88
/ 100
Objective (60%)
76/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
92/100
10 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Dunlop Winter Response 2 vs Firestone RoadHawk — 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
66
/ 100
Objective (60%)
71/100
17 professional tests
User signal (40%)
66/100
44 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Dunlop Winter Response 2 — better comfort, treadwear and handling. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Read full
TireWheelGuide may earn a commission from purchases made via links on this page.
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)
Winter Response 2 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | Winter Response 2 | RoadHawk |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 84 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 86 | 83 |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Winter Response 2 leads by 17
Why this score
| Source | Winter Response 2 | RoadHawk |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 94 | 76 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 73 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 98% | 90% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Winter Response 2 | RoadHawk |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 94 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 100 | – |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Winter Response 2 leads by 41
Why this score
| Source | Winter Response 2 | RoadHawk |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 39 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 93 | 71 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Winter Response 2 | RoadHawk |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 91 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Winter Response 2 leads by 32
Why this score
| Source | Winter Response 2 | RoadHawk |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 87 | 55 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Winter Response 2 leads by 19
Why this score
| Source | Winter Response 2 | RoadHawk |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 82 | 63 |
| DriverReviews owners | – | 82 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop Winter Response 2 | Firestone RoadHawk |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 88 | 66 |
| Dry | 86 | 84 |
| Wet | 92 | 75 |
| Snow | 96 | – |
| Comfort | 93 | 52 |
| Noise | – | 91 |
| Treadwear | 87 | 55 |
| Handling | 82 | 63 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Personalize
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Important
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Neutral
NoneLessNeutralMoreMost
Recomputed
Headline score
88
/ 100
Tire A
66
/ 100
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
Test data
The professional test results behind the scores
Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.
| Discipline | Category | Tire A | Tire B | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 100% #1/51 · 2025 Winter Tyre Braking Test - 52 Sets! | 11% #9/20 · 2020 Auto Bild Summer Tyre Test | +88.9 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 98% #3/51 · 2025 Winter Tyre Braking Test - 52 Sets! | 90% #13/20 · 2024 AutoBild Summer Tyre Test | +8.1 | Different tests |
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Dunlop Winter Response 2 is widely regarded as a top-tier winter tire, consistently praised for its exceptional traction in snow and wet conditions. Users frequently highlight its balanced performance, noting that it maintains impressive grip and low noise levels even in dry, cold weather, making it a strong value proposition in the premium winter segment.
Pros
- Outstanding traction and confidence in deep snow and icy conditions.
- Excellent wet weather grip and handling stability.
- Low road noise levels, even at motorway speeds.
- Strong value for money compared to other premium winter offerings.
Cons
- Some reports of faster-than-expected tread wear.
- Noticeable sidewall roll during cornering at higher speeds.
- Inconsistent performance ratings across different tire widths in independent testing.
Observations
- Users noted that the tire remains remarkably quiet on smaller vehicles like the Renault Clio, particularly in 185/55 R15 sizing.
- Longevity appears sufficient for moderate usage, with one user reporting 46,000 km of service while maintaining 4mm of tread depth.
The Firestone RoadHawk is a polarizing mid-range tire that excels in comfort and wet-weather grip for daily commuting but suffers from significant durability concerns. While many users praise its value and performance on smaller, lighter vehicles, a substantial portion of owners report rapid, uneven tread wear and soft sidewalls that compromise handling precision during spirited driving.
Pros
- Strong wet-weather traction and hydroplaning resistance
- High levels of ride comfort and noise suppression
- Competitive price point compared to premium brands
- Effective performance for standard, non-sporty daily driving
Cons
- Rapid and often uneven tread wear
- Soft sidewalls leading to a 'mushy' feel and visual appearance of under-inflation
- Lack of steering feedback and precision in cornering
- Reports of premature cracking or perishing in low-mileage scenarios
Observations
- Users with smaller, lighter vehicles (e.g., Fiesta, Golf) report higher satisfaction regarding comfort and handling compared to owners of heavier diesel estates or vans.
- Drivers of heavier vehicles frequently report significant sidewall deflection and poor cornering confidence, often requiring higher tire pressures to compensate.
- The tire is frequently criticized for lack of stability when fitted to commercial vans, with users noting a 'wobbling' sensation under load.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Dunlop Winter Response 2 | B · Firestone RoadHawk |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Summer Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
88
/ 100
Dunlop
66
/ 100
Firestone
Winner: Dunlop Winter Response 2 — better comfort, treadwear and handling. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Dunlop Winter Response 2 scores 93 vs 52 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Dunlop Winter Response 2 scores 87 vs 55 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Dunlop Winter Response 2 scores 82 vs 63 on handling.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Dunlop Winter Response 2 scores 92 vs 75 on wet.
Tire A · Dunlop Winter Response 2
Tire B · Firestone RoadHawk
More comparisons
Also compared with
Dunlop Winter Response 2 also compared with
Firestone RoadHawk 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.