83
/ 100
Objective (60%)
89/100
24 professional tests
User signal (40%)
84/100
43 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 vs Kumho WinterCraft WP71 — 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
63
/ 100
Objective (60%)
76/100
3 professional tests
User signal (40%)
61/100
17 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Dunlop Winter Sport 5 — better noise, comfort and handling. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Read full
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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)
Winter Sport 5 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | Winter Sport 5 | WinterCraft WP71 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 81 | 89 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 83 | 67 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 94% | 97% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 98% | 97% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Winter Sport 5 leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | Winter Sport 5 | WinterCraft WP71 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 79 | 81 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 61 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 99% | 93% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 99% | 97% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
WinterCraft WP71 leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | Winter Sport 5 | WinterCraft WP71 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 80 | 90 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 91 | 78 |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 97% | 99% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 96% | 97% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Winter Sport 5 leads by 36
Why this score
| Source | Winter Sport 5 | WinterCraft WP71 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 90 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 84 | 51 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Winter Sport 5 leads by 68
Why this score
| Source | Winter Sport 5 | WinterCraft WP71 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 78 | 10 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Winter Sport 5 leads by 14
Why this score
| Source | Winter Sport 5 | WinterCraft WP71 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 87 | 73 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Winter Sport 5 leads by 26
Why this score
| Source | Winter Sport 5 | WinterCraft WP71 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 79 | 53 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Dunlop Winter Sport 5 | Kumho WinterCraft WP71 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 83 | 63 |
| Dry | 82 | 80 |
| Wet | 81 | 73 |
| Snow | 84 | 85 |
| Comfort | 87 | 51 |
| Noise | 78 | 10 |
| Treadwear | 87 | 73 |
| Handling | 79 | 53 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
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Recomputed
Headline score
83
/ 100
Tire A
63
/ 100
Tire B
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? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 94% #14/31 · 2025 ADAC Winter Tyre Test | 97% #11/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | -3.3 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 98% #5/10 · 2024 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test | 97% #20/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | +1.3 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 80% #12/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 74% #20/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | +5.4 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 98% #14/16 · 2023 ADAC 16 Inch Tyre Test | 92% #5/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | +6 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 91% #16/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 63% #3/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | +28 | Different tests |
| Value | Other | 56% #7/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 89% #13/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | -32.5 | Different tests |
| Wear | Other | 92% #4/12 · 2024 ADAC 16 Inch Winter Tyre Test | 69% #20/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | +22.7 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 20% #5/12 · 2019 Auto Express Winter Tyre Test | 14% #7/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | +5.7 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 97% #3/16 · 2024 ADAC 17 inch Winter Tyre Test | 99% #3/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -1.7 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 96% #6/10 · 2024 Auto Bild Sportscars Winter Tyre Test | 97% #17/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | -1.3 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 91% #11/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 93% #8/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | -1.3 | Different tests |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Total | 0% #5/20 · 2024 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 0% #20/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | 0 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 99% #3/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 93% #7/44 · 2019 Winter Tyre Test Market Overview | +5.9 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 99% #4/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 97% #8/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | +2.3 | 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 Sport 5 is widely regarded as a top-tier winter tire, consistently praised for its exceptional traction and confidence-inspiring performance in deep snow, ice, and slush. While it excels in cold-weather environments, some users note that its soft sidewall construction can lead to a 'mushy' steering feel and reduced stability on dry pavement when temperatures rise above 10°C.
Pros
- Outstanding traction and braking performance on snow and ice
- Excellent longevity and slow tread wear
- High level of ride comfort and low road noise
- Strong resistance to hydroplaning in heavy rain and slush
Cons
- Soft sidewalls can cause unstable handling or 'squirming' in dry, warmer conditions
- Lack of effective rim protection despite marketing claims
- Steering response can feel lazy or imprecise on certain vehicle setups
- Performance noticeably degrades when ambient temperatures exceed 10-12°C
Observations
- Users with high-torque vehicles (e.g., Tesla Model 3, performance-oriented cars) reported that the tire can feel nervous or lack precision during hard acceleration.
- Drivers of heavier vehicles or those using wider tire formats noted that maintaining higher inflation pressures is often necessary to mitigate soft sidewall flex and improve steering feedback.
- The tire is highly regarded for AWD vehicles (e.g., Subaru Forester, Skoda Yeti), where it effectively complements the drivetrain's capability in deep snow.
The Kumho WinterCraft WP71 receives a polarized reception, with users frequently praising its competent snow and slush performance while expressing significant dissatisfaction regarding road noise and wet-weather handling. While some drivers find it a capable budget-friendly winter option, others report vague steering feedback and a lack of confidence in cornering, particularly on wet surfaces.
Pros
- Strong traction and braking performance in deep snow and slush
- Competitive price point compared to premium winter tire alternatives
- Predictable handling in dry winter conditions
- Generally satisfactory tread wear longevity
Cons
- Excessive road noise, particularly at low to moderate speeds
- Vague or 'spongy' steering feedback and handling characteristics
- Inconsistent lateral grip and understeer issues on wet roads
- Poor performance on ice compared to premium competitors
Observations
- Drivers of performance-oriented vehicles, such as the Mazda 3 MPS, reported significant handling instability and a lack of precision.
- AWD vehicle owners, such as those with a Kia Sportage, reported higher satisfaction with snow and ice traction than those with FWD setups.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Dunlop Winter Sport 5 | B · Kumho WinterCraft WP71 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Ultra High Performance tires | Winter Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
83
/ 100
Dunlop
63
/ 100
Kumho
Winner: Dunlop Winter Sport 5 — better noise, comfort and handling. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 scores 78 vs 10 on noise.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 scores 87 vs 51 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 scores 79 vs 53 on handling.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 scores 87 vs 73 on treadwear.
Tire A · Dunlop Winter Sport 5
Tire B · Kumho WinterCraft WP71
More comparisons
Also compared with
Dunlop Winter Sport 5 also compared with
Kumho WinterCraft WP71 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.