Kumho WinterCraft WP71 review
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.
Owners rate it 14.8 points lower 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
61%By road tests
75.8%What owners like and dislike
Themes extracted from 17 owner reviews across retailers and review sites.
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
Worth knowing
- 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.
3 published test appearances
Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.
2019 19 Inch Performance Winter tire Test · 255/35 R19
7th of 11
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 8th of 11 | |
| Wet Handling | 9th of 11 | |
| Dry Braking | 2nd of 11 | |
| Dry Handling | 11th of 11 | |
| Snow Braking | 3rd of 11 | |
| Snow Handling | 1st of 11 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 7th of 11 | |
| Straight Aqua | 4th of 11 | |
| Noise | 3rd of 11 | |
| Price | 3rd of 11 |
2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch tire Test · 225/45 R17
20th of 20
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 8th of 20 | |
| Wet Handling | 8th of 20 | |
| Dry Braking | 11th of 20 | |
| Dry Handling | 20th of 20 | |
| Snow Braking | 15th of 20 | |
| Snow Handling | 17th of 20 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 20th of 20 | |
| Straight Aqua | 8th of 20 | |
| Noise | 5th of 20 | |
| Value | 13th of 20 | |
| Price | 5th of 20 | |
| Wear | 20th of 20 | |
| Total Cost of Ownership | 20th of 20 |
2019 Winter tire Test Market Overview · 225/45 R17
10th of 45
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 7th of 45 | |
| Snow Braking | 15th of 45 |