73
/ 100
Objective (60%)
71/100
3 professional tests
User signal (40%)
68/100
8 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Firestone Winterhawk 3 vs Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2 — 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
79
/ 100
Objective (60%)
70/100
1 professional test
User signal (40%)
77/100
11 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2 — better treadwear, noise and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
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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 Snow G WH2 leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | Winterhawk 3 | Winguard Snow G WH2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 83 | 91 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 78 | 83 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 94% | 97% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 98% | 99% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Winguard Snow G WH2 leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | Winterhawk 3 | Winguard Snow G WH2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 62 | 66 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 69 | 73 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 80% | 84% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 93% | 96% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Winguard Snow G WH2 leads by 3
Why this score
| Source | Winterhawk 3 | Winguard Snow G WH2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 83 | 74 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 60 | 82 |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 94% | 94% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 98% | 95% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Winguard Snow G WH2 leads by 4
Why this score
| Source | Winterhawk 3 | Winguard Snow G WH2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 73 | 77 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Winguard Snow G WH2 leads by 8
Why this score
| Source | Winterhawk 3 | Winguard Snow G WH2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 78 | 86 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Winguard Snow G WH2 leads by 12
Why this score
| Source | Winterhawk 3 | Winguard Snow G WH2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 75 | 87 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Winguard Snow G WH2 leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | Winterhawk 3 | Winguard Snow G WH2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 68 | 74 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Firestone Winterhawk 3 | Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 73 | 79 |
| Dry | 81 | 88 |
| Wet | 65 | 69 |
| Snow | 74 | 77 |
| Comfort | 73 | 77 |
| Noise | 78 | 86 |
| Treadwear | 75 | 87 |
| Handling | 68 | 74 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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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.
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Recomputed
Headline score
73
/ 100
Tire A
79
/ 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% #16/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 97% #5/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | -2.8 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 98% #15/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 99% #6/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | -0.9 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 80% #15/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 98% #10/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | -17.1 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 98% #13/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 99% #7/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | -0.6 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 72% #3/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 90% #3/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | -18.1 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 3% #32/48 · 2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test | 13% #8/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | -9.4 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 94% #21/30 · 2019 Winter Tyre Test Market Overview | 94% #6/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | +0.5 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 98% #10/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 95% #9/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | +3.1 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 90% #15/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 84% #10/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | +5.7 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 80% #32/48 · 2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test | 84% #6/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | -4.4 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 93% #20/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 96% #6/11 · 2018 AMS Winter Tyre Test | -3.3 | Different tests |
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Firestone Winterhawk 3 is generally perceived as a budget-friendly, average-performing winter tire that prioritizes comfort and longevity over high-performance handling. While some users appreciate its quiet ride and reliability in moderate conditions, others report significant shortcomings in wet weather and snow traction, leading to a polarized user experience.
Pros
- High levels of ride comfort and low noise
- Good longevity and tread wear resistance
- Affordable price point
- Satisfactory performance in dry conditions
Cons
- Inconsistent or poor grip on snow and ice
- Unreliable wet weather performance and braking
- Pronounced understeering tendencies
- Lack of steering feedback and road connection
Observations
- Users with smaller tire sizes, such as 155/65 R14, reported noticeable understeering and poor snow/ice performance.
- Performance feedback appears highly subjective, with some users finding the tire adequate for steady, non-aggressive driving while others find it lacking for more demanding vehicle dynamics.
The Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2 is widely regarded as a high-value winter tire that offers impressive snow performance and comfort for its price point. While most users find it to be a reliable and cost-effective alternative to premium brands, opinions on wet-weather handling and noise levels are polarized, suggesting inconsistent performance across different driving styles and road conditions.
Pros
- Excellent value for money compared to premium competitors
- Strong traction and confidence-inspiring grip in snow
- High levels of ride comfort and low noise levels for many users
- Good tread longevity and durability
Cons
- Inconsistent performance in wet and slushy conditions
- Reports of increased road noise as the tire wears
- Handling can feel 'spongy' or lacking in steering precision
- Polarized feedback regarding wet-weather safety
Observations
- Users driving higher-horsepower vehicles, such as a 210 hp Honda Accord, reported that the tire remains stable and capable in varied conditions.
- Performance feedback is highly subjective, with some users noting significant noise increases after 10,000km, while others praise the quiet ride.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Firestone Winterhawk 3 | B · Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Touring tires | Winter High Performance tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
73
/ 100
Firestone
79
/ 100
Nexen
Winner: Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2 — better treadwear, noise and dry. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2 scores 87 vs 75 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
You want a quieter cabin
Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2 scores 86 vs 78 on noise.
Pick tire B
You want the most grip on dry roads
Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2 scores 88 vs 81 on dry.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2 scores 74 vs 68 on handling.
Tire A · Firestone Winterhawk 3
Tire B · Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2
More comparisons
Also compared with
Firestone Winterhawk 3 also compared with
Nexen Winguard Snow G WH2 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.