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 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: Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 — better comfort, wet and treadwear. Pick the Firestone Winterhawk 3 if noise matters most to you.
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)
WinGuard Sport 2 leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | Winterhawk 3 | WinGuard Sport 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 83 | 87 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 78 | 86 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 93 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 94% | 95% |
| Dry Handling (% of best) | 98% | 99% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
WinGuard Sport 2 leads by 13
Why this score
| Source | Winterhawk 3 | WinGuard Sport 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 62 | 71 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 69 | 85 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 93 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 80% | 83% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 93% | 96% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
WinGuard Sport 2 leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | Winterhawk 3 | WinGuard Sport 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 83 | 78 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 60 | 82 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 89 |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 94% | 94% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 98% | 98% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
WinGuard Sport 2 leads by 15
Why this score
| Source | Winterhawk 3 | WinGuard Sport 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 73 | 85 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 92 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Winterhawk 3 leads by 36
Why this score
| Source | Winterhawk 3 | WinGuard Sport 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 78 | 13 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 84 |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
WinGuard Sport 2 leads by 11
Why this score
| Source | Winterhawk 3 | WinGuard Sport 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 75 | 85 |
| SimpleTire owners | – | 87 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
WinGuard Sport 2 leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | Winterhawk 3 | WinGuard Sport 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 68 | 78 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Firestone Winterhawk 3 | Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 73 | 78 |
| Dry | 81 | 88 |
| Wet | 65 | 78 |
| Snow | 74 | 81 |
| Comfort | 73 | 88 |
| Noise | 78 | 42 |
| Treadwear | 75 | 86 |
| Handling | 68 | 78 |
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
73
/ 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 | 94% #16/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 95% #8/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -1 | Different tests |
| Dry Handling | Dry | 98% #15/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 99% #6/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | -0.7 | Different tests |
| Rolling Resistance | Efficiency | 80% #15/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 77% #19/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | +2.9 | Different tests |
| Noise | Other | 98% #13/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 94% #1/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | +4.7 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 72% #3/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 61% #1/13 · 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test | +10.4 | Different tests |
| Value | Other | 51% #3/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 67% #3/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | -16.3 | Different tests |
| Wear | Other | 62% #8/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 79% #10/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | -17.1 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 4% #24/45 · 2019 Winter Tyre Test Market Overview | 10% #10/13 · 2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter Tyre Test | -5.8 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 94% #21/30 · 2019 Winter Tyre Test Market Overview | 94% #9/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | +0.2 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 98% #10/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 98% #10/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | -0.1 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 90% #15/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 93% #9/10 · 2018 Autobild UHP Winter Tyre Test | -3.7 | Different tests |
| Total Cost of Ownership | Total | 0% #10/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 0% #17/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | 0 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 80% #32/48 · 2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test | 83% #26/48 · 2020 Winter Tyre Market Overview - 52 Tyre Braking Test | -3.1 | Same test |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 93% #20/20 · 2018 Auto Bild Winter Tyre Test | 96% #8/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | -3.4 | 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 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 · Firestone Winterhawk 3 | B · Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Touring tires | Winter Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | — | 61 |
| Rim diameters | — | 15″ – 20″ |
| Tread depth | — | 10.5/32″ |
| Sidewall | — | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | — | 51 psi |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
73
/ 100
Firestone
78
/ 100
Nexen
Winner: Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 — better comfort, wet and treadwear. Pick the Firestone Winterhawk 3 if noise matters most to you.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Firestone Winterhawk 3 scores 78 vs 42 on noise.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 scores 88 vs 73 on comfort.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 scores 78 vs 65 on wet.
Pick tire B
You want the longest tread life
Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 scores 86 vs 75 on treadwear.
Tire A · Firestone Winterhawk 3
Tire B · Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
More comparisons
Also compared with
Firestone Winterhawk 3 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.