Dunlop Winter Response 2 review
The Dunlop Winter Response 2 is widely regarded as a top-tier winter tire, consistently praised for its exceptional traction in snow and wet conditions. Users frequently highlight its balanced performance, noting that it maintains impressive grip and low noise levels even in dry, cold weather, making it a strong value proposition in the premium winter segment.
Owners rate it 16 points higher than the instrumented road tests do — see the two score breakdowns below for where they disagree.
Two scoring systems, side by side
Owner scores come from reviews on retailer and review sites; road-test scores come from instrumented tests. Where they disagree, it is usually a discipline owners rarely push to the limit.
By owner reviews
92%By road tests
76%What owners like and dislike
Themes extracted from 10 owner reviews across retailers and review sites.
The Dunlop Winter Response 2 is widely regarded as a top-tier winter tire, consistently praised for its exceptional traction in snow and wet conditions. Users frequently highlight its balanced performance, noting that it maintains impressive grip and low noise levels even in dry, cold weather, making it a strong value proposition in the premium winter segment.
Pros
- Outstanding traction and confidence in deep snow and icy conditions.
- Excellent wet weather grip and handling stability.
- Low road noise levels, even at motorway speeds.
- Strong value for money compared to other premium winter offerings.
Cons
- Some reports of faster-than-expected tread wear.
- Noticeable sidewall roll during cornering at higher speeds.
- Inconsistent performance ratings across different tire widths in independent testing.
Worth knowing
- Users noted that the tire remains remarkably quiet on smaller vehicles like the Renault Clio, particularly in 185/55 R15 sizing.
- Longevity appears sufficient for moderate usage, with one user reporting 46,000 km of service while maintaining 4mm of tread depth.
7 published test appearances
Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.
2025 Winter tire Braking Test - 52 Sets! · 225/40 R18
1st of 51
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 3rd of 51 | |
| Snow Braking | 3rd of 51 |
2022 ADAC Winter tire Test - 185/65 R15 · 185/65 R15
12th of 15
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|
2021 ADAC 15 Inch Winter tire Test · 225/50 R17
1st of 16
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|
2019 ADAC 185/65 R15 Winter tire Test · 185/65 R15
1st of 16
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|
2018 ACE All Season and Winter tire Test · 185/65 R15
6th of 12
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|
2018 ADAC Winter tire Test - 175/65 R14 · 175/65 R14
2nd of 12
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|
2017 ADAC Winter tire Test - 195/65 R15
4th of 16
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Inside Noise level | 3rd of 16 | |
| Dry Handling | 7th of 16 | |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 7th of 16 | |
| Dry Braking | 7th of 16 | |
| Straight Aquaplaning | 3rd of 16 | |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 3rd of 16 | |
| Wet Braking | 3rd of 16 | |
| Wet Handling | 3rd of 16 | |
| Side G-Force on Wet surface | 3rd of 16 | |
| Snow Braking | 3rd of 16 | |
| Snow Traction | 3rd of 16 | |
| Snow Handling | 3rd of 16 | |
| Ice Braking | 2nd of 16 | |
| Ice Handling | 2nd of 16 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 2nd of 16 | |
| Wear | 3rd of 16 |