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Winter tire Winter Touring tires Updated September 2026

Starmaxx Ice Gripper W850 review

The Starmaxx Ice Gripper W850 presents a polarized user experience, with some owners praising its value and cold-weather performance while others express significant dissatisfaction. While some users highlight its comfort and grip in winter conditions, the limited and conflicting feedback suggests inconsistent performance expectations.

Relative score
61/100
tests + owners
Owner reviews
66/100
4 reviews
Road tests
46/100
2 published tests

Owners rate it 19.9 points higher than the instrumented road tests do — see the two score breakdowns below for where they disagree.

Starmaxx Ice Gripper W850
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

66%
Would buy again 60%
Dry
Overall dry
67%
Corner stability
63%
Dry traction
67%
Steering response
67%
Wet
Overall wet
67%
Wet traction
67%
Comfort
Overall comfort
70%
Treadwear
Overall treadwear
70%
Handling
Overall handling
63%

By road tests

46.1%
Wet
28.4%
From owners

What owners like and dislike

Themes extracted from 4 owner reviews across retailers and review sites.

The Starmaxx Ice Gripper W850 presents a polarized user experience, with some owners praising its value and cold-weather performance while others express significant dissatisfaction. While some users highlight its comfort and grip in winter conditions, the limited and conflicting feedback suggests inconsistent performance expectations.

Pros

  • Strong value proposition and competitive pricing
  • Effective grip in low-temperature and winter conditions
  • Comfortable ride quality
  • Low noise levels during operation

Cons

  • Inconsistent overall quality perception
  • Lack of long-term durability data
  • Polarized user satisfaction ratings

Worth knowing

  • Users noted a design similarity to certain Pirelli models, suggesting a potential shared manufacturing lineage or tread pattern influence.
Test results

2 published test appearances

Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.

2022 Winter tire Market Overview · 215/55 R17

54th of 56
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking54th of 56

2020 Winter tire Market Overview - 52 tire Braking Test · 245/45 R18

47th of 48
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking47th of 48