79
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
83/100
27 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated May 2026
Firestone Winterforce 2 vs Sumitomo Tour+ LSW — Compared (May 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
39
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
39/100
7 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Firestone Winterforce 2 — better wet, treadwear and comfort. 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)
Winterforce 2 leads by 28
Why this score
| Source | Winterforce 2 | Tour+ LSW |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 85 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 58 | 55 |
| SimpleTire owners | 87 | – |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Winterforce 2 leads by 51
Why this score
| Source | Winterforce 2 | Tour+ LSW |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 87 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 48 | 38 |
| SimpleTire owners | 97 | – |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Winterforce 2 | Tour+ LSW |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 88 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 88 | – |
| SimpleTire owners | 97 | – |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Winterforce 2 leads by 46
Why this score
| Source | Winterforce 2 | Tour+ LSW |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 80 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 58 | 35 |
| SimpleTire owners | 85 | – |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | Winterforce 2 | Tour+ LSW |
|---|---|---|
| SimpleTire owners | 78 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Winterforce 2 leads by 49
Why this score
| Source | Winterforce 2 | Tour+ LSW |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Rack owners | 83 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 63 | 33 |
| SimpleTire owners | 85 | – |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Winterforce 2 leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | Winterforce 2 | Tour+ LSW |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 50 | 40 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Firestone Winterforce 2 | Sumitomo Tour+ LSW |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 79 | 39 |
| Dry | 83 | 55 |
| Wet | 89 | 38 |
| Snow | 96 | – |
| Comfort | 81 | 35 |
| Noise | 78 | – |
| Treadwear | 82 | 33 |
| Handling | 50 | 40 |
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
79
/ 100
Tire A
39
/ 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 Firestone WinterForce 2 is widely regarded as a high-value, budget-friendly winter tire that excels in deep snow and challenging winter conditions. While it earns high praise for its aggressive traction and affordability, users note compromises in dry-road handling, road noise, and ice performance compared to premium alternatives.
Pros
- Exceptional traction and capability in deep snow
- Highly competitive price point
- Reliable performance for daily winter commuting
- Effective water displacement in wet conditions
Cons
- Increased road noise compared to all-season tires
- Noticeable 'mushy' or soft handling feedback on dry pavement
- Limited performance on ice without studs
- Faster tread wear when used year-round
Observations
- Users with RWD vehicles report significant improvements in winter drivability, though some note a lack of dry-handling precision.
- Owners of smaller, lighter vehicles (e.g., Mazda Miata, Ford Focus) report high satisfaction with snow-clearing capabilities.
- Some users report a harsh ride quality on older SUVs, suggesting the tire's construction may be less forgiving on certain chassis types.
The Sumitomo Tour+ LSW receives predominantly negative feedback, with a significant number of users reporting severe quality control issues. While a small minority of owners appreciate the ride comfort and wet weather performance, the consensus is heavily marred by persistent vibrations, balancing difficulties, and reports of structural defects.
Pros
- Quiet and smooth ride quality
- Competent performance in rain and snow for some users
- Cost-effective alternative to premium brands
Cons
- Severe and persistent vibration issues
- Difficulty maintaining wheel balance
- Reports of structural belt defects and blowouts
- Poor wet weather traction and handling
Observations
- Users driving performance-oriented vehicles, such as the Nissan 350Z, noted a significant decline in handling and refinement compared to premium tires like Michelin.
- Multiple reports of highway-speed instability suggest the tire may struggle with high-speed structural integrity.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Firestone Winterforce 2 | B · Sumitomo Tour+ LSW |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Summer Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 31 | — |
| Rim diameters | 14″ – 18″ | — |
| Tread depth | 12/32″ | — |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | — |
| Max pressure | 44 psi | — |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
79
/ 100
Firestone
39
/ 100
Sumitomo
Winner: Firestone Winterforce 2 — better wet, treadwear and comfort. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Firestone Winterforce 2 scores 89 vs 38 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Firestone Winterforce 2 scores 82 vs 33 on treadwear.
Pick tire A
You want the most comfortable ride
Firestone Winterforce 2 scores 81 vs 35 on comfort.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Firestone Winterforce 2 scores 83 vs 55 on dry.
Tire A · Firestone Winterforce 2
Tire B · Sumitomo Tour+ LSW
More comparisons
Also compared with
Firestone Winterforce 2 also compared with
Sumitomo Tour+ LSW 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.