Winter tire Winter Premium Touring tires Updated September 2026
Firestone Winterhawk 4 review
The Firestone Winterhawk 4 is widely regarded as a high-value, mid-range winter tire that delivers reliable performance in snow, rain, and cold conditions. Users consistently praise its quiet operation and comfort, noting that it serves as a cost-effective alternative to premium brands without significant compromises in daily winter driving.
Relative score
76/100
tests + owners
Owner reviews
79/100
5 reviews
Road tests
85/100
19 published tests
Scores
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
79%
Would buy again
76%
Dry
Wet
Snow & ice
Comfort
Treadwear
Handling
By road tests
85%From owners
What owners like and dislike
Themes extracted from 5 owner reviews across retailers and review sites.
The Firestone Winterhawk 4 is widely regarded as a high-value, mid-range winter tire that delivers reliable performance in snow, rain, and cold conditions. Users consistently praise its quiet operation and comfort, noting that it serves as a cost-effective alternative to premium brands without significant compromises in daily winter driving.
Pros
- Excellent value for money compared to premium competitors
- Strong performance in snow and wet conditions
- Low road noise and high levels of ride comfort
- Short braking distances in varied winter weather
Cons
- Steering feedback can feel somewhat numb or less precise
- Not intended for high-performance driving dynamics
- Perceived as a budget-conscious choice rather than a top-tier performance tire
Worth knowing
- Drivers transitioning from high-performance summer tires (e.g., Continental SportContact 7) noted a distinct reduction in steering sharpness.
- The tire is frequently selected by budget-conscious buyers looking for Bridgestone-adjacent manufacturing quality at a lower price point.
Test results
19 published test appearances
Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.
2025 Autobild Winter tire Test · 225/40 R18
16th of 20
Best: Snow Traction · 3rd
Weakest: Dry Handling · 20th
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 8th of 20 | |
| Wet Handling | 10th of 20 | |
| Dry Braking | 19th of 20 | |
| Dry Handling | 20th of 20 | |
| Snow Braking | 9th of 20 | |
| Snow Traction | 3rd of 20 | |
| Snow Handling | 11th of 20 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 5th of 20 | |
| Straight Aqua | 10th of 20 | |
| Subj. Comfort | 14th of 20 | |
| Noise | 12th of 20 | |
| Value | 8th of 20 | |
| Wear | 14th of 20 | |
| Total Cost of Ownership | 4th of 20 |
2025 Winter tire Braking Test - 52 Sets! · 225/40 R18
7th of 51
Best: Wet Braking · 8th
Weakest: Snow Braking · 12th
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 8th of 51 | |
| Snow Braking | 12th of 51 |
2025 ADAC Winter tire Test · 225/40 R18
18th of 31
Best: Ice Braking · 6th
Weakest: Dry Braking · 28th
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 9th of 31 | |
| Wet Circle | 24th of 31 | |
| Dry Braking | 28th of 31 | |
| Snow Braking | 8th of 31 | |
| Snow Traction | 7th of 31 | |
| Ice Braking | 6th of 31 | |
| Straight Aqua | 12th of 31 | |
| Noise | 21st of 31 | |
| Wear | 23rd of 31 | |
| Fuel Consumption | 12th of 31 | |
| Abrasion | 23rd of 31 | |
| Wet Braking - Concrete | 11th of 31 |
2024 Auto Bild Winter tire Test · 205/55 R16
18th of 20
Best: Straight Aqua · 3rd
Weakest: Dry Handling · 20th
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Handling | 16th of 20 | |
| Dry Braking | 19th of 20 | |
| Dry Handling | 20th of 20 | |
| Snow Braking | 20th of 20 | |
| Snow Traction | 19th of 20 | |
| Snow Handling | 14th of 20 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 8th of 20 | |
| Straight Aqua | 3rd of 20 | |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 8th of 20 | |
| Noise | 6th of 20 | |
| Value | 8th of 20 | |
| Wear | 18th of 20 | |
| Total Cost of Ownership | 7th of 20 |
2024 ADAC 17 inch Winter tire Test · 215/55 R17
10th of 16
Best: Wet Braking · 2nd
Weakest: Dry Braking · 16th
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 2nd of 16 | |
| Dry Braking | 16th of 16 | |
| Snow Braking | 8th of 16 | |
| Snow Traction | 8th of 16 | |
| Ice Braking | 5th of 16 | |
| Straight Aqua | 3rd of 16 | |
| Wear | 14th of 16 | |
| Abrasion | 15th of 16 | |
| Wet Braking - Concrete | 6th of 16 |
2024 Winter 55 tire Braking Test · 205/55 R16
10th of 55
Best: Wet Braking · 3rd
Weakest: Snow Braking · 25th
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 3rd of 55 | |
| Snow Braking | 25th of 55 |
2023 Auto Bild SUV Winter tire Test · 225/60 R18
9th of 10
Best: Snow Handling · 1st
Weakest: Dry Braking · 10th
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 8th of 10 | |
| Wet Handling | 9th of 10 | |
| Wet Circle | 7th of 10 | |
| Dry Braking | 10th of 10 | |
| Dry Handling | 10th of 10 | |
| Snow Braking | 2nd of 10 | |
| Snow Traction | 3rd of 10 | |
| Snow Handling | 1st of 10 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 9th of 10 | |
| Straight Aqua | 2nd of 10 | |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 2nd of 10 | |
| Noise | 2nd of 10 | |
| Price | 3rd of 10 | |
| Snow Slalom | 1st of 10 |
2023 Auto Bild Winter tire Test · 225/45 R18
20th of 20
Best: Wet Braking · 3rd
Weakest: Dry Handling · 20th
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 3rd of 20 | |
| Wet Handling | 7th of 20 | |
| Wet Circle | 6th of 20 | |
| Dry Braking | 17th of 20 | |
| Dry Handling | 20th of 20 | |
| Snow Braking | 18th of 20 | |
| Snow Traction | 8th of 20 | |
| Snow Handling | 14th of 20 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 17th of 20 | |
| Straight Aqua | 9th of 20 | |
| Noise | 7th of 20 | |
| Value | 9th of 20 | |
| Wear | 10th of 20 | |
| Snow Slalom | 8th of 20 | |
| Total Cost of Ownership | 11th of 20 |
2023 ADAC 16 Inch tire Test · 205/60 R16
7th of 16
Best: Straight Aqua · 1st
Weakest: Dry Braking · 15th
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 2nd of 16 | |
| Dry Braking | 15th of 16 | |
| Snow Braking | 12th of 16 | |
| Snow Traction | 12th of 16 | |
| Ice Braking | 9th of 16 | |
| Straight Aqua | 1st of 16 | |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 1st of 16 | |
| Noise | 3rd of 16 | |
| Wear | 15th of 16 | |
| Fuel Consumption | 11th of 16 | |
| Abrasion | 15th of 16 | |
| Wet Braking - Concrete | 2nd of 16 |
2023 Winter tire Test 54 Set Braking Test · 225/45 R18
6th of 54
Best: Wet Braking · 2nd
Weakest: Snow Braking · 19th
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 2nd of 54 | |
| Snow Braking | 19th of 54 |
2022 Auto Bild Winter tire Test · 215/55 R17
16th of 20
Best: Value · 2nd
Weakest: Dry Braking · 19th
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 12th of 20 | |
| Wet Handling | 8th of 20 | |
| Dry Braking | 19th of 20 | |
| Dry Handling | 17th of 20 | |
| Snow Braking | 16th of 20 | |
| Snow Traction | 8th of 20 | |
| Snow Handling | 4th of 20 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 9th of 20 | |
| Straight Aqua | 8th of 20 | |
| Noise | 7th of 20 | |
| Value | 2nd of 20 | |
| Price | 4th of 20 | |
| Wear | 3rd of 20 | |
| Total Cost of Ownership | 2nd of 20 |
2022 Auto Bild SUV Winter tire Test · 225/45 R19
6th of 10
Best: Snow Handling · 2nd
Weakest: Dry Braking · 8th
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 6th of 10 | |
| Wet Handling | 4th of 10 | |
| Wet Circle | 5th of 10 | |
| Dry Braking | 8th of 10 | |
| Dry Handling | 4th of 10 | |
| Snow Braking | 3rd of 10 | |
| Snow Traction | 4th of 10 | |
| Snow Handling | 2nd of 10 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 7th of 10 | |
| Straight Aqua | 3rd of 10 | |
| Noise | 2nd of 10 | |
| Price | 3rd of 10 |
2022 Winter tire Market Overview · 215/55 R17
14th of 56
Best: Wet Braking · 14th
Weakest: Snow Braking · 17th
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 14th of 56 | |
| Snow Braking | 17th of 56 |
2022 ADAC Winter tire Test - 185/65 R15 · 185/65 R15
9th of 15
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|
2022 AMS Winter tire Test · 245/45 R19
5th of 8
Best: Snow Braking · 1st
Weakest: Dry Braking · 7th
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 5th of 8 | |
| Wet Handling | 6th of 8 | |
| Dry Braking | 7th of 8 | |
| Dry Handling | 5th of 8 | |
| Snow Braking | 1st of 8 | |
| Snow Traction | 4th of 8 | |
| Snow Handling | 3rd of 8 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 5th of 8 | |
| Straight Aqua | 6th of 8 | |
| Noise | 4th of 8 | |
| Price | 1st of 8 |
2021 AZ SUV Winter tire Test · 235/55 R18
5th of 10
Best: Straight Aqua · 2nd
Weakest: Dry Braking · 10th
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 6th of 10 | |
| Wet Handling | 6th of 10 | |
| Dry Braking | 10th of 10 | |
| Dry Handling | 9th of 10 | |
| Snow Braking | 6th of 10 | |
| Snow Traction | 4th of 10 | |
| Snow Handling | 3rd of 10 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 6th of 10 | |
| Straight Aqua | 2nd of 10 | |
| Noise | 2nd of 10 | |
| Price | 3rd of 10 |
2021 Auto Bild Winter tire Test · 205/55 R16
10th of 20
Best: Wet Braking · 4th
Weakest: Dry Braking · 19th
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 4th of 20 | |
| Wet Handling | 6th of 20 | |
| Dry Braking | 19th of 20 | |
| Dry Handling | 17th of 20 | |
| Snow Braking | 12th of 20 | |
| Snow Traction | 4th of 20 | |
| Snow Handling | 6th of 20 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 5th of 20 | |
| Straight Aqua | 6th of 20 | |
| Noise | 5th of 20 | |
| Value | 4th of 20 | |
| Price | 8th of 20 | |
| Wear | 10th of 20 | |
| Total Cost of Ownership | 5th of 20 |
2021 ADAC 17 Inch Winter tire Test · 225/50 R17
12th of 18
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|
2021 Winter tire Market Overview · 205/55 R16
5th of 49
Best: Wet Braking · 4th
Weakest: Snow Braking · 12th
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 4th of 49 | |
| Snow Braking | 12th of 49 |