84
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
79/100
22 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Dunlop SP Winter Sport M3 vs Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 — Compared (September 2026)
Our Relative Score blends 60% objective test data with 40% owner-review signal — so any two tires can be compared even if they were never tested on the same day.
VS
83
/ 100
Objective (60%)
77/100
7 professional tests
User signal (40%)
85/100
59 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictToo close to call: Dunlop SP Winter Sport M3 and Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 are within 2 points overall. Dunlop SP Winter Sport M3 is stronger on wet and handling. Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 is stronger on comfort and treadwear.
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Category breakdown
7 categories, side by side
Each bar is the Relative Score for that category. Expand a tile to see the test results and owner ratings behind it.
Dry
Score (0–100)
WinGuard Sport 2 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | SP Winter Sport M3 | WinGuard Sport 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 87 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 84 | 86 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 93 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
SP Winter Sport M3 leads by 9
Why this score
| Source | SP Winter Sport M3 | WinGuard Sport 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 71 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 91 | 85 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 93 |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | SP Winter Sport M3 | WinGuard Sport 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 78 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | – | 82 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 89 |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
WinGuard Sport 2 leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | SP Winter Sport M3 | WinGuard Sport 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 83 | 85 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 92 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | SP Winter Sport M3 | WinGuard Sport 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 13 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 84 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
WinGuard Sport 2 leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | SP Winter Sport M3 | WinGuard Sport 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 85 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 87 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
SP Winter Sport M3 leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | SP Winter Sport M3 | WinGuard Sport 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 78 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop SP Winter Sport M3 | Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 84 | 83 |
| Dry | 86 | 88 |
| Wet | 87 | 78 |
| Snow | – | 81 |
| Comfort | 83 | 88 |
| Noise | – | 42 |
| Treadwear | 81 | 86 |
| Handling | 85 | 78 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Recomputed
Headline score
84
/ 100
Tire A
83
/ 100
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Dunlop SP Winter Sport M3 is highly regarded as a top-tier winter performance tire that excels in deep snow, ice, and cold, wet conditions. While some users note that its performance in dry, warm weather can be compromised, it is frequently praised for maintaining a 'sporty' feel and quiet ride that rivals many summer performance tires.
Pros
- Exceptional traction and handling in deep snow and icy conditions.
- Impressive wet weather performance with minimal risk of aquaplaning.
- Quiet and comfortable ride quality compared to other performance tires.
- Predictable and progressive handling characteristics during spirited driving.
Cons
- Rapid tread wear if used in temperatures above the intended winter range.
- Reduced braking performance on dry pavement when the tire is cold.
- Potential for accelerated wear on high-horsepower vehicles.
- Not suitable for year-round use in warmer climates.
Observations
- Users report that the tire maintains excellent grip and stability on high-performance vehicles, provided they are used within the correct temperature range.
- Drivers of front-wheel-drive vehicles noted surprising longevity and traction, even when running remapped, high-torque engines.
The Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 is widely regarded as a high-value, performance-oriented winter tire that excels in cold, wet, and light-to-moderate snow conditions. While it offers impressive comfort and low noise levels that rival premium brands, some users report concerns regarding long-term structural integrity and inconsistent performance on pure ice.
Pros
- Excellent value for money compared to premium winter tire brands
- High levels of ride comfort and low road noise
- Strong performance on cold, wet, and slushy pavement
- Reliable traction in light-to-moderate snow conditions
Cons
- Reports of structural 'egging' or wobbling after extended use
- Inconsistent performance on hard-packed ice or deep snow
- Potential for increased rolling resistance and minor fuel economy loss
- Vague handling feedback under aggressive driving conditions
Observations
- Users with high-performance AWD vehicles (e.g., BMW xDrive, Subaru WRX) report excellent snow mobility, though some note a 'rolly' feel in corners.
- Owners of high-torque or heavy vehicles noted that the sidewalls can feel soft, leading to less precise handling compared to dedicated summer tires.
- Some users reported that the actual tread width on specific sizes (e.g., 235/55/19) appeared narrower than the advertised specification.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Dunlop SP Winter Sport M3 | B · Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Ultra High Performance tires | Winter Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | — | 61 |
| Rim diameters | — | 15″ – 20″ |
| Tread depth | — | 10.5/32″ |
| Sidewall | — | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | — | 51 psi |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
84
/ 100
Dunlop
83
/ 100
Nexen
Too close to call: Dunlop SP Winter Sport M3 and Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 are within 2 points overall. Dunlop SP Winter Sport M3 is stronger on wet and handling. Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 is stronger on comfort and treadwear.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Dunlop SP Winter Sport M3 scores 87 vs 78 on wet.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Dunlop SP Winter Sport M3 scores 85 vs 78 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 scores 88 vs 83 on comfort.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 scores 86 vs 81 on treadwear.
Tire A · Dunlop SP Winter Sport M3
Tire B · Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
More comparisons
Also compared with
Dunlop SP Winter Sport M3 also compared with
Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 also compared with
How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements) normalized against the best tire in each test and weighted toward recent tests. 40% comes from thousands of owner reviews collected from retailers and review sites. When a tire has only one of the two, we use what exists and say so.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.