Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace 2.0 BiTDi 240HP
- 235/55 R18
- 25,000 miles
- A Combination of Roads
- Average
Very good tires at temperature below +8c.
Good handling in the snow and slush.
Very resistant for wear.
Good handling in the snow and slush.
Very resistant for wear.
Check out how the BEST all seasons tires perform against premium summer and winter tires!
Which tires do you drive?
Researching the Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV? Rate the tires you actually drive - and help the next buyer choose.
No reviews match those filters.
Find your next tire
All tire testsThe latest Tire Reviews tests
- Oct 2026The BEST All Weather Tires for 2026/27 →
- Oct 2026All Season vs All Terrain Tires Tested: Do You Actually Need an All Terrain? →
- Oct 2026The BEST Winter Tires for 2026/27 →
Summer Tires
All Season Tires
Winter Tires
SUV and All Terrain Tires
Track Tires
Which tires do you drive?
You're reading real-world reviews from other drivers - add yours and help the next buyer choose the right tires.