80
/ 100
Objective (60%)
72/100
14 professional tests
User signal (40%)
87/100
35 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Falken Eurowinter HS01 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
78
/ 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.
VerdictWinner: Falken Eurowinter HS01 — better noise, wet and treadwear. Pick the Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 if comfort matters most to you.
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)
Eurowinter HS01 leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | Eurowinter HS01 | WinGuard Sport 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 87 | 87 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 86 |
| SimpleTire owners | 98 | 93 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 96% | 98% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 99% | 100% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Eurowinter HS01 leads by 9
Why this score
| Source | Eurowinter HS01 | WinGuard Sport 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 83 | 71 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 89 | 85 |
| SimpleTire owners | 97 | 93 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 90% | 89% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 98% | 97% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Eurowinter HS01 leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | Eurowinter HS01 | WinGuard Sport 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 79 | 78 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 83 | 82 |
| SimpleTire owners | 96 | 89 |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 96% | 94% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 98% | 98% |
| Snow Traction (% of best) | 78% | 91% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
WinGuard Sport 2 leads by 46
Why this score
| Source | Eurowinter HS01 | WinGuard Sport 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 12 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 80 | 85 |
| SimpleTire owners | 98 | 92 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Eurowinter HS01 leads by 40
Why this score
| Source | Eurowinter HS01 | WinGuard Sport 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 76 | 13 |
| SimpleTire owners | 92 | 84 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Eurowinter HS01 leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | Eurowinter HS01 | WinGuard Sport 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | 85 |
| SimpleTire owners | 94 | 87 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
WinGuard Sport 2 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | Eurowinter HS01 | WinGuard Sport 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 76 | 78 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Falken Eurowinter HS01 | Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 80 | 78 |
| Dry | 89 | 88 |
| Wet | 87 | 78 |
| Snow | 82 | 81 |
| Comfort | 42 | 88 |
| Noise | 82 | 42 |
| Treadwear | 90 | 86 |
| Handling | 76 | 78 |
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
80
/ 100
Tire A
78
/ 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 | 96% #13/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 98% #7/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | -2.5 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 99% #7/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 100% #1/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | -1.1 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 77% #18/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 89% #8/13 · 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test | -12.4 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 100% #10/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | 96% #2/13 · 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test | +3.8 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 68% #3/13 · 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test | 61% #1/13 · 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test | +6.4 | Same test |
| Value | Other | 75% #8/20 · 2021 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 67% #3/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | +7.2 | Different tests |
| Wear | Other | 91% #7/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 79% #10/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | +11.8 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 13% #8/9 · 2018 Auto Express Winter Tyre Test | 11% #9/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | +1.4 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 96% #13/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 94% #9/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | +2.6 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 98% #12/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 98% #7/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | -0.4 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 78% #8/9 · 2022 Sports Car UHP Winter Tyre Test | 91% #10/13 · 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test | -13.2 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 100% #1/8 · 2022 AMS Winter Tyre Test | 93% #9/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | +6.6 | Different tests |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Total | 0% #20/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 0% #17/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | 0 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 90% #15/20 · 2022 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 89% #9/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | +1.3 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 98% #6/9 · 2022 Sports Car UHP Winter Tyre Test | 97% #9/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | +0.8 | Different tests |
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Falken Eurowinter HS01 is widely regarded as a high-value winter tire that punches above its price point, offering impressive performance in wet, snowy, and icy conditions. While a small minority of users report mixed results regarding wet-weather braking confidence, the vast majority of owners praise its quiet ride, durability, and reliable traction in challenging winter climates.
Pros
- Exceptional wet-weather grip and aquaplaning resistance
- Strong traction and handling in deep snow and ice
- High value-to-price ratio compared to premium competitors
- Surprisingly quiet and comfortable ride for a winter tire
- Good tread longevity and durability
Cons
- Higher rolling resistance noted by some users
- Inconsistent braking confidence on wet or slick asphalt for a small subset of drivers
- Increased road noise at higher speeds or when over-inflated
- Dry road handling is described as adequate but not performance-oriented
Observations
- Users with AWD vehicles (e.g., WRX, Ford Kuga) report that the tire complements all-wheel-drive systems effectively for snow navigation.
- Drivers noted that the tire maintains comfort and low noise levels even on rough road surfaces, particularly when moving from 15-inch to 16-inch wheel sizes.
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 · Falken Eurowinter HS01 | B · Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Winter Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 21 | 61 |
| Rim diameters | 17″ – 20″ | 15″ – 20″ |
| Tread depth | 11/32″ | 10.5/32″ |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | 50 psi | 51 psi |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
80
/ 100
Falken
78
/ 100
Nexen
Winner: Falken Eurowinter HS01 — better noise, wet and treadwear. Pick the Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 if comfort matters most to you.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 scores 88 vs 42 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Falken Eurowinter HS01 scores 82 vs 42 on noise.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Falken Eurowinter HS01 scores 87 vs 78 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Falken Eurowinter HS01 scores 90 vs 86 on treadwear.
Tire A · Falken Eurowinter HS01
Tire B · Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
More comparisons
Also compared with
Falken Eurowinter HS01 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.