70
/ 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.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Kumho WinterCraft WP71 vs Pirelli Ice Zero 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
70
/ 100
Objective (60%)
75/100
3 professional tests
User signal (40%)
64/100
3 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictToo close to call: Kumho WinterCraft WP71 and Pirelli Ice Zero 2 are within 2 points overall. Kumho WinterCraft WP71 is stronger on treadwear and dry. Pirelli Ice Zero 2 is stronger on wet, handling and comfort.
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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)
WinterCraft WP71 leads by 5
Why this score
| Source | WinterCraft WP71 | Ice Zero 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 89 | 73 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 67 | 77 |
| Dry Braking (% of best) | 99% | 98% |
Wet
Score (0–100)
Ice Zero 2 leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | WinterCraft WP71 | Ice Zero 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 81 | 90 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 61 | 73 |
| Wet Braking (% of best) | 93% | 100% |
| Wet Handling (% of best) | 95% | 96% |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Ice Zero 2 leads by 2
Why this score
| Source | WinterCraft WP71 | Ice Zero 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 90 | 92 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 78 | 80 |
| Snow Braking (% of best) | 99% | 99% |
| Snow Handling (% of best) | 100% | 95% |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Ice Zero 2 leads by 6
Why this score
| Source | WinterCraft WP71 | Ice Zero 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 51 | 57 |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | WinterCraft WP71 | Ice Zero 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 10 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
WinterCraft WP71 leads by 16
Why this score
| Source | WinterCraft WP71 | Ice Zero 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 73 | 57 |
Handling
Score (0–100)
Ice Zero 2 leads by 7
Why this score
| Source | WinterCraft WP71 | Ice Zero 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 53 | 60 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Kumho WinterCraft WP71 | Pirelli Ice Zero 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 70 | 70 |
| Dry | 80 | 75 |
| Wet | 73 | 83 |
| Snow | 85 | 87 |
| Comfort | 51 | 57 |
| Noise | 10 | – |
| Treadwear | 73 | 57 |
| Handling | 53 | 60 |
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
70
/ 100
Tire A
70
/ 100
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
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 | 99% #2/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 98% #2/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +0.4 | Different tests |
| Price | Other | 63% #3/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 85% #10/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | -21.6 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 5% #20/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | 20% #5/8 · 2020 Studded Winter Tyre Test | -15 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 99% #3/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 99% #9/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | -0.6 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 100% #1/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 95% #4/16 · 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +5 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 93% #8/20 · 2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch Tyre Test | 100% #1/8 · 2020 Studded Winter Tyre Test | -7.4 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 93% #7/44 · 2019 Winter Tyre Test Market Overview | 100% #8/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | -7.3 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 95% #9/11 · 2019 19 Inch Performance Winter Tyre Test | 96% #3/8 · 2020 Studded Winter Tyre Test | -1.3 | Different tests |
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
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.
The Pirelli Ice Zero 2 presents a polarized user experience, with performance feedback ranging from high satisfaction in snow and slush to significant disappointment regarding ice traction and noise levels. While some users find it to be a competent and reasonably quiet studded option, others report alarming instability on ice and intrusive acoustic resonance at highway speeds.
Pros
- Reliable performance on snow and slush-covered surfaces
- Acceptable noise levels for a studded tire
- Stable handling characteristics on wet and salted road conditions
Cons
- Significant, high-pitched humming noise at speeds above 95 km/h
- Poor traction and stability on ice compared to premium competitors
- Inconsistent grip during low-speed cornering
Observations
- Users operating all-wheel-drive vehicles, such as the VW Passat Alltrack, reported unexpected slippage in cornering scenarios despite the vehicle's drivetrain advantages.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Kumho WinterCraft WP71 | B · Pirelli Ice Zero 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Premium Touring tires | Winter Premium Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
70
/ 100
Kumho
70
/ 100
Pirelli
Too close to call: Kumho WinterCraft WP71 and Pirelli Ice Zero 2 are within 2 points overall. Kumho WinterCraft WP71 is stronger on treadwear and dry. Pirelli Ice Zero 2 is stronger on wet, handling and comfort.
Pick tire A
You want the longest tread life
Kumho WinterCraft WP71 scores 73 vs 57 on treadwear.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Pirelli Ice Zero 2 scores 83 vs 73 on wet.
Pick tire B
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Pirelli Ice Zero 2 scores 60 vs 53 on handling.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Pirelli Ice Zero 2 scores 57 vs 51 on comfort.
Tire A · Kumho WinterCraft WP71
Tire B · Pirelli Ice Zero 2
More comparisons
Also compared with
Kumho WinterCraft WP71 also compared with
Pirelli Ice Zero 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.